5 dead and 2 are missing I need your best replacement price

[TEXASSuperCHICKEN]

I think it is a fair price to ask before court. If they want it to go to court add any and all fees to the $444. for them to pay- you may want to think about all your time in raising them too.

 

[jeannieo]

I get so emotional when I read about these things on BYC. I don't even know you or your chickens but it just STINKS that your poor chickens (and you) had to go through all this and I'm sitting here with tears running down my face.

I'm so happy that your Tom came home anyway!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Sounds COMPLETELY reasonable to me! Maybe this will make your neighbor learn to lock up his dogs! No better way to learn a lesson than making the hand chaffed from reaching in for his wallet all the time!

 

[newnanchic]

well I have typed up my letter and I have ask them to reinburse our family for the chickens . I tried to be nice ( to nice ) I am asking for no less than $400.00 or go to small claims court then I will ask for every expense paid including court fees and court cost, I just about bet they don't pay !!! Are there people out there who still do the right thing these days ??? It just makes me sick to my stomach thinking about what they went thru .

 

[jjthink]

Below is a note I wrote to the neighbor whose dogs ripped hen Ellie apart on December 9th. Ellie survived and appears to have recovered after many weeks of discomfort and nursing care, and so it is not nearly the dire situation you have. Also, the neighbors were very apologetic and after their dogs got out yet again (UNBELIEVABLE!), they called me right away and left a message (luckily the birds were inside, as I wasn't home), posted someone at my house to make sure they did not get near the birds, and indicated in a phone mesage they they think they will have to get rid of the dogs because they can't control them. I share the letter only so that you feel more secure in making your demands - we must, or we don't honor our feathered friends, so I applaud you for doing this. Don't feel the least bit hesitant. I am hoping my neighbors educate others. They did pay the bill, which amounted to nearly $500 (very inexpensive, compared to my cat vet bills!). JJ


JJ's letter to neighbor:
I appreciated the apology about your dog attacking little Ellie. She is still with us but it’s been a very difficult time for her. The long term prognosis has been uncertain, but I am seeing signs of real hope in the last 48 hours and now feel I can write to you about this with some optimism.

Ellie had to have surgery the afternoon of the attack for a huge open wound on her back and once released from the hospital she had to be treated at home with oral antibiotic (Sulfatrim), topical wound cleansers (Betadine) and topical antibiotic (Neosporin). I had to set the bathroom up as an infirmary for her as she needed to be warm to have the strength to heal and had just cleaned it back out when she started to take a turn for the worse on Wednesday the 17th. She was limping and then every few seconds collapsing to the ground on her right side. On Thursday morning December 18, I had to bring her back to the avian hospital - the third round trip since the attack on Tuesday December 9. The dog did a lot of damage to her right side (e.g. most all of her wing feathers were ripped out) – the vet said the problem could be deep infection from the wounds or nerve damage or some other kind of internal injury from the pressure of the dog’s jaws. He gave her a cortisone shot and then prescribed Metacam, an anti-inflammatory. Because she was no better the next day – still collapsing every few seconds from pain – I was back on the phone with the vet and he decided another round of antibiotic would be wise in case of deep infection. This involved morning and night doses for another 10 days, as it did for the first course. Each round of dosing takes about an hour because the meds taste dreadful and are hard to swallow and Ellie is stressed so much I can only get a drop in her at a time without choking her (I succeeded in medicating myself in the process as she would at just the right moment flick the sticky stuff in my eyes, nose, ears and hair - it’s been a 2 showers daily exercise!). Now finally I am seeing improvement that I hope will last now that the med courses are wrapping up – she is stronger and in less pain. She and her buddy still have tremendous fear – they have been hiding for the most part, but hopefully the fear will ease with time so they can relax again.

I share these details not to make you feel bad – I know you did not intend for any of this to happen - but because my hope is that you can find opportunities along the way in life to help educate other dog owners about what can happen in even just a few short minutes of a dog not being in control. If others learn from this, and ensure that their dogs do not roam, then Ellie’s trauma and suffering and all the time it has taken to try to heal her will not have been in vain. My neighbor chased the dog away from Ellie when he saw her in the dog’s mouth, and yet the dog came back again a short while later, looking for the birds. Dogs are smart predators – they are known to make a bee line straight back to locations where they found prey. This is another crucial thing for dog guardians to know.

I wish the attack hadn’t happened and that I didn’t have to do this, but I have to ask you to cover the bills (enclosed) for Ellie’s medical care thus far and for the damage he/she did to the bird’s run. Enclosed also are a photo of: one of Ellie’s injuries, the dog on my deck, the dogs once a friend was able to catch them, a pile of Ellie’s feathers where he cornered her after ramming the run and tearing the winterized plastic glass sheeting up, and of part of the ripped sheeting which doesn’t photograph well. The dog rammed the wire siding in some spots, distorting it, and tore the plastic sheeting apart – was able to get a replacement piece for about half the usual price.

I wish we could be crossing paths under much better circumstances.

 

[newnanchic]

WOW !!! What a great letter !!! I just hope my neighbors are just as nice about it . I wrote the letter ant taped it to their mailbox . I am waiting for a response as I do not want to get into a face to face confration again . The injured roo looks much better toda he is eating and drinking again. Now to start all over and the waiting of 23 weeks for eggs again. luckliy enough of the RIR surived and we will have enough eggs for us but my egg sell are lost til summer when some of my teenagers start laying. Thanks for all your help.

 

[newnanchic]

I am satisfied today with our neighbors response !!! I typed them an itemized statement and a nice letter last night and taped it to their mailbox today and I got a note back apolgizing and they are agreeing to pay the expenses that I ask them for and enclosed a check for $100.00 the first installment ( I understand not having all the money at once ) So now I can replace my birds and I have been promised no more problems from the dog ( The animal control peple took care of that ) . So now I start over again . Thanks for all yourkind words and advice I used your caculated figures and that is what I awill be gettting. Most importantly never having to see that dog again .

 

[horsejody]

This is the letter I sent to my neighbors when their dog attacked. I had legal advise from an attorney that specializes in such matters.

Horsejody
my address
my phone
date

Stupid Neighbor
Their address

Re: Damages incurred from your dogs attacking my poultry

Dear (neighbor's name):

The purpose of this letter is to attempt to resolve the issue of damages arising from your dogs attacking my animals.

As you know, the incident happened on October 23, 2008 in the following manner. Your dogs left your property, entered mine, attacked and killed my birds. Thirteen birds were killed, a vet bill was incurred, I had to leave work early, a cage was damaged in the coop and a lot of feed was spilled. The information about the incident was confirmed by witnesses.

You are responsible for this incident because your dogs were not contained on your property.

As a direct result of this incident, I have incurred losses in the amount of $xxxx.

In addition to my costs, I have suffered another loss that in many ways has been more hurtful. The birds were hand raised by my family and me. They were all healthy. Some were rare breeds that are expensive and difficult to obtain. Our birds have great sentimental and emotional value to my entire family. Their suffering and death has caused a great deal of pain in this house. Because you also are a pet owner, I assume that you understand the terrible ordeal that a pet owner incurs when an incident like this takes place, so I will not describe the details, although I could.

In order to avoid the time and expense of formal civil court proceedings, I suggest that we resolve the issue of restitution. You clearly are responsible for all of the losses that resulted from this incident. There is no question that my losses total $xxx. There also should be little doubt that my family and I have suffered greatly because of what happened. Instead of civil court proceedings, I propose that these damages be paid by you to me by (enter date about 10 days out). I believe that this amount is less than what I am entitled to receive, but I would give up the rest if it were paid by that date.

If you intend to accept this settlement proposal, you must sign the bottom of this letter and send it back to me within one week from today. Should you need further information [or more time for payment], or if you have questions or comments, please contact me within one week from today.

Sincerely,


Horsejody

Of course, my neighbor ignored the polite letter, and we are going to the expense of court. His cost will be greater because of this. If you do file a civil claim, it helps to be able to show that you sent him a letter with the amount due.

 

[newnanchic]

Great note !!! Mine was not as well written as that but it worked !!! He is going to pay what I am asking for so I am satisfied NEVER happy but at least it hit him where it hurts the most your wallet and I don't have to worry about that dog again .

 

[jjthink]

Quote:
Great letter

JJ