What do you do to protect/secure your homestead? | Page 2 | Homestead Security | Forums

KVR said
need to hang this above our walkway

A long while ago I was researching things with the plan to have trained guard dogs on my property. I wanted to insulate myself from any potential liability and was looking at laws and legal advice about proper signage.

To sum it up, the consensus was that you don't put up signs that say "Beware of Dog(s)" or "Warning, Attack Dog(s) on Duty" or "Never Mind the Dog, Beware the Owner", instead, you put up signs that say "No Trespassing, Guard Dog(s) on Duty" or "No Trespassing, Guard Dog(s) on Premises".

The distinction being, that signs that say "Beware of Dog(s)" or something about "Attack Dog(s)" imply that the dog(s) are a known threat and you know the dog(s) will likely bite. Signs that say "Never Mind the Dog(s), Beware the Owner" imply you intend to shoot all trespassers... you cannot shoot simply for trespassing, you can only shoot in defense of self or others. Whereas "No Trespassing, Guard Dog(s)..." does not imply the dog will bite, it doesn't use the word "warning" on purpose, and all the sign implies is the dog(s) are trained to "guard"... to "guard" does not imply biting. Effectively you are giving legal notice that trained "guard" dog(s) are "on duty" and "on premises", and not to trespass. You've covered your legal bases and liabilities without announcing in advance any "intent to harm".

So along the same lines: If you actually have something happen and shoot in self defense, a sign such as the one pictured above could be used against you by the prosecutor who will say it wasn't self defense, it was premeditated, that you even had a sign announcing your intent to shoot.

In other words, "Don't announce intent to harm." or even create liability for yourself by giving any appearance of intent to harm.

...That is, unless you want to go to prison.