Dog killed my chickens, I killed the dog

[jjthink]

Heartbreaking. I'm so sorry. As Cyn (speckled) said, when will dog owners ever learn?. I foam at the mouth every day reading of one dog-caused (actually, irresponsible dog-guardian-caused) tragedy or another here on BYC. My neighbors - various neighbors - continually have their dogs off leash and my heart is in my throat most of the time. Two more dogs were in the yard yesterday - thank goodness my birds were still inside. As a result of other people's careless behavior, my birds are locked up most of the time, and they are sad and bored. I just want them to be able to use my own yard.

Again, I'm so sorry. I'm glad you are going to take action against the dog's people. I don't know how on earth we will ever get a paradigm shift on this issue unless we all do this when the excrutiatingly awful situation arises. Please look at some of the threads here on BYC re: seeking compensation - your costs for the birds, their food, shelter, medical care etc, can be factored in. Sadly, too small a penalty will not be a deterrent. And even more sadly, no amount of money can ever mitigate for once joyful lives snuffed out and in such a horrific and terrifying way.

Please keep us posted.
JJ

 

[MandyH]

Been there, done that. You did what you had to do and hopefully the neighbors will know you mean business so there isn't a next time.

 

[serendipity22]

What 'kahunas' you have!! So sorry for your loss but so proud of your actions...

Like other posters, I'm waiting for my neighbors Labrador to come over and 'off' my flock. I've got 6 acres, a gun and a tractor with a bucket...

 

[chicmom]

Oh, that is so sad! So sorry you lost your chickens......First time ever (I've had chickens for 3 years) about a month ago, a neighbor's dog ran over into my back yard and grabbed one of my hens. I just happened to be near the kitchen window, and I looked out and, at first, I thought it was my own dog Cosmo--I thought he had gotten loose.

Then I realized it was the neighbor's dog and I screamed at him out the window. Well, he dropped the hen and ran. The hen luckily had some feathers missing, but was othewise fine. On my way to the back yard, as I was panicing, I yelled to that neighbor, "YOUR DOG IS EATING MY CHICKENS!" She came running over and by then he had run off.

She has promised to keep him chained, and they even made him a fenced in area, but still I have caught him sniffing around our trash cans at the end of the drive two times now. If he sees a hen in my front yard, and he's loose, I know he'll strike again. These neighbors of mine drive me nuts. They're on their third dog since I've lived there.....Very irresponsible.

I'm sure it feels terrible, but good for you for showing your neighbors that you mean business!

Again, so sorry for your loss....

Sharon

 

[VkyVky]

I'm very sorry for your loss. It must be very painful. I hope that your neighbors are feeling as bad as you are. I would think they are very sorrowful, too. Forgiveness is very healing. You may be able to settle out of court. They may come to understand your emotional and monetary investment and be glad to pay you. Mending relationships is better for the soul . . . but it takes time because we get so angry because of the hurt. So sorry.

 

[motoclown]

What kind of gun did you use?

 

[chkn]

What a disaster. People don't realize what a labor it is to raise these guys and how much people actually get attached to them.

 

[Gen9]

good luck to you

try to settle it out of small claims if you can... Irresponsible dog owners

I can't stand them.

 

[Baymule]

First I must apologize to you. There are always posts about dog killing somebody's chickens, but this is the first one titled like yours. When I read I killed the dog, I laughed out loud. I know it wasn't nice, but I laughed. Second, I am sorry for the loss of your babies. My chickens are pets too, I have to recognize that they are expendable pets because everything out there wants a chicken dinner, but they are my pets.I am glad you were there to take care of the dog and I do hope that you don't have to do this again.

 

[anthrochick]

What a terrible loss and my heart goes out to you.

I am sure this was not the case with the dog you shot, but we have a dog that we struggled mightily to keep at home. We paid $1000 to shore up our existing fence (mostly a 6 ft. privacy fence)--and then she learn to climb over the top of it. Then we paid another $1000 for a heavy duty high quality invisible fence. It works... most of the time, with occasional lapses when the battery goes out or the line gets broken. As soon as it stops working, she is out of the yard.

If she could catch someone's chickens she would. Instead she goes from garbage can to garbage can and comes home when she is utterly exhausted.

I say all this because we love her so much and if she killed someone's chickens and they shot her, well, I might understand but my children and I would be devastated. She would kill chickens if she got the chance but she is so loving with our kids, never ever aggressive with people or other dogs.

Our own chickens are protected from her and our other dog by our pen.

Anyway, I am not criticizing or saying you shouldn't have shot the dog. But it does make me sad all for all.