Officers then took the dog to the Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton and posted a photo of it on Facebook, asking for help identifying the owner. The owner later came forward, officials said. The male dog, named Titan, was 3 years old.
Dog Warden Supervisor Kurt Merbs told WCPO that Titan had to be put down due to the severity of his injuries.
“This dog was shot for going after a man’s chickens in Madison Township,” officials wrote on the Butler County Dog Warden & Humane Officers Facebook page. “The dog has since been put to sleep do the severity of the injuries. Thanks for all concerned.”
Titan had been running loose since noon that day, Merbs said. The owner of the chickens lives one block away from the dog owner’s house and tried to scare Titan away when he entered his property, Merbs said.
The chickens’ owner used a shotgun to shoot Titan when the dog started charging at him, Merbs said.
After being shot, Titan ran to a house nearby where he collapsed. The chickens’ owner and the residents then called 911.
The dog’s death angered many on the Butler County Dog Warden & Humane Officers Facebook page, while others defended the livestock owner.
Officials followed up the post by stating the shooting was not illegal. The owner of the chickens had “the right to protect” his livestock, they said.
“There was nothing illegal about shooting the dog,” officials wrote on Facebook. “You have the right to protect self and livestock. It’s a very sad situation all around.”
A chicken was killed during the incident and four others are missing, according to Merbs.