In the state of NH if a dog wanders into your yard are you allowed to shoot it???

Question

Our neighbor just shot my dog at point blank range in the face because he wandered into his yard!!! Is this legal? Please help me get him!

Answer 1

I am very sorry for your loss. I would check with the local humane society, they could have some information on the laws in your state for mistreatment of animals and animal cruelty.

Also, most cities have ordinances banning the use of firearms.

Call the police and press charges!

Answer 2

I'm thinking no, but I could be wrong. Don't know NH laws very well. But the first thing you should probably check is if he has a license to actually use the gun, and ask why he didn't call animal control first. And unless your dog was attacking him, there isn't really a reason to SHOOT the dog, he could have just called you. All I can tell you is to either call animal control or the police to sort things out.

Answer 3

If you registered your dog for a license with the town, he had full legal rights.
Otherwise, you can still report the incident to the police and hope your neighbor's gun is not registered

BTW, I am very sorry. It is always devasting to lose a pet. Even when I am infuriated at the people who let pets use my yard as a bathroom, I still have no right to kill anyone's companion.

Answer 4

Not sure what the law is there but I was a police officer here and if a dog is on you land he must be causeing problems like being mean to someone or messing up something.Call the police and ask them what can be done about it.I am so sorry for your lost.

Answer 5

The conduct of shooting your dog may be criminal. Contact the police and make a complaint. This needs to be done quickly.

The defense could be "the dog came after me"; which brings up, why are you even carrying a gun at home?

This is assinine behavior, there are some people whom sit at home dreaming of ways to shoot something.

Go after them.

Answer 6

absolutley!!! it is your right to protect your property and if that means killing a dog then, so be it. i have a farm and i kill dogs all the time...not because im a heartless bastard but because 9 times out of 10 the will chase my animals and kill one of them...so i stop them before it gets that far.... in your instance it could be getting in your trash...taking a crap on your lawn..or even crossing your yard to get to another...the reason isnt important...you can kill the dog and call your local dog warden and he will come pick up the dead animal for you. im sorry for your loss but, all 50 states say if you get a dog then you must be responsible for it and that means leashing or chaining it up...i highly doubt this was the first time your dog was on their lawn...because whats the chance of him having a gun in his pocket just waiting for a dog to get in his lawn...my guess is that when you let the dog out of the house to do its bussiness or stretch its legs....the neighbors yard was the toilet for the dog...but just a guess

Answer 7

Could always try to get the ASPCA involved too

Answer 8

if you dog poses a threat to him than maybe. or he could have WENT INSIDE HIS ******* HOUSE. he should be charged with animal cruelty. and do us animal lovers a favor and sue the ******.

Answer 9

I don't know about legal but it is unhuman.

Answer 10

The below New Hampshire laws may help you here. Contact your local law enforcement agency and file charges against the neighbor.

You may wish to file a claim in your local criminal AND civil court!

466:42-b Civil Recovery.

"Whoever wrongfully kills or maims, entices or carries away a licensed dog shall be liable to its owner for its value in a civil proceeding."

466:30 Special Notice.

I. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large, except when accompanied by the owner or custodian, and when used for hunting, for guarding, working, or herding livestock, as defined in RSA 21:34-a, II(a)(4), for supervised competition and exhibition, or for training for such. For the purpose of this section, "accompanied" means that the owner or custodian must be able to see or hear, or both, or have reasonable knowledge of where the dog is hunting, where training is being conducted, where trials are being held, or where the dog is guarding, working, or herding livestock. Nothing herein provided shall mean that the dog must be within sight at all times.

II. In this section, "at large" means off the premises of the owner or keeper and not under the control of any person by means of personal presence and attention as will reasonably control the conduct of such dog, unless accompanied by the owner or custodian.

III. Any authorized person may seize, impound or restrain any dog in violation of this section and deliver said dog to a person or shelter authorized to board dogs. Such dogs shall be handled as strays or abandoned dogs pursuant to applicable laws.

IV. In addition to impounding a dog found at large or in violation of this section, any local law enforcement officer may issue, in the name of the owner or keeper of such dog, a notice of violation for a nuisance dog pursuant to RSA 466:31, II(a).

V. The provisions of this section shall not be effective in any city or town unless adopted by a city or town pursuant to RSA 466:30-b.

644:8 Cruelty to Animals.

I. In this section, "cruelty" shall include, but not be limited to, acts or omissions injurious or detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of any animal, including the abandoning of any animal without proper provision for its care, sustenance, protection or shelter.

II. In this section, "animal" means a domestic animal, a household pet or a wild animal in captivity.

II-a. In this section, "shelter" or "necessary shelter" for dogs shall mean any natural or artificial area which provides protection from the direct sunlight when that sunlight is likely to cause heat exhaustion of a dog tied or caged outside. Shelter from inclement weather shall have an area within to afford the dog the ability to stand up, turn around and lie down, and be of proportionate size as to allow the natural body heat of the dog to be retained.

III. A person is guilty of a misdemeanor for a first offense, and of a class B felony for a second or subsequent offense, who:

(a) Without lawful authority negligently deprives or causes to be deprived any animal in his possession or custody necessary care, sustenance or shelter;

(b) Negligently beats, cruelly whips, tortures, mutilates or in any other manner mistreats or causes to be mistreated any animal;

(c) Negligently overdrives, overworks, drives when overloaded, or otherwise abuses or misuses any animal intended for or used for labor;

(d) Negligently transports any animal in his possession or custody in a manner injurious to the health, safety or physical well-being of such animal;

(e) Negligently abandons any animal previously in his possession or custody by causing such animal to be left without supervision or adequate provision for its care, sustenance or shelter; or

(f) Otherwise negligently permits or causes any animal in his possession or custody to be subjected to cruelty, inhumane treatment or unnecessary suffering of any kind.

III-a. A person is guilty of a class B felony who purposely beats, cruelly whips, tortures, or mutilates any animal or causes any animal to be beaten, cruelly whipped, tortured, or mutilated.