Lost 52 today..

[BarkerChickens]

Wow! How devastating! I am SO sorry for your loss. I hope you can recoup your loss of income, plus time to rebuildwhen (if) it goes to court!

 

[theFox]

Quote:
§19-20-14. Dog killing, wounding or worrying livestock or poultry -- Recovery of damages.
If any dog has killed or assisted in killing, wounding or worrying any sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry out of the enclosure of the owner of the dog, the owner or keeper of the dog shall be liable for the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry in the amount of the damages sustained, to be recovered in an action before any court or magistrate having jurisdiction of the action. It shall not be necessary to sustain the action to prove that the owner of the dog knew the dog was accustomed to worrying, killing or wounding. A recovery under this section shall bar and preclude the owner of the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry from obtaining compensation from the county commission under the provisions of this article. If the person suffering the loss or damage cannot ascertain the owner or keeper of the dog, or if the owner or keeper is not financially responsible, then the person suffering the loss or damage may file his claim with and prove the same before the county commission of the county in which the loss or damage is sustained, in the manner provided in this article, and the commission shall pay the loss or damage out of the fund provided for such purposes and according to the provisions of this article. When compensation is so obtained from the county commission, the county commission is authorized to sue under this section and recover as the owner of the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry. The amount so recovered shall be paid into the county treasury; but no suit shall be commenced unless authorized by the county commission.


AND I'VE GOT TO HAND IT TO WEST VIRGINA:

§19-20-18. Same -- Duty of owner to kill dog; proceeding before magistrate on failure of owner to kill.
The owner or keeper of a dog that has been worrying, wounding, chasing or killing any sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry not the property of the owner or keeper, out of his enclosure, shall, within forty-eight hours, after having received notice thereof in writing from a reliable and trustworthy source, under oath, kill the dog or direct that the dog be killed. If the owner or keeper refuses to kill the dog as hereinbefore provided, the magistrate, upon information, shall summon the owner or keeper of the dog, and, after receiving satisfactory proof that this dog did the mischief, shall issue a warrant on application being made by the owner of the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, or colts or poultry killed; and give it into the hands of the sheriff, who shall kill the dog forthwith or dispose of by other available methods. The cost of the proceedings shall be paid by the owner or keeper of the dog so killed, including a fee of fifty cents to the officer killing the dog. The owner or keeper of the dog so killed shall, in addition to the costs, be liable to the owner of the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry or to the county commission for the value of the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses or colts or poultry so killed or injured.

§19-20-16. Same -- When lawful to kill dog.
A person may kill a dog that he may see chasing, worrying, wounding or killing any sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry outside of the enclosure of the owner of the dog, unless the chasing or worrying be done by the direction of the owner of the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits or horses and colts or poultry.

Go get the blankety blank owner.

 

[PepsNick]

Never heard of a loss this big! SUE! Put down the dogs.

 

[sheeptown44]

If you pursue this you will win in court,if it gets that far. A call to your insurance (homeowners) should get the ball rolling. Do not delay. Good luck and I am sorry for your loss.

 

[KCchickens]

Oh I'm so sorry! I hate people dogs so much! If I were you I would do as everyone else says... SUE! Those were your babies, and how you make money!

I wish you could set up a way for donations for a lawyer ( if it's by afordable Which they usually are) from fellow BYC members. I know most of us don't have money to throw around including myself... But I'm sure you could get a few bucks from people or at least a few people to send you fertile eggs!

Please keep us updated is you do take legal action, because I'm sure we'd really like to know how everything goes. And please, stay strong

 

[aimeeinwv]

total count at the end was 65 dead and 24 missing completely (we found some wings and such) Now, I did find all the WV laws the last time the dogs did this. I have a hearing before county commission to recoup my damages, and I am STILL suing her in civil court for loss of income. Worst part is that none of this will bring my babies back. I loved each and every one of them so much. It breaks my heart to think of what they went through.

Now, about killing the dogs. I would have for sure. As much as I love dogs and I do.. however, I can't sit on my porch and watch for them. I wasn't home when this occoured, but from now on I am taking no chances. My pen will be dog proof and any dogs that bother them will be shot by myself or my neighbors (who also own some of the chickens in the pen, so therefore also rightful owners legal to shoot) I've had it. THIS time, I'm not putting up with it!!!

here's a link to the news story - I caution you, it's graphic.
http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/101130_3598.shtml

 

[annie3001]

sorry for such a huge loss.

i hope the owners of the dogs pay. big time.

 

[EweSheep]

SUE! I can not believe the "three strikes, you're out" kind of tactic! Illinois had this law but you can bet they are ineffective as it was put on the law books.

You should recoup all the costs! AND the dogs to be put down or rehome somewhere else that has a non bird family.

 

[secuono]

Killing the dogs is wrong and stupid/pointless. She can easily get more dogs and let this happen over and over.
The owners need to be fined and set straight. Hit the source of the problem.
The dogs should be taken from them and evaluated then re-homed far from any farm or 'prey' animals with owners that know dogs and can control them.

I hope you can get this lady set straight!!

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Very sad, but I'm glad you're getting some media coverage on the problem. Hopefully once the owner is forced to provide restitution there will be even more coverage which will then show other owners they better be careful how freely they allow their dogs to roam.