[wolfwithin]

$1:

The dogs were in his livestock's feeding area, putting the animals in a "panic state," said Insp. Bruce Townley of Durham Region police.

Livestock can be anything from sheep, to horses, to cattle, to pigs, to goats or even emus

$1:

"I sympathize with the owner," Hugh Coghill said. "I'd be devastated if it happened to my dogs. But I've seen what two dogs will do to a flock of sheep overnight. It's horrifically graphic."

$1:

The dogs were in his livestock's feeding area, putting the animals in a "panic state," said Insp. Bruce Townley of Durham Region police. He wouldn't identify the farmer or type of animals.

hmm, so why all the talk about cattle? when it says that they won't identify the farmer or TYPE of Animals....
My dogs run amongst the cattle that get lose on the next farm over and they come eat on my front lawn, (even look in my living room window lol) they don't panic! If cows are use to dogs, then they can handle being barked at or even a slight chase as long as they aren't being nipped - sheep on the other hand, are skittish animals to begin with and some are herded - which is what border collies do best right? and if they are dog hearded animals, they will immediately expect something to happen and get skiddish.... panicky and not know what to do without direction.

$1:

The intention of the decades-old Livestock, (* not considered livestock per say - is:)Poultry and Honeybee Protection Act - is to protect livestock from harm by stray dogs, Coghill said. "They don't even have to be in the act of attacking. A dog can actually worry cattle, sheep or poultry to death."

and from my article that I wrote and referred to (becuz people abandon dogs in the country thinking that some Farmer will "probably need them" - :

$1:

Pets that are abandoned in the country have it even worse!
- Farmers don't exactly appreciate new animals coming around. If a pet is lucky enough to come across a farmer who has compassion, the animal may get taken in - in the best case scenerio, or it will be taken in - to be taken to the local vet or bylaw and again, their fate is limited.

- Farmers: when it comes to large dogs, especially those they've never seen before, they may think that the dog is part of a wild pack somewhere nearby and may even shoot the dog - not knowing, especially if the dog hasn't come close and submitted itself. Wild packs are still out there in the country side, they stay as far away from humans as possible! On occasion though, one may venture too close in search of food and they are terminated.

so - who's incorrect? or what's to argue?

[wolfwithin]

sad part of this story is the evident factor of urban living verses rural living. most people moving from the city to the country don't realize that they have walked into a whole different world! If a neighbor doesn't say anything to them or they don't ask the right questions at the local village or town hall, things like "Do you have specific bylaws concerning Dogs (or cats)?" then they wouldn't realize that their "pets" could be in danger should they venture.
I sympathize with the pet owners, I wonder if they had a fenced yard or if their dogs just decided to run off in search of mates or if they were sterilized - they have suffered a loss and it was a harsh way to learn a lesson.
On the other hand, being a rural bumpkin, I do know that the farmer was in his rights, I just wonder if he he judged his options wisely.

[BartSimpson]

wolfwithin wolfwithin:

sad part of this story is the evident factor of urban living verses rural living. most people moving from the city to the country don't realize that they have walked into a whole different world! If a neighbor doesn't say anything to them or they don't ask the right questions at the local village or town hall, things like "Do you have specific bylaws concerning Dogs (or cats)?" then they wouldn't realize that their "pets" could be in danger should they venture.
I sympathize with the pet owners, I wonder if they had a fenced yard or if their dogs just decided to run off in search of mates or if they were sterilized - they have suffered a loss and it was a harsh way to learn a lesson.
On the other hand, being a rural bumpkin, I do know that the farmer was in his rights, I just wonder if he he judged his options wisely.

The farmer did judge his options wisely. He had two dogs in the feeding pen with his livestock and Section 445 of the Criminal Code http://www.canlii.org/ca/sta/c-46/sec445.html is read as not prohibiting his actions so long as the dogs are in an area frequented by his livestock. Were the dogs in a portion of his property where they were not going to bother or threaten the livestock then the farmer would be precluded from harming the dogs.

Considering that he was not charged with a violation of S.445 then, quite obviously, he weighed his options both wisely and correctly.

[SprCForr]

The farmers around here would roll their eyes and mutter "Acerage owners".

[BartSimpson]

SprCForr SprCForr:

The farmers around here would roll their eyes and mutter "Acerage owners".

I agree. We call these people "hobby farmers" down here.

For the uninformed, that means they spend more money on their so-called "farms" then they earn from them.

And you see some serious and profligate waste with these people.

[wolfwithin]

some farmers shoot first and ask questions later - we have had a couple over the years, who kindly have called us and ask that we come get "a" dog that appears lost and is unknown to them "or else they'll shoot it" - if the individual lets it out of the barn where it has been enclosed till someone comes to get it and if it goes near their livestock, they will shoot it. case closed.

I sympathize with the dog owners - as I mentioned and from the sounds of things, the farmer doesn't feel all that great either.
Whether you or anyone else likes it or not, the farmer's name and livestock are not being mentioned because there will certainly be an outcry from animal lovers.

My point being, there is a huge difference in mentalities when it comes to urbanites and rural folks.

This is a lesson to anyone who reads the article that thought that when someone moves to the country from the city - that there is an abundance of freedom in a more laid back lifestyle....
what are they thinkin?

[sasquatch2]

Around here we notice that the first thing that rubanites do when they acquire a property is to put a fence and "No tresspassing" signs. Then they build a house and move in and then let their kids and dogs run at large.

[Tricks]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

SprCForr SprCForr:

The farmers around here would roll their eyes and mutter "Acerage owners".

I agree. We call these people "hobby farmers" down here.

For the uninformed, that means they spend more money on their so-called "farms" then they earn from them.

And you see some serious and profligate waste with these people.

That's not a bad thing. My uncle does that. It is damn hard to get money out of a horse farm that you put in. Unless you board or sell every horse that you breed.