People v. Bugaiski

568 N.W.2d 391 (1997) 224 Mich. App. 241

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Jody Scott BUGAISKI, Defendant-Appellee.

Docket No. 194788.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted April 10, 1997, at Detroit. Decided June 17, 1997, at 9:20 a.m. Released for Publication September 11, 1997.

Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Thomas L. Casey, Solicitor General, Elwood L. Brown, Prosecuting Attorney, and Shawn P. Jones, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for People.

Lee A. Strickler, Fort Gratiot, for Defendant-Appellee.

Before McDONALD, P.J., and REILLY and O'CONNELL, JJ.

McDONALD, Presiding Judge.

The prosecution appeals as of right from an April 23, 1996, order dismissing the charges against defendant. Defendant was charged with wilfully and maliciously killing an animal, M.C.L. § 750.50b; M.S.A. § 28.245(b), and possession of a firearm while committing or attempting to commit a felony, M.C.L. § 750.227b; M.S.A. § 28.424(2). We reverse and remand for further proceedings.

Defendant admittedly shot and killed his neighbor's dog. Defendant claimed he shot the dog because the dog was attacking his own dogs and that his actions were justified pursuant to § 19 of the Dog Law, M.C.L. § 287.279; M.S.A. § 12.529. The Dog Law provides in relevant part:

Any person ... may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing, worrying, or wounding any livestock or poultry or attacking persons, and there shall be no liability on such person, in damages or otherwise, for such killing. [M.C.L. § 287.279; M.S.A. § 12.529 (emphasis added).]

For the purpose of this act:

(a) "Livestock" means horses, stallions, colts, geldings, mares, sheep, rams, lambs, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers, cows, calves, mules, jacks, jennets, burros, goats, kids and swine, and fur-bearing animals being raised in captivity. [M.C.L. § 287.261(2); M.S.A. § 12.511(2) (emphasis added).]

Defendant argued at the hearing regarding the motion to dismiss that his dogs were "livestock" within the meaning of the statute. In support of this argument defendant cited the definitions of "livestock" and "domestic animal" purportedly set forth in Black's Law Dictionary, and on the basis of these definitions urged the trial court to take judicial notice a dog is a domestic animal that meets the definition of "livestock" as contemplated in § 19. Defendant also argued for the first time at the motion hearing his dogs fit within the scope of "fur-bearing animals being raised in captivity" and that "in fairness" the trial court should interpret the term livestock "as broadly as it can be." Defendant cited no authority for such a request. The trial court apparently agreed with defendant and dismissed the charges.^[1]

A fundamental rule of statutory construction is that courts must ascertain and give effect to the intent of the Legislature. Welch Foods, Inc. v. Attorney General, 213 Mich.App. 459, 540 N.W.2d 693(1995). The first consideration in determining intent is the specific language of the statute. Id. Judicial construction is permitted only if the language is unclear and susceptible to more than one interpretation. Id. Here, the statute specifically defines the term "livestock," thereby rendering use of defendant's proposed definition improper.

The only question remaining is whether the Legislature intended that dogs be included within the definition of "livestock" as part of the category "fur-bearing animals being raised in captivity." We conclude it did not. The fact the Legislature listed "fur-bearing" animals as a separate category within the laundry list of "livestock" indicates a specific intent to distinguish these animals from the rest of the list on the basis of their fur-bearing characteristic, presumably at least in partial recognition of the commercial value of furs. Dogs are not so distinguished. Moreover, the deliberate use of the modifying phrase "being raised in captivity" implies the fur-bearing animals contemplated in the category are not normally held in captivity. Again, dogs do not belong in this category. Additionally, if we accepted defendant's position that dogs come within the intent of the terms "fur-bearing" and "raised in captivity," the same argument could be made with regard to almost every other animal already listed in the "livestock" definition, thereby rendering most of the individual animal listings superfluous. In construing a statute, a court should presume that every word has some meaning, and should avoid a construction that would render a statute or any part of it surplusage or nugatory. Omnicom of Michigan v. Giannetti Investment Co., 221 Mich.App. 341, 561 N.W.2d 138 (1997).

The statutory interpretation doctrine of ejusdem generis also dictates a finding the Legislature did not contemplate dogs as being "fur-bearing animals being raised in captivity." Ejusdem generis provides when a statute contains general words following a designation of particular subjects, the meaning of the general words is presumed to be restricted by the particular "kind, class, character, or nature as those specifically enumerated." Welch Foods, supra, p. 464, 540 N.W.2d 693. Here, the similar trait of the separately listed "livestock" animals is that they are all farm animals raised for profit. Ejusdem generis therefore dictates that the general term "fur-bearing animals being raised in captivity" take on the same significance. Dogs do not belong in this class.

Finally, we find some guidance in the definition of the term "fur-bearing animals" contained in a provision of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act regarding hunting and fishing licensing. The relevant provision states:

"Fur-bearing animals" includes badger, beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, lynx, marten, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, skunk, weasel, and wolf.[M.C.L. § 324.43503(5); M.S.A. § 13A.43503(5).]

Dogs obviously do not fall within this definition.

We conclude domestic dogs are not "livestock" for purposes of § 19. Dismissal of the charges filed against defendant on these grounds was improper. Additionally, even if defendant's dogs were. considered "livestock" within the purview of the statute we would still find dismissal of the charges improper. Defendant was charged and bound over for trial on the charge of wilfully and maliciously killing an animal. M.C.L. § 750.50b; M.S.A. § 28.245(b). That defendant felt he had a valid defense to the charge was not grounds for dismissal before submitting the case to the factfinder. Defendant's version of the incident, that his dogs were being attacked, was by no means conceded by the prosecution.

Reversed and remanded for further proceedings. We do not retain jurisdiction.

NOTES

[1] The trial court did not specifically state the basis of its ruling. The court stated:

I've reviewed the transcript of [the preliminary examination]. I've also reviewed [defense counsel]'s motion, the citation of cases and law, including definitions from Black's Law Dictionary, the exhibits attached, which was the police report, and I think substantially all the transcript of the [preliminary examination].

The Court believes based on the law and the examination of the transcript of the testimony that was had, that the charge contained in the Information should be dismissed, and so the Court does dismiss both Counts contained in the information.