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State laws vary but raccoons invading property or threatening livestock and pets are considered varmints in many jurisdictions. Then there is the fact that raccoon hunting is a popular -- and legal -- sport in some parts of America. (That means the coon hounds will tree the animal and/or kill it on their own.)
There's a whole new wrinkle involved in this story. There were witnesses to the family pet dog killing the coon and they filmed it. Now the dog's owner has been charged and will be prosecuted.
Is this guy just another Michael Vick?
Seth Foster, 23, said he found his family garage in disarray last summer and sent his dog in the building to investigate. Grizz, a blue heeler, returned with the culprit, a young raccoon. As two teenage boys watched, one of them filming its actions with a cell phone, Grizz killed the coon, Foster said. Now, Foster is facing a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty resulting in death, which is punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. A jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Jackson County District Court. Foster, whose father owns a nuisance animal control business, contends he did not do anything wrong. The raccoon damaged his family’s property on Ivan Drive in Spring Arbor Township. “It’s ridiculous,” he said of the charge. “Everybody I’ve talked to says it’s ridiculous.” There is a proper way to deal with a pest and it does not involve animal agony, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer. Raccoons can be trapped alive or quickly and efficiently killed, he said. Blumer said the dog was encouraged to attack the raccoon and “tear it apart.” He likened this to cockfighting or dogfighting, both of which are illegal. “There is legitimate sport, and then there’s cruel sport,” he said.
More at the link (read the comments for local reaction):
Then there is the fact that raccoon hunting is a popular -- and legal -- sport in some parts of America. (That means the coon hounds will tree the animal and/or kill it on their own.)
Is someone allowed to hunt raccoons whenever and wherever they feel like it?
State laws vary but raccoons invading property or threatening livestock and pets are considered varmints in many jurisdictions. Then there is the fact that raccoon hunting is a popular -- and legal -- sport in some parts of America. (That means the coon hounds will tree the animal and/or kill it on their own.)
There's a whole new wrinkle involved in this story. There were witnesses to the family pet dog killing the coon and they filmed it. Now the dog's owner has been charged and will be prosecuted.
Is this guy just another Michael Vick?
Seth Foster, 23, said he found his family garage in disarray last summer and sent his dog in the building to investigate. Grizz, a blue heeler, returned with the culprit, a young raccoon. As two teenage boys watched, one of them filming its actions with a cell phone, Grizz killed the coon, Foster said. Now, Foster is facing a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty resulting in death, which is punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. A jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Jackson County District Court. Foster, whose father owns a nuisance animal control business, contends he did not do anything wrong. The raccoon damaged his family’s property on Ivan Drive in Spring Arbor Township. “It’s ridiculous,” he said of the charge. “Everybody I’ve talked to says it’s ridiculous.” There is a proper way to deal with a pest and it does not involve animal agony, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer. Raccoons can be trapped alive or quickly and efficiently killed, he said. Blumer said the dog was encouraged to attack the raccoon and “tear it apart.” He likened this to cockfighting or dogfighting, both of which are illegal. “There is legitimate sport, and then there’s cruel sport,” he said.
More at the link (read the comments for local reaction):
Is someone allowed to hunt raccoons whenever and wherever they feel like it?
It depends up on the state and if you are talking about "hunting", nuisance abatement, or a dog doing what dogs will naturally do.
I had a rescued ESS who was a natural hunter with a very strong prey drive. He killed full size adult groundhogs without hesitation. I have a 7 mo. old pup now who caught his first wild bunnies when he was 9 weeks of age. He's chased racoons at night but luckily has not had a sucessful catch. Should I be in jail for animal cruelty too?
I think the defining difference in this case is not the dog's owner but the juveniles who chose to tape the incident and then post it on the internet. That is what pushed the whole thing over the top to an appearence of "cruelty", IMO. YMMV
What happens on the internet stays on the internet.
My dog kills snakes around my house too, does that make me guilty of animal cruelty?
I think not. No these people shouldn't be charged with anything. Raccoons aren't endangered, they get into the trash, they can kill your dog or a young child, and if they are around your house you should be able to dispose of them in anyway necessary.
It depends up on the state and if you are talking about "hunting", nuisance abatement, or a dog doing what dogs will naturally do.
I had a rescued ESS who was a natural hunter with a very strong prey drive. He killed full size adult groundhogs without hesitation. I have a 7 mo. old pup now who caught his first wild bunnies when he was 9 weeks of age. He's chased racoons at night but luckily has not had a sucessful catch. Should I be in jail for animal cruelty too?
I think the defining difference in this case is not the dog's owner but the juveniles who chose to tape the incident and then post it on the internet. That is what pushed the whole thing over the top to an appearence of "cruelty", IMO. YMMV
What happens on the internet stays on the internet.
I can't believe it. I agree with the Mogal. Never happened before.
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