Shoot, shovel, and shut up, also known as the 3-S treatment, refers to a method for dealing with unwanted or unwelcome animals primarily in rural areas. There have been reports of the frequently illegal triple-step procedure being used to dispatch mischievous pets, endangered species, and even sick livestock. Individuals often engage in this practice to protect property or pets from predatory species protected by law, especially if other measures to protect their animals are unfeasible. For instance, eagles, a protected species, have occasionally attacked and killed young livestock on ranches. Similarly, there have been multiple incidents where hawks have attacked and killed small farm poultry and pets. Farmers and pet owners caught killing such animals have been prosecuted, regardless of their reasons for doing so.