I need some advice regarding a neighbor's dog

[backyardmenagerie]

Quote:
What traps would you use to trap a dog? This sounds like something I could do, and would definitely help a case.

 

[dretd]

I would talk to the police and ask them what options you have to catch/kill or mark the dog in question. It is illegal to discharge firearms within my city limits as well. We also have a 'make my day law' in my state that says you can defend you property/life from intruders by shooting and killing them-I think it was designed for people, but why would dogs be more special than humans? Perhaps you can ask them about that sort of thing. Some communities have it written that you can if you have the permission of the Chief of Police.

Knowing that you have a problem, I would indeed go for the camera instead of the chicken. You need to document this on film to identify the dog--it could be a similar dog that is not this ladies dog. Here are a couple of ideas:
1)get or borrow a game camera and aim it so that it automatically takes pictures of the area where the dog is entering/leaving your property or where the kill zone is.
2)obtain a paintball gun. Load it with bright colored paintballs and leave it very close to the back door. You may want to practice shooting to get a feel for it. When the dog returns, fire away so that the dog is marked by the paint and can be identified easily.
3)Keep detailed record date/time of both when you talked to the neighbor and also when you see the dog and hen the attacks have happened
4)instead of bullets, perhaps it would be legal to fire rubber pellets at the beast to scare it--that would be non-lethal and may go over better with the Authorities.
5) Always remember to be extra polite when talking to the authorities and the neighbor even though you are very angry on the inside!

Not letting the chickens free range, or keeping them in a large coop area may be your best protection and easiest solution.
Good luck!

 

[AmyQ]

first off, i feel horribly for you that you are dealing with this problem and that your chickens are as well...but i am shocked at the number of people saying to shoot the dog...yes it would solve your problem but the poor dog is only doing what instinct tells it to do...i'd prefer the owner was taken care of (although not shot - i guess) since SHE is the problem...

ideally the local shelters would be able to take the dog, but maybe put an ad up on craigslist to see if someone wants it? and i agree - definitely get the owner's permission in writing...

good luck!

 

[yinepu]

Before you do anything to the dog.. check with animal control and find out what you legally CAN do.. My ex got in trouble turning a garden hose on a stray dog that was attacking his dog.. they called it "animal cruelty".. so glad I don't live where he does!

 

[Mattemma]

I wouldimmediately kill the dog.If the neighbor asks,'Why did you kill my dog?" I would reply,"Your dog?? You told me YOUR dog was inside all day,and that there was an identical looking stray killing my chickens.I killed the stray you were telling me about."

 

[NightingaleJen]

Well, you've gotten good advice...First, do your best to give your birds a safe, dog-proof place to live. If they're out, be out with them. Don't be afraid to aim the hose at the dog, full on. If nothing else, that might begin to teach him that crossing a certain line, that is, into your territory, means a jet of H20 in his face!

Maybe call the sheriff again or the police and see what CAN be done, legally. Track down your city councilman and talk to them. It sounds to me like this woman simply is not a good dog owner and is behaving irresponsibly. Really, this is sounding like a case of harassment to me. And if you're trespassing on her property to deliver the bill for your slaughtered animals, her dog is most certainly trespassing on yours AND causing property damage.

If nothing else, get a bow and arrow. Silent and deadly (and fun and cathartic to shoot, though I prefer shooting at targets, not living things).

Good luck. It sounds like your neighbor is a pain in the rear! Sorry about your birds.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

someone else once suggested this and its forever a staple in mine and anyone elses eye....

if the dog wont bite if you catch it and tether it. dont chase it off CATCH it.

put it on a leash and chain, hide it in the backyard... SPRAY PAINT a big old RED X (previous poster did a bullseye, but since you can't shoot the dog - maybe she'll still get the message) on its side. (take pictures before this though and after) OR just take some koolaid or food color (red is better but whatever color) and fill the dogs coat with it - make sure it all dries good before you let the dog go. This way the owner can't just wash it off, and ask the other neighbors if they've seen the "marked dog" ....you've got you a solid case that you've got the right identity.

Make sure you research and CALL the county and the STATE on laws for dogs at large, and harassing/killing livestock. call animal control.



if you cant catch the dog by hand - get the biggest cage you can find. if anything make one, google "humane homemade dog traps" easiest way to do one is make you a large cube/rectangle out of wood. then make you a another square/rectangle the same shape as one of the ends. wire it in with 2X4 welded wire(buy a single large piece of cattle panel should do you, about 20$ at a feedstore)., the extra square - wire it, and buy you a set of hinges. hinge the 2nd square as a door, then buy you one of those touchy gate locks http://hardware.hardwarestore.com/28-446-gate-parts/automatic-gate-latch-509220.aspx (like this, they come cheaper - shop online or local hardware store) you will have to fiddle with your dimensions so that the latch will catch automatically on the end of the box.

Take a stick thats just sturdy enough to hold up your door, and tie a string to it, on the other end of the string place it over the top of the cage and into the wire so its "inside the box" tie a rock and a piece of spoiling meat on the end (or anything aromatic - pop a few holes in a can of salmon you buy off the shelf at wal-mart/food store and tie to it) this way when the dog goes in the trap and pulls on the "bait" the heavy door drops down and the auto gate latch should catch, locking the dog in. you're going to spend 60-100$ either on a new dog trap or building your own.

 

[Nmarine1057]

Poison! get rid of the body under cover of night. j/k Like mentioned above it's hard to kill a dog if their not in the act also I wouldn't like to kill someones pet you've done the right thing by confronting the owner, but apparently shes ignorant. In your case I would catch the dog and take it to the shelter if they don't take him leave him their anyway...it's their job if you leave it their they have no choice. Sorry for your loss i have a german shepard problem but thank god he only goes threw my trash but whats weird is he goes threw my trash and not his owners so last time it happened i tossed a little of the mess in the owners yard so i'm not the only one cleaning up heir dogs mess lol maybe they will get sick of cleaning up after him and put him up on trash day

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Amy please read the sticky for this forum...at the top of the predators and pests page, also, please listen to this important statement...

That "poor" dog has left the realm of pet and flown into the realm of predator. Make no mistake this repeat offender is a predator. It is the dog owner who is responsible for training the dog they own not the chicken owner. Dogs CAN be trained to stay home or confined to do so and to leave livestock alone.

If you cannot handle folks talking about killing predators, you really should avoid this section. Most of us will, do and have killed predators...some of them dogs.

OP - call the city law enforcement, animal control file a report. Trap the dog. Call police and let them deal with the dog and owner then. Good luck to you.

 

[wyomingleghorn]

so sorry about your problem
im lucky to live in a state that has laws that state it is perfectly leagle to shoot nusance animalls city limits or not so i would check in to your local laws about such laws. here in wyoming i had the sheriff state personally that i had the right to "take care of my live stock" and maybe thats the way you should look at it.
i know it can be a tricky situation but we all agree our babies are our babies.
good luck to you