SHOTGUNNING ANYTHING NOT REALLY A GOOD IDEA
OSOYOOS TIMES-June 4, 2008
All the media attention surrounding the shooting of a dog at point-blank range in front of its owner in Osoyoos last week has had people talking from one end of the province to the other.
Some have said the vineyard owner who shot the St. Bernard was justified in defending himself and his property.
Others have said this was a senseless act of animal cruelty and a reckless use of a firearm when it wasn't necessary.
Since there was no one at the scene of the shooting except for the dog, its owner and the shooter, it's difficult to say whose version of events is what really went down.
But both sides have admitted the dog was shot.
Farmers, orchardists and livestock owners have just as much right as a business owner in downtown Osoyoos to protect their livelihood from threats.
Rural Osoyoos, however, is not so rural that firing shotguns at animals goes without the risk of hitting someone.
The shooter may have easily hit the dog's owner, a neighbour or himself, instead of, tragically, the dog in question.
This is Canada, it's 2008 and there are better ways to defend chickens than blasting shotguns.
