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Respectfully speaking, yes I do expect a dog NOT to roll up on my property. To say I expect it is not sufficient for how strongly I feel about it. If I can contain my four large dogs, so can my neighbors. And the dog owners can expect their roaming dog to get shot if they don't do so. It's not a matter of keeping our chickens safe because there are different perspectives of "safe" and aspects of it. Those of us who free range are protecting our flock from other things besides dogs illegally running at large. I reserve the right to manage my flock the way I see fit on my own property. By claiming that we need to keep our chickens contained, the "blame" is the burden of the chicken owner, which is not fair, and absolutely not true. What is fair is that we keep our own animals contained on our own property, and manage them as we see best while containing them on our property. I fully expect my chickens and guineas to enjoy the benefits of free ranging on my property without the threat of the neighbors dogs that CAN and SHOULD be contained. I don't expect it because I don't think dogs shouldn't have the tendency to roam. I expect it because the burden of responsibility falls on the dog owner.
To the OP, just be glad nothing happened that day and that the owers are actually showing an interest in retrieving their dog. If you had your gun on you and they saw it, and believed in your intention to shoot, they might be motivated to do a better job containing their animals.
I know my neighbors will let their dog roam if they don't think I'm going to shoot it. When they see that I am serious, they do a better job. It's unfortunate that being on speaking terms with them seems to relax them a bit, but the real misfortune is that their dog won't come home one day because "being friends" is a card they can't play with me anymore.
Trust me, my dog stays in his yard! Locked behind a fence but the point i was making is many people just DONT care. They don't care about leash laws, chicken owners, animal control etc.
And sorry but if it isn't a dog it will be a fox or racoon. Yes, it in the end is the dog owners responsiblity but that isn't gonna protect your chickens. You actually think every dog owner thinks like you? They don't! I see stays running all over and it burns me up! BUT they don't get my chickens cause I put in measure safety precautions to prevent that. Always waiting for the other guy to do something only leads to disappointment.
I wasn't trying to be rude, just truthful! OP, i really am sorry for your loss and if it was my dog it wouldn't have happened. They do need to be held responsible just don't be surprised if it happens agian cause people are ignorant!
