Dangerous precedent (pt2)

Rutland Herald

LetterTo The Editor

April 14,2016

As a former farmer and recent transplant to Vermont, I read with dismay the involuntary manslaughter charges against Craig Mosher due to a driver having died last summer as a result of one of his livestock getting loose. This indictment opens a huge can of worms and one that a rural state such as Vermont may want to reconsider.

Livestock get out, as do dogs and cats, and I believe it is safe to say that deer, moose and other wildlife are always “loose.” Are we to now accept that if a dog gets loose and a driver dies when swerving to miss it, the owner is now criminally liable? Who is liable for a moose or a deer? It is not hard to imagine that when someone dies as the result of striking a moose it would kick off a flurry of copycat lawsuits, holding the state of Vermont liable for allowing wildlife into the roads.

While it is admittedly tragic when someone dies as a result of avoiding or by striking a large animal, how is it possible that the owner of an animal can be responsible for that death? If this is, in fact, the case, I would urge every farmer raising livestock to quickly sell off your herds and flocks, for you, too, could easily find yourself in court, being handed an indictment for murder and looking at possibly serving up to 15 years in prison.

Folks, keep your dogs and cats confined also. Sounds ridiculous, yes, but it is a fact that Mr. Mosher is now looking at a charge of murder for that very reason. I urge every person in Vermont who owns an animal that is ever outside to make your voice heard in defense of reason.

TRACYLEA BYFORD

Tinmouth

Comment: Great letter!
Vito