Landowner Kills Dogs Killing chickens

[cockadoodlemom]

I just recently went thru this mess, so heres my 2 cents. I love dogs! I have 2 inside and 1 outside. My outside dog is blue heeler/lab and she stays in her fenced yard no exceptions. I came home 3wks ago on a Sunday night to find feathers everywhere! My heart sank and we went looking to see who was still here cause thats how many feathers were laying all over the yard. I had 23 chickens but that night we did a head count and all I had was 9. My husband and I kept trying to figure out what could have done this. We have a bobcat and coyotes that run around here. My husband kept saying no this happened before they ever started to go to roost. We found a duck hiding and 3 chickens hiding that night. The next morning I went out to check on the chickens and 2 more showed up and after I took the kids to school 3 more showed up. I was talking to my dad on the phone and my outside dog started barking when I looked out I saw who caused all the damage~~2 dang dogs and they were playing tug-of-war with one of my girls. I took a shot but missed because I was so upset and they came back again later and again I missed. I called the Sheriff and they had someone come out. I have spoken to these people who own the dog before, but it was a different dog. The first time it was my rabbit that they bit plugs out of and they didn't get her because I went shooting. I talked to them and they offered to pay damages but I said no my rabbit should be fine just please keep the dog put up or I have no choice and they understood. This time they got to talk to a sheriff because enough is enough. A few days later my daughter comes home from school and tells me they asked their daughter to ask her to ask me how much do they owe me for the chickens. I have not said a word to them because I feel like if they really want to know they would come down here because they just live up the road and its not even a mile. I feel for the couple who lost their chickens and even the dog owners. If the dogs had got out before and all the neighbors knew they were friendly dogs then why didn't the owners step up and do something to keep the dogs in their fence? Just seems to me they told off on theirselves and what about the pain of lose the chicken owners are going through? Would they want to come home or go outside to find fur strolled everywhere? Bottom line is keep your dogs put up and there won't be a problem! Sorry but it is a touchy subject for me and sorry if I rambled.

 

[PurpleChicken]

I think Nifty is going to have to make a Dogs & Chickens subforum at the
rate these dog posts are coming...

My 2 1/2 cents:

This situation sucks.

This situation could have been avoided by all involved parties.

If my dogs got out, attacked a neighbors animal and were shot, I would
never forgive MYSELF, as my dogs are MY responsibility.

P.S. I don't hug trees, I hug my family, my dogs, and my chickens. They are much more cuddly than trees.

 

[Royicus]

Shooting a pet or human is never something that is enjoyable. The way I see it though, the homeowner defended his chickens as they were being actively attacked, not while the dogs were running away. Sounds like a good shoot to me, however tragic it is.

Edit: And I also think that people are really upset because these were "only chickens." It isn't just a money thing to some folks, but chickens are pets too! Some people don't realize that.

 

[DuckLady]

Just want to remind that dog threads can get heated. Please remember to keep your cool and follow the guidelines of the forum when posting on controversial threads. The staff is keeping close watch on these threads.

 

[crazy4chicsinBC]

What a terrible tradgedy. We are all responisble for keeping our dogs on our own property, and thats where mine stays. However my neighbours Husky is over here everyday, not sure how she gets in because my st.bern/newfie cross has never figured out how to get out. I really havn't minded "Damon" being here and playing with my dog all day she always seems to ignore my chickens like my dog does. However this situation has made me second guess my allowing her over all the time. I guess if she one day went after my chickens it would be "my fault" since I let her stay and play all the time.
Any thoughts?

 

[MNKris]

Well, I can say what goes around comes around.

This past summer our next door neighbor's dog came over to our house (about 1/4 mile away) and ran our horses through our barbless fence. The result: a colt that was already sold ended up with a broken leg. We had to put him down.

Later this fall, our indoor weimaraner took off with our older Lab when I let them out to go to the bathroom. It was windy and they didn't hear me call them back. They were gone in 15 seconds. A half hour later, she came back with a dead chicken from the same neighbor's farm. We went to the neighbor and told him what happened, and apologized profusely, offering to pay for the chicken. That weim is my baby. This is the first and only time she has ever taken off. Our neighbor was as gracious as we were, and said thank you for your honesty and I will let you know if she comes back over here.

It sucked losing the colt, and a colt is work a heck of a lot more than a $5 chicken, but our weim is worth more than just about any horse we own. I would have been absolutely inconsolable if she were shot over a $5 chicken.

All our dogs have 3 tags on them. A name tag, rabies tag and a home again tag.

We also have had several dogs come "visit". With one who had a collar with no name on it, I put a note in a luggage tag and sent it back on his collar saying "Although the "our name" think I am a very nice dog, they really want me to stay home. " We got a call from the owner saying "thank you, thank you, thank you for letting us know he was in your yard". He hasn't been back since.

Problem dogs get dealt with after their owners have been warned. Accidents do happen though and I don't think a person should get gun happy so quick. Three times is a little much, but I think they could have done a little more to let the owners know what what going on.

 

[picklespickles]

crazy, i have a neighbors dog that used to come over a lot. i didn't mind as he was very friendly. very sweet and silly. but after the goat attack, i stopped petting him when he came by. now i chase him off and he has gotten the idea. if i am walking by and he in front of his own house, i'll say hi and give him a squeeze. but i was worried i was sending the wrong signal. terrible to say, but.......

 

[TransplantedTexan]

WHY didn't the chicken owner attempt to contact the dog owner the FIRST time it happened?

Why did the dog owner not pen his dogs in a manner that they could not get out. It is possible to pen a dog in a way they cannot dig out. They were aware of the dogs previous escapes. They did nothing. Thier dog, thier responsability. They were failing to protect thier dogs, and they were breaking the law.
The chicken owner did not fail to protect his chickens.
Well, he did the first couple of times.
A stray dog on my property who is doing no damage would get the "come her boy, let's find your owner" treatment.
If it is attacking my animals, or family it would catch a bullet
no questions asked.
The only fault I find with Mr.Kubicek is that he failed to dispatch the dogs the first time they killed.
That's assuming he was around when they were on the property.

 

[joanm]

I’ve made it very clear how I feel about dogs in other threads. My dogs do not roam, they are in a fenced yard or in the house with me, I know where they are at all times – no exceptions. I understand accidents happen, but more often than not, it’s the irresponsible dog owner.

 

[birdnutz]

If the dogs had killed another smaller dog and got shot,would there still be the big out cry? If the man that shot the dogs and offered to pay for them,would that make them happy? I don't think it would. Sometimes money doesn't solve anymore problems than a gun.The chickens were these peoples pets,just as the dogs were. I do agree that he should of contacted the owners the first time and warned them. But it's not his responsability to contain someone elses dogs. I am confused on the point of,did he catch the dogs by the collar and then shoot them?
I do believe that if the owner of the chickens had taken pictures of the slaughter and posted them that the people probably would of been a little more understanding of what he went through.The wholesale slaughter of chickens can't be a pretty sight. But to be honest I would of shot them the first time.