Dog Owner’s Lack of Care Results in Violent Death for Two Dogs

By Dean Weingarten

Dog Owner's Lack of Care Results in Violent Death for Two Dogs
Dog Owner’s Lack of Care Results in Violent Death for Two Dogs
Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- Animal owners are responsible for their animals and the actions of their animals.

Dogs are not people. It is much harder for them to understand property lines and property rights. They have to be taught, and often, restrained. When dogs run free of their owners control, their instincts tend to take over, especially if there are more than one of them.

Their instinct pushes them to bark at other animals, chase them, bite them, kill them, and eat them. If there is more than one dog, pack instinct kicks in and they bounce off of one another’s behavior like little boys playing “I dare you”; with all their instincts pushing them toward making the kill.

This is why virtually all states have laws that allow owners of livestock to protect their animals from the attacks of free roaming dogs. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to restrain their dog or dogs, and it is their fault if they allow their animals to run free where they become a danger to other animals. Dogs act differently away from their owners than they do with their owners.

In Texas, someone was not responsible enough to restrain their dogs. It is reported that they were running loose and attacked Mr. Conatser’s calf, in his barn. Mr. Conatser showed remarkable restraint. He did not kill the dogs. He went to considerable trouble to contact the dog owner and to warn them of horrible consequences to their dogs, if the owner did not do as his responsibility required.

Mr. Conatser’s warnings went unheeded. He was forced to shoot two dogs. Dogs that were likely fine pets, when they were around their owner and under their control. But the owner failed in his responsibility to his animals, and now they are dead.

Mr. Conatser could not wait for a third or fourth time to intercept the dogs. very likely his calf would have been dead by then. He did what he had to do. A hard thing, forced on him by the irresponsible act of another.

I feel for him.

Mr. Conatser made a mistake. He posted a picture of the dead dogs on Facebook, no doubt out of frustration and anger that an uncaring person had forced this deed on him. It is clear that he did not want to kill the dogs, or he would have done so the first time they attacked his calf.

Mr Conatser is not the one at fault. The person responsible is the one who failed to restrain their dogs.

From cbslocal.com:

Family friend Kevin Forester said Conatser found the dogs inside his barn a couple of days earlier, while they were attacking his calf, and recognized them as belonging to his neighbor.

“So he went over to his neighbor’s and told him that his dogs was getting in his barn and attacking his animals, to please ya know keep ‘em at home, put ‘em on a leash, build a fence, do something,” recalled Forester.

The friend says Conatser told him the neighbor didn’t care. We left messages with neighbors in the area, but haven’t heard back.

Here is the relevant Texas statute:

Sec. 822.013. DOGS OR COYOTES THAT ATTACK ANIMALS. (a) A dog or coyote that is attacking, is about to attack, or has recently attacked livestock, domestic animals, or fowls may be killed by:

(1) any person witnessing the attack; or

(2) the attacked animal’s owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner if the owner or person has knowledge of the attack.

(b) A person who kills a dog or coyote as provided by this section is not liable for damages to the owner, keeper, or person in control of the dog or coyote.

Dog owners, remember that you are responsible for your animals and their welfare.  They depend on you.  I am a dog person.  I love and understand dogs.  It saddens me when irresponsible owners cause unneeded harm to the animals that depend on them.

Most people understand this and feel sympathy for Mr. Conatser.  But some cannot consider anything more than that Mr. Conatser shot dogs.  The volunteer fire department that Mr. Conatser belongs to has received a lot of emails.  Five out of six are supportive.  But one in six is not.  Mr. Conatser has received death threats from as far as Europe.  Conatser has temporarily withdrawn from the rotation, because of the threats.

c2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch

About Dean Weingarten;

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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LD

Ya’ll need to google the killer’s name…. he is now being charged with 2 counts of animal cruelty. He lied to the police… he didnt talk to the owners, no livestock or property was harmed by these two labrador retreivers and they weren’t even on his property when he shot them. https://www.fox4news.com/story/28199241/firefighter-fired-after-posting-picture-of-dead-dogs

Eric

Even as a dog owner I have come close to shooting several dogs growling at me in parks, Some dogs need to leashed when off their own property.

Tom King

We have livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) on our Ranch. They are raised with livestock and keep predators off. Deer season is a bad time when the smell of rotting guts etc are tempting for the LGDs to cross into some LGD ignorant, neighboring property owners territory for a tasty treat only to be shot dead. They run big cats and coyotes through neighbors land when guarding our place. The offenders are usually hobby farmers with a small farm who claim they shot in self defense or to protect their livestock. BS!! these LGDs are living amongst our livestock while calving,… Read more »

Outlaw

@LD I read the story and didn’t see anything but the owners of the dogs claiming they were never contacted. Nothing about if there was any livestock damage that was the cause for the shootings. You are also only getting the story of the reporter no telling if there is any bias or not by them. If you were not there then you really don’t know the truth just someone else’s version of it.

CoosaTotah

I am a disabled veteran. I held eight military occupational skills, one of which was animal technician(91T). One of my overseas stations was in Vietnam were I was with the Dog training Detachment in Bien Hoa and later at the 936th Veterinary Hospital. Dogs are my life. My username is the name of one of my service dogs that past away about three years ago at 14 years of age. I had him since he was 2 months old. On the fourth of January a dog, a pit bull, jumped my 5 foot fence and attacked one of my goats.… Read more »

Ozarkwoods

You ask a question why could the owner not show up 60 seconds earlier? I ask why could the owner not control their dog to their own property? It is quite apparent you love dogs. I do too and I am sorry you had to shoot the dog. The responsibility falls with the dog owners. I should expand that to animal owner. The owner should do everything in their power to keep their animal safe and secure. Fenced yard, leash, collar, chain, dog run, what ever means needed. Every time I see a dog on the side of the road… Read more »

anonymous

Animal control will do jack even if you live in a city of a quarter million people. On a remote farm there is no animal control that would come.

The Dude

Anyone think of calling animal control. Is Texass so backwoods they don’t have animal control departments???

Capt Jack

Get your head unlocked Dude.
If animal control worked, Texas wouldn’t have a hog problem

anonymous

People from the media reports who don’t read the story details about the prior attacks by these dogs, think that the guy was a dog hater who killed some innocent dogs. Also him posting the pics with the tone in the words makes one think he is bloodthirsty. That is something you cannot portray to the media or police when you kill an alleged criminal or dog.

The guy should never have posted that image or used those words that he did.

neal kluba

When I was a kid my dad was also placed in this position as well. We, however, did lose one calf and had a cow get her leg pretty torn up as well. I remember dad crying as he is a dog lover as well, My prayers go out to this poor guy.