I have a few questions about the use of deadly force.
1. I can use deadly force to protect myself or someone else that is in danger of death or severe bodily harm, but can I use deadly force to protect or save the life of my household pet?

2. Can I use deadly force to protect myself from something other than a human being. A vicious dog for example, or better yet a Federally protected critter like the Timber Wolf?

3 Last, can I used deadly force to protect the life of my family pet from the jaws of a Federally Protected Timber Wolf. Or do I just have to sit back and watch the wolf tear my dog apart?

For #1, I'm going with the safe answer of NO. The possible exception is if you are in your own home, and the pet is worth a ton of money. (do not include emotional distress)

#2, I would take my chances. But, if you are protecting yourself from great bodily harm or death, you should be ok. Take a fine over death any day. Let it gnaw on your arm a little first...

#3, You don't HAVE to watch. See #1 also.

I've always wondered about this. My neighbor's dog repeatedly gets in our yard, barks at us, and has bitten my son on the leg and a neighbor in the face.

I'm more likely to kick it, hit it with a brick or baseball bat tho than shoot it. But I guess it depends on how bad the attack is.

http://www.twincitiescarry.com/forum/vi ... 653#125900

347.17 Any person may kill dogs in certain cases.

Any person may kill any dog that the person knows is affected with the disease known as hydrophobia [rabies -AR], or that may suddenly attack while the person is peacefully walking or riding and while being out of the enclosure of its owner or keeper, and may kill any dog found killing, wounding, or worrying any horses, cattle, sheep, lambs, or other domestic animals.

Thanks, this helps a lot. Does this law apply to Wolves as well?

Wow!

That's what I love about this site...

Thanks

Your family pet will never be attacked, so I wouldn't worry about it. Of course, it is possible that you might be attacked, and your family pet may attempt to intervene in an attempt to defend you, and if the animal attacking you should be injured or killed, so be it...

No. Under the law, pets are property, and you usually can't use deadly force to protect property. That said, a person murdering your dog in front of you might reasonably cause you to fear for your own life.



Yes.

http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=347.17





Yes. Thanks to the wackos at HSUS, the US Fish and Wildlife Service was ordered by a federal court to reinstate the Endangered Species Act status of the grey wolf (timber wolf) as of last September. So, per 50 CFR 17.40...





You don't have to watch, but, as seen above, you can only kill a wolf to protect a person's life.

In think this case has probably got limited application, which I think is a good thing as it makes it a little easier.

Let's take the scenario where you are truly defending your pet from harm and it's not just because your dog went off half-cocked against someone walking by.

If the other party is in a position to truly kill/seriously injure your dog, chances are they have weapon and you're the next target.

Due to the lack of common sense in our new world order, I would employ the 3's if I was out in the woods and a wolf / cougar/ linx/ coyote attacked as it could turn on me just as fast. After all, fido is just the appetizer.

Shoot
Shovel
Shut up

I wonder what qualifies as worrying as in "may kill any dog found killing, wounding, or worrying any horses, cattle, sheep, lambs, or other domestic animals. "

Well if your life is in danger because of a wolf, you're most likely going to protect yourself no matter what the laws say right?

Besides, you'll be in the woods and nobody will hear your shot anyways

I'd hate to worry those sheep.

Deadly force is a concept that is relevant only when said force is applied against a person. The legal concept of deadly force is inoperative when one is, say, shooting at a badger or raccoon.

If a person is wringing the neck of your dog, the law would not permit you to shoot them. As it should be.

If a raccoon is shredding your dog to bits, you can shoot it, subject to whatever local ordinances there might be regarding the discharge of firearms within your jurisdiction.



Again, it's no longer about deadly force. With a dog, vicious or otherwise, legally, they are chattel and generally have the same status as a piece of furniture, beyond some laws regarding cruelty which might apply or not depending on the circumstances.



Like so many hypothetical scenarios, this one is sufficiently unlikely that it doesn't merit a reply, unless your family pet is a sheep and you live in the arrowhead.

Interesting that property is included. I wonder what defines lawful...

True, but many of the Timber Wolves around here have tracking chips embedded in them. If they die or stop moving for any length of time someone will come looking.






I do live in the Arrowhead, and what makes a sheep any more of a target for a Timber Wolf than a family pet? Maybe you should bring your favorite pooch up here and hook him up to the dog chain in my back yard. We can sit around, drink a few beers and watch the wolves come in. I'll guarantee ya, you will never forget it.