VETERINARIAN ACCUSED OF KILLING DOG FOR ENTERING HIS YARD

AP Breaking News ^ | 5 September 2003

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - A veterinarian accused of using a mallet to kill a miniature dachshund that had entered his yard has been charged with felony animal cruelty. Dr. Mircea Volosen, who was indicted Thursday, could receive up to two years in prison if convicted of killing his neighbor's pet. Police say the dog was killed July 4 after it entered Volosen's Fort Worth-area yard, where he keeps chickens and rabbits.

Volosen's attorney, William D. Cox III, said Friday that his client will plead innocent. "We're disappointed and surprised by the indictment. It's merely Dr. Volosen was exercising his right to protect his livestock," said Cox. "This dog had been over there before." Last September, Volosen killed a neighborhood Labrador retriever but police did not file charges at the time because the dog had killed seven of Volosen's rabbits and one of his chickens. Volosen is free after posting $2,500 bond.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Very interesting case. Keep your dog on your OWN property was what I was always taught. If the dog is on your property and someone harms it, you have cause to take action. If your dog is on someone else's property (no matter what the reason) and does something wrong, it is the owner of that property who then has the prerogative as to what to do to the dog. For many years in this country, it worked that way. Now it seems to have become Tu casa es mi casa. ... or What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine. Society will disintegrate into anarchy with that type of attitude.

[LibKill]

I'm a real property rights guy myself. And I have taken some flak for it.

Clubbing a minature dachshund to death takes little strength and less cojones. A spanking with a folded newspaper would have taught the critter to stay out of the yard.

Felony charges are disproportionate. He should just have to stand in his front yard for two hours every day holding up a sign saying "I HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT I HAVE NO BALLS."

[joesnuffy]

what a sick POS ...ever seen a minature Dachshundt last year he killed one of his other neighbors Labs...allegedly for killing some rabbits or chickens?
Dr. Mircea Volosen
what the hell kinda name is this anyway...another alien...lands in America ..the land of milk and cookies bringing with him the greatness of his alien culture..
what a hole our leaders are turning our beloved nation into

[RoughDobermann]

OK. If the Lab had killed his livestock and was back again for more, he was justified in whacking it (i.e., worthless owners). But a miniature dachshund? Well, they CAN be pretty fiesty, but maybe a kick in the A$$ instead of a mallet to the head would have sufficed...

[smalltown]

Don't know what part of the country you grew up in but I sure wouldn't want to live there.
Around here killing someone else's dog could get your house burned down.
And splattering your neighbor's miniature dachshound with a mallet on the Fourth of July would get it burned down with you in it. And deservedly so.

[Ciexyz]

He sounds like a sick puppy.

[ambrose]

Labs are among the nicest dogs there are! This guy is scum.

[Scenic Sounds]

A veterinarian accused of using a mallet to kill a miniature dachshund that had entered his yard has been charged with felony animal cruelty.

He should be fed to dogs. That's the only way to stop this kind of thing.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Don't know what part of the country you grew up in but I sure wouldn't want to live there. Around here killing someone else's dog could get your house burned down.

And splattering your neighbor's miniature dachshound with a mallet on the Fourth of July would get it burned down with you in it. And deservedly so.

Fascinating. And, what town would that be? I learned one of the most important things I've ever learned about human relations here on Free Republic and I practice it religiously: Never threaten anyone. It ruins the surprise.

Now, why don't you be a nice little boy and tell me where that town is? I know the exact proper procedure to follow if I ever have to live there.

[cmsgop]

I agree, I just got a Young Shih-Tzu. I pick it up on the 27th. I also have a neighbor who lets his Chow and Lab roam freely. The Lab is cool but the Chow is kinda weird. If anything happens to my dog, I will own their house......

[tiki]

In our county it is legal and proper to kill a dog who is on your property and a threat to your livestock. We kill them if they look feral and give others the chance to run away and not come back but when you've seen a live calf half eaten by a dog, you get mad.

[Bonaparte]

A miniature dachshund weighs between 6 and 12 pounds.

[NorthWoody]

That's the only way to stop this kind of thing.

No, it's not the only way. The dog's owner could have cared enough about it to keep it out of the yard of a neighbor who owns other animals. Granted, the guy shouldn't have used a mallet to kill a little-bitty weiner dog that probably wouldn't hurt a flea, and he's probably a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

But what if it had been a pit bull or a Rottweiler in his yard? Could/should he have assumed the worst and killed the dog without penalty? The law doesn't make distinctions on the breed or the size of a trespassing animal, so if the guy would have been right in killing a sinister-looking large dog, how can he be penalized legally for killing an ankle-biter?

In my opinion the charges are baseless and should be dismissed. The cop who wrote the summons probably only did it because the dog's [irresponsible] owner was wailing like a banshee over the dead dog and the cop didn't want the owner's anger directed at him. The guy with the mallet protected his property, his animals, from a potential threat that was not supposed to be in his yard. Again, to qualify, the guy is still wrong for killing such a little dog, unless it was actually attacking one of his own animals, which I don't believe it was. Him being a veterinarian only amplifies his impropriety.

[Scenic Sounds]

Great job! I really didn't imagine anyone could be as persuasive as you have been on behalf of this jerk. You make some good points, I must say.

I still think it's important that an example be set. Fining or jailing him for a while might deter some people, but only those who learned about it. Feeding him to dogs would get more publicity (I think) and would send just the right message to others. I'm sorry, but that's just the way I feel about this.

[muawiyah]

Guarantee the Lab will eat your Shi-Tzu. Then, you will have to eat the Chow.

All will be in balance!

The judge will have a good laugh, but will not hand over your neighbor's house to you. After all, the issue is the harboring of dogs, a nasty practice at best.

[smalltown]

You seem a little paranoid. Just who threatened you?

[org.whodat]

Don't know what part of the country you grew up in but I sure wouldn't want to live there. Around here killing someone else's dog could get your house burned down. And splattering your neighbor's miniature dachshound with a mallet on the Fourth of July would get it burned down with you in it. And deservedly so.

You are sick, get some help.

[cmsgop]

Yeah But She is Really Cute! So There.......... :*)

[smalltown]

Just telling it like it is, good buddy.

[Doc On The Bay]

This story doesn't pass "Even the most Rudimentary" "Smell Test!"

There MUST be a "Lawyer" in there--somewhere!

None of the "Miniature" pet Species are a Credible Threat to ANYTHING!

The ONLY "miniature" threat to ANY LIVING CREATURE is a "Miniature Lawyer!!"

Doc

[org.whodat]

Well the small town I live in has a law, it say's keep your dog on a chain or he's dead. And when he goes past the fence amoung my cattle he talks to my 222. end of story.

[Zack Nguyen]

He should just have to stand in his front yard for two hours every day holding up a sign saying "I HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT I HAVE NO BALLS."

LOL.

[netmilsmom]

I agree with you about wacking the dog with a newspaper.
Years ago, the neighbors had trained their dog leave their side door and poop on our lawn. We did not have a dog because of allergies and my Dad was ticked to have to clean the yard before mowing the lawn. Talking to the neighbors did nothing.
My Dad removed the screen in my bedroom with a clear view of the front yard for a long holiday weekend. Next to him sat, a large box of industrial strength rubber bands. My Dad, armed with a couple 12 packs and a tv set, laid in wait for this dog starting at 6:00am Saturday. By the time the weekend was over the dog had been snapped in the butt so many times that I think he had a bad case of back up, from all muscles tightening with surprise and pain. He never came to our yard for his business again and they gave the dog away not long after they found they had to clean up after him.
When there is a will, there is a way. Without killing the dog...geez.

[WackyKat]

So society will collapse if macho men like you can't bash out the brains of lap dogs for invading your sacred backyard?
This vet is a vicious kook and you're not looking good yourself.

[thoughtomator]

Dachsund of Peace Alert!

=)

[jimkress]

Good post.

Be prepared for extreme whacko feedback. Too many people at FR are more than willing to usurp anything that is yours, just because they believe "they have rights". These whackos don't care about anyone else besides themselves and will resist to the death the concept that they have a responsibility to their fellow citizens.

This has already been evidenced by some of the responses to this article.

[Clintonfatigued]

Property rights is all good and well, but the doctor went WAY overboard. How is a miniature dauchsin a threat to anyone? A squirt from his garden hose would have been just as effective. Clearly the doctor is a sadist. It makes you wonder how he runs his veternary business. He deserves the indictment just so his career and standing in the community can be destroyed by the bad publicity.

[muawiyah]

What's is so truly unfortunate about your father's experience is that your neighbors seem very much like the typical dog-owner.

Thankfully we have plenty of folks around here to take care of that problem before it gets out of hand.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

You seem a little paranoid. Just who threatened you?

No sir, not paranoid. I just don't bluster, threaten, etc. Don't feel the need to. Still waiting for the answer.

[BnBlFlag]

You are right. He has no balls. What he really needs is a good ole Texas ass whuppin'.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Dachsund of Peace Alert!

LOL. Okay, I will take that to heart from this point forward. Someday, when I've retired and live in a remote location guarded by my sons with their dobermans, I'll tell all of you through the intercom system why I think the way Howard Hughes did. But, but...I'm not paranoid. ROFL!!!

[Vigilantcitizen]

Out here in the country, it's an unwritten rule that a livestock killing dog has a limited life expectancy. Once a dog gets a taste of fresh blood, it's hard to keep them from killing livestock.

Even with the new animal cruelty laws passed here in Georgia, it is still completely legal to humanely(Shoot) put down a livestock killing animal caught in the act on your property.

Although I think using a mallet was kinda sick.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"I learned one of the most important things I've ever learned about human relations here on Free Republic and I practice it religiously: Never threaten anyone. It ruins the surprise."

Ancient words of wisdom...Never fear the boastful, fear the silent.

[LFOD]

You portray the "I was born here" white trash mentality which goes hand in hand with keeping your surrounding neighbor's
property values down.
Bet you keep a junkyard in front and have an old washer sitting on the porch. Or how about the stereo @ 2 am? Ever learn to operate a lawn mower? Try painting your house, the rest of us are sick of seeing it that way.

Burn someone's home down? Be careful.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

So society will collapse if macho men like you can't bash out the brains of lap dogs for invading your sacred backyard? This vet is a vicious kook and you're not looking good yourself.

Have I ANYWHERE on this thread indicated what I would do? If you find it, you post it. Otherwise, keep your criticism to yourself. My response was to an individual who advocated escalating the violence. Perhaps you and he agree that anyone from a neighboring town who incorrectly administers punishment to any animal invading his property be executed, his house burned down, the rest of the town also annihilated and the citizenry burned at the stake.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Just telling it like it is, good buddy.

Let's begin to guess and perhaps even vote:

a. Grundy County, TN.

b. Bedford County, TN.

...oh, alright, ...many places in the State of Tennessee.

c. ...equally numerous places in the State of Alabama.

d. St. Augustine, TX.

e. Eastern Kentucky

f. West Virginia

...or

[bbluebird]

The cop who wrote the summons probably only did it because the dog's [irresponsible] owner was wailing like a banshee over the dead dog and the cop didn't want the owner's anger directed at him. The guy with the mallet protected his property, his animals, from a potential threat that was not supposed to be in his yard.
>>
You don't get it. Despite the law, people feel that their dogs are members of the family. AND, it's the court judge who put the charge on the vet after he was originally released without charges. Beyond that, if the guy was so interested in protecting his yard and had chickens and rabbits there, why didn't he fence his yard? After all, anything that attracts interest can be considered "an attractive nuisance" (a legal term). If your kid wanders in the vet's yard should he have permssion to beat your boy with a stick? No? Why not?

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

why didn't he fence his yard?

I've heard the above logic so many times. A man has a dog that roams on the land of other people. The dog kills livestock or damages the property of another. By your logic, each and EVERY individual harmed by that dog should build a fence (so many believe this). Why shouldn't the OWNER OF THE DOG be required to confine his animal on his land?

You must own a fencing company.

[Freed0mChasr]

I want to reply although it has been a while since this thread has been started because I know this vet in person:
Someone stated this: "How can a dachsund be harmful to anyone?"... Well, maybe not to people, but certainly to baby rabits and chickens, a little dachsund = death.
I have known this vet for many years, I have stayed with their family several times when I was a student in college, he has treated my own dog and brought him back to health (I found my dog as a 4 wk old puppy in the middle of nowhere after someone roled him in hot asphalt) and after three weeks with this vet, he looked like a brand new dog.
I think he was dumb to do what he did, not because it is wrong, but because he should have been more careful knowing that this country is full of people that worship animals. It would have been in his advantage if he would have sent a formal written warning to the neighbor whose dog was tresspassing telling him exactly what would happen to his dog the next time he is caught in his yard... I'm sure he warned the guy before orally, but that's not something that can be proven unless there were other witnesses.
Someone also made a comment that he should have just wacked the dog with rolled newspapers or thrown water on it, but I can tell you he doesn't have time to stand guard in his backyard all day to train other people's dogs to leave his livestock alone. He is a very busy vet, has a family, children and several dogs (including a couple of dogs that he rescued from being abandoned by their owners because they were too damned sick and one had to have a leg amputated and the owner didn't want a three legged dog, so the vet kept him) So all the people who think this guy doesn't have a heart should shut their stupid mouths because they don't know the guy, and the media won't report the whole story because if it did, it wouldn't be sensational anymore.
Maybe he should have been more careful and maybe he shouldn't have killed the stupid dachsund, but I can tell you that he was probably fed up with having to worry about his animals and he doesn't have the time to stand guard in his backyard to teach other people's pets to stay away from his animals.

Anyway, I'm against cruel treatment of animals, but killing an animal is not necessarily cruel... torturing it is cruel.
Just wanted people to see the bigger picture before they condemn a man who saved thousands of pets from death and cares very much for animals.

[micutuv]

Hey man this country I thought was "The land of the free" and if aliens were to come here u should be proud of ur country,, second, he did not hit the dog in the head and he didnt even hit it in a choping motion he just picked something and trew it to get the dog away. that was proven in court.
ALIEN

[Southern62]

Lets see here - a Veterinarian - Trained and Experienced in handling animals - decides to off a dog rather than exercize some other form of removal.

This doesn't say much about his skills as a vet not to mention his complete lack of empathy towards animals which should be a requirement to even be a vet.

Long ago I decided that people that kill or abuse animals are simply using that as an outlet for their desire to kill or abuse humans.

This guy is despicable and the charges are justified - although I would settle for a good arse whooping.

He should also lose his vet license

[micutuv]

I had the privaledge to work for Dc. Volosen for numerous times and i have seen abuse coming from his neighbors saide. At once specific time right after Halloween he cald us to fix his mailbox, we got to the scene and i was disgusted, his neighbor, "the dogs owner" was the only one one of the few that had Halloween decoration. Mr Volosen's
mailbox was attacked by pumpkins the leg of the mailbox was broken in peaces i dont think his naighbor did that, because im sure he did,............on a different occasion i was painting his house i parked my car in front of his house (in his yard) and started painting his neighbor was having a party or something because a bunch of kids were playng baseball and balls were coming from their yard a couple of times it almost hit my Rodeo so i moved my car and politely gave the balls back "they did say thank u" after a wile the balls were hitting on the street and across of course the we were the only once that the people watching could see "we were on the house" my boss notify Mr Volosen about it he sayd he tried to talk with the neighbor for fencing problems , he wont cooperate.

[justforme]

If his naighbor considered the dog as his son than how come he is not charged for not protecting his child in other words the dog (or his son i u want) was loose, was it not?
If thats the case the child protective services should get involved for negligence...What the vet could have done was get the dog, take it to CPS and say "HE LOST HIS MOMY" well if that was a human child then the owner would have got in big trouble would he not??? adding one more thing if the dog would have been a big hunting dog then the vet would not be in trouble!!!

[paul51]

The law doesn't make distinctions on the breed or the size of a trespassing animal, so if the guy would have been right in killing a sinister-looking large dog, how can he be penalized legally for killing an ankle-biter?

Interesting rationale. What if the lab was a puppy?

[Indy Pendance]

Learn to communicate in complete sentences.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Learn to communicate in complete sentences.

The English language is without a commander these days. It is really sad. So many cannot spell, use correct grammar or put a coherent thought together. We criticize others for not learning English when they come to this country (i.e. Spanish-speaking immigrants) when we ourselves can barely read, speak and write English. What REALLY matters is what someone did to some dog that was on someone else's property doing damage. Now, THAT matters.

[Hildy]

Congrats on your Shi-tzu. We have one. Let me tell you, you will never have a dog who is a more lovable creature than this breed. If someone harmed my Daisy, I'd take a mallet and kill them myself. That being said, don't expect too much in the "brain" dept. They are not known for their high intellect, but when they're kissing you and loving you, it doesn't really matter now, does it!!! (SEND PICS IF YOU HAVE ANY!!!)