Shooting Dogs Ok in Michigan?

In light of the current gun control debate raging across the nation, I cam across an interesting article detailing when gun owners can shoot dogs.  The article details four specific cases involving dogs and discusses options.

Shooting a dog attacking you or your livestock? OK, but think twice.

State law allows a person to kill a dog in self defense, though, or in defense of another person, or if the dog is in the act of attacking livestock, including poultry, Miller said. Poultry's right to "free range" is generally protected everywhere but cemeteries and airports, Miller said, something that may dismay the owner of a $500 dog shot in the act of killing a $3 chicken who learns the law is on the side of the chicken owner.

Farmers who used to follow the "shoot, shovel, shut up" practice of taking care of offending dogs, though, would be better to let the law handle livestock issues, Miller said. The county maintains a fund to reimburse farmers for livestock killed by dogs, but only for their market value as meat. If an animal control officer is able to identify the owner of dogs that killed livestock, they may be liable for the actual value of breeding or show stock, he said.

This was in response to a recent attack of a Pomeranian by a pit bull. The Pomeranian was killed and the owner was left pondering the notion of being armed and using a gun to kill a dog in the future.  Pomeranians are a popular breed of dog, known for how small they are coming in at 5-7 pounds.  They are also one half of the recently popular designer breed of dog called a Pomsky.  The Pomsky appearance is a mix between a Siberian Husky and the Pomeranian depending upon the genetic dominance that arises out of its parents.

Perhaps, the most fascinating thing I learned out of the article was the "free range rights" of chickens.  I had no idea.