[Jacob-list] Dog Problems in Michigan

[CindyMcDee at aol.com]

In our state there is an old law on the books that lets farmers protect their 
livestock regardless.  Of course, the young yuppies and policemen that don't 
have agricultural backgrounds ignore it and tell us that we cannot defend 
ourselves from wandering predatory animals, but a lot of law enforcement will 
give you their opinion on the subject and they do not know or care about what 
the law says. 

The truth is that a person is allowed to defend their property.  There are a 
variety of ways.  We went and bought a live dog trap to the tune of 99$ and 
use nice hamburger or anything else to get the animal.  THEN........it 
depends on whether the husband is at home as to what happens next.  He is a 
softy.  I am not.  Sometimes, depending on the animal, I return it to the 
owner, because I know it got out by mistake.  With one owner, I want to be 
able to say that I would never harm his animals, so I trap his dogs and drive 
them 3 counties over and turn them over as strays to the humane society (They 
are never seen again!).  With other dogs, (I know the neighborhood dogs) the 
strays, they simply disappear quietly, when the hubby isn't home.  I talk to 
tons of old timers and they all have guns and stories to tell about defending 
their livestock.  Basically, a wandering dog WILL destroy livestock.  Period. 
 People that don't own livestock don't care about our losses.  So, it might 
be considered guerilla warfare.

cindy j