Dog to be euthed for attacking a duck?

[starhorse]

I just stumbled across this on Facebook. Has anyone seen this story?

Rapid Response Team for Animals

http://www.pleasehelpbeau.org/

Here’s the petition, if you feel inclined to sign it. I’m still figuring out how this is legal… https://www.change.org/p/save-beau-the-dog-s-life

From the website:
"Beau is a 2 and 1/2 year old Golden Retriever/White German Shepard mix with no history of aggression or biting. But after Beau killed a duck that wandered on to his own property, he was seized by animal control and the city of Dyersburg, TN plans to euthanize him as a “vicious animal.”

Beau should not be killed for this reason and should be able to live out his life with his owner, Danny Higgins. Danny is heartbroken at the thought that the city plans to euthanize his beloved dog on November 20th.

Danny now has to visit Beau in boarding where the city is forcing him to stay. And on top of this, they’re charging him to keep Beau there."

What the what?

[JanM]

I find it very hard to believe that a dog with no bite or attack history, will be euthanized as vicious. Something isn’t adding up, and I believe an animal in quarantine is usually the financial responsibility of the owner.

[starhorse]

[QUOTE=JanM;7842667]
I find it very hard to believe that a dog with no bite or attack history, will be euthanized as vicious. Something isn’t adding up, and I believe an animal in quarantine is usually the financial responsibility of the owner.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I am not clear on this either. Wondering if anyone knew the story better.

[MsM]

A quick Google showed that an 8 year old boy claimed the dog tried to bite him and the police also reported the dog was “aggressive”. Apparently the offer was made to release the dog if they followed the vicious dog restrictions but the owners said they couldn’t afford to do that…

[starhorse]

[QUOTE=MsM;7842704]
A quick Google showed that an 8 year old boy claimed the dog tried to bite him and the police also reported the dog was “aggressive”. Apparently the offer was made to release the dog if they followed the vicious dog restrictions but the owners said they couldn’t afford to do that…[/QUOTE]

Ah. Helpful context. Sad story for all.

[vacation1]

The dog’s apparently gotten a stay until Nov 20.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/2129384.html

Some nasty accusations in the comments section. The least ugly version seems to imply that the owner was out of town for some extended period (ie, not out to the store for an hour but overnight at least) and left the dog alone (some say tied outside). It either had got loose or had been left loose; when animal control arrived, they found it running around the neighborhood. The neighbors say it killed a pet duck that went into the yard and threatened their 8yo son when he (presumably) tried to retrieve his pet. Police said the dog also threatened them.

It seems hard to kill an older man’s pet dog, but the town doesn’t really seem hell-bent on doing this - they’ve given him the option of rehoming the dog. And although that seems cruel too - separating him from his pet - ultimately, you should not maintain your dog in a way that brings harm to your neighbors. The owner seems determined to keep the dog, and has used social media to raise an animal lover firestorm to get his own way. That’s troubling to me. He seems to have rejected any sort of responsibility for the situation he and his pet are in, and rather than trying to solve it, is gambling that crying 'Poor old man" will work, and get him out of paying the normal fines and fees for someone whose loose dog is picked up by animal control. If it was my dog, I wouldn’t want to play with her life like that.

[asb2517]

While I think it is ridiculous to euthanize a dog that attacked a duck in his own yard I wonder how many of the people signing the petition would do so if it was a pitbull in the same situation.

I’m sure some people that have posted on this thread would be calling for the dog’s head on a platter. Just saying.

[Riverotter]

It is standard to euth a dog that kills livestock, and livestock is anything with hooves or feathers.
There is no proof that the dog was in his yard and not the duck’s yard when he killed the duck, the dog was left tied to a dog house, not behind a fence, had gotten loose and may well have killed the duck and brought it home. That he was defending the body IS aggressive behavior. I live out in the sticks and have a farm and have had dogs come and kill, they generally run off with tails between their legs when confronted unless they come wagging up with no idea they’ve done wrong.

Also, several rescues have stepped forward and said they’d take the dog, the owner doesn’t want that, he wants to raise funds. He pretty much seems to see this as a money making opportunity, this poor dog wasn’t exactly a pet, it was tied outside constantly and this was not the first time it had been left, animal control had been out before.

[chancellor2]

[QUOTE=asb2517;7845133]
While I think it is ridiculous to euthanize a dog that attacked a duck in his own yard I wonder how many of the people signing the petition would do so if it was a pitbull in the same situation.

I’m sure some people that have posted on this thread would be calling for the dog’s head on a platter. Just saying.[/QUOTE]

I was thinking the EXACT same thing.