If somebody's dogs got after my livestock or anything that belongs to me I would use whatever is closest for me to get a hold of.
Did she tie the dogs off and beat them to death with the bat? If that's the case she is completely in the wrong, however, I don't believe she will get in trouble but you probably will. That is how it usually goes!
x2...catch type dogs need to be kept where they can not get loose because they can and will kill livestock including dogs, chickens, and they could get on someones child...
The only thing my catch dogs go for is a 100% pork. I had a mishap with both of them on cows and broke that really really quick. Heck theyll run through deer cows and goats and not even look at them. Now web they see a pig they are wild with a little handle still , not much though lol. So if they are hog dogs it would only be natural for them to catch higs jmo. Still hope everything works out for you