Husky Tale With A Horrible Ending

[charliethezero]

I'd send a bill for the cost of the chickens to them.

I think you and your family are being too nice. It is one thing to say sorry but your dog was killing our chickens, some of which are pets and threatening to my dd who was trying to halt the attack and another to just be too sympathetic and too understanding. Your family wasn't in the wrong, theirs was.

It is quite simple to keep a dog under control. It isn't brain surgery or rocket science. Train your dog, have a fence or keep it on a leash. If they had done any of those 3 options the dog would never have been in your yard. They invited what happened by being negligent dog owners. I wouldn't put up with them coming onto my property with letters or notes. I would be turning the tables at this point. Get a restraining order, send a bill or sue them in court. 

I am very sorry about your chickens and what had to be done.

While I completely agree with sending a bill and being too nice, I don't really agree that it is that simple to keep a husky on property. Things happen, you can not say NEVER. But I do think if you are a responsible owner you would try your hardest.

I have a husky. They are not "normal" dogs. They are masters of escaping. My dog's cable is rated for 250lb, she is 40. I have extras on hand. She goes through them about every other month. Usually she goes to the front door or goes back by the horses. She has dug under a fence in less then half an hour. She comes when called but they are runners and can be gone in seconds. My sister's husky got loose at her house. She was literally across town in five minutes, 3+ miles.

It only takes one time for something bad to happen. I would not blame or say the owners are irresponsible unless you've seen the dog multiple times loose. But on the other hand the owners should except the consequences and responsibility of the dog being loose.

 

[missnu01]

I would for real send them a bill for the chickens lost. I mean factor in the amount of food they have eaten so far as well as the amount paid for them to begin with...
If they want to be difficult you can prove to them that what happened was their own fault and not your own. I mean there is no sense in harassing someone because of your own mistakes.

 

[blucoondawg]

I would bill them then sue them if they do not pay up, I would document all harassment and report it to the police, if it continues I would file a restraining order and if you have witnesses or proof of them badmouthing you around town I would try to sue them for slander as well.

 

[coloradoalice]

As others have said I would also contact the police to let them know what is happened and then I would have a lawyer send them a bill for the loss of your chickens. It doesn't matter what kind of dog it is, if it kills something on someone elses property it is a predator. You didn't do anything wrong. The owners are responsible to keep their dog safe. What would they have done if the dog had been hit by a car? Get angry at the driver? Just silly.

My own dogs occasionally get out and something like this is my worst nightmare. I would never ever blame anyone for protecting their livestock though.

 

[charliethezero]

I would for real send them a bill for the chickens lost. I mean factor in the amount of food they have eaten so far as well as the amount paid for them to begin with...
If they want to be difficult you can prove to them that what happened was their own fault and not your own. I mean there is no sense in harassing someone because of your own mistakes.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think you can only ask for the cost to replace the animal and damages (physical and/or emotional), not what it cost to feed and maintain it. It costs me over 5,000 a year/horse, with your logic I would be owed 60,000 just for the horse alone that is valued at 7,500. You will most likely never see a penny back from the cost of maintenance when you own any animal unless it's a real business, sometimes not even then.

 

[hungry]

You should be able to get the value destroyed. E.g. http://www.localharvest.org/pastured-free-range-chicken-heritage-C6515 - $46 per bird at the high end. That'll end up covering the cost of feed because commercial farmers try to cover all their costs when setting a price. Maybe you could argue you were also deprived of eggs (240 per year @ $5/doz. = $100 per bird per year of laying lost) too if you can demonstrate that the same bird can do both.

But...really, don't lawyers get enough already? They are the only people who actually win these sorts of things.

 

[charliethezero]

You should be able to get the value destroyed. E.g. http://www.localharvest.org/pastured-free-range-chicken-heritage-C6515 - $46 per bird at the high end. That'll end up covering the cost of feed because commercial farmers try to cover all their costs when setting a price. Maybe you could argue you were also deprived of eggs (240 per year @ $5/doz. = $100 per bird per year of laying lost) too if you can demonstrate that the same bird can do both.

But...really, don't lawyers get enough already? They are the only people who actually win these sorts of things.

My husband and I were discussing this thread and we both agreed that if had to shoot a dog for killing our chickens we wouldn't ask for anything, after all we just killed someones loved pet even though we would be in the right. We can see if it was someones real business and it killed quite a few. In reality it's a risk we take with chickens, alot of creatures love eating them. Last year I lost six overnight to a racoon. I've lost so many more to wild animals then to dogs, it doesn't matter if they are locked up or not.

You should contact the police if the harassment doesn't stop though. As much as they loved their dog they should act like mature adults and accept your apologies.

 

[blucoondawg]

I would not apologize either. It is not your fault there dog was killing your livestock. They need to apologize to you and your family.

 

[Northie]

I would count this bridge as burnt and try to avoid any further contact with the family. Hopefully their kids aren't the same age as yours so this won't come up at school. Don't offer them anymore apologies if they keep bothering you. Maybe share your experience and tell them it was very traumatic for everyone involved or tell them that you've already apologized and that there is nothing else you could do. Keep the note for your records but put it away so you don't have to look at it.

We just found ourselves on the opposite side of this story. Our 7 year old dog has suddenly discovered how fun it is to chase the neighbors horses. We have horses too and he's never been a problem with them so I have no idea where he got it in his head to go over there and cause trouble... In the end it doesn't matter. We made sure the horse were ok, apologized in person and thanked them for the phone call. Dumb dog is now being put in the fenced garden until we can build a better dog run this summer. We got lucky we didn't end up with a dead dog and a vet bill for injured horses.

 

[SurferChicken]

So sorry to hear that Laura.
We lost three hens and our roo just this week to a marauding dog. I was able to scare it off before any more damage occurred. The next morning it came back for more. I dispatched the offender with a 22LR.

Your DH did exactly the right thing. He protected your flock and food supply. Although if I might suggest, if there be a next time don't call LE unless city, county, state law requires it. Lets just say I have had quite a wonderful time watching the turkey vultures and black vultures soaring over the back forty of my property this week...