Laws in Texas about Dogs!!!

[cajun backwoods]

i agree with zazous, use the sss rule ( shoot shovle and shut up), here in la we have a state wide leash law that is not enforced unless the dog becomes a problem, now as far as a dog to protect your birds, i have a curr dog that stays around mine and i will even lock him in the pen with them at night sometimes. now the trick is to raise the pup around the birds from a very young age and thats your best bet, a curr makes a great dog for that but you must raise them around the birds if not they are usuall very ruff on them. i hope this helps but i wouldnt speak anymore about this to your neighbors just act like everything is ok and if the dog keeps causing problems. then one day when no one is around, SSS our job as owners are to feed and care for these animals and that includes protecting them, i hope this helps.

 

[7L Farm]

If the dog goes for your chickens or bothers them then you can blast the dog.


Other than that the only thing you can do is catch the dog and take it to the animal control folks or call the sheriff and keep him/her very busy.

In any event you can make that dog be a very expensive pet for its owner but you can't shoot it just because it sets paw on your property.

Likewise those construction folks likely are doing work for a company that has a legal easement, that is the right to legally enter and work upon your land to do what they are doing. You need to see exactly what easements are in existence for "your" property.

It is not uncommon for a prior owner to have granted an easement to various utility companies or private parties that run with the land and never expire.

I own two such easements and can therefor crossover parts of my neighbors properties and maintain utilities.

My grandfather bought this land 60 years ago. They always talk of this easement I just keep telling them to show it to me. They don't have an easement I can pretty much guarante that. They were trying to run power from me to a new subdivision. Its over now I just kept telling them to get off my property. There was an existing pole on the other property I kept pointing & telling them to go down there & run the power from there. They were being stupid & looking for a less expensive way. HAHA

 

[zazouse]

If there is an easment it will be on the deed , tell them to show you where it is in writing.

 

[Ylee]

If you don't want to kill the dog but do want it to leave your chickens alone, you can use a BB gun or soft pellet gun. I have used those to train my dogs on what not to chew on while they are outside. It only takes a few shots before the dog realizes that it doesn't want to be anywhere near what is causing it pain and it doesn't know where it is coming from. I just aim for their back legs and am far enough away it doesn't break skin. It has worked well for me and garden hoses, chickens, my garden, etc. I just sit with a window cracked so they can't see me.

I just wanted to suggest a possible solution that didn't involve the dog dying or being injured. (of course, if I was the dog owner, I would have locked/chained up my dog)

 

[Paul3874]

I am from south texas. I have been told by the sherifs dept to kill the dog and bury it, din't let the neighbor know anything, leave him eonderind. I have also tracked dogs back to their homes,found evidence of chickens killed (feathers all over) then called the sheriff, waited until he arrived, and then confronted the individual. My chickens are pretty expensive. He will pay and take better care of his dog. I have three. One is on a chain (can't stand it) and two are kept within boundaries. One thing you do have to to do' watch your neighbors. The sun sets, it gets dark, keep a shotgun handy, and don't be afraid to test fire it. Paul

 

[CAjerseychick]

Maybe I need a good mutt. Are they hard to train to watch chickens. I mean I've taught dogs simple tricks but to guard a bunch of chickens & stay on my property only. Dogs that I've had like to wonder I mean chase rabbits & then the neighbors dog comes in heat & the dogs gone. What kind of dog do you have. God I really don't need another mouth to feed. I guess the dog could sleep in my barn are would he run off. Maybe, get a female & have her fixed right. I havn't had a dog in a long time. Here I am talking about killing a dog & now I'm thinking about getting one.

I do think the right dog is a great loose dog deterrant. We have a Bernese Mt dog (very low prey drive, territorial/ and a homebody- he wont leave even if the front gate is left open) and he's too big to fit through the the cattle gates... (just in case there is a female dog in heat somewhere I guess)... He does eat alot though...(My Giant Schnauzer is a terible chicken dog- she eats them, but has been boundary trained to stay away from the chickens area and that works for us- she is also great against predators and people but not other dogs! She plays with them if they come up to the fence, and one skinny little border collie crawled under the cattle gate and she played with it-- the Bernese ran it right off, he is territorial of his home turf!) Maybe you are better off going to the pound if cost is a factor, or even a breed rescue they would be familiar with the dogs available and could steer you in the right direction... Dogs are great, but they do need training and commitment...

 

[Tashaf]

I live in the middle of no where far away from any city lines. Are my chickens covered under the free range laws? They are mostly always in my yard but they went into my neighbors yard ( weeds over my head). I have all of my chickens kept up now but if my chickens were to wander into their yard again would they be covered under the law? Also, their dog has come over and killed 5 of my chickens in my yard and keeps trying to get into the chicken coop. Is there a law against that?

 

[scooter147]

I would believe all states have laws against dogs harassing, chasing, maiming and killing livestock and gives the owner the right to protect their property.

When I lived in the country neighbors dogs (we are talking about neighbors 1/4, 1/2 miles away) and dumped dogs were a huge problem. At the time I had over 100 chicken, ducks, geese and peacocks.

I did what I could to protect my birds but some dogs are smart and determined.

I finally got to the point in which I shot dogs on my property regardless of what they were doing, the ole "no questions asked" rule. BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I practiced the SSS method. I would actually have people come knock on my door and ask if I've seen their dog. My answer always was, no, not today. Never a lie. ;-)

I love dogs, have always had a couple dogs, and all have been house dogs. However, it comes to a point when you lose $500 in peacocks in one afternoon enough is enough.

Amazingly over time the problem of dogs wondering on my property became almost non existent. I think people either didn't replace the dogs or kept them on their property.

The other thing is people who have dogs who let them just run at large generally don't have them long anyway, they get run over, killed by coyotes or shot.

SHOOT'EM

 

[pistolero]

7L Farm, obviously you've learned you can't trust law enforcement officers for legal advice. Stop asking them. Learn the statutes which apply in your state and follow them. IF you ended up having to take out the dog, and you know the law, it doesn't matter what the deputies say. IF that happened AND they found out you did kill the dog, (don't lie about anything after the fact, you have the right to remain silent) some misguided LEO "could" arrest you. Just because the local Barney Fifes don't know what they are doing doesn't mean the DA is stupid enough to try to press charges he knows won't stick. And if all that fails (and a DA actually does try to screw you over) it may cost some money. But lawyer up and beat them. Either way, find some of your neighbors who aren't crazy and organize to vote that Sheriff out at the first opportunity.

 

[Jerri Prud'homme]

I talked with a Deputy here in Grimes County Texas today about dogs coming on my property. He told me that if a neighbors dog comes on my farm I do not have the right to kill it. He said this is animal cruelty. I told him that I'd talked with a new neighbor & told her point blank that I would shoot her dog if it comes on my property. The deputy told me that what I told her was a threat. I thought being up front with the new neighbor would at least let her know that I'm not gonna let her dog take not even one of my birds.Yes, I guess I shouldn't of said anything but I was just forewarning her. I really don't want to shoot a dog so I chose to let her know ahead of time.
The deputy's around here seem to have a habit of giving me false information. Seems they make the laws up as they go. After my chat with the deputy I really feel that they are not on my side at all. I've never ever been in trouble with the law & hopefully never will be. But who knows because my new neighbor lets her dog run wild & I'm sure one day the dogs gonna show up over here & I'm gonna panic & more than likely shoot it to protect my birds. Then the deputy's gonna show up & throw me in jail.
I've never really even ever called the law until I moved to Grimes County. They have never taken my side on anything I've ever called them about. So, I have a strong feeling & hopefully nothing will ever happen but if something goes south I will be unprotected just a gut feeling.

I talked with a Deputy here in Grimes County Texas today about dogs coming on my property. He told me that if a neighbors dog comes on my farm I do not have the right to kill it. He said this is animal cruelty. I told him that I'd talked with a new neighbor & told her point blank that I would shoot her dog if it comes on my property. The deputy told me that what I told her was a threat. I thought being up front with the new neighbor would at least let her know that I'm not gonna let her dog take not even one of my birds.Yes, I guess I shouldn't of said anything but I was just forewarning her. I really don't want to shoot a dog so I chose to let her know ahead of time.
The deputy's around here seem to have a habit of giving me false information. Seems they make the laws up as they go. After my chat with the deputy I really feel that they are not on my side at all. I've never ever been in trouble with the law & hopefully never will be. But who knows because my new neighbor lets her dog run wild & I'm sure one day the dogs gonna show up over here & I'm gonna panic & more than likely shoot it to protect my birds. Then the deputy's gonna show up & throw me in jail.
I've never really even ever called the law until I moved to Grimes County. They have never taken my side on anything I've ever called them about. So, I have a strong feeling & hopefully nothing will ever happen but if something goes south I will be unprotected just a gut feeling.