Killing a dog
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Discussion

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

163 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Yesterday, whilst tinkering in the shed at the end of the garden, my solitude was spoilt by my children all screaming and a dog going ballistic, growling and barking in my garden.

We don't own a dog.

I happened to have a machete nearby, grabbed it and ran out to see the back end of a random dog disappear around the corner. Kids quite shaken up, but unharmed.

I took a walk to the (quite long) driveway, still brandishing my machete (mentioned because it would now be in public view) to see the back end of some bloke in what looked like a dressing gown carrying a dog off.

It looks like, during his dog containment process, the dog probably scratched up the side of my car. I expect it will t-cut and polish out. It's minor, but that's not the point.


My question to the pistonhead masses is this: If the dog was attacking my children in their own garden, Biting or not, if it's jumping up and barking at them then it's classified as an attack in my book. I would have killed it. No questions asked, its not something that's up for debate in this thread.


Would the police have been interested? Or is this filed under "Crime reference if your lucky" in the same way that a farmer can shoot a dog that's attacking livestock?

President Merkin

4,297 posts

41 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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The interesting part of this will be how you get on with controlling what is & isn't up for debate.

21TonyK

12,880 posts

231 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Gonna have to sit down for this one.

deckster

9,631 posts

277 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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My observation would be that your kids witnessing their dad chopping a live dog up with a machete would be far more likely to give them recurring mental issues than having that dog bark at them for a bit.

Tommo87

5,360 posts

135 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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I think dog owners will give you an opposing opinion to the parents of young children who have no dog.

57Ford

5,652 posts

156 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Overall, I’m still a little taken aback by “ I happened to have a machete nearby”

Pica-Pica

15,943 posts

106 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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I thought it was ‘destroying’ not killing an animal.
Similarly you can’t ‘kill’ an unborn child, it is ‘destruction of a (viable) foetus’.

Countdown

47,011 posts

218 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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I think you'd be fine to be honest.

O/T - why do you have a machete? I have used them when i was younger but that was on a farm in the Tropics. I didn't think anybody used them (outside of London anyway).

Unreal

8,800 posts

47 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Prizam said:
Yesterday, whilst tinkering in the shed at the end of the garden, my solitude was spoilt by my children all screaming and a dog going ballistic, growling and barking in my garden.

We don't own a dog.

I happened to have a machete nearby, grabbed it and ran out to see the back end of a random dog disappear around the corner. Kids quite shaken up, but unharmed.

I took a walk to the (quite long) driveway, still brandishing my machete (mentioned because it would now be in public view) to see the back end of some bloke in what looked like a dressing gown carrying a dog off.

It looks like, during his dog containment process, the dog probably scratched up the side of my car. I expect it will t-cut and polish out. It's minor, but that's not the point.


My question to the pistonhead masses is this: If the dog was attacking my children in their own garden, Biting or not, if it's jumping up and barking at them then it's classified as an attack in my book. I would have killed it. No questions asked, its not something that's up for debate in this thread.


Would the police have been interested? Or is this filed under "Crime reference if your lucky" in the same way that a farmer can shoot a dog that's attacking livestock?
BS troll post.

DaveTheRave87

2,155 posts

111 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Police would be interested in the machete but wouldn't be too bothered if there was a resonably explanation for you having it.

Pica-Pica

15,943 posts

106 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Straw dog argument?

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

163 months

Friday 9th June 2023
quotequote all
Oh boy, here we go.

I like dogs, a well-behaved dog is a wonderful thing.

Most dogs I see these days are not well-behaved, and their owners are usually entitled fat pricks.

This has gotten a LOT worse since the lockdown.

Kids and hopefully dog owners would learn that actions have consequences.

I'm not going to either dance with a dog in my garden, trying to shield the kids, nor am I going to try and negotiate with a manic dog that's trying to attack. "No fluffums, please stop that"

In the same way that a farmer wouldn't let a dog terrorise their livestock, I think my Children are worth more than sheep.



Let's head off a few more helpful topics whilst I'm here:
-I don't have sausages in my lawn, attracting dogs
-I don't have any cans of RedBull to throw
-I'm not powerfully built, but I am a director
-Never owned an MX5, but have raced a couple

I guess I could have been "Dominating the lawn" though.

Do let me know if you can think of any other ways that I am wrong for not wanting a stranger's dog attacking my children in their own garden though. Perhaps you could let me know what you would do in the same situation.

popeyewhite

23,008 posts

142 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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I'm a dog owner. Lives of children are obvs far more important than that of my dog.

If the danger seems real save the kids, deal with the consequences later.

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

163 months

Friday 9th June 2023
quotequote all
DaveTheRave87 said:
Police would be interested in the machete but wouldn't be too bothered if there was a resonably explanation for you having it.
It came from a shed full of gardening tools and didn't leave my property. I have since sharpened it.

Equus

16,980 posts

123 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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57Ford said:
Overall, I’m still a little taken aback by “ I happened to have a machete nearby”
And even that pales into insignificance compared to "I took a walk to the (quite long) driveway, still brandishing my machete".

To answer the OP's question:

Prizam said:
Would the police have been interested? Or is this filed under "Crime reference if your lucky" in the same way that a farmer can shoot a dog that's attacking livestock?
Yes, I think that the police wouid be very interested.

As would your local Mental Health team, and Social Services, if you have children.

bearman68

4,915 posts

154 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Doesn't everyone have a machete? I live on an old farm, and we have loads of long bladed hacking and slashing tools. They are not called machetes, but most people would describe them as such.

I think I would have taken a bill hook to a wild dog. Or a shotgun. We have those in the country too.
I think the fact it was a) on your land, and b) attacking the kids would have swung it in your favour, but I think a caution for being in public with a unguarded blade would have been forthcoming.

popeyewhite

23,008 posts

142 months

Friday 9th June 2023
quotequote all
Equus said:
As would your local Mental Health team, and Social Services, if you have children.
On what grounds?

Equus

16,980 posts

123 months

Friday 9th June 2023
quotequote all
bearman68 said:
Doesn't everyone have a machete?
Well, hell, no... as a matter of fact I don't.

I shall order one immediately... I'm obviously woefully ill-equipped for rural life. rofl

Muzzer79

12,637 posts

209 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Prizam said:
Yesterday, whilst tinkering in the shed at the end of the garden, my solitude was spoilt by my children all screaming and a dog going ballistic, growling and barking in my garden.

We don't own a dog.

I happened to have a machete nearby, grabbed it and ran out to see the back end of a random dog disappear around the corner. Kids quite shaken up, but unharmed.

I took a walk to the (quite long) driveway, still brandishing my machete (mentioned because it would now be in public view) to see the back end of some bloke in what looked like a dressing gown carrying a dog off.

It looks like, during his dog containment process, the dog probably scratched up the side of my car. I expect it will t-cut and polish out. It's minor, but that's not the point.


My question to the pistonhead masses is this: If the dog was attacking my children in their own garden, Biting or not, if it's jumping up and barking at them then it's classified as an attack in my book. I would have killed it. No questions asked, its not something that's up for debate in this thread.


Would the police have been interested? Or is this filed under "Crime reference if your lucky" in the same way that a farmer can shoot a dog that's attacking livestock?
This is the second post along these lines in as many months. The scare-mongering around dog attacks seems to be getting worse.

To answer your question - if you killed a dog for just barking at your children then I'd expect you to be arrested, but it's all about context.

If a dog is just standing there, barking, then it can be classed as unthreatening.

If the dog was barking whilst (for example) cornering your children and not allowing them to escape, that's clearly a dog that's dangerously out of control and using force is appropriate.

However; I think the automatic reaction to just kill a dog that's barking at your children, aswell as having a machete to hand, says more about your worryingly violent tendencies than anything else.

The sensible approach is to try and contain the dog and remove it non-violently. If the dog then displays aggressive behaviour to you, use more force but lethal force should be an absolute last resort.


Edited by Muzzer79 on Friday 9th June 11:12

popeyewhite

23,008 posts

142 months

Friday 9th June 2023
quotequote all
Equus said:
Well, hell, no... as a matter of fact I don't.

I shall order one immediately... I'm obviously woefully ill-equipped for rural life. rofl
Many people don't understand country life, but it's actually very common to have large bladed tools around the shed. Cutting branches, chopping wood etc