Im so ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PunkinPeep]

I was going to comment on your other post, and it was closed. Glad i found this one.

I was just going to say that i love having my chickens roam on my property. And when my neighbor's pit bull got loose and came after my chickens, i walked over and explained that the next time, the dog would be shot.

We haven't seen that dog again.

 

[NYREDS]

Threads like this appear here regularly complete with lots of "shoot the dog" responses. Personally I couldn't see shooting a dog over a chicken. It's the difference between man's best friend & well,....a chicken.
Dogs are preditors, chickens are prey. It's that simple. You can "expect" dogs to stay off your property but unfortunately property lines mean nothing to dogs [or other preditors]. If you want your birds to be safe contain them.

 

[teach1rusl]

My dogs are contained on our property. But I would love to think that someone would call/contact us if either one somehow escaped, even if they had killed someone's chicken (which would mortify, anger, and sadden me). I would offer compensation (although w/pets there really is no adequate compensation I know), and do my best to make sure that scenario never happened again.
I would be very angry if someone shot one of my dogs, but I would also feel that the person had that right to defend their livestock.

 

[ranchhand]

thegreypony said : "The pistol full of rat shot to be used on the errant & irresponsible owners...some fannies need shooting."


I don't know that shooting at the dog's owner is the answer. I certainly understand the anger, but can't see going to jail over dead chickens.

 

[redhen]

Why are some people assuming that a dogs life is more special then a chickens? Its not to some people..

 

[natrgatr]

My chickens roam free because they are on my property. My dogs roam free because they are on my property and protect my chickens. My dogs have been taught their boundaries by me. If they cross them and harass the neighbors livestock, they are fair game. A responsible owner teaches their dogs the rules (like they teach their children), and if the dog breaks the rules....so be it. It's possible that if my own dog killed my chickens, I might be angry enough to shoot it also. My dog is a member of the family but also has a job and responsibilities.

If I have enforce these rules for my family, I expect the same from my neighbors. I am not heartless. I will usually give a warning, or two. But if you continue to harass and kill my livestock or pets on MY property, I will defend them, the sameway I expect my dog to defend my livestock from harm.

 

[koifarm]

Good on ya Natr....
I would feel very sorry for any dog that crossed my property line and ventured into my dog's territory not to mention if a stray dog actually got past her, which I strongly doubt, and managed to nail one of my hens, I have no doubt that would never happen within my dogs boundaries. We have two dogs immediately next door which regularly escape under the fully fenced back yard of my neighbor.....they have both felt the wrath of my Loki and will not even try to cross the line. When she chases them, she will stop at the property line and not let them across.
You would think that we and everything else in the yard are part of her pack.
She is extremely protective of our yard and house, our cats, our chickens and our selves. She's half black lab half pit.....about three years old and is one of the best dogs i've ever had....she has an uncanny sense of propriety and is fully alert at all times day or night.....ya gotta love a dog like that....it's a privilege to own her.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

An animal is simply an animal. It is their relationship with a particular person that makes them a "pet" or "livestock".

You show me a dog roaming the neighborhood. I see only an animal, but you point the dog out to the owner, and they see their pet or family member.

Just as you wouldn't trust every person strolling down the street. They are strangers until you get to know them. Then they are an acquanitance, a friend, an enemy, or even family.

Someone's pet may be that dog in my backyard trying to eat my livestock, that dog is only a predator to me. Just as the pet owner, views my chickens "only" livestock.

Would I shoot a strange dog for attacking my chickens? You sure betcha. Would I shoot my own dog for attacking my chickens? No, "my" dog is more valuable to "me". That being said, would I shoot a dog for simply being on my property? No.

I'm sure this conflict between dogs and chickens has gone on as long as time itself. Nobody will ever be in total agreement, because each person is going to respond differently.

Sorry you lost your chickens. Since this is indeed your neighbors and you have to live near them, I would take a different approach. File a police report every time their dog takes a bird, and then ask for compensation. Make sure to ask HIGH for compensation $50 a bird is what I would do. If they have to start paying to replace these birds, they WILL do something about that dog themselves. And you won't be painted neighbor's family pet.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

This same argument (involving different situations, and different people) is beat to death over and over in this section of the forum.

The same points are always brought up:

1. The laws are different everywhere. In some places, there are no leash laws. What applies to one person may not apply to someone else.

2. The value of a chicken vs. the value of a dog is a matter of opinion, and opinions vary. What matters is how the owner of the killed animal perceives the situation.

3. Free-ranging chickens -- or building a coop anything short of "Fort Knox" -- has pros and cons. Each chicken owner must decide for him or herself the risks they are willing to take.

4. BYC does not condone illegal acts, even in jest. The comment about shooting the owners of the dog was in poor taste.

I'm locking this because it's basically a dead horse.