Benton County Sheriff Randy Forsyth reported today that there have been two incidents involving shooting of a dogs, not three as has been reported by some sources.
The first incident was a case where there was a dog running loose on someone else's property and attacking that property owner's cats. Based on Iowa law, if there is a dog running loose attacking other animals it is lawful to dispose of it. This incident is considered closed.
The Iowa Code regarding loose dogs is listed below:
351.26 Right and duty to kill untagged dog.
It shall be lawful for any person, and the duty of all peace officers within their respective jurisdictions unless such jurisdiction shall have otherwise provided for the seizure and impoundment of dogs, to kill any dog for which a rabies vaccination tag is required, when the dog is not wearing a collar with rabies vaccination tag attached.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5448; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §351.26]
94 Acts, ch 1173, §33
The second shooting, which happened Monday night, involved a dog that was along the road and was shot three times with a pellet gun. That dog is alive and being treated by a local veterinary clinic and is expected to recover fully.
The Benton County Sheriff's Department is still investigating the second incident. They are actively seeking any information that anyone may have on a small sized blue or teal pickup with a matching topper that may have been in the area at the same time and may have witnessed the incident.
A $2500.00 reward has been offered for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved. If you have any information regarding this case please call the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at 319-472-2337 or your local law enforcement agency.
If you are familiar with this vehicle, please contact the Benton County Sheriff's Office at 319-472-2337.
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Hawks and owls can pick a cat off and see their prey up to a mile away.
Why not called animal control and have the dog removed. Almost sounds like you have a vendetta againist dogs and an excuse to shoot them plain and simple. Sad to read that you preceive shooting dogs as ok.
I accept the risk of living in the country. I have had many cats that just disappeared, probably caught by dogs, coyotes, eagles, owls, run over by cars or whatever. I accept the risk that comes with the lifestyle I have chosen. However, I will defend what is mine on my property. My neighbor says he has seen my cats at his place, and I told him if they are chasing his dogs or his cattle, he has the right to shoot them, I understand the law. I also know that I have seen my cats come across the field carrying mice and rats from his place, so it would seem that they are actually doing him a service.
Dogs can be trained, if the owner chooses the put in the time to do so, that is their nature. Cats can not be trained, and that is their nature too. I choose to favor cats, and have accepted the risks that come with their nature. Dog owners are not immune to the risks of country living either, and when they don\'t acknowledge those risks and take proper steps to counteract those risks, it creates hard feelings.
Dog owners who do not take proper steps to train their dogs and keep them home will always run the risk of those dogs never coming back home.
Lastly I would like to respond to Ann Clark by saying that a dog is an Animal, I don\'t care how trained or well behaved your dog is, things happen a dog will be a dog no matter what you say they are still an animal. Just like someones child you can raise your child to be good but there is no way of stopping them from misbehaving if they so choose.
As far as the second incident, it is being said many times this dog was very close to his/her yard and by the road, and was wearing a collar. The dog was not in someone else\'s yard. And this is not an isolated incident in this area. Yes, pet owners need to be aware of where their pets are at all times. But, it surely does not justify someone shooting dogs even with a pellet gun. I understand Iowa code as it stands, however, changes need to be made.
A couple of things. As I responded to Jeff Tilson yesterday the first reports on Vinton Today(Monday night) 102.9 radio (Tuesday morning on my way to work) and KCRG
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Three-Dogs-shot-in-past-two-weeks-in-Benton-County-191913471.html
Stated very clearly that this was 3 incidents of dog shootings, not with a pellet gun, but by a gun. The Pellet gun was not known until yesterday evening.
2nd There is a big difference between a dog on someone else\'s property attacking other animals or persons and driving by, even with a pellet gun, and shooting a dog because it was there. I do not understand that behavior and to dismiss it as \"just a pellet gun\" diminishes the seriousness of this violent behavior.
Sorry, but if there\'s a dog heading towards my kids and I can\'t get it away from them and I have a gun on me, I will shoot the dog before it hurts my kids.
Now, to the actual article. Did ya\'ll going on your anti-gun diatribes miss the part that said it was a PELLET gun? We\'re not talking a semi-auto, a shotgun, or an automatic weapon here. And, the first shooting apparently was in defense of that persons property. Read the article, read the facts of the case, and then base your comments off that please.
If the person going around shooting dogs really wanted to harm them, taking away his pellet gun isn\'t going to help. There are many forms of cruelty and taking away guns just isn\'t going to stop it. Look at Chicago, and D.C. The biggest gun control laws and the highest gun crime rates. Think about it. You take away guns from the lawful and only the criminals are left because they don\'t care one bit about the law.
If you feel threatened stay inside call the authorities or Witmers Animal Service he would be happy to help!. One day the laws with change and come for those who do this kind of thing, you wait!
This means that no roaming dog has the right to invade personal property and accost another persons animals. Train your dogs, keep your dogs home.
I do not take issue with most of what you said in your response but what I and many others have concerns that not only is there a misunderstanding about the role of mental health in this but the guns rights people, NRA, the American Legislative Exchange Council, (ALEC) etc. that want to expand the availability of guns by first opposing any constructive regulations such as unified background checks, closing the gun show loop-hole and limited the amount of ammunition a person can purchase at one time. With the help of ALEC, the NRA has convinced state legislators to loosen existing laws. Here in Iowa, there is a bill HJ4 as an amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would prohibit even the licensing of gun permits. From the Iowa Legislature’s website:
EXPLANATION This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa providing that the right of an individual to acquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer, and use arms to defend life and liberty and for all other legitimate purposes is fundamental and shall not be infringed upon or denied. Mandatory licensing, registration or special taxation as a condition of the exercise of this right is prohibited, and any other restriction shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
In addition there is a “Stand Your Ground” bill HF 57 or “the shoot first, claim you are in danger, to avoid prosecution bill.” And HF 81 that would prevent the public from knowing who has concealed license permits. These are the bills that I know of and could be more. Incidentally, our own State Representative Pettengill has sponsored all three of these bills. The NRA is quick to say uphold the laws already on the books but they don’t tell the public they are working to expand, eliminate, or water down those very same laws they want upheld.
Obviously, mental health is a large component of all of this but Shane there is also a gun problem. Only fixing mental health will not stop gun violence. What it will take and thankfully we are seeing some movement on this issue is for the public to not accept unfettered access to any guns and ammunition, for anyone is a problem. This will only be solved by a cultural change that stops glorifying guns and a paranoid fear that the government is just waiting for a chance to take away your guns. But in the meantime, the carnage continues and the gun and ammunition manufacturers get richer.
Patti, I was expecting a totally ridiculous comment like you gave. Let\'s everyone carry guns and have old west shoot outs at nooon. Unbelievable!!
And I was wondering when someone on the gun rights side would try to deflect the obvious. As Ms. Carmen mentioned above that someone who would seek to injured or kill someone\'s pet is a danger to society. I heard on the radio this morning there have been 3 such incidents with the dogs being shot multiple times. I mistakenly thought they were killed but fortunately not yet.
It is a culture in this country that celebrates guns and the easy access to these deadly weapons that is the problem. With the \"shall issue\" gun permits in place, local sheriffs do not have any choice but to issue gun permits unless you are a convicted felon or certified mentally ill. It is not bats or hammers that has been used, it is some disturbed person or persons getting their kicks from shooting pets and if you can not rationally understand that putting guns in the hands of unstable people is the problem, then I question your ability to reason and compassion for our dear pets and our society as a whole.
This is what happens when any idiot can possess firearms. If only these animals had a gun to protect themselves from these obvious disturbed people who chose to kill someone else\'s pet family member. Gotta have those guns after all it is anyone\'s right to shoot any thing. I know, those pets were a danger to that individual and they had to shoot the pet to protect themselves! Stand that ground!!