Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Goat Island incident Date:   7/24/2018 10:59:10 AM

I first read about this on social media.  People calling out a man by name saying he was the guilty party in hitting and killing the dog.  First of all, people should not call out the "guilty" party - no doubt the man named is getting a lot of hate and may not be involved at all.  There is so much blame to go around - the owners should not have had their dog on Goat Island, if that was the case.  It's hard to tell from the story if Goat Island is even involved.  I remember the owners of the goats said that goats cannot swim, so unless he was being pursued, why  was the goat in the water?  Secondly, like it or not, dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dog, and it is up to them to make sure their dog stays safe.  I don't see the dog bearing any blame for just being a dog.   If the boater in question had just rescued the goat, he would be a hero.  But if he did, in fact, go after the dog with the intent of killing the dog  with his boat, then I think he should be subject to animal cruelty, because I can't think of a more cruel act as described. I wish the family, even in their horror, had gotten the boat registration number.  I hope the police do an indepth investigation into the facts - becasue judging from the article in the Outlook, I got the impression that perhaps they weren't taking this as a serious crime (and I acknowledge it may be in the writing in the Outlook and not truly represent the feeling of the police in Elmore County).  

Don't let your dogs on Goat Island.  Don't let your dog swim in the presence of other boaters.  Don't take matters into your own hands.  Get the tag number of the boat, and report it, but don't set yourself up as the judge, jury and executioner.  Don't indulge your ego in boat rage.