Montana § 81-7-401 Killing Of Dogs Harassing, Destroying, Or Injuring Stock -- Notice To Owner -- Penalty

Montana Statutes

§ 81-7-401 — Killing Of Dogs Harassing, Destroying, Or Injuring Stock -- Notice To Owner -- Penalty

Montana § 81-7-401

Title 81LIVESTOCK

Ch. 7PREDATORY ANIMAL CONTROL

Part 4Dogs

This text of Montana § 81-7-401 (Killing Of Dogs Harassing, Destroying, Or Injuring Stock -- Notice To Owner -- Penalty) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mont. Code Ann. § 81-7-401 (2026).

Text

81-7-401 . Killing of dogs harassing, destroying, or injuring stock -- notice to owner -- penalty.

(1)As used in this section, "harasses" means worries, chases, or runs after livestock, including ostriches, rheas, and emus, in a manner that may lead to subsequent injury to the livestock.

(2)A dog, whether licensed or not, that, while off the premises owned or under control of its owner and on property owned, leased, or controlled by the livestock owner, harasses, kills, wounds, or injures livestock not belonging to the owner of the dog is considered a public nuisance and:

(a)may be killed immediately by the owner of the livestock or an agent or employee of the owner; or

(b)the owner of the dog, when reasonably notified after due process, shall kill the dog within 24 hours of notificati

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81-7-401 . Killing of dogs harassing, destroying, or injuring stock -- notice to owner -- penalty. (1) As used in this section, "harasses" means worries, chases, or runs after livestock, including ostriches, rheas, and emus, in a manner that may lead to subsequent injury to the livestock.
(2) A dog, whether licensed or not, that, while off the premises owned or under control of its owner and on property owned, leased, or controlled by the livestock owner, harasses, kills, wounds, or injures livestock not belonging to the owner of the dog is considered a public nuisance and:
(a) may be killed immediately by the owner of the livestock or an agent or employee of the owner; or
(b) the owner of the dog, when reasonably notified after due process, shall kill the dog within 24 hours of notification. If the owner fails to do so, an officer may be notified and shall kill the dog or cause the dog to be killed.
(3) A dog may not be killed in a manner that will endanger a person.
(4) This section does not apply to a dog herding livestock under the direction of its owner or the agents or employees of its owner.
(5) This section does not apply to a dog engaged in legitimate sport hunting or predator control activities under the direction of its owner or the agents or employees of its owner.
(6) The owner of a dog that harasses, kills, wounds, or injures livestock is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $500.

Legislative History

En. Sec. 1, Ch. 142, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 3417.15, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 46-1916; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 106, L. 1993; (6)En. Sec. 2, Ch. 106, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 206, L. 1995.