Danged ole do good neighbor killed my chickens!

[JayneMae]

please post an update.

 

[Urban Chaos]

funny that you ask- I'd figured everyone forgot about it. So, it turns out it was my neighbors 9 year old daughter. She had come to play and went around to the side door as usual - saw the dogs in the garage and decided to let them out. Since this has happened we have new birds and keep the dogs inside the house only. I did not tell the little girl what happened, she loves animals so much and it would have devastated her to know that she was responsible for chicken death. I did ask her not to ever let the dogs out unless she asks first and explained that we have chickens that our dogs dont play nicely with.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I guess this changes the situation a bit. I probably would not have told her what happened either. I would be trying to fence off my yard to keep roaming children out though.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Quote:
I'm glad you found out how your dogs got out.
You used very good judgement to not tell the little girl.

 

[bobbi-j]

Glad your mystery is solved. I applaud your sensitivity toward the little girl - not everyone would be so kind (even to a child!) Also happy to hear that you got more chickens!

 

[aubreynoramarie]

While I feel for the little girl (I also would have felt terrible if I was a kid!)

Why the heck would the parents of a nine year old let them wander off, go to a neighbors property, OPEN THE NEIGHBORS DOOR, play with dogs unsupervised....

I applaud your sensitivity but would not be so lenient with the parents. They owe you big time.

 

[MuckyPuppy]

Quote:
I agree and disagree with aubreynoramarie.

As an adult and a mom of four rugrats, I now know the dangers of children playing with any animals unsupervised, even ones that the kids know well (there have been many stories of dogs turning even on kids in the family from something as simple as picking up it's favorite toy) but as a kid (probably not much older than the kiddo who let the dogs out) when my neighbors went out and left their dog outside and it was whimpering loudly, I went over to keep it company. I even tried the basement door and, when I found it unlocked, almost left the dog inside (thought better of it at the last minute). It took a while for my parents to figure out where I had gone and longer for them to get me home (when my mom yelled out the front door for me to come back home I refused). Dad had to eventually come and get me (10 - 15 minute walk). I don't remember getting in too much trouble but then again I didn't tell my parents that I had been trying every door and window at the neighbor's house. Eventhough I wasn't scolded much when I got home and I never told my parents I was practicing breaking and entering, I did manage to catch pneumonia and end up in hospital on oxygen so I did learn my lesson. I didn't mean any harm but if I had managed to let the dog in the house it could have been bad as I didn't know why they left their dog outside.

 

[annep]

You are so sweet! She doesn't need to know..good for you..Just make sure she really understands what would happen if she did let them out. That she can handle.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Same here. No one has the right to come on your property and release your dogs or anything else. Find out who did it and give them a BILL for the birds...$20 per bird, feed since you have had them and the loss of the price of the fresh eggs.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
We don't know how the dynamics between the two families works. OP stated that the little girl came over to play and went to the side door AS USUAL - so obviously she's familiar with the home, the dogs and the occupants. Could be that the child didn't "wander off", but told the parents exactly where she was going. Accidents happen. Sometimes you've gotta take a hit and let it go to keep good relationships. In my opinion, good relationships with other humans is far more important than anything else.