Oh sweetie - I can't bear it! I know the pain will haunt you for too long. Hopefully some of your missing will find their way home to bring a little bit of joy amid all this sorrow. Please keep us posted. I know there are many of us who have experienced similar horrors. Though I always get a little more protective every time I lose 'someone', I know it's also hard not to imagine watching them enjoying some freedom to roam and forage as well, and I always end up letting mine 'roam' as much as possible when I'm at home.
I understand your parents dilemma and yours. My husband grew up on a farm in Scotland and feels the same way about 'neighborhood' dogs as one of us would a coyote or wolf. When we first moved in next door to people with livestock, he told me to keep our dogs away from their fence and warned me that any lost livestock could be blamed on our dogs 'rightly or wrongly', and that he understood where they were coming from. Twenty five years ago, I had several chickens killed by my own lovable Golden Retrievers and was in disbelief. Our dogs, for the moment, have won the neighbors trust (and my own with my chickens and ducks), but I always fear that on any given 'full moon' evening they might reconnect with the spirit of their wild ancestors. Do your best to make your ducks safe from outside canines but also, as Iamcuriositycat suggested, try to make your neighbors aware of your concern about their dogs. Experience has taught me that some neighbors can be understanding and helpful and others just will never be.
I understand your parents dilemma and yours. My husband grew up on a farm in Scotland and feels the same way about 'neighborhood' dogs as one of us would a coyote or wolf. When we first moved in next door to people with livestock, he told me to keep our dogs away from their fence and warned me that any lost livestock could be blamed on our dogs 'rightly or wrongly', and that he understood where they were coming from. Twenty five years ago, I had several chickens killed by my own lovable Golden Retrievers and was in disbelief. Our dogs, for the moment, have won the neighbors trust (and my own with my chickens and ducks), but I always fear that on any given 'full moon' evening they might reconnect with the spirit of their wild ancestors. Do your best to make your ducks safe from outside canines but also, as Iamcuriositycat suggested, try to make your neighbors aware of your concern about their dogs. Experience has taught me that some neighbors can be understanding and helpful and others just will never be.
