The Fulton County Prosecutor’s Office has released a statement regarding the highly publicized killing of two Siberian Huskies. The prosecutor’s office press release reads as follows:
This office has recently received many inquiries regarding a November incident where two Siberian Huskies were shot, killed, and ultimately buried by a local farmer. The investigation that was conducted, which included statements from two eyewitnesses established that the two Huskies were shot and killed while they were actively attacking a calf on the farmer’s property. According to the statements provided, one Husky was biting the calf‘s neck, while the other was attempting to grab the calf‘s back legs. The farmer then buried the Huskies but did not undertake any efforts to notify their owners.
Because no charges have been filed, or will be filed by this office, and given the general interest that this case has generated, I believe that it is appropriate to explain the law that governs in these situations. Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28(A), reads, in pertinent part, as follow:
. . . a dog that chases, threatens, harasses, injures, or kills livestock, poultry, other domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed at the time of that chasing, threatening, harassment, approaching, attempt, killing, or injury. If, in attempting to kill such a dog, a person wounds it, the person is not liable to prosecution under the penal laws that punish cruelty to animals.
The factual background shown by the investigation reveals that the Huskies were shot and killed in conformity with the terms of this statute since they were threatening, harassing, injuring, or attempting to kill the calf in question. Furthermore, Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28 does not contain any provision which would require someone who killed a dog that was found chasing, threatening, harassing, injuring, or attempting to kill livestock to advise the dog’s owner of the fact that his or her dog has been killed.
While it might be kind or neighborly for the person who killed dogs under circumstances such as these to try and advise the dogs’ owners of the fact that the dogs had been killed, nothing in the criminal law requires that the dogs’ Owners be notified about their deaths.
While there are other sections of the Revised Code which generally address the malicious killing or injuring of domestic animals, including dogs, and which discuss the procedures which apply when a person kills or injures an animal in conjunction with efforts to prevent the animal from trespassing or while driving the animal away item the premises, in the specific circumstances involved here, the terms of Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28(A) control.
While an individual’s attachment and affection for his or her dog is understandable and reflected by the high esteem in which dogs are held within our society, that does not change the fact that, under the circumstances of this case, the Ohio Revised Code clearly allows for an individual to protect his or her livestock from dogs that are in the process of trying to injure or kill that livestock.
Scott A. Haselman
Fulton County Prosecuting Attorney
9 Comments
Sad as hell, soooooooo wrong, he’s lying and ur covering for them
Should not be too difficult to have to produce the injured calf
Wait…wait…wait… You’re saying “eye witnesses” independent of the person(s) responsible for the death of these babies?!? Why would any (reliable) eye witness wait 21 days to report this heinous activity all the while the owners endlessly searched in desperation. Sounds fabricated to me….sounds like they are one.
Why is there no accountability for the shooter failing to immediately report the incident to the proper authorities?!? Why is the burial of the bodies just allowed without any recourse? It does not sound logical much less legal. There is something wrong when the judicial system doesn’t seem to protect the real victim(s) albeit 2 legged or 4. Instead, it appears to protect the unconscionable.
Whether it be more articulate laws & policies and/or elected officials, it is time for a change! Every wave of change begins with It only takes a ripple. Hopefully, Fulton County residents will remember this & choose wisely in the next election.
While the lack moral consciousness is deplorable, I still believe that the truth always prevails and in the end, we all meet our maker and have to answer for our actions.
This is bullshit. He lied considering NONE OF HIS LOVE STOCK WAS HARMED!!! COVERING UP FOR THE BASTARD IS SICKENING FULTON COUNTY AHOULD BE ASHAMED TO HAVE YOU AS THE PROSECUTOR. ABSOLUTELY VILE!!!!!
These people are connected to the city or county in some way. Some needs to dig deeper. If the dogs were attacking the calf as they claim, show the calfs injuries! An innocent person does not hide for weeks. An innocent person would have reported it immediately. Cover up = guilt! Who do these people know in the county? Is one of them an employee? There is a connection somewhere. If this would have happened to “one of there own” we would be seeing an arrest! But because one of thier own is involved we are seeing a cover up.
I thought I read in a previous statement that the Warden checked for injured cattle and saw no sign of injuries or an attack. And of course it’s not included that he was given notice to get his animals out of the living conditions they were in. Even if it’s true, why not just tell someone, he hid that while the surrounding counties were doing everything to help find these dogs. How can people sleep at night!
I agree with the other gentleman. The farmers should have to prove the dogs had but his cow
Did you guys read the statue? It says “chase, injure, attempt to harm” he doesn’t have to show the calf. What is the difference his calf or them dogs?
Very very sad!!!! What is wrong with this world!