Husky Tale With A Horrible Ending

[peepinglaura]

Has anyone killed a neighbour's dog who was killing chickens? If so, how did it work out between you? My neighbours 2 roads away had a husky that got free. My husband didn't recognize the dog as someone's pet (we had never seen it before). I wasn't home at the time. Apparently it was just running from chicken to chicken killing it and moving on to the next. My daughter was out there in the melee, the horses were going crazy, and it's hard to give a dog the benefit of being a pet and not a feral beast or rabid thing when it is killing without pause and not listening to commands to stop. My husband shot it.

This was 2 months ago. The neighbours despise us, calling us horrible people. They have never asked what happened and refuse to listen to why we took the action we did. They came by the other day to hand deliver a note to reiterate how we have ruined their children's lives. They have contacted all the other neighbors to say how beastly we are.

I didn't know them before this, so we haven't lost a friend. But, it's still an awful feeling to be so reviled, especially when they refuse to even listen to the possibility that they caused us to make a quick decision in a terrible moment. My husband (a better person than I) has offered them nothing but sympathy.

To anyone who has been in this situation- has there ever been a happy-ish resolution? Does time heal such wounds?

Thank you,

Laura

 

[jdyson]

I don't blame you for doing what you did. What if the dog had attacked your daughter?

 

[Mattemma]

Bummer the neighobrs know it was you who killed it,but hey they need to grow up and accept the fact that their dog was killing your livestock.They should thank god it only killed them and not a human.

I had a neighbors husky come into my fenced yard and bite up my dog.Cost them $400 in vet bills. If the dog had bit up me or my kid I would have killed it on the spot,or demanded AC put it down.

Just because it was chickens does not mean the dog should have gotten a free pass.

My neighbors husky has never gotten loose again.If it did and it came into my yard again I would just kill it knowing it's past behavior. I always gave dogs the benefit of the doubt until that day. Never again.

I say move on.If they can't that is THEIR problem.

 

[ivan3]

Can't believe they actually sent you all a note (memorializing the fact that their dog was running loose). I'd probably let it drift, at this point, unless they rise to the surface again. If they do, then I'd probably have to ask them to pay for my daughter's therapy/meds for the PTSD for having to have witnessed the loss of her pets in such a bloody fashion - by their `proxy agent of trespass and destruction'.

Remember: The dog is ALWAYS threatening/attacking the humans (gee, doesn't everyone get between the dog and their chooks? HINT). When one files the report with Sheriff/Animal Control, a report of a human being threatened is taken seriously - in Missouri, no liability can be attached to someone who kills a threatening/attacking dog on their own property - (chooks? `Ma' dog was a $500 dolla' hound - those be just chickens....').

Depriving you and yours from enjoying/using YOUR PROPERTY as you see fit? (that's a lawsuit).

Good luck in the future!

 

[peepinglaura]

Wow, thank you all for the very helpful perspective. I guess moving on, with a good conscience, is all I can do. Thank you.

 

[aart]

How did they find out that you were the ones to kill the dog?
Was the incident recorded by local authorities, the fact that the dog was killing your livestock when it was shot?

If it was accurately recorded, send them a copy of that.<<< Snarky I know, and probably wouldn't do the situation any good. Just my empathy and wrath for your situation.

 

[C REds]

Your dog at home is a family pet. Your dog down the road at a neighbor's house is a predator. The law in Ohio states that a dog can be shot at the time it is attacking someones livestock and the owner of the dog is liable for any damages or losses caused by the dog.

 

[peepinglaura]

After my husband shot it, he called the police. We were within the letter of the law (actually, in my state you can shoot a dog for even "worrying" your livestock). It was after he shot it that he saw the tags round its neck. The police notified the family and returned its body. The young officer seemed quite shaken ater dealing with the distraught family. My husband gave a statement to the police, who gave a copy to the family. We didn't include our own emotional impact, including what my daughter went through, or the act that my son's silkie, whom he used to hand feed berries to, and bring in to snuggle with while reading or watching tv, was eviscerated but lived for hours till we found it and killed it ourselves to end its suffering.

The thing is, we had a cattle dog that made a wonderful, loving pet, but had been so abused as a puppy that she feared men and was aggressive toward all strange men. She loved kids, but if a man was near a child, this dog would circle them, baring her teeth (to warn the man). We knew if she got free and scared someone, they would be within their rights to shoot her and might do so out of fear. We knew it would be our fault for letting her get loose. One day she got hit by a car because she slipped out of the leash my son was holding. I felt horrible for what the driver must have gone through and for putting my too-young son in the position of trying to hold her leash. I knew she was a problem dog, and her behavior off-leash was our responsibility.

Thank you again or much-needed perspective,

Laura

 

[EweSheep]

They better not harass you about it. I would not give them the time or day and I'll back you up 100 percent that you did the right thing when the husky was killing the chickens and terrorizing everything in its path.

 

[Ceilismom]

I'm sorry your neighbors are still harassing you over this, two months later. I would file the note away, and not engage them in any way. Keep your animals and your property secure. Time may very well heal this. It depends on the neighbors' character.