resources & help

This page is to provide assistance and guidance in the case that you have a dog killed or stolen, and is not to be considered legal advice.
 

• STAY CALM
   

• Contact Law Enforcement

  • Generally your county sheriff’s dept./or local police is most appropriate. Conservation Agents may be contacted to clarify laws and assist with the investigation, however local law enforcement will generally be in charge of the investigation.

  • Be polite and cooperative with investigators.

 

• Take pictures and videos of the crime scene, and of all animals injured or killed yourself

  •  Try not to solely rely on law enforcement to record the scene.

  •  If possible leave the crime scene undisturbed.

  • If possible do NOT leave the crime scene unattended, until law enforcement arrives.
     

• Save your track/ hunting log on your GPS/tracking system.

  • If you need help, contact the store which you bought the system from and they will probably walk you through it.
     

• Take injured animals to the vet and inform them of the situation and that it will, most likely go to court, so they can document accordingly.
   

• Take animals that have been killed to have a forensic autopsy done if available. Mizzou School of Veterinary medicine can perform one. 573-864-7160
   

• Record a journal as soon as possible and save the information in a safe place (not your phone). Court cases regularly take 1-3 years and it is easy to forget or misremember details of the case.

  • Timelines

  • Details

  • Pictures/videos

  • In incidents where law enforcement is being less than cooperative, submit a sunshine request for all documentation, pictures and videos regarding the case immediately (within 72 hours). This will prevent regularly scheduled deletion of dash cams, body cams etc.
     

• Refrain from social media

  • Posting details of your case generally only assist the defendant, and in some cases can open up opportunities for counter lawsuits.

  • Contact your attorney and/or the investigator before posting on social media
     

• Follow through

  • Many cases are dropped, or lost due to the owner loosing interest and moving on. Don’t be that person. Every case that is dropped emboldens a Dog Killer!!! Stand up for yourself, your dogs, and the sporting dog community as a whole, and we will stand with you!
     

• Join The Missouri Sporting Dog Association to help us, protect your rights!

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LAWS that apply to Sporting Dogs in Missouri

Please refer to the Missouri State Statutes and the Wildlife Code of Missouri for the most up to date versions.

 

Removal of Tracking and Training Collars

578.028.  Unlawful removal of an electronic dog collar or radio transmitting device — penalty — restitution.
 

1. A person commits the offense of unlawful removal of an electronic dog collar or radio transmitting device if he or she removes an electronic or radio transmitting collar from a dog without the permission of the owner of the dog with the intent to prevent or hinder the owner from locating the dog.

2. The offense of unlawful removal of an electronic dog collar or radio transmitting device is a class A misdemeanor.  The court shall order any person found guilty under this section to pay as restitution the actual value of any dog lost or killed as a result of such removal.  The court may also order restitution to the owner for any lost breeding revenues.

Exception for Adequate Care and control statute (578.005)

Exception for keeping a wild animal (578.0023)
 

578.007.  Acts and facilities to which section 574.130 and sections 578.005 to 578.023 do not apply. — The provisions of section 574.130 and sections 578.005 to 578.023 shall not apply to:
 

1. Care or treatment performed by a licensed veterinarian within the provisions of chapter 340;

2. Bona fide scientific experiments;

3. Hunting, fishing, or trapping as allowed by chapter 252, including all practices and privileges as allowed under the Missouri Wildlife Code;

4. Facilities and publicly funded zoological parks currently in compliance with the federal "Animal Welfare Act" as amended;

5. Rodeo practices currently accepted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association;

6. The killing of an animal by the owner thereof, the agent of such owner, or by a veterinarian at the request of the owner thereof;

7. The lawful, humane killing of an animal by an animal control officer, the operator of an animal shelter, a veterinarian, or law enforcement or health official;

8. With respect to farm animals, normal or accepted practices of animal husbandry;

9. The killing of an animal by any person at any time if such animal is outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal and the animal is injuring any person or farm animal, but this exemption shall not include the killing or injuring of a law enforcement animal while working;

10. The killing of house or garden pests; or

11. Field trials, training and hunting practices as accepted by the Professional Houndsmen of Missouri.