Hunters awarded $9000 in dog shooting

Dickson, TN – Donald Harris of Lyles, Tenn., and Kenneth Smith of Dickson were coon hunting on May 13th, 2 003 when their Walker coonhounds, Swan Creek Roxie, a two-year old female belonging to Harris and Sam, a six-year old male owned by Smith were shot and killed while treeing a coon. The perpetrator was Joseph Blaylock of Dickson who admitted shooting the hounds when they awoke him from sleep.

Due to Harris’ persistence, District Attorney Kim Menke took the case, which was scheduled for a bench trial. The defendant’s attorneys contacted Harris and Smith and offered to settle out of court. Ultimately, Harris was awarded $6000 and Smith, $3000 for the dogs. In addition to the monetary settlement, Blaylock received two years probation for the shooting. The tracking collar from Roxie had been removed, placed in a plastic bag, and submerged in a creek approximately four miles from the site of the shooting. Harris recovered it with the use of his tracking system.

The $9000 settlement should stand as a warning to all would be dog shooters that justice can and will be served when valuable hunting dogs are wantonly and senselessly killed while in the act of lawful hunting. Upon review of the laws of the State of Tennessee, the District Attorney agreed with Harris and Smith that they were legally hunting since the dogs were killed within 25 miles of the location where they were released and that permission had been granted by the landowner of the release site. Each state has different laws but rarely do laws permit the killing of dogs by landowners unless they are injuring or killing livestock.

The PKC Department of Regulatory Affairs assisted Harris and Smith with advice and statistical support in this case. We congratulate them on a significant victory that will no doubt benefit all hound hunters in the State of Tennessee.