3 murdered hens...advice please

[theJH]

S
S
S

 

[ZepChick]

Thank you to ALL for your comments and advice, they are well-taken and very much appreciated.

We do live in a rural area, and have contacted the animal control officer. She says if they have not gotten rid of the dog, she will come over and take the dog from them. According to her, we don't need photos, as we all have seen the dog in the act, and followed it to it's house. As one poster suggested, I like the idea of spray painting the dog on my property.

Yes, our run should be as impenetrable as possible, and should have a lid. I have been after my husband to fix it for me, as I am not very good with tools and such. I am mad enough now, that I am hiring an expensive handyman if he doesn't fix it now! I even believe the first time was shame on us, as I have been asking him for months to provide a safer environment for my hens. It is my fault, I should have hired someone earlier and faced my husband's wrath.

I don't know if it is legal in my state to kill the dog, but after seeing what he did to my pets, I believe I could do it. I know that my neighbors don't believe our chickens are as important of pets, as their dog is. BTW, I did take my daughter over with me, and all they could say to her was they know how she feels.

Again, thanks everyone for your time and thoughts, it makes the hurt a little better, even if you only looked at her picture. Does anyone know where I could look up laws regarding livestock &/or animals, and liability concerning shooting their dog?

Thank you! Kim from Oregon

 

[horsejody]

I found a little bit of info about dogs killing livestock.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/99orlaws/sess0700.dir/0756ses.html

http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/statestatutes/stusorset.htm

 

[Windy Ridge]

I have to say I don't understand why the chickens weren't in a secure, safe coop in the first place.

Hi, Sugar. Maybe you can take a moment and think about it. The answer may come to you.

As I recall, the OP was assured that the dog would be taken care of "immediately," and they even trimmed the birds' wings just in case. I don't know about you, but I am unlikely to be able to plan, purchase materials for and build a new chicken run all in one evening. However, they did plan and trim wings, which is a job in itself--and deal with the neighbor--and doubtless bury the birds and comfort the poor little girl. Sounds like a full evening. I wonder if they had time for dinner? They may have been too sick at heart.

Simply because your responses to the situation would have been different does not mean the OP was unreasonable. My response would have been different, too... doubtless I would have been much meaner to the neighbor.

Because what the OP did unfortunately didn't work to protect her hens (it's tough to work reasonably with irresponsible dog owners... or, really, with irresponsible people of all stripes), that doesn't mean that I am more reasonable, and it doesn't mean you are. Maybe it would have worked out if I had called the sheriff--then again, maybe the neighbor would have less sympathy for the situation than he already does. We don't know.

So many people have lost chickens on this board, some to predators--canine or otherwise--some to disease or parasite, some to misplaced waterers, some to unknown infections, it is not kind to suggest that simply because someone behaved differently than you would have in a given situation (was or wasn't able to afford a vet, treated with Tylan or another antibiotic, didn't quarantine as long as you would have), that the person's loss should be shunted to the side in order to suggest that the only reasonable response to any given situation is the one you would have had. This is a time for sympathy, and for suggestions for the future.

I think we can agree that purchasing baby chicks and then not knowing enough even to provide food, water and an appropriately heated environment is probably not reasonable. Asking "WHY?!" in that case may be tempting (if not productive). However, trimming wings, speaking to the neighbor and making plans for a more secure run all of an evening... my guess is that seems perfectly reasonable to most people. I'm very sorry it didn't work out.​

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

Found this about a man in OR who shot a dog back in May:

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_052608_news_man_kills_dog_.2ff7da97.html

 

[ZepChick]

Thank you, horsejody, windyridge, and Ellie_NY_chick for all of your sympathy and links to articles and the law. It was very kind of you to take the time to do that and we all greatly appreciate it. Hopefully the dog will be taken care of.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

Sorry about your birds. I know I would feel the same. But that dog would have been long gone if it did something like that to my girls.
Catch it again and Bye Bye doggie. Animals(dogs/cats) disappear ALL the time. Run away from home. Get killed by cars, injured just enough to get off the road and then go and die in peace somewhere. The morons that own it would never need to know.

 

[averytds]

Homeowners in the county can shoot a dog that comes onto their property if it's endangering someone's life, an animal or livestock. The sheriff's department told KGW chickens don't count as livestock

So they're not animals either?

And all the munincipal codes that keep people from having chickens because they're livestock....

She said that soon after Dakota ran out, there was a knock on the door from the Linn County Sheriff's deputies telling her that her neighbor had shot and killed her dog.

Either they've got the fastest response the world over or she's seriously underestimating how long her dog was loose.​

 

[ILoveJoe]

So Sorry about your losses and the grief you and your little girl are going through.



Quote:
So they're not animals either?

And all the munincipal codes that keep people from having chickens because they're livestock....

She said that soon after Dakota ran out, there was a knock on the door from the Linn County Sheriff's deputies telling her that her neighbor had shot and killed her dog.

Either they've got the fastest response the world over or she's seriously underestimating how long her dog was loose.​

I agree. Wth the price of gas getting response for an animal call is way low on the proiority list for law enforcement.

I don't think I could shoot at anything, much less dogs. But if I could catch it, it would go to the animal shelter and let the owners deal with any fines for letting the animal run loose etc...

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

So they're not animals either?

And all the munincipal codes that keep people from having chickens because they're livestock....

I know, I thought that too. Ya can't win.

Well if animal control follows the letter of the law, franklyfrancki, then your neighbors are up for some hefty fines. That should make them think twice about their responsibility as pet owners. It still doesn't replace the beloved birds though.