Dog killed show breeding Golden Sebright cock

[The Moonshiner]

How much do you sell your chicks for? Say its $25 and you expected another 100 chick sales from him. Thats $2500 lost income, so now the value of the dead bird? You paid X for him, it cost you Y to feed and house him for however long you have had him.

It won't work that way in court unfortunately.
You can get the cost of a replacement bird but not lost future chick money or the cost of you raising him.
Say your rooster was a show quality 2 year old rooster. That's what you will get whatever it would cost for another 2 year old show quality rooster. Shipping or travel expenses to get him to your door can be included.
You won't get lost future earnings from him because the replacement rooster will produce future chicks for you
You can't get lost earnings and a replacement that will give you what he would of. That would be asking them for the same thing doubled. Make sense?
You can't get what you spent raising him because the compensation will be for a bird that is already raised. You can't get what it cost to raise him unless the replacement bird is a chick that will need to be raised over.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[3riverschick]

What state are you in ? have you checked your specific laws for your state on dogs killing livestock ?every state is different.
Karen

 

[cabumblebee]

Thank you all of your comments and concern! M neighbor and I came to an agreement on the lil guy that I lost!
I am ok with the amount but still wish that I had my rooster!!!
Thanks again!

 

[Kristen D]

Just offering to pay for the bird isn't good enough!! Absolutely not!

The dog has to go, or has to be declared a dangerous dog and subjected to homeowners insurance policy confinement requirements for dangerous dogs. What's to stop this casual owner from letting her dog loose again and it killing every bird on your property??

As Gary said above, make an honest determination of what the bird was worth to you. I like what Gary proposed, but it isn't likely to hold up in court, as Sebrights aren't a rare breed, and the bird can be replaced, although it might not be easy. Be prepared to be asked what a replacement cock of equal quality would cost. When you answer, be sure to include shipping to your area, including replacement cost if he dies during transport or during rehoming, plus the cost of setting up a quarantine coop, and a fair cost for your time to find and arrange the purchase of the replacement. If you have both options available, likely a court will accept one option or the other.

Once you have those figures, you can present them to the owner, and request that the bill be paid and the dog sent away or confined permanently within 2 weeks, or you will proceed to small claims court. Then do it!! If the owner seems unwilling to cooperate, be sure to call the sheriff and/or animal control and request that the animal be declared a dangerous dog, which has a specific legal meaning. Definitely get the dog owners
homeowners insurance involved -- they don't like having to deal with irresponsible dog owners, and will cancel a policy if an owner isn't cooperative. Mortgage companies require homeowners insurance, so that's a big deal to most people.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It must have been terrifying for the birds.

A dog that killed a chicken won't be declared a dangerous dog unfortunately. It's in some dogs nature, particularly if they aren't raised around chickens. I would definitely have them compensate you for any, and all costs. I would also be demanding she tether her dog on her own property to prevent any future issues.