Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrggggggg!!!!

[nic8407]

siz8003- I guess now you (and we) know these people and the dog have a history of letting the dog roam free to do whatever it feels like. You've said that they've been fined/cited before to no avail. That tells you all you need to know. You know once a dog kills fresh meat it will never stop. Paint balls won't do anything. This dog needs to be destroyed. I hate to sound cruel but it is reality. Ask yourself this; if you had a small child exposed to this dog would you kill the dog to protect your child? Of course you would. You obviously love your chickens so what's wrong with protecting them? The only way this matter will be resolved is for the AC to remove the dog from the owners NOW (in which case they will destroy the dog) or for you to take matters into your own hands. No amount of talking or billing or paintballing from you is going to change the behavior of these neighbors and their dog. If they retain their dog, sooner or later their it will escape again and when a dog really want's to, he'll get back into your chickens. So if your willing to let your flock suffer a painful annihilation one at a time then go ahead and let the AC "handle it". If I were you I'd insist the AC takes the dog with them. Hope this matter gets resolved soon.

 

[kota1369]

Quote:
Wives tale.......... Not fact by any means.
And just because a dog killed a chicken does not mean it would even think to harm a human let alone a child. Lets hope animal control will come
through for Siz.
I am abit dumb founded being a newbie here how many people just want to kill the dog and call it good. (figured this to be more of a GREEN site)
Seems to me we need to take the saftey of our pets and/or livestock into our own hands.
2x4 construction, hardware cloth and electric wire will go along way in never having to worry about your flock again. (unless you have mountain lions and bears)
Then they can pretty much get into anything if they are hungry enough.
Then.............. you want more then a .22

 

[mediazeal]

The dog will be detered by an electric fence around the pen and coop.

 

[buck65]

paint balls sound like a great start

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I really urge you to sue these people if they don't pay up or if they pay up and the dog gets out ever again. My neighbors know that I will be in thier face and on them every day if they interfere with my house yard & animals. People hate squaky wheels that cost them money. It's really worth it because they will know that you are serious. If they have been reported you will win so easy in court it will be a fun day for you. Please give it a try, thats why fines are the main way that goverment keeps people in line. Most people will do what they want unless you start taking money out of thier pocket. They will just get another dog if you shoot the GD Dog. They don't care about that dog, if they did they would make sure he didn't get loose to be shot at. That poor dog is as much a victim of those people's irresponsible and thoughtless behaviour as you and the chickens are.

Also, anyone who traps stray cats, please just take them to animal control. We have cats dumped out here all the time and they really screw up things. If you call ahead to animal control/SPCA you can find out which ones will take the cats. Some groups provide traps for you to catch stray cats.

 

[nic8407]

kota1369-

My reference to protecting her child was not a suggestion that this dog could or would attack her child. But rather pointing out an obvious "rule of life" if you will, that we all have a right to protect ourselves and our property from harm from others. And trying to point out the folly of believing that one cannot take the life of a predator/or dog to protect the lives of others she loves. Bear in mind, I've never suggested they indiscriminately shoot the dog. Only to do so to protect the lives of her chickens (i.e. the dog is attacking them). siz8003 started out by saying she was at her wits end and AC nor the owners would do anything. That is the premise for me and others to say shoot the dog. In my 52 years of life experience around animals and livestock I have seen it to be true that once a dog kills it won't stop.

Edit to remove flame

 

[Tanichca]

personally, I like the paint ball idea

 

[LizFM]

I would be very careful about declaring that you can shoot (wildlife, dogs, humans) to protect property. It is drilled in every gun class I've ever taken that you can not legally shoot to defend property if it is otherwise illegal to shoot (ie in town).One of the examples used was that you cannot legally shoot a dog that is attacking your dog if you are walking the dog. You can only shoot if the dog is attacking You. You can shoot (in some states, in some countries) to defend your life or the life of another person, if you have no other options.

In many places farmers can shoot dogs on their property which are harassing livestock. But this livestock is on agricultural zoned land out in the country. Whether it's legal for YOU depends on your local laws. And this is a website for backyard chickens...not farm livestock, so many people who read here don't live on farms so this doesn't apply to them.

You might be willing to risk prosecution or lawsuits for shooting to protect livestock and other property, but please be careful of advising people they can...especially if you do not know all the applicable laws in their specific area.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Green is not a dirty word. Raising chickens is green. I have raised chickens in rural areas for over 25 years. The fact is it is easy to blame the dog and tell yourself you are protecting your property as justification for shooting an animal. But often times we overlook our own part in the events which occur in our lives. There is responsibility on both sides. i think that anyone who thinks that they should be able to let helpless livestock roam around thier property without proper housing and expect all the animals in nature or other peoples pets to know where the property line is are living in a fantasyland not reality. When you keep animals, housing them properly is an obligation. Loose chickens are just asking for it... I would even say it's an attractive nuscience and that from a predator's point of view you are baiting a trap or luring predators. If you have to, box them in a cheap night pen in a garage or outbuilding. if you love your chickens it is not too much trouble. It is not a fact that you have to shoot dogs and predator most of the time. It is a choice to do so as your solution to a problem, but my solution works 100% against predators as well. (Except for bears & people) Also, just because you don't agree with another person is no reason to tell them to go to another site or that they are wrong. Lets try to be positive and helpful to each other.

 

[kota1369]

Quote:
So then we are both speaking of our experiances in life. This is good... I understand Siz being at wits end. I would hate to be in her spot right now. As I love my silly chickens as much as I love my dogs. I have 4 of each. That is why when I built my chicken area I made it so stray dogs could not get into it. I am not worried about my own dogs as I know my dogs, train my dogs, and only trust them as they show they can be trusted with certain things. Just like trusting ones children as they mature.
I need to save your comments, as I have never in my 45 years ever been called PC.

And I agree with you, "rule of life" if you will, that we all have a right to protect ourselves and our property from harm from others."
that is exactly why I say secure your animals from harm. And it will save a lot of head aches.
My chicken tractor is secure except for a preditor digging under it. If I loose a chicken it is because I was lazy and didn't do it. Or I was to cheap! Its MY FAULT. Not the dog! Not the racoon. Not the apossum. My fault. And I know every time I look out there and realize I should have done this...... or that........... I do NOT think I am ignoring the reality of life. I realize, if something digs under my tractor my chickens death was my fault. Just like I realize Siz in in a bad spot, and I hope she gets things taken care of.