Nothing makes me angier than roaming dogs. We live in the country and peoples attitute around here is to let their dogs run free and not a care what in the world what their dogs are doing. I worry that these dogs may turn on people. They almost always show up in packs. I have noticed that wildlife predators take a bird here and there, but dogs drop a chicken and go for the next, not stopping until every last bird has been killed, and leaving the bodies to waste, usually all in one killing session. I'm upset when I lose a bird to wildlife, but I hold no animosity towards the wildlife. They kill to eat. Dogs however kill for sport, and that really chaps my hide. After losing my entire flock multiple times, I'd had enough. We called the county sherrif who said we had the right to protect our livestock and advised us to shoot to kill. I did not want to kill the dogs. I just wanted the owners to take responsibility. The killings continued. So my two sons followed the dogs, at a safe distance, and so discovered their homes. I visited each house until I caught the owners at home, presented them with a bill for $50 for each chicken lost, and told them if I saw their dog(s) in my yard again I would either shoot to kill or trap and surrender to the pound. I never have been paid for any bill, but neither have the dogs returned. But the attitute is still prevalent, just let the dogs run, they're in the country after all! We still have and always will have dogs trying to get our chickens because people just don't seem to care. I suggest if you have the constitution, shoot to kill, otherwise trap and surrender to the pound. The owners will have to pay to get their dogs back. The financial cost ususally gets their attention. But also set up an electric fence to deter future attacks. You never know when someone will move into the area, or (sadly) someone will do a drive by and leave their unwanted dog "in the country".
