What are a farmers rights to protect its livestock when it comes to roaming dogs?
Depends on your local regulations so looking up info from different jurisdictions will probably be of little help. Generally, farmers have a right to protect their livestock by shooting dogs on the property – they don’t have to prove that the dogs were actually harassing or killing the stock. Generally dog owners have the right to keep their dogs carefully contained on their own property. Once the dog leaves the owner’s property, generally the owner is in violation of the law (most places, even the ‘country’ have laws regarding allowing dogs to roam) and the dogs become subject to removal either by animal control or by gunshot if found on a farmer’s property. You should call your local jurisdiction to find out more about the laws in your local area.
