Farmer Maggot's Dogs

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Perhaps Aragorn ought to have arrested him for keeping such large and dangerous animals?

I was going to ask the same question before I saw your post.

[Moonraker]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

I was going to ask the same question before I saw your post.

I think the Council, and other great powers like Lorien and Gondor, had better things to do than arrest Maggot for killing a trespasser with his dogs. But he may have been tried by the highest power available in the Shire?

[Mithalwen]

It is clear to me from the scouring of the shire that the vilent death of hobbits in their own land was pretty much unheard of. Also that Magots dogs were not truly dangerous from Frodos words - alarm and deterrent not offensive weapons. To suggest that Buckland was some lawless violent and anarchic badland is ludicrous. Had Maggot been a danger to the community, no doubt the Master would have taken action but really this sort of extrapolation is the realm of speculative fan fic.

[Moonraker]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

It is clear to me from the scouring of the shire that the vilent death of hobbits in their own land was pretty much unheard of. Also that Magots dogs were not truly dangerous from Frodos words - alarm and deterrent not offensive weapons. To suggest that Buckland was some lawless violent and anarchic badland is ludicrous. Had Maggot been a danger to the community, no doubt the Master would have taken action but really this sort of extrapolation is the realm of speculative fan fic.

I think you have got carried away here. The visit by the Nazgul had made Maggot exceptionally sensitive to trespassers, and the dogs would be used unmercifully from then on, that is the impression he gave to Merry.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Moonraker

the highest power available in the Shire?

There was no power. There was no government. Both the Mayor and the Thain were, at least by that point, almost purely ceremonial positions.