So I know someone that just put down an animal and I don't agree with the way it was done and would like to get your opinion on how you would do it in their situation (Broke).

So it was a small family dog that was near the end of his life (12, 13 years old) Although it was the family's dog one of the kids (My other friend) was responsible for him. He had made it clear that when he got his paycheck that he would take the dog to the vet and have him put to sleep.

More on the dogs condition. He was peeing and pooping in the house, half of his hair was gone and he was covered in flees, when he walked into a room you could smell him instantly. Most of this I feel is owner neglect...

The oldest brother was the only one living with the dog and was feed up with have to clean up after it. He called his mom and asked what he should do with the dog and she just said "Deal with it".

When I talked to the oldest brother he said he took care of the dog. When I asked him what he meant he said he killed it.

How?
He took it out back and hit it in the back of the head with an aluminum baseball bat.

 

I'm not some animal rights activist, believe me, but that does seem a little 'inconsiderate' in treating the family pet.. if your friend said he's take care of the dog why didn't he just keep the dog with him?

still think there's a better/cleaner way than that

 

Well up until about a week ago the most of the family still lived in the house. The one that is responsible for the dog is out of town for college and can't have animals at his apartments.

There are some family issues as well. Their mom just up and moved out of town leaving 4 of her 5 kids at her old house. All but the oldest one had to find other living arrangements. The dog was just left at the house.

My opinion is I think that it is F'ed up, I'm not sure that after that I will remain friends with him.

The kids ages are 14, 16, 17, 22 (away at college), 24

 

Also I don't know if I should take any action such as calling the police or animal rights.

 

yep thats wrong.

 

I am not even sure that is legal.

 

I know it isn't, I looked it up. And this happened on Monday.

 

That is definitely fawked up, but I don't think it's really inhumane. For a small dog, I'm sure that killed it pretty much instantly. I would never do that myself, but i don't think the dog suffered any more than he would have with hauling him to the vet for an injection.

 

that's illegal, it's an animal cruelty charge if he's ever found out and it's proven

i mean we've had a few animals that we've dispatched with a gun but that's instant death and it's been farm animals that were attacked by predators.

indoor pets the vet has always come out to the house and given the shot. except in rare cases where again predators caused serious pain to the pet and it would take too long for the vet.

 

Oregon **Model Law**
http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/167.html

Oregon has quite comprehensive and specific laws regarding animal abuse.
Animal abuse in the second degree is defined as: “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to an animal.” This is a Class B Misdemeanor with a fine up to $2000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months. Exemptions are made for good animal husbandry.

Animal abuse in the first degree is defined as: “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly: causes serious physical injury to an animal; or cruelly causes the death of an animal.” This is a Class A Misdemeanor with a fine up to $5000 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year. However, animal abuse in the first degree is a Class C Felony with a fine up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years IF the person has been convicted of two or more of the following: Assault in the first, second, third or fourth degree if the case involved domestic violence or was committed against a minor child; if the animal abuse was knowingly committed in the presence (was seen or directly perceived) of a minor child or has previous convictions of animal abuse in the first degree or aggravated animal abuse in the first degree.

Aggravated animal abuse in the first degree is defined as: “Maliciously kills an animal; or intentionally or knowingly tortures an animal.” This is a Class C Felony, with a fine up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years.
Animal neglect in the second degree is defined as: “intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence fails to provide minimum care for an animal in such person’s custody or control.” This is a Class B Misdemeanor with a fine up to $2000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months.

Animal neglect in the first degree is defined as: “intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence fails to provide minimum care for an animal in the person’s custody or control and the failure to provide care results in serious physical injury or death to the animal.” This is a Class A Misdemeanor with a fine up to$5000 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year.
In addition to the above penalties, any person convicted of a misdemeanor in animal cruelty or neglect is prohibited from possessing a domestic animal for a period of 5 years following the conviction. Any person convicted of a felony in animal abuse may not possess a domestic animal for a period of 15 years following the conviction. Other sentencing provisions include animal cruelty prevention programs, cost of care to the animal and psychological counceling.
Exemptions are made for any practice of good animal husbandry, scientific research, veterinary medicine, commercially grown poultry, hunting and fishing.