FL Laws for Protecting Poultry Anyone?

[SunChick]

Anyone here know what a FL owner can do to protect her chickies? A dog is running loose up and down our road and a few days ago saw my chickies by the house and charged at them. My sitter was in the front yard and intervened before the dog could get them. Someone came out from my neighbors house and got the dog. Today that darn dog is loose again. I grabbed my two chickes and called animal control. They wanted to know if the dog had bit them. No it hadn't but we do have a leash law and I am trying to prevent loosing one to said dog. Any advice?

 

[seminolewind]

Yea, call animal control and tell them that the dog had you pinned in a corner, and was growling and bearing his teeth. They won't do anything if you say the dog went after your chickens. Or
Rent a large animal trap and trap him and call the pound.I am pretty sure that you are not allowed to let your dogs run loose, and I would certainly say the dog attacked you, not the chicks. Karen

 

[Poison Ivy]

Years ago I had a neighbor at the end of our street thought it was ok to let her dog run loose on the street. Well a few neighbors complained that they didn't want someone dog poo in their yard if they didn't have a dog. Well I went a few steps farther in complaining. Every time I seen the dog out I called the police dept and complained. I said the dog growled at me and snapped at me when I tried to shoo it off my yard. It really did twice and once at my hubby. I told them I wanted a officer to come out and tell her to keep her dog confined to her yard. Her response was she thought it was cruel to keep it on a tie out chain. So every time I seen the dog I called the police. She did good for about a month then on Christmas Day the dog was out again. I called and told them it tried to bite me again and this time I wanted them to tell her I was going to shoot the dog next time it came in my yard. Well it must have embarrassed her that day when the cop showed up because she had a house full of guests and the cop was there for a good 30 minutes. I don't know if she got a ticket or not but from that day on that dog was on a tie out chain when it was outside. I like dogs and I had one at the time but anytime it was outside it was on a leash or tie out chain and I never let it potty in someone elses yard. Nothing like not owning a dog and go out and step in dog poo!

 

[chickenwhisperer]

thats great advice you guys- LIE and file a false police report, which Im pretty sure is a felony, over TWO chickens that havent been attacked.

 

[lacyloo]

They could have been attacked though.You never know what a retareted mutt will do.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Chickenwhisperer is correct. This may also make the police view you poorly then
they will never help.

Have you spoken with the owner?

You can try an anonymous letter kindly asking for the owner to be responsible.

Pepper spray can work well if you have the patience to wait for the dog. It won't
damage the dog but it will keep him away.

Best of luck

 

[SewingDiva]

Quote:
I have to admit I had the same thought.

However, clearly this dog is a threat and of course something should be done about it. It seems to me there are two choices here: either one can go through the official process, document the behavior and then file complaints with whatever agency is charged with enforcement, or take matters into one's own hands, although is it really worth it to potentially get into a feud with a neighbor?

Just my 2 cents,
Phyllis

 

[SunChick]

Well our neighbors are not exactly easy to get hold of, They don't socialize with the rest of us neighbors. Too snooty. I called animal control who did come out and talk to DH and then they went over there. I can think of 3 occasions that this dog was loose, I cannot abide someone leaving their dog to run loose to possibly be HBC or harm someone else's animals. My little boy is very afraid of dogs and this one on the loose has me bothered as it is a shepherd cross. I am going to cross my fingers that the dog is on leash or attended, keep a watchful eye and call animal control again if it keeps occuring.

Chickenwhisperer, although I would never file a false report (I'm a teacher and subjected to the most stringent of public view and I am fingerprinted to the nth degree), My feelings are this, so what if my chickens didn't loose feathers or life yet. They shouldn't have to from a neighbor's dog and if I have anything to do with it they won't. It made a bee line for my birds and I doubt it wanted to roll over for them and play dead...more like it wanted them to roll over and be dead. I am pretty knowledgeable about animal behaviors.

Animal Control told us to that if the dog is loose again, we make a statement and the owners will be issued a citation.

Starting a feud? No, simply standing up for what is right. Their lab does not leave the property since it wears an invisible fence collar. This one is either a visiting animal or new addition. You are reponsibile for your animal's safety and well being. It would be irresponsible to not say anything and possibly have a child or another animal harmed.

On an additional note, I saw some interesting laws to pass on: FL 767.01 (dog owners are reponsibile for damage to people, property, and animals) and 767.03 A good defense for killing a dog (should said dog be proved to be killing another domesticated animal or livestock (animal defined as any dumb creature).

Hopefully the saga ends here.

 

[SewingDiva]

Quote:
Oh I apologize! I didn't mean to imply you were starting a feud...it seems you have a good perspective on the situation and I hope it works out.

Phyllis

 

[eggchel]

If the dog is not aggressive towards you, then catch him and turn him over to animal control each time he is out. The owners will get tired of paying fines to retrieve him from the shelter.

If the dog is aggressive towards you, shoot him. If you dont have a gun or arent allowed to use one in your town or cant bring yourself to shoot him (many of us couldnt), then get a paintball gun and shoot him with that. It is non lethal, stings like the dickens, which might discourage him from returning, and it sends a clear message to his owners.


Chel