Minnesota Session Laws - 1985, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1985 

                        CHAPTER 269-S.F.No. 279 
           An act relating to natural resources; eliminating the 
          mandatory shooting by conservation officers of dogs 
          pursuing deer; restricting the shooting by others; 
          increasing the penalty for owners of dogs that kill 
          deer; amending Minnesota Statutes 1984, sections 
          100.29, subdivision 19; and 347.01. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1984, section 100.29, 
subdivision 19, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 19.  Any person may, and it shall be the duty of 
every conservation officer to, kill any dog pursuing or killing 
deer or moose, and no action for damages shall be maintained 
against the person for the killing.  The owner of any dog which 
is found pursuing or killing deer, moose, or domestic livestock 
shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor A dog that is known to 
have killed or which is observed wounding, killing, or pursuing 
in a manner which endangers a big game animal may be killed by a 
peace officer or conservation officer, or, between January 1 and 
July 14, by any person.  The officer or person is not liable for 
damages for killing the dog.  The owner of the dog is guilty of 
a petty misdemeanor and is subject to a civil penalty of up to 
$500 for each violation.  
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1984, section 347.01, is 
amended to read: 
    347.01 [OWNER'S LIABILITY; PENALTY.] 
    (a) Owners or keepers of any dog or dogs, that kill, wound, 
or worry any domestic animal or animals, shall be jointly and 
severally liable to the owner of such animal or animals for all 
damages done by such dog or dogs, without proving notice to or 
knowledge by any such owner or keeper of such dog or dogs, that 
any or either of them was mischievous or disposed to kill or 
worry any domestic animal.  
    (b) The owner of any dog that kills or pursues domestic 
livestock is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. 
    Approved May 31, 1985