Stop Dog Hunting in South Carolina
By Kathy Andrews
Deer hunting with dogs is a time-honored tradition in South Carolina, but as rural land becomes more developed, hunters who want to run their dogs clash with property owners who don’t want people, or dogs, trespassing on their land. The author of those words, Mr. Raymond Timmons, is a former dog hunter who gave it up because he confessed that he couldn’t keep his dogs contained on his small acreage.
I sent Mr. Timmons’ article to every legislator I contacted to help support a bill that would prohibit hunting with dogs on less than 1000 acres.
This one was sent to Senator Senn:
Dear Senator Senn,
Please vote on the upcoming legislation, House Bill 3272, that will help land owners live in peace. The legislation would require dog hunters to have 1000 contiguous acres before releasing dogs on property. Dog hunters are still trespassing and shooting into homes causing confrontations and threatening home owners.
Please read the following commentary in The State newspaper by Raymond Timmons:
Recently, I was almost hit by an 18-wheeler that went across the center line while trying to miss hunting dogs in the road. One dog was killed and the other two continued to run through traffic. I called animal control to pick up the two injured dogs. Later, the animal control officers reported that when the hunter picked up his dogs, he cursed at the staff. The hunter, knowing that I had called animal control, enlisted his hunting buddies to shoot around my home. I filed police reports and have photos of the dead dog, as well as recordings of hunters shooting toward my home in retaliation for turning in the injured dogs.
I’m not alone, hunting with dogs has become an ongoing problem across the state. Poachers have no respect for the law, and use dogs as an excuse to trespass. In addition, the dogs are often killed on the road and cause major traffic accidents. I am urging you to help property owners to live in peace.
Thank you
Sincerely, GK Andrews
I received a prompt note back that read, “I met you before and I will support you.”
Then from Senator Leatherman, there was a personalized response by email that read in part, I can certainly sympathize with the problems you have been experiencing, and you may be assured that I shall keep them in mind should this legislation be passed by the House and come before the Senate for debate. No one should worry about being shot on their own property.
In the article by Raymond Timmons that I sent to my legislators, Timmons exposed the fact that dogs are used to poach private property. He wrote: “As soon as poachers alert law enforcement that they are merely trying to retrieve their dogs, they are magically transformed into “legal” hunters.” He called this a “game” that wastes state resources.
THE DOGS MEAN SO LITTLE TO THE HUNTERS
According to the animal control officers, Tommy Mourounas, the man who trespasses and shoots on my property was upset that he had to pay a small fine when he picked up his injured dogs. He has bombarded my home with gunshots since the incident. While this has been going on for years despite my reports which have been turned against ME by law enforcement agencies, the shooting has greatly intensified since the near accident reported here.
The shelter called me and asked me to file a complaint which I’ve done. My complaint includes my photos of the poor dead dog on the side of the road and a closeup of Mr. Mourounas’ name on the collar. There can be no doubt that the dog was his.
Mr. Mourounas needs to be prosecuted…but…
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ONLY PROTECT THE HUNTERS.
There has been no relief from these hunters who continue to trespass and bombard me, the wildlife, and my companion animals with gunshots usually around 2am. They watch when I come and go and when I leave, they star hunting.
Please help me to urge the legislature to provide property owners with relief so that we can live in peace.
South Carolina Republican Senator George Campsen originally proposed the legislation similar to Georgia’s law that would make it mandatory for hunters to have 1000 contiguous acres before releasing dogs. Campsen is the chair of the Fish, Game and Forestry Committee.
He can be reached at: Campsen@scsenate.org or call 803-212-6016. Please tell him to pass legislation to stop dog hunters from terrorizing property owners.
Kathy Andrews has been in the frontlines of defending her private property and companion animals from hunters that ride roughshod on her property with their exploited “hunting dogs.” A search of the C.A.S.H. website will take you to many articles written by this brave citizen. The two photos of Mourounas’ deceased dog were taken by Ms. Andrews.
CLICK HERE for more from CASH COURIER NEWSLETTER, Spring 2017