Incident near Exeter

[69firebird]

Now, no one please head to my house with pitch forks and torches. But this is my opinion on this incident that happened yesterday. I do not know the people involved but just think before you want to lynch this guy.

These are clearly foxhounds/coyote dogs that have been culled. It was an irresponsible location for the people to dump the dogs and for that there should be consequences.

But culling is used on everything from chickens to race horses. Has been since man has owned animals and always will be. It happens everyday.

Usually animals are culled for a responsible reason wether its genetic defects that do not want to be passed on generations or the simple act that the animal doesn't preform. Or simply old age, I believe it can cost up to $200 for a vet to euthanize a dog.

Is it illegal to put down your own animal? I don't think so. Is it illegal to shoot your neighbours dog? yes i think so.

So is the person a responsible HUNTING/WORKING dog owner? Working on bettering his breed or line of hunting dogs for the future? YES 100%.

Was it smart to dump them in a public location? Absolutely not.

Now everyone that thinks a hunting dog can be re-homed to another responsible person is absolutely ridiculous and is not living in a real world. Just because these are dogs doesn't mean it can live in a house like a poodle. How would a high strung race horse make out if you wanted it for your children to ride? Not well

I have tried to keep calm and not rant, just look at a few aspects of this situation that the media are leaving out.

If you think that the $2000 reward is justified and this guy should be hunted down than you do not belong on this forum in any section. Because shooting a dog in the head humanely is no different than taking a fish out of water, shooting a deer, or trapping beaver.

Heres the link to a rather unbiased article:
http://www.am980.ca/2016/01/20/dogs-found-deceased/

Lets please try to keep this thread civil.

[terrym]

Wow. There could very well be a good reason why the dogs were put down, sometimes even if distasteful to many it's the best thing to do for the dog. But what a friken idiot for doing it this way.

[welsh]

This was my thought. These dogs were shot rather than being put down. If it was done humanely, there's actually no offence here, so it's not clear what the reward is for.

The problem is that vets increasingly would refuse to put dogs down just because the owner asks for it. Attitudes towards dogs are different than towards other domestic animals. It doesn't have to be logical; it's a cultural reality. And within a few years, I expect culling dogs in this way will become illegal, because laws change to reflect the culture that creates them.

[69firebird]

Exactly my point. No issue culling your own dogs. An issue could lie in where they were dumped. As far as I'm concerned a bullet or a injection is both quick. Bullet probably quicker from my experiences.

Reward I guess Is for finding the guy. But as far as punishment, maybe a fine for dumping?

[tom gobble]

I don't find it wrong that this person put the dogs down him self and hopefully it was for good reason, but I do find it wrong that they dumped it in a public spot.

[bowj]

I was in hay swamp two weeks ago. Glad I didn't come across this.

I hope when someone decides to cull there dogs they have exhausted all other avenues, but sometimes it's what needs to be done i'm sure. Doing so in the privacy of your property is what should have happened though, dumping them in public is just wrong. Let alone a place full of dog walkers and rabbit hunters with dogs.

[JBen]

If you think that the $2000 reward is justified and this guy should be hunted down than you do not belong on this forum in any section. Because shooting a dog in the head humanely is no different than taking a fish out of water, shooting a deer, or trapping beaver.

I am actually going to disagree and say, I think this guy should be found and charged with everything he can be. Because I'm a rabid animal rights lover? Nope. I'm old school and believe if your going to make a decision to put a pet down (what ever the reason)...do it yourself.

When will we learn (whether this person is a hunter or not doesn't matter because people are assuming he is, therefore guilty by association if not fact). That

stuff like this gives us all black eyes and the "Anti's" ammunition.
Whether it's people posting ill advised ( Gorey, blood filled hero shots) on FB, or Cecils, or poaching Moose/deer, etc.

Would "we" not be "irate" if rather dogs, these were Whitetails?
There aren't to my knowledge laws against putting pets down oneself, there are laws about how to dispose of them.

If we are going to talk the walk...and claim that we are responsible, get just as upset when someone breaks laws, etc, etc.
Than we should walk the walk to.

Aside from dumping animals to rot...All this is going to do is give the Antis fuel for their fires and ammunition.

[bardern]

I could never be a houndsman.

[krakadawn]

"If you think that the $2000 reward is justified and this guy should be hunted down than you do not belong on this forum in any section. Because shooting a dog in the head humanely is no different than taking a fish out of water, shooting a deer, or trapping beaver."

Sorry have to disagree with the above statement. To say that we don't belong on a forum like this doesn't fly well with me or others. Our disagreement is not so much that 3 dogs were put down but rather the dumping of said dogs in a public place.....how stupid is that! I actually believe people who do these things need to be held accountable as their actions do not reflect the general feelings of the regular hunters/fishermen on a typical forum.

Your analogy to fish/deer/beaver is very fraught. How would you feel if all those were dumped in a public ditch??

I would take exception if the perpetrator was identified as a hunter....we don't know that, it certainly could have been any a^& hole dealing with unwanted pets. Never the less a very stupid thing to do.

[welsh]

stuff like this gives us all black eyes and the "Anti's" ammunition.

Yes. When the perennially pending animal cruelty bill passes, incidents like this will be the reason.