Dilema with neighbor's dog...NOW WHAT?

[19hhbelgian]

I just dealt with this problem with our neighbors Husky. I didn't want to shoot her, and I didn't want to have to call Animal control - complicated story for another time

My solution was going to simply be to catch her, and make her disappear - take her to a husky rescue.

Ended up finally talking to the wife, and she willingly gave me the husky, who is now living in our basement

We just love her, but it's highly unlikely we will be able to keep her because of our other dogs

(Them - not her. Our one girl is very territorial).

So, maybe if you talk to the wife, you can talk some sense into her... The previous owner of the husky left her with his parents when he moved out. The wife really did love the dog, but she didn't want to have to tie her up all the time either. When I told her we'd either keep the dog, or I would take her to a husky breed rescue that would not put her to sleep, she was very willing, not excited to get rid of the dog, but knew it was the right thing to do for her. It sounds like the guy isn't very nice to the dog and it would be better off if you did make her disappear...

Good Luck!

 

[Big C]

Quote:
You are correct that it is the dog owners fault, but if the dog owner does not do any thing nor does the ac and the owner looses the entire flock while waiting for someone to do something to protect their property then who bears the cost of replacement?

Would you bear the cost of replacing your entire flock based on empathy for your neighbors dogs well being when the neighbor could give a rats arse since its just your chickens?

What ever happened to protecting your own personal property against theives of any kind??? and then expect compensation from a lose due to theft/predation?

Sorry for this reply, but here we still have a right to protect and defend what we have. Everyone knows this since they have the same rights for their own property.

 

[Judy]

Simple truth is, animal control has failed you, and the owner is not going to deal with the situation, so taking the animal out is really your only option.

Well, unless you want to let the dog kill all your chickens, then try to address the consequences.

That's why SSS is so often proposed here.

 

[Gersbud]

I don't know about florida, but when I call animal control, I told them that i was going to shot the dog if it came back and suggested I shouldn't but if I caught it in the act I had the right to protect my animals in what ever way I deemed fit and safe for me. When I catch the dog that took mine it will not be coming back again. The neighbor is jerk. I am sure if it were his chickens your dog was killing it would be an entirely different matter then.

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
You have to be careful with a paintball gun because they can cause damage or injury. Unfortunately, you can get in trouble for "animal cruelty" by hurting the animal with a paintball gun. Ironically, in *most* places, you can't get in trouble for killing the animal though. So, if you're going to send a projectile towards the animal, I'd do it to kill, not injure. You don't want to get in trouble for trying to be nice. Someone like the OP's neighbor wouldn't be grateful for the "training", but would instead exploit the situation to benefit himself.

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
Your rooster might be alive if your fence was fully intact, BUT the RESPONSIBILITY lies with the owner of the dog - if you have a pet you need to keep it under control. That means that YOUR fence (in theory) is to keep your birds in your yard. HIS fence (in theory) is to keep his dog in his yard. He either didn't even put his dog in the fenced area or his fence is inadequate to keep his dog under control. Either way, he is not controlling his dog properly.

Now in the world of chickens, we must acknowledge that our fences/barriers must be built to keep EVERYTHING out, from the neighbor's dog to the wandering coyote, we have to evaluate the threat level for our area and respond appropriately. Sorry for your loss, but don't kick yourself (or your husband) too hard - if the dog owner had been doing what HE was supposed to, this wouldn't have happened.

 

[The Kibble Goddess]

Big C and all,
Citrusdreams said what I was trying to say, but said it better. I'm not opposed to sss if necessary, I just don't want them hurt more than needs be. -- Kill the dog - OK. Hurt the dog - Not OK -- Boy, that sounds weird when you see it in print!

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
If there is animosity between you, it is the fault of the neighbor. It's his dog and his fault. He has already demonstrated that he is a friend or a good neighbor. If he mans up and keeps the dog in, that's lavely. If he doesn't, then the dog is better off gone. BTW trying to catch a dog that is fearful and shy is often more dangerous than catching an outgoing dominant one. Shy dogs are often not well socialized and often make bad decisions when stressed because they are panicked. Also, as someone mentioned earlier, in most places it is legal to kill a dog but illegal to injure them with paintballs, BB's or pellets. Purposely using nonlethal force to injure a dog falls under the animal cruelty laws. Shooting to kill a dog harassing livestock falls under livestock/property protection laws.

 

[Ashmeade]

Can you hotwire your fence? That would keep the dog and other preditors out...

 

[Sunny Side Up]

For once I was pleased with the response I got from our Animal Care & Control. An officer was sent on the same day, even within an hour! And she caught & took the dog away, and started a file on this animal & her owners. I don't think they were cited or fined, but they did have to pay to bail her out of the pound. And I suppose they were told the reason why she was collected, and what will happen if they receive more complaints about her. I think she will now be listed as "potentially dangerous" and there is particular protocol to be followed if she even gets out of her fence again. I was told to write a detailed witness statement and deliver it, notorized, to ACC to be put in the file.

I was not pleased with the response from the neighbor, but won't expect any more. It's still so recent, maybe he's waiting for his wife to return from her out-of-town trip to decide how to reply. They're two houses away in an acreage neighborhood, we've never been close, just in a neighborly wave-as-you-pass-by kind of way. I just didn't want to create animosity there now, but I still feel that I did what had to be done.

IF the neighbors contact me, I'll ask for an emergency number we can call to reach them first if ever their dog gets out of their fence again. I think the dog is at risk for injury to herself too, she's so skittish that she might run out into traffic without looking if she gets frightened enough.

BUT if I do not hear anything from the neighbors, then I'll simply have to call ACC if I see the dog out and unleashed. I'll be spending my day surrounding my yard with reinforced fencing and lots & lots of prayers.