Has Our Society Become "Shoot First, Ask Questions Later?"

In the Herald 's, Letter to the Editor, dated 3/17/08, a writer had a letter about the dog that was shot and maimed and had to be put down by the owners relative. The person was wondering why nothing more had been said about this incident. On the website, www.petabuse.com, I looked up the case. It seems they have no concrete suspects.

After researching more, I was looking at some of the comments that had been left about this article. Some are saying that the dog had bitten before and was running loose. On the case file, it said that the dog was unleashed or loose. Either way, if the dog was on the owners property, the shooter was in violation of trespass laws. If the dog was loose and not on the owners property, then the law states that the animal control could be called.

But, shooting the dog, if it had not attacked anyone, was definitely wrong. It seems that it is a he said, she said problem right now. Unfortunately, unless it is a case of animal abuse that the Prosecuting Attorney's office deems bad enough, they do not feel it is a "priority." This is so sad. If we, as a society, allow people to just shoot first and then ask questions later, we are on the brink of ruin. Like the letter writer stated, if you can just shoot a dog, on the basis it is too loud, are children next that laugh too loud when playing outside?