On Monday January 22, 2024 at approximately 1645 hours the Northern York County Regional Police Department responded to the 4500 block of West Canal Road in Dover Township regarding a unconfined dog harassing domestic animals at a residence.
Upon the officers’ arrival, they met with the complainant who reported that an unknown dog came onto his property and began chasing his cats. The complainant called police to report the incident. As the complainant was waiting for police to arrive, the dog attacked one of the cats and had it in its mouth shaking it. The complainant who was fearful for the cats life, fired multiple shots at the dog, striking it several times. The complainant had reported unconfined dogs to police numerous times in the past, but this is the first time a dog had attacked one of his animals.
The officers viewed the dog and observed it wander off through a field heading eastbound towards Pinchtown Road. Officers were able to locate the owner of the dog in the 4400 block of West Canal Road and assisted the owners in attempting to locate the dog. The owner was later able to locate the dog and transported it to a veterinarian. The dog succumbed to its injuries. The was a 2 year old malamute.
PA Statutes Title 3 Dog Law section 459-501 – Killing dog: dogs as nuisances addresses this situation
(a) Legal to kill certain dogs.– Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not such a dog bears the license tag required by the provisions of this act. There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing.
Confinement and control of dogs is also defined by Title 3 Section 459-305
(a) Confinement and control.– It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to fail to keep at all times the dog in any of the following manners:(1) confined within the premises of the owner;(2) firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other device so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is secured; or(3) under the reasonable control of some person, or when engaged in lawful hunting, exhibition, performance events or field training.
It is unfortunate that this event occurred, however, the owner of the cats was within his right to protect the lives of his animals.
There will be no charges in this case. No names or further information will be released.
Case # 2024-003089
