Is it unreasonable...

[Ksane]

Quote:
I'm in OK also, Al. The sheriff told us that if dogs are in *our yard that we better shoot them as dead as we can or they'll be back with friends. I'm a dog lover and have over a dozen dogs of my own. Confined dogs-not left to roam bothering other people's property.
Your neighbor should most certainly pay to replace the chickens. They should've offered and apologized and bought chicken feed for a year. That's what I'd have done in their shoes. Just go to them and say, "Look...let's resolve this without the law getting involved. If he says no then he's not a good neighbor anyway. Call the law. He'll at least know you mean what you say.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
I'm in OK also, Al. The sheriff told us that if dogs are in *our yard that we better shoot them as dead as we can or they'll be back with friends. I'm a dog lover and have over a dozen dogs of my own. Confined dogs-not left to roam bothering other people's property.
Your neighbor should most certainly pay to replace the chickens. They should've offered and apologized and bought chicken feed for a year. That's what I'd have done in their shoes. Just go to them and say, "Look...let's resolve this without the law getting involved. If he says no then he's not a good neighbor anyway. Call the law. He'll at least know you mean what you say.

Mitzi : We got along with the nieghbors fine for a few years and they are nice folks, they live just a quarter mile down the rd. They are new to the country life and after a few years decided to get a dog, and wouldn't you know it they had to choose the scurge of all dog breeds a pitbull. Then after a few months they decided to get 2 more pitbulls, they run in packs all over the nearby pastures chasing cows and terrorizing everything they can. The nieghbors built a big dog house and run for them but they half a33ed the building and the dogs get out whenever they feel like it. We have a little taco dog that my DW walks out in the front yard every few hours and they have been chased into the house many times out of fear, 2 mo ago my DW couldn't scoop our dog up fast enough and get inside. The pitbulls chased that little dog around the house biting it's little legs and mauling it, I was able to act fast and get the shotgun, shoot into the air to get their attention, and when I did I trained it on them, winged a few of them as they ran off with me in hot pursuit. I talked to this guy several times in calm reasonable tones and language about this problem and he shrugged it off as the dog's were just playing, Pitbull owners are blind as to why these dog's were bred and their purpose. Anyway after he didn't get it I told him the law is on my side if it attacks my livestock and family, he again waved it off as whatever. The last time he and the pitt's were not as lucky, the dog's are now all dead as doornails and he may have gotten the hint when he came looking for them one day after they didn't return for a few day's, and found the bodies hanging on my t-post fence by the head all lined up, he never said a word and just left. I hated to do this and it has bugged me ever since because he and his wife are nice folks but refuse to realize human friendship is more important than a bunch of killer dog's, and we have to be nieghbors far longer than the dog's. In short his house is up for sale.

AL

 

[Ksane]

You gave them far more of a chance than I would've. It's too bad the dogs have to pay with their lives when it's the owners fault. But then our chickens and livestock shouldn't have to pay with *their lives because of the ignorant dog owner either.
I'm anxious to find out if the OP's neighbor agrees to replqce the birds.

 

[wardrum]

Quote:
I'm in OK also, Al. The sheriff told us that if dogs are in *our yard that we better shoot them as dead as we can or they'll be back with friends. I'm a dog lover and have over a dozen dogs of my own. Confined dogs-not left to roam bothering other people's property.
Your neighbor should most certainly pay to replace the chickens. They should've offered and apologized and bought chicken feed for a year. That's what I'd have done in their shoes. Just go to them and say, "Look...let's resolve this without the law getting involved. If he says no then he's not a good neighbor anyway. Call the law. He'll at least know you mean what you say.

Mitzi : We got along with the nieghbors fine for a few years and they are nice folks, they live just a quarter mile down the rd. They are new to the country life and after a few years decided to get a dog, and wouldn't you know it they had to choose the scurge of all dog breeds a pitbull. Then after a few months they decided to get 2 more pitbulls, they run in packs all over the nearby pastures chasing cows and terrorizing everything they can. The nieghbors built a big dog house and run for them but they half a33ed the building and the dogs get out whenever they feel like it. We have a little taco dog that my DW walks out in the front yard every few hours and they have been chased into the house many times out of fear, 2 mo ago my DW couldn't scoop our dog up fast enough and get inside. The pitbulls chased that little dog around the house biting it's little legs and mauling it, I was able to act fast and get the shotgun, shoot into the air to get their attention, and when I did I trained it on them, winged a few of them as they ran off with me in hot pursuit. I talked to this guy several times in calm reasonable tones and language about this problem and he shrugged it off as the dog's were just playing, Pitbull owners are such idiots as to why these dog's were bred and their purpose. Anyway after he didn't get it I told him the law is on my side if it attacks my livestock and family, he again waved it off as whatever. The last time he and the pitt's were not as lucky, the dog's are now all dead as doornails and he may have gotten the hint when he came looking for them one day after they didn't return for a few day's, and found the bodies hanging on my t-post fence by the head all lined up, he never said a word and just left. I hated to do this and it has bugged me ever since because he and his wife are nice folks but refuse to realize human friendship is more important than a bunch of killer dog's, and we have to be nieghbors far longer than the dog's. In short his house is up for sale.

AL

I truly feel sorry for anyone who is so closed minded they could stereotype a breed oof dog or thier owner. Not all of us or our dogs are idiots. We have 6 fullblooded pit bulls our oldest bieng 11 and have NEVER had 1 attack a person or animal. we have chickens cats rabbits rats and other pets as well. plus we have 2 kids who are not even in thier teens yet the only time a neighbor has come to our house about our dogs was when a young boy came to see if our old dog bongo coould come out to play wich he happily did. It sounds to me like your neighbors were the real problem. Dogs of any breed should not be left alone unconfined that is why all states have leash laws. Unfortanetly our dogs get a bad rap from bad owners. and those of us who do good things with our dogs have to pay for it. So I ask you to please next time you want to hate a dog ask yourself is it the dogs fault or the neglegent owner and I am sure anyone with any sort of rational thinking will understand it is always the owner.

 

[al6517]

See thats the mindset of most pittbull owners, it's not the dog's fault and ya know it isn't, they were bred and developed to be killers, to fight to the death, it is a fact and that's that no way of talking around it. The pitbull doesn't know it's not supposed to be a killer it just does it. The common population of people are so scared to death of even seeing these dog's, hence all the ban's and regulations on these dog's, what these ban's are unfounded or do you not read the news. Yes of course it's the owners fault for not realizing the nature of these dog's and doing their part to confine the dog and keep people safe from their rath. Ok so you think your dog's are cute 85lb mean looking lap dog's, but given the chance they will kill and enjoy doing it, I am sorry my dear but those are the facts you can't change that as much as you think you can it can't be done. I mean come-on you stated you have several pitbulls and their all sweathearts that won't harm a flea, yeah right

that's the point I was getting at all along.

OP I didn't mean to change your thread, sorry but sometimes things go in different directions, I trust you will make the right decisions.

 

[chickensbythesea]

Quote:
I'm not going to de-rail this thread with a tangent about how mistaken you are, but I'd suggest you look for more unbiased research on the topic. Try the Humane Society for starters.

Being breedist is about as scientifically logical as being racist, especially given how many people inaccurately identify any dog with a stout muscular build and block head as a pit bull. There are good dogs, and there are bad dogs, but if you're looking for evidence to support your fear, you're going to have what's called "confirmation bias" and not get the full picture.

What you're falling prey to is called "confirmation bias"- people are scared of pit bulls, so the news plays on people's fear because it gets viewers, which reinforces their fears. They don't show the well behaved service dogs, rescue dogs, and family pets that almost all are.

 

[JerseyFresh]

I think the refreshing thing here is that the dog owner is willing to do the right thing. In my case the Animal Control officer issued citations on top of the reimbursement. In our city when a dog attacks a domestic animal it's the same charge as if it attacked a human (ouch). In court the owner denied all charges. I guess he doesn't know we have photos of his dog in the act

If they would have played ball with me they would be out far less money and wouldn't have the city taking them to court.

 

[onthespot]

Quote:
I bet there are hundreds of toy breed bites for every "pit" breed bites every year. The difference is the damage potential and news coverage. If a parakeet nips your ear, you duck and say "ow!" but if an Amazon does it, you lose an ear. That's the difference.

 

[wardrum]

I agree I am not trying to change the direction of the topic. I think they should take responsibilty for thier dog and pay for your loss. (and I am truely sorry for your loss) But it does upset me when ppl categorize pitbull owners as IDIOTS. They were originaly bred to catch bulls and later to fight. The facts are all but a small percent have been bred away from that and are now bred to be mainly show dogs. And some of these so called pitbulls are really just mutts that ppl breed to get a meaner dog for thier own ego i guess. But alot of us are trying to undo what bad owners have caused by making our dogs therepy dogs and so on. I am in no way trying to start any arguments. Just saying pls dont call all owners of a certian breed idiots just because you dont like thier dog. I personaly dont like ankle biting tacobell dogs but I would never call you an idiot for owning one.

 

[onthespot]

agreed. broad brush statements usually cause more harm than good. Back to the original post... No, it is not unreasonable to ask for some compensation for your loss. Let them know how much $$ was lost by you. Maybe they could work it off, yardwork, (shoring up your coop) painting, washing windows, even if it won't replace your birds, clean windows for a while may make you feel like you got SOMETHING for your loss. Sometimes you have to take what you can get. Make sure you don't get short shrifted either. No job and no money is no excuse. Even a quadraplegic can read aloud to you or do SOMETHING for x amt of hours, at so much per hour.