Seeking legal advice

[Dantruestory]

Hi. Thanks for checking this out and providing any advice. A close family member with 40 acres, in East texas, is facing some legal issues. After setting snare traps in order to catch pest animals that had been digging under his home, he caught two dogs. Both dogs were owned by separate neighbors. My family member had recorded the dogs running all over his property and causing property damage for 3 years. Over this time he had repeatedly requested that the owners keep the animals on their property. Well, with the dogs in traps, no animal control in the county, and no ability to safely get close enough to the animals to free them, he had to dispatch the animals, as he is 70 and on blood thinners and has had the dogs be very aggressive toward him. Now the owners are trying to follow through with charges. Is there any defense or anything my family member can do here?