the law

[t1ma1a]

I have what i thought was a secure garden until a dog came into it and killed 2 ducks how do i stand if this happens again and i shoot the dog ,i have both gun and licence. i live in the country and also think no matter how secure my garden this dog may well come back. thankyou.

[voltr4m4x]

Did the ducks belong to you ?

Do you know the name and address of the owner of the dog ?

[Buenchico]

See here:
http://www.shootingtimes.co.uk/sportinganswers /127373/Can_I_legally_shoot_dogs_destroying_my _animals.html

Chris

[t1ma1a]

yes the ducks do belong to me and no i dont know whose dog it is.

[voltr4m4x]

So, as "Chris" explains... it's six of one and half a dozen of the other...

(And, for once, I feel there is no Jack Russell dog snapping at my heels !!!)

[fredpuli47]

And you'd have to show that your ducks are poultry viz " domestic varieties of duck" not merely ducks that you have as ornament but ducks which common sense and the law sees as 'poultry''

.Furthermore you can only shoot the dog if it is in the act of "worrying livestock". and as a last resort (you have to act with reasonable cause, you see). You can't just shoot it because it's there and obviously you can't shoot it because of what it's done in the past.You'd have to have poultry there at the time and it has to be "worrying" the birds, that is biting them or plainly , and patently, on the point of doing so.That'll be for you to show (and, believe me, that is not as easy at it might sound, because the law is more on the side of the dog and than yours!)

You'll lose your legal protection , such as it is, if you don't report the shooting to the police within 48 hours.So you'll have the police involved, whether you like it or not, and have to satisfy them if you're to avoid prosecution for criminal damage, or any civil action.

It's as well to heed the cautionary warning in the Shooting Times piece [link]. It's lot easier and a a great deal more sensible, if at all possible, to take more measures to protect your birds by other means.
















You're very ill-advised to try it (note the warning in the Shooting Times piece}.

[fredpuli47]

Don't know what happened there ! Didn't intend a big gap !

[t1ma1a]

Thanks chris the "shooting times" clip was really helpfull. voltr4m4x what are you on about? my garden is secure enough my ducks cant get out ,i have no control over a dog chewing through a fence.

[t1ma1a]

Thanks fredpuli47 i will bear that in mind , but i will make it clear that i myself am a dog owner and i would NOT shoot a dog unless it was a last resort.

[spacechimp]

Can't you paint something foul over the fence so he won't chew through it?

[wildwood]

Would it not be possible to catch the dog somehow and take it to the RSPCA as a stray. It is obvious the owner couldn't give a monkey's **** about the dog so in the end it might end up with a caring owner.

[Tweed]

Don't shoot the dog FFS. Just secure it properly. It's not impossible.

[Ice.Maiden]

Have you seen the dog yourself? Do you know who it belongs to? Are you sure a fox hasn't been getting at your ducks?

[t1ma1a]

Hi, thanks to all who replied to my question, no definatly not a fox and someone else saw the dog .i totally agree wildwood.