When I was a small one(long ago) we lived many miles from any town in rural Minn..our 'driveway' from gravel county road was 5 miles long. My father brought home a Shetland pony in back of his 4 door Studie Lark. Pooped seat out, laid down moving quilts and lead it in shutting doors. $25 w/saddle tack and wishes from previous owner to never see that '#$@#^*(^^(^' again... He fenced in area around our barn, made a stall, and 'I' had a pony.
Twice a german shepherd got into it's corral, chased pony about and it leaped over the fence, the barbed wire at top ripping it's belly pretty good. Dog had collar, came when called, nearby Dr owned. My dad took it home first time..owner said tough beans about $50(1960 dollars) vet bill..
Second time was about 8 am on crisp morning, barn was 300 or so yards from house. We could hear the dog and pony..dad got out his Mauser, laid it across the back porch rail...and shot that dog.
We walked back to barn, gathered up and repenned pony but couldn't find the shepherd, just some blood spots.
Later that day State trooper my dad knew came by, arrested dad, dog had been hit behind shoulder breaking it's back and crawled probably 6-8 miles home. Dr had sworn out warrant, had to put dog down. Dad made bail on own recognizance.
At the hearing judge patiently listen to Dr, beloved dog, etc, etc..listened to my dad. Than gave his judgement. Farm stock, of which he considered this dog one, were responsibility of owner to keep on their own land. If the owner had demonstrated an inability, or lack of desire to keep his stock on his land it belonged to person whose land it was on. He said my dad had shot his own dog, as he was entitled to do. JGroth
