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[highcountrychickens]

We have a terrible problem with neighbors and their dogs where I live. Most think that they have moved to the country, and their dogs deserve the same freedom they do... they believe it's part of the "charm". In fact, I was approached at a cocktail party by a woman who is a neighbor who opened a conversation with "Your pony caused a $1500 vet bill to my dog" "Oh that's horrible!" I replied... "did my Pony escape from her pasture and come over to your property and attack your dog in his kennel? That's horrible..." She stammered something and walked away - her dog had a habit of chasing my horses, and the pony had taken a decided dislike to dogs... now will chase them down if in her pasture, it's hysterical) It's tough to be patient with someone who has no concept of consequence, so I have taken the information approach - I tracked down the Wyoming laws about dogs chasing and or killing livestock (ranchers may shoot dogs on their property, no questions asked) I wrote a friendly note to all of my neighbors with dogs explaining that while we like dogs, we have a flock of chickens and dogs aren't welcome on our property unless on a short leash (all of them... didn't single out the bad eggs) and sent the letter along with copies of the Statutes. Fair warning. The thing that seems to fix the problem is to catch the dog if possible, and call Animal Contol for a bit of checkbook therapy. You won't have to say anything... the Sheriff's Department or Animal Control officer will explain everything, and it won't be a matter of your opinion. It is AMAZING how quickly people learn when they have to shell out money for their transgressions. It also illustrates the thing that eludes them (as it does your coworker) that an uncontrolled dog isn't cute, it is by LAW a menace.
All of that said, if the dog is aggressive, or kills one of your chickens on your property, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it. After all, there are reasons those laws exist. Who knows if the next thing the dog thinks is fun to attack might be another neighbor's child.
At the very least I would keep a pellet gun handy.

 

[Summerlin]

I suppose I see this one from both sides of the fence (no pun intended).
The topic could have been presented better, in an informative manner rather than as a battle cry. By all means, state your case..mention the possibilities-including the fact that it may ultimately become necessary for you to take extreme measures-but even that can be made clear in a firm, but respectful way.

 

[amazondoc]

I haven't read the whole thread, so this may have been covered already, but I'll throw in my 2 cents.

I think the sentiment behind your words was just fine. OTOH, if I had been the one in that situation, I would have worded it differently. IMHO, it's usually better to "blame" bad news on the anonymous "them" rather than on yourself. Instead of saying YOU would shoot the dog, say "You know, there's a lot of folks out there who would SHOOT your dog if it got onto their property. Did you know that it's legal to shoot roaming dogs? I know, it sounds harsh, but people who live out in the country are really concerned about having dogs kill their livestock. It happens all the time!"

Then the lady has been properly warned, but she isn't mad at you in particular.

Just a thought!

 

[astylishgirl]

Quote:
We tried this approach with our neighbors. It just doesn't work on too many people. The dogs that get the SSS treatment are normally repeat nuisance offenders. SSS is not abominable. Abominable is when your flock is decimated because somebody didn't care enough about their dog to contain it. Using inadequate fencing, collars that be slipped, fences that can be jumped over or dug under, invisible fences, gates with no locks that kids and delivery people can leave open, etc. are not an option for livestock chasing/killing dogs. I have had neighbor dogs, horses, etc. stray onto my property. Nonpredatory animals will be returned unharmed each time. Dogs get one warning (unless I catch it killing). After that it's the owners obligation. One warning is more than fair. The OP didn't shoot the dog. She just gave the warning. People that allow their dogs to roam put others in the unfortunate position of having to decide whose animal gets to live. Shooting first and asking questions later is not absurd and is better than watching my animals be massacred. I'm sorry your dogs were shot. I don't know the circumstances so I can't judge. If they were on your property and not the shooters and were not chasing or harming anything, it should not have happened.

You are right you don't know what happened. And the fact that they were not on our property has no bearing on it. And they were chasing what they had been hired to chase and it had NOTHING to do with the man who shot them. This incident made papers statewide and the man who shot the dogs was widely condemned. These dogs were not aggressive. They were hired for their nose.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Yep!

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
The incident with your dogs is different than untrained free roaming dogs. The OP was talking about a dog that was not invited onto her property. She didn't shoot anything. She just gave a warning to protect her animals and the dog. Again, sorry about your dogs.

 

[astylishgirl]

You a correct Jody... but it was the same mentality. Shoot first, ask later.

I am going to quit posting on this thread! I am a very easy going person, but this topic makes me burn just because of my personal experience. So I am possibly not a good judge. Clearly, I am not an impartial bystander!

Obviously, I love my animals and am not FOR dogs roaming and hurting other peoples animals. That would be horrible.

That said, my chickens are in a pretty predator proof run. So hopefully, I would be able to see the dog and talk to the owners before I shot it. Nothing is fullproof though. And if I have learned anything from my animals... it is that sooner or later things go wrong and somehow they are able to get out of really good fences. I guess that is why cowboys had to ride the fence so much in days of old!

I would not hesitate to bring in the law if the owners would not respond, but I would try to talk first.

 

[texasgal]

Haven't read the whole thread .. but I would just share with her the following Massachusetts statue:

§ 156. Killing dogs under certain conditions; wounded dogs

Any person may kill a dog which suddenly assaults him while he is peaceably standing, walking or riding outside the enclosure of its owner or keeper; and any person may kill a dog found out of the enclosure of its owner or keeper and not under his immediate care in the act of worrying, wounding or killing persons, live stock or fowls, and if any person shall kill or attempt to kill a dog so found, and in the act of worrying, wounding or killing persons, live stock or fowls, he shall not be held liable for cruelty to the dog unless it shall be shown that he intended to be cruel to the dog, or that he acted with a wanton and reckless disregard for the suffering of the dog. Prompt killing of a wounded dog, or a prompt report to the owner or to a dog officer of the wounding of the dog, shall be considered evidence of sufficient regard for the suffering of the dog.


http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmast136A_175.htm#s156

 

[Cetawin]

Sounds like she has had her one only warning. I only give one warning. Let her be ticked off maybe she will not want to invest in a property and live so close to such a mean nasty dog shooting neighbor. I like it.

By the way...I do not blame you one bit.

 

[BirdBrained]

I have a neighbor that recently moved in down the road from me,within a month of his arrival his dog (while chasing his vehicle) decided to dart into my yard and attack my dog,my daughter ran the dog off,I wasnt at home at the time,this happened 2 more times causing my dog to bleed.I kindly stopped at his house on my way home (I stayed in the raod) that day and asked him to keep his dog at home.He didnt seem to like it much but explained how the dog followed him as he left,i asked him to run off and leave the dog when he leaves and told him it was the fact that the dog was coming on my property attacking my dog.He never chained the dog but it hasnt happened again.Just sharing my story,I'm sure most may not have handled it this way but thats the way I felt lead to handle it.

Let me say this though,the fact that you posted asking should you apologize may have been you answer to begin with,regardless of what we think,do you feel like you owe her an apology?