Why do people leave their dogs loose???

[Lil Jon s mama]

I live in Pa. Yesterday one of the neighbors' dogs dug under our fence (in our yard around chicken quarantine pen)& killed one my pullets. Dogs running free is a BIG problem around me. I live in a semi-rural area that was all farms 10 years ago and is quickly being developed. Of course the folks from the city think its big country & for some reason that means their dogs roam free. Now I do not know who owns these 2 dogs however I've expressed concerns to other neighbors whose dogs ended up in my yard often. Sooo I really don't want to kill the dogs I truly believe its the owners fault for not keeping them contained. My plan was to shoot them with a paint ball gun, thinking it would hurt/scare the dog keeping them from coming back. And I figured when the dog went home with a giant red paint mark on it the owner would want to do a better job as dog owner. But after reading info here @BYC I'm now concerned I'll legally be in trouble for paintballing someone's dog but not for killing them. Does anyone have a better idea or do I have no choice?? I shot (a 22) to scare yesterday hoping that will be enough for those two dogs but that was third incident this week (5 different dogs 3 different neighbors). I have to wait till Monday to make a report to dog warden which I plan on doing even though I don't see how it's going to help since I'm not sure who those 2 dogs belong to. My DH has to put his weekend plans on hold we have electric fencing to put in it really stinks that we have to go through all that trouble because of irresponsible dog owners but as responsible chicken keepers we have to try our best to keep them safe. If there are dog owners out there with better ideas please let me know. When speaking to dog owners how should I express my concerns?? I really don't want to kill someone's pet (baby) but not as much as I want my pets(babies) to live. Thoughts???

 

[DancingWthDucks]

Im really sorry for your loss

I would go and talk to your neighbours, explaining that their dogs are killing your birds, and tell them that next time that you see a dog on your property you will shoot it. If you really don't want to shoot the dog dead, maybe shoot it with a paint gun or pellet gun just to scare it off.

I'm not really sure on the laws and wether it's legal or not, since I'm not in the US but I would definately talk to the dogs owner.

 

[PingoBags]

Since you don't want to shoot the dogs, which I can understand, maybe just catch them and bring them to an animal shelter and or talk to the owners.

Try securing the fence so they can't get in. I know you probably don't want to go out of pocket because of someone else's dogs but sometimes you have no choice.
It might be the owners fault for the dogs getting in your yard but you have the responsibility of protecting your chickens from predators.
At this point, the dogs are the predators.

 

[Lil Jon s mama]

Tha

Im really sorry for your loss

I would go and talk to your neighbours, explaining that their dogs are killing your birds, and tell them that next time that you see a dog on your property you will shoot it. If you really don't want to shoot the dog dead, maybe shoot it with a paint gun or pellet gun just to scare it off.

I'm not really sure on the laws and wether it's legal or not, since I'm not in the US but I would definately talk to the dogs owner.

. Thanks for sympathy. I wish I knew who owned the dogs who actually killed my pullet so I could talk to them. When I spoke with other neighbors whose dogs frequent my yard they did apologize but also made excuses for their dog. They have a Burmese mt dog which the owner said is not a bird dog their golden retriever is. I told them I am concerned about all dogs not just "bird dogs" in MY yard. There is a leash law in pa and you can shoot a dog on your property if you feel it's a threat to you or your property. I wanted to mention this to neighbors but i don't want to start feuds. If I owned a dog I wouldn't let them roam free not only because its irresponsible but I would be afraid something would happen to it. Guess I better speak to law officials before paintballing dogs. It would be just my luck that I'd end up in trouble if I try the more humane (IMO) way of deterring dogs over shooting them dead.

 

[Lil Jon s mama]

Since you don't want to shoot the dogs, which I can understand, maybe just catch them and bring them to an animal shelter and or talk to the owners.

Try securing the fence so they can't get in. I know you probably don't want to go out of pocket because of someone else's dogs but sometimes you have no choice.
It might be the owners fault for the dogs getting in your yard but you have the responsibility of protecting your chickens from predators.
At this point, the dogs are the predators. 

.
I have tremendous guilt for not having a better security for my gals. My main hen house is very secure. This is our quarantine pen. The plan for today is expanding electric fence around our beehives to include hen houses. Hopefully that will keep chickens safe. Now If the neighbor would get shocked at the same time the dog hits the fence I'm pretty sure problem would be solved. If only I knew how to invent one of those

 

[PingoBags]

Guilt is a good motivator, I think your chickens are lucky to have you.
Some people would just shrug it off and do nothing.

How did it get in to the quarantine pen if you don't mind me asking?


When I built my coop and run, I used information gathered from reading stories like this to help prevent it.
I don't have to deal with dogs but instead, raccoons.
No coop and run is 100% secure, we can only do our best to protect them.

Good luck

 

[burdboy]

I have two dogs and they run free around my property until the girls go out then they go into the pen and my hens Freerange I have had my female dog rip up chicken wire out of concrete I got electric fence put it on for just a day she got shocked I turned it off and have no trouble with her now

 

[Lil Jon s mama]

Guilt is a good motivator, I think your chickens are lucky to have you.
Some people would just shrug it off and do nothing.

How did it get in to the [COLOR=333333]quarantine pen [/COLOR]if you don't mind me asking?


When I built my coop and run, I used information gathered from reading stories like this to help prevent it.
I don't have to deal with dogs but instead, raccoons.
No coop and run is 100% secure, we can only do our best to protect them.

Good luck

I just brought home 2 ss & 2 australorps pullets 8/9/16 to add to exsisting flock. Don't get introduced the look no touch method till 9/16. I'm down a ss (cocoa r.i.p)

The run wasn't enclosed underground but they are in tractor @ night run needs work. Dogs dug under it

 

[Trish1974]

Oh boy does this thread strike a nerve with me! Loose dogs are my biggest pet peeve!

To answer your title question...because people now a days are irresponsible, lazy, and just simply do not care. I have always lived in the country. Thirty some years ago when I was a kid we never had to worry about trespassers or loose dogs. Everyone respected everybody else's land and property lines. Three years ago my new neighbors decided to get a dog... a mixed breed hunting dog. They started letting it run loose because "it was high energy and needed exercise". That dog would come over and run my cats up trees, crash through my garden fence destroying my plants, and ran every stitch of wildlife out of my woods (which 2 hunters pay me big bucks to hunt). Thankfully I did not have chickens at the time. When confronting the neighbor, first I asked nicely to keep the dog off my land, then when that didn't work I firmly TOLD him to keep her off my land, then thirdly I told him I was going to shoot her if he didn't. As I was walking away he laughed at me and said "no you won't"! (Probably because I'm a woman.) During this month of torture from the dog (she also ran through my woods all hours of the night making that god-awful hound dog bark) I had called the cops THREE times, each time telling me they would have animal control contact me, which they never did. On the third and final call to the cops I told the dispatch lady I was going to shoot the dog, and she told me to go ahead. Two days later I got that perfect shot.

I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it may be your only solution. I do agree with PingoBags though that you may want to try to take it to the animal shelter. In most areas the owners have to pay to retrieve their pet so it will get expensive for them. But you should not have to worry about your own animals on your property. I have always been an animal lover but I love my pets the most, so I will shoot anything that threatens their lives. I chose to have them, I need to do whatever I can to protect them.

I am very sorry for your loss, and hope you can find a peaceful solution to this problem.

 

[Lil Jon s mama]

So dogs came back this time with a friend. Chickens are safe in tractor till fencing is fixed. DH went for supplies and I just can't kill the dogs but I did shoot at them scared them off. I just had to explain to neighbor (not her dogs) that I won't kill the dogs since I'm a huge animal lover and I think it's owners fault for not controlling them. However if its my responsibility to make sure my pets are safe than its the dog owners responsibility to keep their pets safe. My DH is completely in the your dog in your yard your pet your dog in my yard what dog mind set. Hopefully dogs get locked up before he gets home.