I REALIZE THIS IS A POULTRY SITE BUT!

I have just been reading a disturbing post by someone who lost a bunch of chickens to her neighbors dogs. I feel really sorry for them and something does need to be done about the dogs.

What disturbes me is there is four pages of people who can think of nothing but putting the dogs down. I know this will make me unpopular on this poultry site but why do chickens seem to take precedence over everything including common sense. The dogs in most cases are just doing what comes naturally. The real problem is the people who own the dogs.

If we love chickens, dogs will just naturally clash with our sensibilities. If we love dogs chickens just may have the same affect on some other people. (chickens do make noise and can wander where OTHER people may not want them).

Chickens are just what they have been for thousands of years: domesticated dinner. Dogs are just what they have been for thousands of years: domesticated hunters. We cannot change that in the course of a couple of years. Or 50 years. Or 100 years.

What angers me most is people who are ready to kill any wild creature that happens to be looking for something to eat in their vicinity. To what appears to be a huge number of BYC bloggers any attack on a precious chicken justifies the killing of ANY predator including protected and endangered species. I hate to say it but when a chicken fancier resorts to that kind of action he/she is no better than a mindless killer animal.

Stuff happens people, we need to take a deep breath before we take any kind of action.

I know I just lost your vote but heck, I'm not running for anything but common sense.

Don't forget, that our sense as humans is to protect what is ours. Our instinct is involved too.

Though, I do not think putting down a dog is an option... dogs do what dogs do... and if my chicken wonders off from the safe haven I've given it and it gets eaten... then it was the fault of the feathered one.

Everyone has different opinions... how they handle it, and how the law decides it is just whats going to be done by each individual.

A quick note: The threads on dogs / chickens often go downhill / get locked quickly. We'll leave it open as long as everyone keeps it helpful and positive.

I think he made a valid point and he put it in a good light. Instinct does rule!

I noticed that to, but that is peoples opinions, no one will ever agree. I would be mad as heck if that happened to me, but I can't blam the dogs, I mean, their dogs, thats what they do. The owner should be held accountable. I was just glad to see something was being done, not oh well, their just chickens. Thats my opinion.

I guess dog owner's need to understand that if they allow their dogs to roam and the dogs do damage or injure or kill......they will likely be put down.

It's not the dog's fault, but I am in agreement with the laws.

I live in a rural area and at night out my window I see many stray dogs roaming in my yard. It makes me afraid to go out my door.

There needs to be accountability. It's the law.

Dogs kill people too.

Solution: Keep your dog in your own yard. Simple.

Quote:
I think the problem stems from the lack of funding for animal control authorities in certain areas. If there were better pay for ACO officers, and better funding for programs, there would be more criminal penalties enforced for owners who DO NOT contain their dogs properly.

I lost my chickens today to a dog.

Am I upset at the dog ? Yes.

A dog will do what comes natural to a dog though, so I do not lay all the blame on the animal.

Most of that is placed on the owner, or the one who used to own the dog before it escaped or let go. Animals are a responsiblty not some shinny toy you discard when bored or relased when you can not feed them. I love shelters and what the people here do when trying to find an animal a new home. However out where i live I can not take the chance that a stray will not go after someone more valuable to me like children. The pounds out here do nothing, so in some circumstances we need to do what we have to. If there is someone willing to pick up a stray dog that likes chicken let me know for next time.

Well.....yes, dogs will be dogs, but laws are laws, too and they're necessary to keep the peace. It's unfortunate that the dog pays with its life when it ultimately comes down to human responsibility.

From my point of view, a violent dog that will attack animals may one day stretch to attacking children, so I'd rather it was handled before it came to that.