I have noted that in the last several months it seems to come up that whenever a dog gets shot by the Police or anyone else for that matter in the performance of their official duties that there is a great hue and cry among certain people that the cops should be strung up for murder.  There is also the set that equates the value of a dog, any dog or just their dog with that of humans.  One even going so far as to claim the dog as his child and just as valuable as his human children.  Some even suggesting that they would murder the person who shot their dog and be willing to risk Execution or life imprisonment.

While I certainly like dogs and have owned several in my life and our beagle is certainly cute, friendly and affectionate, she is most certainly not of equal value to my, nor anyone elses children.  I just don't understand it.  Now, I checked this issue from both a legal and moral perspective.  I spoke with a lawyer, a Baptist Minister, Lutheran Minister and a Rabbi of my aquantance and all assured me that in the eyes of God that no animal is worth the life or injury of a Human.  Other religious belief's may differ but these are pretty representative of our society. I was bluntly told by all three clergymen that Dogs or other animals do not have souls and are most certainly not people.  This is the belief that I have largely held. That is that no animal is equal or superior to the value of any human, and animals in fact were put here by God for our use.  Animals do not have any rights in and of themselves and are in fact property whether or not people confer greater status or not.  This bears out in our state code as the destruction of Dogs or other animals owned by people is regarded as a form of vandalism.  Animal cruelty is is separate section, as is hunting.  A side note is that Coyotes, which seem to me to be Dogs are regarded as varmints, with no bag limit on their killing.

Now I would certainly not advocate or minimize the effects of destroying one's property by anyone.  It is certainly to be avoided whenever possible, but the law does certainly have remedies when it happens either intentionally or accidentally.  But, dogs may be more than propterty, I certainly love my boat and my Landrover and I'm not sure which I would pick over the Dog.  I suppose I'd be bothered if any were destroyed for no apparent reason and there was no chance at recompence.  But dogs are different, they sometimes, being animate act without the control of their owners.  They sometimes act under the direction of their owners.  They do have some sort of rudimentary thought that causes them to act as really only the dog itself can perhaps predict.  I guess horses and pigs would kinda be the same in that regard, Cows are too stupid to think.  

Now, the Law on the killing of dogs is an interesting thing as it makes some specific circumstances.  See, if the dog is attacking, or looks like it might attack or is acting aggressively then it can be killed.


   
 

§ 955.28 Dog may be killed for certain acts; owner liable for damages.

 

(A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of section 955.261 [955.26.1] of the Revised Code, a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, that attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, or that kills or injures a person or a dog that chases, injures, or kills livestock, poultry, other domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed at the time of that chasing, approaching, attempt, killing, or injury. If, in attempting to kill such a dog, a person wounds it, he is not liable to prosecution under the penal laws which punish cruelty to animals.
 

(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog, unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time, was committing or attempting to commit a trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or was committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense against any person, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner's, keeper's, or harborer's property.
   

HISTORY: RS §§ 4212-1, 4212-2; 93 v 128, 129; 94 v 118, §§ 1, 2; GC § 5838; 124 v 428; Bureau of Code Revision, 10-1-53; 142 v H 352. Eff 7-10-87.
 


See, based on this law, any attacking dog not on the owners property can be killed and to boot, the owner is responsible for any damages caused by the dog.  Now, if the dog is on the owners property, then the dog has to be attacking someone comitting a criminal act, otherwise this section applies.  Note even that the dog's  life is not worth as much as other livestock, not even a chicken under this law.
the only exception here is injuring a Police or Seeing eye dog that is actually in the performance and under the direction of its handler at the time, or the actor knew that the dog was a police of seeing eye dog or reasonably should have known.  This was to safegaurd the public's investment and prevent injury to officers.

The laws for killing people as one would assume are quite different.  

So I ask you, are dogs people too?

good post,[b] now Lock It!!!!![/b]

Ahhh, but here is the thing with that, A police dog or horse is not a Police officer in the human sense, it is a Police animal.  A tool if you will that is given some added protection under the law, but is not in the law equated with a human.  Much as there is some special status for Harming a police officer as opposed to other citizens. It is not murder as some people claim, it is simply more serious an offense.  But then again, most of the people who attempt to injure a police animal are in fact doing so in performance of other crimes, not just doing so to do it.

So, Would a marine that was killed to save the life of the dog, be considered a hero or idiot?  I can't imagine the corpse would place greater value on the dog than the person.  The whole purpose of police or military work animals is so that they would be injured or killed in place of their human handlers.  Not live as equals to them.

Please note that I used no specific incidents as examples in my post.  Please also note the very specific section of law cited.  At least in this state you would be able to demand that the dog be put to sleep or if there was an imminent attack you could shoot it.  I do not know the laws of your state in this regard.

A dog is a dog. No more no less. They have short life spans and pet owners will out live several of them. Not to diminish the sense of loss of the pet as it is an emotional companion. But not a humane companion. No Dogs are OWNED, they are property.

NO PROPERTY equals the value of a human life.

Destruction of private property is usually a misdemeanor until the $$$ of the property reaches a certain level and then it becomes a felony. Of course the amount will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

LEO canines cost in the Thousands of Tax payer Dollars. Hence the harsher penalty [felony status] for the damage or death of one.  No different than damage to private property of equal $$$$.

Love my dogs dearly but they are animals and thus property and if one of my dogs was a danger to society someone else would not have to shoot them. I would.

I too find some of the posts about finding someone and executing them over a pet disturbing. Part of being a responsible gun owner is to respect the sanctity of human life.

Just because one does not like the law does not make it any less so.  It is still the law until it is changed or ruled unconstitutional.  The people at PETA have had moral dillemas about this one for years. What to do with a dog that murders a chicken????

The old farmers solution is to chain them after the first chicken and shoot them after the second.

Please note the section of the law that assigns liability for the Dog's actions.  In the event of a wrongful destruction of property I'm well aware that all public agencies carry liability insurance.  Do like everyone else and sue till your hearts content.

Excuse me,....... but damage or destruction of a pet costing in the thousands of dollars would warrant the same penalty as that of a LEO Dog. The operative part being the $$$$ value because THEY ARE PROPERTY. Sorry if My ignorance was not communicating this properly.

Hey I'm not the one who tried to assign a specific monetary value to the life of a person and actually said that a dog, no matter how valuable was worth more than a police officer cause it won a silly dog show.  That was your arrogance pocking throuh pal, not mine.  Wonder how many soldiers your silly dog is worth or police or firemen or construction workers or lawyers or accountants.  There we have it, don't we, you lose yet another argument on the subject, and somehow I'm arrogant.  If you can't win on the facts please just stay out of the debate.

Somehow I gotta question the pseudo intellectual line of thought you seem to be following.  Notice I did not advocate just suing.  The destruction would first have to be wrongful.  Second, you have no idea how much money I make.  Perhaps more than you or any dog, perhaps not.  Landon I simply stated the facts.  You seem to be the one trying to create irrellevant circumstances and tossing our personal attacks.  That is the sign of a weak argument, or a weak mind.  Take your pick.

Is that you McUzi?

Dearest Silence:

I don't think anyone has appologized for anything, nor are they likely going to in this thread.

See, thats just it.  Again you don't really know what you are talking about.  I simply posted facts.  Perhaps the laws differ from state to state on this matter, but not much.  I didn't claim any sort of moral or ethical superiority nor did I belittle anyone in the process. Your argument is weak.  Your bluster is high and Yeah, I'll still be making my money when the dog is dust.  They don't live that long.  Like I said, I never brought money into it.  Only that when wrongful things happen there is a lawful way to deal with it.  I can't control your fixation on money.  Suffice it to say I don't do the cop thing full time anymore, you are correct there is not much money in it.  Alot of satisfaction in helping people, but not much money.  Now I live where the money flows like water.