Man shoots dog out of fear, gets charged.

[The Unknown 1087]

Police: Man Shoots Lancaster County Dog

MANOR TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A Lancaster County man is charged with shooting a loose dog and the owner of the dog is charged with making terroristic threats and violating the dog law.

Brian Girouard, 41, told Manor Township police that he shot the boxer Sunday evening because he feared for his safety.

The dog was later put down at a veterinarian's office.

Girouard and the owner of the dog, Joshua Rice, were released on unsecured bail.

http://www.wgal.com/news/21426736/detail.html

[nlcrsn]

That was some real investigative reporting by that reporter. He didn't answer one question about what happened, as far as was this an ongoing issue between neighbors, a citizen out walking that was really concerned for their safety. My first reaction is the citizen is innocent, just because of the normal anti-gun policy newspapers tend to have. Which may be the reason the reporting was so pathetic.

[ungawa]

I thought any dog that threatens you or any other animal can be killed. No?

I'm not saying I'm looking for a reason to kill dogs, of course. But some times there is little or no choice.

[marinville]

§ 459-501. Killing dogs; dogs as nuisances

(a) Legal to kill certain dogs.--Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not such a dog bears the license tag required by the provisions of this act. There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing.

(b) Private nuisance.--Any dog that enters any field or enclosure where domestic animals are confined, provided that the enclosure is adequate for the purpose intended, shall constitute a private nuisance, and the owner or tenant of such field, or their agent or servant, may detain such dog and turn it over to the local police authority or State dog warden or employee of the department. While so detained, the dog shall be treated in a humane manner.

(c) Licensed dogs not included.--Licensed dogs, when accompanied by their owner or handler, shall not be included under the provisions of this section unless caught in the act of pursuing, wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing any dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings.

(d) Repealed by 1990, May 31, P.L. 213, No. 46, effective in 60 days.

*ten characters

[lorrel]

Originally Posted by nlcrsn

That was some real investigative reporting by that reporter. He didn't answer one question about what happened, as far as was this an ongoing issue between neighbors, a citizen out walking that was really concerned for their safety. My first reaction is the citizen is innocent, just because of the normal anti-gun policy newspapers tend to have. Which may be the reason the reporting was so pathetic.

Pretty short and concise.
Who
What
When
Where
Why
I do agree though the story leaves alot to be desired.

[JonnyBeGood86]

Being a delivery guy I have always wondered what the law was regarding an aggressive/attacking dog. I haven't come across many but that threat is a very real possibility around here. If he was actually acting in self defense then I hope he gets acquitted instead of being wrongfully charged and setting a wrong example to the public regarding the law.

[RoyJackson]

I'd read about this on ydr.com, but the story has been archived or pulled (so I cannot link to it).
The dog was NOT on the shooter's property, and other then growling, made no threatening moves.
Also, the shooter did not have his firearm with him...he had to go into his house to retrieve it. He, apparently, was in no danger...neither were his children.
Well, once the "shooter" went into his home, he had many options...one of which was to call the cops or animal control...or even the dog's owner.
But, what he did has leave the security of his home and shoot the dog
This, IMHO, was a bad shoot.

Found the story (Link Shooting of dog leads to 2 arrests:
Two Manor Township neighbors were arrested Sunday after police said one of the men shot the other's dog.
After learning who shot his dog, police said, the second man came after his neighbor with a baseball bat.

The dog, a 7-year-old boxer, had to be taken to a veterinarian and put down because of the injuries he sustained, police said.Police arrested:

Brian Girouard, 41, 1741 Hemlock Road, who was charged with recklessly endangering another person and cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting his neighbor's dog.

Joshua Rice, 33, 120 Albright Ave., who was charged with terroristic threats, for allegedly threatening to hurt Girouard with a baseball bat and a dog law violation for letting his dog run loose.

The incident happened around 5:30 p.m., according to police, when they were dispatched to a reported animal attack in the 100 block of Bucknell Road.

Girouard told police the boxer had wandered near his propertyand growled at him and his two young children, according to Officer Wayne Smoker.

Girouard took his children inside the house, returned with a pistol and shot the dog, police said.

The wounded dog went home.

When Rice saw his injured dog, he went after Girouard with a baseball bat, threatening to hurt the man, police said.

Police, who said they were unaware of any prior problems between the men or with the dog, said Rice and Girouard were awaiting arraignment late Sunday night.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by lorrel

Pretty short and concise.
Who

they covered that one pretty well.

What

they barely covered that one at all. we have no idea what actually happened other than a guy shot a dog. we don't know what happened before or after. what did the dog do? what did the dog's owner do? what did the guy who shot the dog do other than shooting the dog?

it sounds like the dog's owner did something, since he was charged with "making terroristic threats", but we don't get anything at all about what he actually did.

it sounds like the dog may have done something since the owner is being charged with a violation of "the dog law". what the heck does that mean? the dog was not on a leash...maybe?

When

the covered that one pretty well.

Where

didn't really cover this one, either...though it doesn't really matter that much in this case. i guess we can assume it happened somewhere in or around manor township since that was the PD that was involved.

Why

they barely addressed "why" at all.


i dunno...if i were a journalism professor and a student came to me with that story for an assignment, they would get an F.

on the other hand, the reporter may have actually written more and the editor cut it all out because he only wanted to devote X space to the story.

[GTI19403]

Originally Posted by RoyJackson

I'd read about this on ydr.com, but the story has been archived or pulled (so I cannot link to it).
The dog was NOT on the shooter's property, and other then growling, made no threatening moves.
Also, the shooter did not have his firearm with him...he had to go into his house to retrieve it. He, apparently, was in no danger...neither were his children.
Well, once the "shooter" went into his home, he had many options...one of which was to call the cops or animal control...or even the dog's owner.
But, what he did has leave the security of his home and shoot the dog
This, IMHO, was a bad shoot.

Found the story (Link Shooting of dog leads to 2 arrests:
Two Manor Township neighbors were arrested Sunday after police said one of the men shot the other's dog.
After learning who shot his dog, police said, the second man came after his neighbor with a baseball bat.

The dog, a 7-year-old boxer, had to be taken to a veterinarian and put down because of the injuries he sustained, police said.Police arrested:

Brian Girouard, 41, 1741 Hemlock Road, who was charged with recklessly endangering another person and cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting his neighbor's dog.

Joshua Rice, 33, 120 Albright Ave., who was charged with terroristic threats, for allegedly threatening to hurt Girouard with a baseball bat and a dog law violation for letting his dog run loose.

The incident happened around 5:30 p.m., according to police, when they were dispatched to a reported animal attack in the 100 block of Bucknell Road.

Girouard told police the boxer had wandered near his propertyand growled at him and his two young children, according to Officer Wayne Smoker.

Girouard took his children inside the house, returned with a pistol and shot the dog, police said.

The wounded dog went home.

When Rice saw his injured dog, he went after Girouard with a baseball bat, threatening to hurt the man, police said.

Police, who said they were unaware of any prior problems between the men or with the dog, said Rice and Girouard were awaiting arraignment late Sunday night.

Wow, if this is what really happened i don't think the shooter is getting off. once he went into his house with his kids the danger to him was over. calling police would have been the thing to do at this point. sice he decided to go back out with a weapon and put the dog down he fails. as for the dog owner, he should have not have had his dog off leash wandering around. sometimes dogs get loose and if it's an agressive dog that makes for a bad situation all around.

[Behler17]

In general if i'm on my property and there is a threatening dog. I have a shovel to go with the pistol and vet serivices won't be needed to finish the job. no need for extra parties to be involved.