I need some advice regarding a neighbor's dog

[speedy2020]

There is a device that produce noise which dog don't like and should keep its stay away from your property. Here is an example:

http://www.amazon.com/DAZER-II-Ultr...iewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

But since I'm "in town", I cannot fire a gun without getting in a lot of trouble.

There a good chance you can get an exemption if you talk to the correct official and explain the dog is killing your animals and YOU feel threatened also.

As for trapping, most grown true LGD breeds will weigh over 100 lbs.
Most aren't "user friendly" so I doubt you will be able to "catch" it by any means.​

 

[theFox]

Does Kansas law say shoot or does it just say kill?

 

[mjuenem]

Quote:
It may be a LGD BREED, but she's obviously raising it as a pet.

Since she keeps insisting it is NOT her dog, she won't get upset when you SHOOT IT, which is the only way you will solve the problem short of fencing your entire property.

Check your laws first and you'll probably find it's perfectly legal to kill an animal destroying your livestock.

If you're inside city limits, the Sheriff has no jusridiction.

You need to talk to the town's Police Cheif or Animal Control

*Small towns (pop 150) often can't afford their own police force and opt to hire police protection from the County Sheriff. This is the way it was when I grew up in a small town in Oregon.

 

[millebantam]

I don't know about anybody else, but I get really steamed when I read these threads and read posts where people shift the blame to the chicken owner because he doesn't have a secure enough enclosure to fend off marauding killer dogs. Most keepers have a reasonably secure pen to protect against run of the mill smaller predators, but it takes quite a bit of time and expense to build a Fort Knox type of pen to resist 100 lb dogs that should be restrained in the first place. It is the dog owners responsability to control his dog PERIOD!

Just for the sake of argument, lets say that a criminal breaks a window of your home one night and robs you or harms your family. By your logic, YOU are the one responsable for the harm that occured to your family because your home wasn't equipped with steel bars on the windows. The intruder should be spared any punishment because he was just doing what comes naturally to him to make a living.

 

[amenfarm]

If you can get written permission from the lady in question to remove the dog, if the pound can't take it, call your vet tell him what's going on and see if he can put it to sleep. Better than shooting in town and getting into trouble. I like the marking of the dog--that way there is NO question he was on your property. If your in the city--is there not a leash law? sometimes the simply laws and proof (pic and marking) can be your very best friend. what is a LGD?

 

[4Hchickenproject]

Quote:
Nope. But if the robbery happens again and again... sure... now I share some responsibility. Why not put metal bars on my windows to KEEP CRIMINALS OUT and PROTECT MY OWN FAMILY? I don't think anyone is *blaming* the chicken owner for the issue, but certainly steps can be taken to protect the flock. As has already been stated, if the dog can get to the chickens, so can other predators.

I know what it's like to deal with unwanted & stray dogs, I've done it for years, as a farm owner, as a legal assistant, as an employee of veterinary clinics, and as founder/president/kennel manager/volunteer of more than one animal rescue group. If you can catch the dog, and the neighbor says it's not hers, and there are no laws or existing documents (registration papers, photos of the dog with their children, etc.) stating otherwise, then once the dog is in your possession, it's yours. At that point, *you* have a dog that is attacking your chickens. Take it to the vet and have it humanely euthanized.

ETA: I'm NOT trying to hash on the fence deal and shift of liability (I do believe the dog owner is responsible), but you mentioned a civil suit. Be sure to check the state laws first to be sure you are in compliance with your chickens before you do so, as you don't want the case to be turned around on you. Although KS state law explicitly excludes dogs and cats from confinement requirements in more than one place, I did see law(s) stating that livestock - which likely includes chickens - must be adequately confined. Just wanted to mention it so you can be sure you're in the good before pushing the legal issue.

 

[ranchhand]

Another option, (and a lot off the wall) - LGDs are usually smart dogs, and valuable. If the dog can be approached, maybe you could "adopt the poor stray" and either train it to protect YOUR property or rehome/sell it as a pet.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a bleeding heart. But I do try to think of creative ways to get out of tight spots and I can't help thinking, gee, when she shows up, claiming you stole her dog? Uhm, no, I took in the stray you told me about and trained it. Oh, and by the way. Don't come on my property, he's being trained for attack as well. So if your dog comes over, my new dog will kill it.

I had several strays running loose. Even thought we are within town limits, I was told to call the county sheriff's office. I did. Took a couple weeks and more calls, but they did finally get those dogs out of here! It meant keeping the birds fenced in for a while, but it was worth it. They gathered all the strays in the area, except for the one that got agressive. They shot him on the spot.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Thank you all for your advice. Regarding the fence issue, the reason I am so resistant to build a pen is because my property is already fully fenced, I have a Fort Knox chicken coop, and I have dogs that take care of all predators but other dogs (they're Golden Retrievers...they've never met a strange dog or person they didn't like

)
Anyways, I talked with the mayor last night, and he said that he has been having a lot of problems with this family as well. The sheriff had said the same thing. While the sheriff can't legally do anything, the mayor said that if the dog trespasses on someone's property that is outside city limits, it's fair game. The mayor said he had several friends that had seen the dog before and he said "don't worry about it anymore." I haven't seen the dog today, so it sounds like I talked to the right person.
I also talked with the landlord of the neighbor, who I am friends with and who has rescued a chicken of mine from their dog before. He agreed that the situation needed to end and told the neighbor that she was no longer allowed to keep dogs at her house - if she does, she will be evicted.
So while it's not exactly the outcome I was hoping for - I would have liked the neighbor to have taken responsibility, one way or another, and paid for my chickens - at least the dog shouldn't be coming around anymore.

PS, amenfarm, an LGD is a Livestock Guardian Dog, a group of breeds that were bred to protect livestock.

 

[BarefootMom]

Quote:
It may be a LGD BREED, but she's obviously raising it as a pet.

Since she keeps insisting it is NOT her dog, she won't get upset when you SHOOT IT, which is the only way you will solve the problem short of fencing your entire property.

Check your laws first and you'll probably find it's perfectly legal to kill an animal destroying your livestock.

If you're inside city limits, the Sheriff has no jusridiction.

You need to talk to the town's Police Cheif or Animal Control

*Small towns (pop 150) often can't afford their own police force and opt to hire police protection from the County Sheriff. This is the way it was when I grew up in a small town in Oregon.

THIS! I couldn't believe it took 3 pages until I saw this. Our town has 176 population- we have no police, no city councilmen, no animal control...etc You talk to the county if there is a problem - but most likely this is not a problem they will deal with.

OP- how secure are your chickens? They don't sound like they are very secure if this dog can keep getting at them. Maybe you need to rethink the way you are raising them? I know it doesn't seem fair- but it is not fair that the neighbor can't let her dog outside. You both should have areas where they can be happy. If the neighbors dog can get your chicks it is likely that other dogs could too...and coyotes, racoons, possums, etc.