Shooting dogs in Mn

[nobody]

I noticed all the national attention that Wi. is getting since they had a
guy propose to be able to shoot stray cats outside since they kill birds.
Last month the Strib published that the Mn DNR put out a memo to the public
that it was ok for anyone to shoot dogs on there property in MN. that were
harassing wildlife in any way.(its already a Mn law) I wonder why this hasnt
got any press what so ever besides the small paragraph on the Strib. I see
why cats outdid dogs as #1 pets now I quess.

[Sully]

Not sure of the article you mention but...it has been legal for years I
believe for Conservation Officers to shoot on sight any dog seen chasing
deer. Many years ago there was a case of some guy raising hell cause his
big $$$ dog was shot while chasing deer. He lost his case as far as I
know.

When it comes to feral cats, it has been generally accepted forever that
they are no more protected than a coyote. They are hunting from sun up
to sun down: PREDATORS!! They kill songbirds, pheasant, ducks, and
whatever else they can catch. Keep the damn cats inside and there is no
problem.
Sully

Post by nobody
I noticed all the national attention that Wi. is getting since they had a
guy propose to be able to shoot stray cats outside since they kill birds.
Last month the Strib published that the Mn DNR put out a memo to the public
that it was ok for anyone to shoot dogs on there property in MN. that were
harassing wildlife in any way.(its already a Mn law) I wonder why this hasnt
got any press what so ever besides the small paragraph on the Strib. I see
why cats outdid dogs as #1 pets now I quess.

[nobody]

Between Jan. 1 and July 14, a person other than a peace officer or
conservation officers may kill the dog. The officer or person is not liable
for damages for killing the dog.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1107965649

Its legal for anyone according to the dnr. I dont know why its only 6 months
out of the year though.

Post by Sully
Not sure of the article you mention but...it has been legal for years I
believe for Conservation Officers to shoot on sight any dog seen chasing
deer. Many years ago there was a case of some guy raising hell cause his
big $$$ dog was shot while chasing deer. He lost his case as far as I
know.
When it comes to feral cats, it has been generally accepted forever that
they are no more protected than a coyote. They are hunting from sun up to
sun down: PREDATORS!! They kill songbirds, pheasant, ducks, and whatever
else they can catch. Keep the damn cats inside and there is no problem.
Sully

Post by nobody
I noticed all the national attention that Wi. is getting since they had a
guy propose to be able to shoot stray cats outside since they kill birds.
Last month the Strib published that the Mn DNR put out a memo to the
public that it was ok for anyone to shoot dogs on there property in MN.
that were harassing wildlife in any way.(its already a Mn law) I wonder
why this hasnt got any press what so ever besides the small paragraph on
the Strib. I see why cats outdid dogs as #1 pets now I quess.

[Mystic_River_5]

Post by nobody
Between Jan. 1 and July 14, a person other than a peace officer or
conservation officers may kill the dog. The officer or person is not liable
for damages for killing the dog.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1107965649
Its legal for anyone according to the dnr. I dont know why its only 6 months
out of the year though.

Here is a quote from that site:
"Winter is an appropriate time to talk about the problem because big
game animals are expending every bit of energy to stay alive and have a
difficult time running through deep crusted snow," Hamm said. "Many does
will also abort their fawns if too much stress is placed on them."

So the animals need extra protection while its winter. The deer rut
is in late fall, after that the does are pregnant. After that, their
new borns need protection. By July 14, their new borns should be big
enough to get away on their own. At least that's my take...

Good site by the way. Thanks for sharing!

Mystic

[Cyli]

Post by nobody
Between Jan. 1 and July 14, a person other than a peace officer or
conservation officers may kill the dog. The officer or person is not liable
for damages for killing the dog.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1107965649
Its legal for anyone according to the dnr. I dont know why its only 6 months
out of the year though.

Because those are the times of big snows and starvation for deer.
Well, after the foliage starts, they aren't in snow or starving any
more, but there are fawns to nurse and get old enough and so forth.
And the deer have to feed up to get through the next year.

I don't know why only 6 months, either, nor would I have picked those
6 if it'd been up to me. I'd have gone from end of deer season to
start of May. Except for the possible fawn issue.

Perhaps it was once legal in MN to run deer with dogs? In that case
the exception would have been made for some of those other months and
just never went away.

I'd not shoot a dog I saw running deer. No telling where the owner
was or how he / she was armed. Some people get really angry over pet
deaths. I do not go out in the woods and on the waters to have a gun
battle. Other than that, I see nothing particular wrong with the law.

I don't think feral cats are worth bothering about. They'll get
songbirds and pheasant chicks and such near their home or farm, but
they don't go far and they don't live long. If you don't want your
cat killing birds, don't let it out and / or stop putting out a bird
feeder. If you don't concentrate the birds in one area, the cats
won't find them as easily, will they?

BTW, my dog was always in the house or chained and few of my cats have
ever escaped for longer than it took to track them down and lure them
in with a can opener / or food call sound. While '...animals were
meant to be free...' has a lot of sentiment behind it, we shouldn't
domesticate them and then expect them to take care of themselves and
run wild. Not in a civilization that includes cars, for one danger.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: ***@gmail.com.invalid (strip the .invalid to email)

[Brian Link]

Post by Cyli

Post by nobody
Between Jan. 1 and July 14, a person other than a peace officer or
conservation officers may kill the dog. The officer or person is not liable
for damages for killing the dog.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1107965649
Its legal for anyone according to the dnr. I dont know why its only 6 months
out of the year though.

Because those are the times of big snows and starvation for deer.
Well, after the foliage starts, they aren't in snow or starving any
more, but there are fawns to nurse and get old enough and so forth.
And the deer have to feed up to get through the next year.
I don't know why only 6 months, either, nor would I have picked those
6 if it'd been up to me. I'd have gone from end of deer season to
start of May. Except for the possible fawn issue.
Perhaps it was once legal in MN to run deer with dogs? In that case
the exception would have been made for some of those other months and
just never went away.
I'd not shoot a dog I saw running deer. No telling where the owner
was or how he / she was armed. Some people get really angry over pet
deaths. I do not go out in the woods and on the waters to have a gun
battle. Other than that, I see nothing particular wrong with the law.
I don't think feral cats are worth bothering about. They'll get
songbirds and pheasant chicks and such near their home or farm, but
they don't go far and they don't live long. If you don't want your
cat killing birds, don't let it out and / or stop putting out a bird
feeder. If you don't concentrate the birds in one area, the cats
won't find them as easily, will they?
BTW, my dog was always in the house or chained and few of my cats have
ever escaped for longer than it took to track them down and lure them
in with a can opener / or food call sound. While '...animals were
meant to be free...' has a lot of sentiment behind it, we shouldn't
domesticate them and then expect them to take care of themselves and
run wild. Not in a civilization that includes cars, for one danger.
Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.
http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Amen.

Keep the cats inside, or do as I do which is to take them out leashed
(if you can manage it). And for god's sake if you're letting your
animal run free, make sure it's fixed.

I just finished a really traumatic situation adopting a stray, having
one of the residents totally freak out, and having to let the stray
go. Luckily we found an owner for him, but lotsa folks woulda just
sent him back outside.

20,000 + pets are euthanized in this state each year. That totally
sucks.

I just think people should be licensed to own pets. With an exam. Gah.

BLink

[Levi]

Post by Cyli
I don't think feral cats are worth bothering about. They'll get
songbirds and pheasant chicks and such near their home or farm, but
they don't go far and they don't live long. If you don't want your
cat killing birds, don't let it out and / or stop putting out a bird
feeder. If you don't concentrate the birds in one area, the cats
won't find them as easily, will they?

Sorry, Cyli, you're misinformed.

Loose cats, feral or not, do indeed kill a lot of animals, especially
birds. It's a hidden environmental "disaster" that a lot of cat owners
are unwilling to accept.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fwt/back_issues/december98/cats.html

: It's the bird kill that particularly concerns Joan Galli, a DNR nongame
: wildlife specialist. The most recent UW research suggests that the
: estimated 1 million to 2 million free-ranging rural cats in Wisconsin
: kill roughly 40 million birds each year. Galli and other Minnesota
: wildlife officials believe that the number here is likely comparable.

: "Everything we know about the Wisconsin studies suggests that at least
: that many cats are doing the same amount of harm to birds in Minnesota,"
: says Galli. "I think most people don't realize just what kind of damage
: domestic cats are doing to wildlife, particularly birds."

What I wish I could find on the DNR site is the actual law.

Can I, um, legally "terminate" my neighbor's battlewagon cat that she lets
out every night - and refuses to restrain? Only while it's chasing some
wildlife? If it attacks me?

Or are only dogs subject to this law?

[Poor Impulse Control]

Post by Levi
What I wish I could find on the DNR site is the actual law.
Can I, um, legally "terminate" my neighbor's battlewagon cat that she lets
out every night - and refuses to restrain? Only while it's chasing some
wildlife? If it attacks me?
Or are only dogs subject to this law?

I'd guess that on private property you can take any animal not otherwise
a member of a protected group, provided that you take the animal in a
manner consistant with DNR rules on trapping and local regulations on
the use of weapons.

I could see a neighbor suing you in small claims court, though.

You might be better off trapping the animal in a live trap and calling
animal control. With tags, the owner might get a citation. Without
tags they might take it to animal control and give it the standard run
before they gas it.

[nobody]

Looks like stray cats are fair game in mn. ,after reading the article
online yesterday


http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5294789.html
http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5294737.html

Post by Levi
What I wish I could find on the DNR site is the actual law.
Can I, um, legally "terminate" my neighbor's battlewagon cat that she
lets out every night - and refuses to restrain? Only while it's chasing
some
wildlife? If it attacks me?
Or are only dogs subject to this law?

I'd guess that on private property you can take any animal not otherwise a
member of a protected group, provided that you take the animal in a manner
consistant with DNR rules on trapping and local regulations on the use of
weapons.
I could see a neighbor suing you in small claims court, though.
You might be better off trapping the animal in a live trap and calling
animal control. With tags, the owner might get a citation. Without tags
they might take it to animal control and give it the standard run before
they gas it.

[Levi]

Post by nobody
Looks like stray cats are fair game in mn. ,after reading the article
online yesterday
http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5294789.html
http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5294737.html

Saw it.

Makes you wonder who on the Strib reads this newsgroup for article ideas.

No URL reference to the actual law, tho.

[Jeffrey C. Dege]

Post by Levi

Post by nobody
Looks like stray cats are fair game in mn. ,after reading the article
online yesterday
http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5294789.html
http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5294737.html

Saw it.
Makes you wonder who on the Strib reads this newsgroup for article ideas.
No URL reference to the actual law, tho.

Remember - there doesn't have to be a law allowing people to shoot cats.
There has to be a law forbidding people to shoot cats. If there isn't
one, it's legal.

Now there are laws about where you can shoot, regardless of what you're
shooting at. In developed areas, too close to dwellings, etc.

And shooting a cat that is owned by someone else is a tort against
its owner.

But unless there is a law that protects cats - and there isn't - shooting
an unowned cat in rural areas is legal.

What the laws regarding shooting dogs provide for is a legal authorization
to shoot owned dogs in some circumstances without committing a tort
against their owners.

[Poor Impulse Control]

Post by Jeffrey C. Dege
Remember - there doesn't have to be a law allowing people to shoot cats.
There has to be a law forbidding people to shoot cats. If there isn't
one, it's legal.

What are they teaching in civics these days?

Are they teaching kids that everything is illegal unless the government
says its not?

[Adam Maloney]

Post by nobody
got any press what so ever besides the small paragraph on the Strib. I see
why cats outdid dogs as #1 pets now I quess.

^^^^^^^
You spelled "pests" wrong :) (IMHO)

[c***@gmail.com]

Post by nobody
I noticed all the national attention that Wi. is getting since they had a
guy propose to be able to shoot stray cats outside since they kill birds.
Last month the Strib published that the Mn DNR put out a memo to the public
that it was ok for anyone to shoot dogs on there property in MN. that were
harassing wildlife in any way.(its already a Mn law) I wonder why this hasnt
got any press what so ever besides the small paragraph on the Strib. I see
why cats outdid dogs as #1 pets now I quess.

As a clarification - it's legal to shoot dogs who are harassing LARGE wildlife, like Deer.