DOGS! UGH!!!

[centrarchid]

They were both irresponsible in letting their dogs roam (Or did the one get out? Sometimes that happens.) in the first place. But they did take responsibility for the actions of the dogs. One by putting his own dog down (should have been done before, I know), and the others by offering to pay for the chickens. If you read the numerous "My Neighbor's Dog Killed My Chickens" posts on here, you will see that the majority seem not to take any kind of responsibility. The standard answer seems to be, "Not my dog!". So, I stand by what I said. These neighbors appear to be the exception to the rule of dog owning neighbors. This story had a good ending, rather than neighbors being at war over one anothers' animals.

I suspect the postings here with respect to lossess caused by neighbors dogs are not repressentative. I am not as inclined to post when neighbor makes right and the witch hunts that get up on some of these threads is also less likely. The witch hunts stick in your memory much more thant the alternative.

 

[Gumiho]

I'm aware its rare to be reimbursed for lost birds, which is why I acknowledged that as a blessing and did credit that it was done. I've known many who have lost birds to such unfortunate circumstances with little to no recourse.
But it remains that both dogs did get out, either due to irresponsible management or mistake. And birds were killed. That would be strikes 1 and 2.

Strike 3 was offering the dogs up as sacrificial scapegoats, when the root of the problem lies with ownership. And neither seem to be suited to own dogs. In my experience, when someone's dog does something, and they offer up the dog for the punishment. They're not accepting responsibility at all. And history is like to repeat itself if they get another dog. If someone's dogs killed my birds, disposing of the dogs and offering a bit of money wouldn't console me if when I eventually see them get new dogs. Because it will still be the same owners, and likely the same manner of management or mistakes.

 

[Whoops]

If acknowledging he can't control the dog adequately after multiple incidences of killing other animals and euthanizing the dog isn't an acceptable solution, and if rehoming it away from the circumstances that led to the problem isn't a responsible solution, what is the ideal solution? Neighbor 1 had a dog he couldn't keep from killing his own stock, and when the problem spread to involve others, he did the most reasonable thing. Certainly, it was a much more humane and responsible solution than chaining the dog for the rest of its life or rehoming a habitual killer on an unsuspecting family or pawning the problem off on a rescue. Neighbor 2, well, if they believe the whole "pitbull with the taste for blood will eat the kids" garbage, then the dog is best away from them.

No mortal person can make it didn't happen, but, given that it did, both sucked it up, admitted the problem and did what they could to make it right and make very sure it didn't happen again. What more can we ask of them?

 

[chicksurreal]

Hopefully both dog owners will learn from whatever mistakes were made that resulted in the death of the poor birds and will take precautions against it happening again by either not getting another dog or if they do get another dog making sure that they aren't free to roam and kill other people's animals.

 

[cwcochran1961]

They were both irresponsible in letting their dogs roam (Or did the one get out? Sometimes that happens.) in the first place. But they did take responsibility for the actions of the dogs. One by putting his own dog down (should have been done before, I know), and the others by offering to pay for the chickens. If you read the numerous "My Neighbor's Dog Killed My Chickens" posts on here, you will see that the majority seem not to take any kind of responsibility. The standard answer seems to be, "Not my dog!". So, I stand by what I said. These neighbors appear to be the exception to the rule of dog owning neighbors. This story had a good ending, rather than neighbors being at war over one anothers' animal

Originally Posted by Gumiho

I don't understand the "responsible / exceptional" neighbor comments. Honestly, both neighbors are anything but.

Both were irresponsible, both have no business owning dogs, and both dogs (and the OP's chickens) are the ones paying for the owners' short-comings.

The only up side I see in this scenario is that the OP was reimbursed for the birds (a blessing) and that hopefully the surviving dog will go to a less ignorant and irresponsible family (tasted blood? really?) and hopefully neither neighbor will get another dog.


Man ! people get very opinionated about this don't they? It was terrible. I feel horrible for my birds as well as the neighbor who shot his dog. The other neighbors( who said the comment about tasting blood.. shocked me too) who paid for my birds, their dog disappeared for a while, but it is now back. I am happy to say they keep it tied up and confined. I guess they learned the lesson. The other neighbor who dispatched his poor animal, now has more "strays" roaming the neighborhood. So I was told the sheriff got a hold of him and he got a $350.00 fine. Guess he has more money than brains?
As for my birds, no other incidences from dogs. I learned my lesson too.

 

[sjaved789]

It is very annoying your neighbour executed his dog for the punishment of being a dog?!?!? It is HIS fault that he can't be bothered to look after his dog properly. I would have personally been pi#$ed if I was you

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Some dogs are country dogs. Some dogs are city dogs. The dog that was executed might have made a fabulous family dog in some suburbs with a huge fenced back yard and a big den with dog blankets galore. I wish he had gotten the chance for that life.

 

[Gumiho]

Some dogs are country dogs. Some dogs are city dogs. The dog that was executed might have made a fabulous family dog in some suburbs with a huge fenced back yard and a big den with dog blankets galore. I wish he had gotten the chance for that life.

And some people are suited to own dogs, and some people are not. The area the owner lives doesn't make it any more ridiculous to kill a dog to amend for the owner's incompetence.

A person that can not control, contain and tend to his dog and finds it reasonable to execute it to make up for his own failures, should not own one. Sadly, its apparent the man has not yet learned that lesson. And more dogs (and neighbors) are likely to suffer for it.

 

[cwcochran1961]

I was mortified that the owner did that! I begged him not too. He claimed it was because his dog killed all of his chickens as well.This man just doesn't care about anything animal wise except his cows.
I agree some people are not suited to won dogs or animals of any kind. Its was not the dogs fault. He was just being a dog.

 

[gander007]

I have read for a long time about peoples problems with dogs attacking their chickens. Well it finally happened.
Two different neighbors and two different dogs came in an attacked my flock in my yard at the same time.. Unfortunately for me , we came home at the end of the attack with the predators still lurking around. Knowing who the owners of the dogs were, I immediately went to their doors. One neighbor, who raises his own chickens and cattle, had HIS OWN chickens killed by his dog. He didn't do anything about it and did not restrain the dog. I told him what happened, he apologized and said the situation would be taken care of. Two minutes later as I returned home, I heard two gun shots ring out.. No more dog.
I went to second neighbor they were not home. I called Animal Control, they came immediately. Took a report and he did tell us" we had the right to protect our home and property by whatever means necessary". They posted a confinement order on the door of the second neighbor.. This neighbor came to the house the following day and paid us for our birds( 4 in total) and said that because the dog was a pit bull they were going to place the dog with another family.They were concerned about it being around their small children, now that it had tasted blood.
We were offered the option to press charges against both neighbors but decided not to in the attempt to keep the neighborhood friendly.
It could have gone a lot differently and I am please with the way the responsible parties owned up to their responsibilities for their animals behaviors.
Unfortunately my flock suffered, I suffered. But I know now that I in fact do have good neighbors, although maybe a little naive.

I am so happy you had Neighbors who were good enough to be big enough to handle the problem and did you are so lucky to have Neighbors who when faced with such a task faced up to their responsibly and to pay you for the loss WOW ..

The unwritten law of a live stock owner is to do just what happened and the cattle man knew the unwritten CODE
and carried it out as once a dog crosses over the blood line there is no going back ....

I can remember back in the 1960's when driving down the road a seeing dogs beside the road where the cattlemen
or sheep ranchers had found and dispatched them and asking my Father why the @%$^&*$! had shot these dogs
for no reason and he replied it wasn't for what they had dune but for what they could do and that the damages
were very costly and a few years later he would change it to would you want the Manson family living in
your Neighborhood ?

So sorry about the loss

gander007