Had Cat in Coop, warning shot gone wrong, HELP!

[chickenbottom]

im sorry you for you and your mother

but i personally would of used a shot gun i dont give warnings to whatever is stalking my babies just my humble opinion. if its on your property trying to hurt your animals you have the right to shoot it

 

[twentynine]

Keep your mouth shut!

Do you guys consider squirrels wild game, they are here. And you just admitted to "removing" a couple.

Shoot the cat, it ain't suppose to be in your yard. Tell the nieghbors to meow up a tree for their $249.

Get your own surveyor.

 

[againsttown codes]

Send them a dozen eggs when your chickens start laying and a note telling them to keep their cat away.

 

[Rootball]

well, you have gotten plenty of cat advice....Ill stay mute on that, but I encourage you to get the land back......cant just survey and move yards .....it doesnt work that way.

 

[Cluckin'Along]

Thank You all For the advice! I do appreciate it. It's tough to see straight sometimes when you're in the thick of it, and a little outside view really helps put things in better perspective. Thank you again.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Quote:
I agree 100%. Don't say any more about the cat to anyone, someone else already provided you with the state laws if it comes down to court.

Also you need to do something about that land grab they did. YOU are the one who has been paying taxes on that land, not them. I would fight them tooth and nail. There comes a time when you just can't be nice anymore. They have snubbed you every time you tried to be nice and neighborly and they are stealing from you and they will continue to be miserable and make your life miserable. Some people are just like that and will not change no matter how many cookies you bake or eggs you give them. The question is are you going to roll over and take it or fight for what is rightfully yours?

Your family is in my prayers.

 

[citrusdreams]

Cluckin'Along :

Hello All!

I have seen all of the lovely letters HorseJody has posted for everyone with dog issues, but I have a cat problem, I remember one other member also had this trouble, but I cannot find his post. I think I can use the same letter but..

Here's the story:
I was out Saturday morning with the BB_gun removing a couple of squirrels from my feeder, so shots were heard for about 1/2 an hour in the morning. I was out for the afternoon but returned home to a worried Mother that informed me that she and the neighbors had caught a cat in the coop. The chickens were making a racket, and the cat was inside of our chainlink fence, stalking them. My mother then retrieved the BB-gun to fire a warning shot. She insists that she never aimed at the cat. The Neighbors who owned the cat (Mom didn't previously know who the owner was) started leafleting the neighborhood offering a reward for whoever had info on who had perpetrated the" Malicious and cruel act" of shooting their cat. They also referred to the event in their flyer as a "sensless and inhumane act of cruelty." It would seem that their cat suffered an eye injury and upon receiving vet care it was found that a BB had caused the damage. Mom still insists it was a warning shot. Maybe it ricocheted. Either way there were TWO State Trooper Vehicles in the driveway this morning.

The Neighbors informed them that it MUST be us... The took my Moms statement (she feels terrible about it) and left. They did mention there there had been a $249 vet bill, and that the cat has seemed pretty out of it when they took the Neighbors statement. Mom also mentioned that when the Neighbors had come over with the leaflets, the wanted to know about the chickens, so Mom showed them, then they started accusing her of being trigger happy, and generally harassing her. She then told them to leave and went inside...

Moral of the Story: We all feel bad about the cat. period.

We also really like OUR chickens, more than THEIR cat. How do I nicely send my sympathies for their cats' injuries while informing them of them of their own wrongdoing by allowing their cat to harass OUR chickens?

Also what is the best method of obtaining livestock laws for your locality? I know there have been previous posts on this subject, I'm just not finding them.

Thank You All for listening to/reading my story. Any Help, thoughts, comments are greatly appreciated. Thank You again!!

I would have no further contact with them at all. I know you feel badly and you want to console them for this unfortunate accident. But I don't think it will make things better, at least not NOW. Right now, they think they're right. Right now, they think YOU have infringed on their rights. Right not they think that your chickens were not important, and definitely not as important as their cat. Right now they have no respect for you or your property. So right now, I'd just keep quiet. You can always throw them an olive branch at a later date.

IMOHO, any attempt to make peace with them right now would be devaluating you, your rights and your property. You can always extend them that olive branch later, but now, you need to send out some tough love and let them understand that you won't have your rights trod on even if your heart is breaking for them.

The simple fact of the matter is: her cat was on your property, inside your chicken pen, harassing your chickens. Your mother shot a warning shot, the cat was hit and injured. She should be grateful that the cat is still alive and she's able to nurse it back to health and love it. She should be apologizing to you for your troubles that her animal caused you. Don't give her an inch because she's already wanting the whole mile. No, I'm not uncompassionate, you can always make a gesture when everyone's calm and the dust settles. Harassing you, your mother and your family is not acceptable and I really discourage rewarding bad behavior. It usually only gets worse if you reward them for their tantrums.

Most states have animal containment laws, not just leash laws. I would contact a lawyer and ask him for the ordinances where you live regarding animals at large. You need to also see what the laws are regarding shooting animals at large who are a threat to your property/pets/livestock. Also, the animal was on your property, and not just on your property but IN your chicken pen. That enough would be enough where I live to just shoot the thing. Animal owners need to take responsibility for their animals and what happens when they allow those animals to run at large.

Usually cats don't bother chickens (though chicks are a delicacy for them), but sometimes you come across the brazen ones who just are. Whether or not the cat intended to harm your chickens directly, its presence in your chicken area was causing enough of a stir and threatened their welfare. I really don't know why there is such an issue of you shooting it (aside from you not killing it. Remember what some of us have said, it's not illegal in most places to KILL a predator, but you can sometimes get in trouble for HURTING a predator. That's why some of us tell you not to go after them with BB guns, pellet guns, paintball guns, etc.)

If you were shooting squirrels, I'm going to assume that you were doing it legally. Correct me if I'm wrong. That said, if it's legal for you to shoot squirrels infiltrating your feeders, I'm not clear as to why it would be illegal for you to shoot a trespassing predator. The problem is, you didn't kill it.

What exactly did the police say when they came to the house? Did they acknowledge any of your rights to protect your property? Here, the sheriff informed me that if someone called him about me shooting their pet or livestock on my own property, they wouldn't even call on me about it. He would just tell them that people have the right to protect their property and to contain their animals if they don't want them shot. So I feel really badly that you're going though all this drama.

I realize there was a lot of drama there because you shot their beloved cat, but next time, do yourself a favor, aim to kill and SSS.

DO find out what your rights are, please.​

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

They need to be thankful it was not a real bullet. They won't have a cat at all then.

 

[greenpeeps]

I feel so bad for your mother. As for the cat, it had it coming and the owners know that they are in the wrong.
A few years ago a lab that we had got loose and attached a dog down the street it didn't like. As soon as we found out, we sucked up our pride and appoligized, and paid with no comment other then a sorry. It was my dog, her property. End of story. Oh and if they would of shot the dog with a BB gun, I would of understood. People need to take responsibility for their pets, no matter how much the bill is

 

[Shannonwbl]

I lost a couple of chickens to an irresponsible dog owner a few months back. He acted like it was MY fault when I confronted him in person so I just stormed off. In researching the law here in TN, I found out that it is completely within my rights to kill any animal that kills or even harasses my livestock. I sent him a letter, quoting the law, and explained that even though I love dogs (we have four of our own) I would not hesitate to protect my chickens. Truthfully, I don't think I could shoot a dog, but I have decided that if he does show up again (which he hasn't) I will spray paint a big X on him and tie a note to his collar with a warning that the next time it won't be paint.

Here is a thought for those like me who hate to shoot to kill someone's pet, but just want a good warning: our boys are into paint ball. How about letting loose on those pests? It shouldn't do any damage other than leaving some nasty bruises (I have seen those on my boys), but I bet it will leave an impression. Can't you just see the irresponsible owners reaction. "Why is Fulffy covered in bright pink slime?"