If the animals were legally owned and registered, they technically were not strays, as that would imply that they were fending for themselves.
I grew up near Arva in Middlesex county for close to 30 years, and never have I known Golden Retrievers or any similar domesticated dogs to represent much threat to livetsock. Not sure what the rube mentality is about randomly shooting first without much thought, I would side with the broadcaster in this case, prolly comes from the same types who distill shine and light crosses.