Colorado Liability??

[ThracianHorse]

Thank you all! I called Animal Control and got an answer (Thanks for the suggestion!)

She has a duty to look over her hens and if my dogs end up injuring and/or killing her animals on our fenced property, then we are not liable. It is slightly different if it is unfenced property due to Colorado's open range / fence law.

Excellent! Don't forget to document this conversation and make lots of notes about it. Animal control would be the final authority if your neighbors try anything.

 

[Henry&Friends]

As long as your dog never steps paw off your property to harass or attack livestock or poultry, it’s fine. Neighborhood strays that kill my chickens on my property can be shot, but if my guineas are across the street, in their yard, and their dog catches and kills the bird STILL IN THEIR YARD they’re not responsible. But if my chicken wanders in the road and the dog chases the chicken back onto my yard, and then keeps harassing or hurting my birds on my property, it is their responsibility. I wouldn’t recommend feuding with your neighbors over a bird, especially when you never intended it to happen, and it happened on your property. Animal control never helped me, but they will let you know your rights.

 

[cmom]

I'm glad you got an answer. I would think that since the bird came onto your property and died, it could have been anything that killed it, not necessarily your dog. I have several game cameras on my property and have seen dogs and cats on my property. I have asked some of the closer neighbors if they know who they belong to but no one seemed to know but have seen them roaming too. We are rural on a dead end road. Now I am going to do some research and see how different places handle something like this. Just curious... Good luck...

 

[cmom]

Here once in awhile we get other people's relocations (catch and release). If they bother my birds, I will shoot. We have enough predators looking for a chicken dinner.

 

[theautumnalfox]

If you fear that they may take action against your dogs, may I recommend getting a trail cam or other motion video recording device and placing it along the property boundaries? It may deter them if they know that area is monitored. If they do poison or otherwise harm your dogs there is proof of the event and culprit. Neighbor disputes are difficult, I hope they see reason and their responsibility clearly.

 

[COSmallAcreFarm]

If you fear that they may take action against your dogs, may I recommend getting a trail cam or other motion video recording device and placing it along the property boundaries? It may deter them if they know that area is monitored. If they do poison or otherwise harm your dogs there is proof of the event and culprit. Neighbor disputes are difficult, I hope they see reason and their responsibility clearly.

We have a camera on order that I'll put to cover our shared property line, just in case...