Animal control is on its way...Update post 73...

[007Dawn]

Quote:
I agree shoot the dog. I'm an animal lover period but if the owner won't take responsiblity then oh well. Shoot it and bury it. They don't have to know.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Thank you for all of the great comments.

You're right. The dog is out of control. I did mention that he is a Pit Bull right? Not to insight the ire of Pit Bull lovers, but we know that in the wrong hands they can be extremely dangerous.

The owners cant control him because they dont know how. He barely responds to basic commands and has never been trained in any way, shape or form.

My thoughts for rehoming him were that if he could go to a family who would be willing to provide obedience training then he would have a chance. But as someone mentioned...he is prey driven so perhaps the kindest thing would be if he were put down.

A LGD would not help us in this situation as the pasture is 15 acres of high tensile wire. No way to keep a dog in. Our chickens are 100% free range, coming into the barn in the evening to roost on a rafter....weird I know, but it works...lol.

We live in a holler and are the last house in the holler which is why we are able to have free rangers...there is no one for them to bother.

And our Lab does a great job of detering wild life. So, if we could just get this dog thing under control, we would be all set.

 

[007Dawn]

I'd be careful with the rehoming then you are responsible in today's society if the dog does something. No offense but FYI anydog can be a threat if not treated properly.

 

[horsejody]

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What do you do with a dog like that? You put it down or rehome iit to somebody that will bother to take the time to work with it. Dogs that are out of control are bad news. Their lives are no more valuable than the ones they takel. Also, be careful with horses that have been run by dogs. If you trail ride with them and a dog is on the trail, they can be spooked because they might now be afraid of dogs. It can be a dangerous situation and may take some training to ensure that they are safe mounts. If the dog comes back, shoot it. You don't need your husband's permission. Get your own gun if you have to and keep it ready. Tell the neighbor's landlord too. He may not be aware that his tenant is harboring a nasty dog. Landlords can sometimes be held liable if their tenants have mean or out of control dogs so he may demand that the dog be gone. Don't forget to tell the neighbor how much he owes you for the chickens. Hitting him in the wallet might make him see the light and rehome the dog.

 

[Shelanie]

We allowed our renters to have a dog but can revoke their right to a dog if the dog is a nuisance or damages our house. I would definitely notify his landlord. We are allowed to do a walk through with 3 days notice at anytime because of the large dog. Just a thought.

 

[emmalynn]

He hasn't gotten a taste for the ducks you got from me, has he?

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
You didn't mention the above before. What you're describing is not a dog, but a very bad accident waiting to happen. I'm surprised AC hasn't done more about it, isn't that their job? If it were me, that dog would be shot on site, period. It's only a matter of time before he goes after something other than a chicken

To me, this is a no-brainer.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote:
I don't like killing any animals, but what about those animals that are a nuisance, and the owners do not take responsibility for them and do what it takes to keep them on their property? What then? It doesn't leave you with many solutions.

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
I don't like killing any animals, but what about those animals that are a nuisance, and the owners do not take responsibility for them and do what it takes to keep them on their property? What then? It doesn't leave you with many solutions.

I really don't think some people understand the gravity of the situation. Plus, some people will tolerate things better than others. It's all about prioritizing and values.

There are some people who value wildlife and any life as so important that they just shouldn't be shot, poisoned, etc. Some people who hold these values kind of shrug if off when predators attack their livestock as just nature doing as nature does. Their priority is preserving the wildlife or just "life" around them. Their values tell them that survival of the fittest is what should drive their decisions. We've all read posts about people who don't like it, but won't take action, when raccoons decimate their flocks, or when a dog attacks their goats. They just don't think it's an offense bad enough to warrant taking action, other than to start over or work harder to predator-proof their own animals. They don't like it, but they can take it, when something of their own gets attacked. It would be emotionally hard for them to shoot a dog. So they just shouldn't. It's just the way they are. And that's okay, we all have our priorites and values. If shooting the dog is going against their grain, and they can take the damage in stride, then they just shouldn't.

Other people have different priorities and values. People who have livestock, and or pets, hold them more valuable than mauraders and will do what it takes to protect them. They have an investment (both emotional and/or monetary). Their priority is their own chickens, their own horses, their own goats, their own cattle, their own rabbits. And certainly when children are involved, some people just won't take chances. Whether they hold their family milk cows as a priority, their prize gelding, or their 8-year-old's 4H chickens, their priorities are different. Their values tell them that what's at home is more important.

It also has to do with life experiences: You're more likely to pick up that gun if you're dealing with multiple attacks, if you've seen the attacks or the gravity of the massacre you see afterwards. If you haven't experienced that stuff, you'll more than likely put up with a few attacks here and there, and especially if you don't know where the attacks are coming from.

I'm a dog lover myself. I used to welcome canine visitors all the time. One stayed a few days before their owner caught up with him. She just couldn't contain him, I have no clue why, he never left here

But one day, he didn't come back home. And I was saddened because he was a great farm dog, a sweet dog. He was huge though, and when strange dogs are spotted in a field, the owners of the cattle,goats,etc doesn't know what kind of dog it is, and shoots. He was probably shot, or hit by a car. Who knows. Maybe someone who recognized what an awseome farmdog he was just kept him. Well that went off topic didn't it?

Back to my point: canine visitors. I actually enjoyed having them. I never had a problem with them. But then then one set of neighbord decided to get themselves nasty aggressive prey-driven dogs and decided that since they live in the country, their dogs should roam free. So after *several* attacks over several consecutive days, and after begging them to contain their dogs, I just got fed up. I said "look, I'm not calling you anymore when your dogs are here. I'm just going to shoot. When they don't come home, please don't call me looking for them."

Ok, that got long winded. I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone has predators. And everyone has to choose what to do with them in a way that's best for them. Newbies are going to get all hot and bothered, no matter what their values and priorties are. Just give them a chance, they'll get used to everyone

Edited to add because I got so long winded that I forgot: But some people who tell others to simply fence in their own property are forgetting that some of us have multiple acres. And though it would be nice to put up fencing everywhere, we shouldn't have to spend a fortune and a half to keep other people's animals out. If it takes two strands of electric to contain my cattle, why on earth should I spend $30,000 to enclose my property to keep so-and-so's dogs out? If my chickens range the five acres around my house, and dont' venture pass that into the rest of the multiple acres I own, why am I expected to burden the cost of fencing that I don't need? We are talking about living in the country here... not many people realize the cost it would take to keep dogs out. Keeping livestock in is easy (for me and many others) and not as expensive. You have to work hard to keep dogs out. That's one of the reasons why there are animal containment laws. You are responsible for containing and controlling your own animals. If I had a cow I couldn't contain, she'd be gone. If you have a dog you can't contain, he should be gone too.

 

[segnenlea]

I also live out in the county with 73 acres. Our land is fenced in but there is no way we could afford to "dog proof" our property. I try to chase off any aggressive animals but after the second time... I don't give it another chance. I love all animals, including canines, but we have put too much money into our own animals to deal with someone else's. Regardless of living in the city or county, you should be responsible for your animals. If they can't control it, then they shouldn't have it. I would shoot it and leave it at that. You have done everything you can to prevent this and still it comes after your livestock. It really leaves you no choice unfortunately. I do hope it works out for you.