Do you hold to that ethic when someone is flying a drone, the dog is a distraction interfering with their ability to focus 100% on flying, (and here's the key point) and the owner is unwilling to control their pet when asked to?
I'm a dog owner and love dogs. I've had as many a 4 a part of our family at once. I think there's a special place in hell for people that abuse animals, striking them especially included.
I also recognize that they're animals, and can not be reasoned with. Effective communication is limited, particularly between a stranger and a dog, especially so if the owner is there.
The pilot has a legal obligation to put safety of people, animals, and property first. How is safely having the dog chase a drone cruel, or illegal?
Seems to me it's the dog owner violating the law by refusing to control his dog, interfering with the pilot. The relevant FAR has been cited here many times.
I'm sincerely curious to better understand in detail your reasoning in this example, if you'd be willing to share it.