Help! Neighbor Issues: Irresponsible dog owner

[LizD360]

When I read your post it sounded just like what happened to me.

Please stop calling him when they get out- he isn't/won't do anything about it. Get those dogs in your car and DRIVE. Take them to a shelter- just make sure it's 2 counties away! People this lazy always make excuses and all you end up with is are dead chickens and a broken heart.

"I'm sorry" didn't bring back my BA or my other RI babies his "good dog" tore to pieces in front of my son!

 

[halo]

He's lucky he doesnt live in my neighborhood. Those dogs would have been dead long ago.

 

[mkearsley]

We had an issue with our neighbor's dogs getting into the yard. We called the cops, who came out, looked at the damage (the dog chewed through 4" cedar planks), and said he couldn't do anything unless we caught the dog in the yard. His suggestion was to leave our gate open, so the dogs are "at large" in the neighborhood, and call them for "at-large animal." Its a pretty low priority, and when they do show up, they'll ask if you know who the owner is. I don't know if they take them to the pound or not, but if the owner is available, they'll get a ticket for the dog(s). My sister got multiple "at-large" tickets for her shepherds of about $50 each because they refused to stay penned up. She finally got rid of the "jumper" by sending him to a farm, and her problems disappeared. Sounds like you've put up with enough. Call the pound/cops for at-large animals, and have them delivered to the pound. You're neighbor is already avoiding you, so its not like it'd be much different anyway, right? It is illegal to allow animals to roam wild. Its a shame you can't prove that his dogs did the killing, you'd be able to at least replace the lost birds, and they may be killed for being killers themselves. Good luck, its a tough to deal with disrepectful neighbors.

 

[amandapanda]

Update:
My husband finally got a hold of the dogs' owner. He offered to pay for the chickens (I was pleasantly surprised at that gesture, although like someone else said, it doesn't bring my chickens back). My husband told him that he didn't need to pay for it this time - BUT - the next time anything happens, even if we see the dogs out in the neighborhood, the dogs are going to the pound... And if they ever get any of our birds again, he will definitely be expected to pay for the damages, and the dogs are GONE. We both want to be friendly, but we also want to draw the line between "friendly" and "walked on." My husband said the man just offered up the same excuse, that the batteries must have gone out on their dogs' collars. My husband said he didn't care what is done to take care of the issue, but to take care of it or we would. I'm glad they had that talk and it clearly lets the man know that this is the last straw. We've definitely tolerated this enough. I'll take some advice from you guys - next time we see the dogs out in the neighborhood, I'll wrangle 'em up and take them straight to the pound. It isn't just unfair to the neighbors, but it's unfair to the dogs too. What if they get hurt by a larger animal, or hit by a car? In the past we've owned "jumpers" and when it was clear that we couldn't make them stop escaping we always found a new home for them (where they had room to jump their little butts off!). Thank you so much everyone for the advice and encouragement. If anything else happens I will post updates. So thankful for BYC!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

At our old house, the neighbors had a springer spaniel that they had a very difficult time keeping in their yard--he kept jumpting the fence They tried raising the height of the fence, blocking it with trellises, and all sorts of otjher stuff. What finally worked was running several electric fence wires near the top of the fence. Might make that suggestion to the neighbor.

 

[trailgurl]

I'd call the shelter-they can come pick them up whenever you need them to

 

[Cetawin]

I had a neighbor with a black lab...every day dog was in my yard...I'd go over and ask him to keep the dog home..."Oh my dog never leaves my yard" after 20 trips or so over there I told him...fine then you will have no problem with me shooting the dog that IS coming into my yard right? He stammered and stuttered and I left. The next morning I shot the dog...with a paintball gun and neon pink paint. His side and backside where splattered with neon pink and he was running home. Later that day when neighbor was in his yard trying to wash the paint off the dog I advised him that he had just received my final warning...the next shot was with a 9mm....keep the dog at home!

Take pictures of the dogs inside your yard, near your coop and etc. Send the dog owners a letter letting them know that they have killed 2 chickens in the past and if he cannot keep them off your property, then you will dispose of them throguh the proper channels, enclose the pictures, date and time stamped ones are even better...carbon copy the letter and pics to the local law enforcement agency and animal control.

If they come back, catch them and call animal control to come get them.

 

[fowler_chick]

I have 2 black labs and a hellen keller of a dog, I've never had any problem with them when they get out, found one sleeping beside my coop once. when the idoits across the street moved in there husky would excape daily. after it atacked my 16 year old daughter on our property, my husband threatend to shoot it on the spot, I talked in him out of it......stupid me.......as i see it, it's not the dog's fault, it's the owners.........but if it happends again the dog will be shot and she has been warned about it.

 

[captwalker]

Not that I'm advocating lying or anything, but if you told animal control the dogs cornered your child or grandchild you'd see quicker and more permanent results.

 

[kcfuerst]

I highly recommend inviting your neighbor over for a cup of coffee. While you are sitting at the dining room table, bring out your best shotgun; gently and lovingly lay it the table. Explain to him that you really don't want to, but the next time his dog comes in your yard, he won't be coming home as you pour him another cup of Joe.

He will get the message. His dogs have already gotten a taste of your chickens and they will be back repeatedly.