My neighbor's kid stole my quail from my yard and after we confronted them he let it loose in the wild, what can I do?

[jxp]

Since they are Amish, perhaps speaking with the church elders might be an option. The ones I've known in my life have always been helpful with different situations.

Whomever you reach out to, I would suggest writing down the points you are wanting to make before hand. That way you can stick to the subject, not miss anything, and not go off into the weeds with things like your uncle or the estate which have nothing to do with the problem at hand.

 

[Bawkbok]

I don't have any tips for re-capturing your roo. I'm really sorry about this situation.

If you don't already have them, a combination of cameras and BIG prominent signs announcing that you have cameras could be a good idea. I know that Ring cams can be programmed to sound a siren when they detect a person. This would also give you video/photographic evidence of his trespassing.

I'm a teacher and have worked with many children with many different disabilities. Even a child with really severe Down Syndrome can understand rules and boundaries. This is a tricky situation because things like having him arrested/charged could have really negative impacts for his future. And I'm not saying you're wrong at all to get the law involved, I just think it's an ethically tricky area. The above comments that the parents are really at fault are spot on.

If possible, and maybe with the help of a mediator (like a neighbor who gets along with you and this child's parents), perhaps you could have a conversation. If not, you could send a notarized letter. Either way, it could say: first, that you have suffered loss of your animals; second, that you are putting in place cameras to document what happens on your property; and third, that you will prosecute and or use civil court to recoup any losses. Include the amount you will be asking for each animal, and make those numbers LARGE. This should incentivize them to keep better watch over their child.

And while this is a bit more extreme: a child with a disability is being allowed to roam out of his parents' supervision, bringing him into situations (like going near your horses) that could result in injury or death. This is neglect, and it would be grounds for a call to child protective services in your area. This could actually be more effective than going the criminal route.

I guess my final thought is that you know your neighbors best. Things like criminal charges, a call to CPS, a letter, etc, can all be read as "aggressive" by some people.

Things like installing better locks on your cages, putting up cameras, etc, are more defensive. I'm a really non-confrontational person, so I tend to go much more in the defensive direction when protecting myself and my animals.

You should choose an approach based not only on what feels "fair" in the moment, but what is also least likely to lead you into a more intense situation.

 

[Bawkbok]

So I might have missed it, but have you personally tried to speak directly to the parents yourself or are you not on speaking terms?

Are the parent/s themselves disabled also?

I second the suggestion of going over there with a police officer, since you have them involved already, and try to diffuse the situation while making your concerns clear. The officer would have to document the encounter. You definitely need physical proof of what is happening, i.e., camera footage, cell phone video, etc.

I hope your quail returns. Wishing you the best out of this situation.

 

[FrostRanger]

Shame on the parents. If you're going to let your kid run around, ensure they know how to behave properly. If your kid can't be trusted to not trespass and cause mischief on other people's property then they should not be allowed to run around without supervision. Not sure if the legal action will go anywhere due to lack of proof but I think more cameras is necessary in case this happens again. Hopefully the threat of legal action will scare the parents into being more responsible though. Hopefully your quail will return

 

[jxp]

If it were me - and admittedly it's not - I'd save police involvement as a last resort. So much can be resolved by just talking to people. Granted there are some real jerks in this world but the Amish community are by-and-large some of the kindst, most honest, hard-working, and helpful people you will ever meet. I also feel this family probably has enough stress in their lives without adding legal issues into the mix.

 

[Appalachickens]

I have to deal with wild animals that want to mess with my infrastructure and my chickens. You have neighbors that are behaving like wildlife and messing with your infrastructure and animals. I believe the same sort of deterrence that has worked for me should work for your form of "wildlife".

Rig hot wire energized by a solar fence charger around the perimeter with special configuration at the points where those pests are entering your property. This system will not harm your animals, and the quail should be okay as long as the hot wire doesn't come too close to any metal fencing that the quail might want to rest on.

Throw the switch and station yourself in a spot where you can watch those brats experience the consequences. Very, very gratifying.

My goodness, I hope you are joking. The "brat" in question is a child with apparent developmental delays. You surely aren't suggesting the OP try to shock a child with Down Syndrome and enjoy doing so?

 

[Appalachickens]

Not sure I'm following that entirely, but the parents are the ones to be upset with more than the disabled child. When I was a kid, there was a boy across the street who had intellectual disabilities from being exposed to rubella in utero. He would sometimes show up in our kitchen at night with a can opener, looking for food. My mother would just tell him gently that it was time to go back home and go to bed, and direct him back across the street. The point is, you say you're dealing with a child with Down Syndrome who has the added disadvantage of having neglectful parents. Some compassion might be in order here. By all means, reinforce fencing and ask the parents for compensation and for them to better monitor their child. But please don't take suggestions for actually hurting the kid.

 

[Anon112]

I agree, but I do not believe CPS would do something in this situation, unfortunately. Putting a child into a flawed system permanently is usually their last resort, so they avoid, and often don't even contact back for cases, doing something like removing the kid. That's not to say to not to try calling them anyways. The age of the child is very important here.

I'm not talking about removal. (And trust me, I've seen some appalling things NOT result in removal from the home and I'm like "HOW?!?!?!?!?!!!"). But a social worker or family liaison can assist with getting parents resources, and it puts the child on the CPS radar. I think that what the OP is describing is genuinely a very dangerous situation. How would they feel if they came home one day to find the child dead, having been kicked in the head by one of the horses?

I'm not saying CPS is the only option here, but I think a call to them would be merited, especially if some of the other "unofficial" strategies (like talking to the neighbors, talking to the church elders, etc) don't make a change.

Not sure I'm following that entirely, but the parents are the ones to be upset with more than the disabled child. When I was a kid, there was a boy across the street who had intellectual disabilities from being exposed to rubella in utero. He would sometimes show up in our kitchen at night with a can opener, looking for food. My mother would just tell him gently that it was time to go back home and go to bed, and direct him back across the street. The point is, you say you're dealing with a child with Down Syndrome who has the added disadvantage of having neglectful parents. Some compassion might be in order here. By all means, reinforce fencing and ask the parents for compensation and for them to better monitor their child. But please don't take suggestions for actually hurting the kid.

Strongly agree. Because it is known that the OP knows this child is coming around, anything that could be perceived as a deliberate "trap" for the child to be hurt could be grounds for a lawsuit or legal action. Think about the laws that require fencing around pools: you can be criminally or civilly liable for damage done even on your own property by someone who is not supposed to be there.

 

[CraziChknLady]

My neighbor's kid has down syndrome and he has come on our property before and he has taken halters off our miniature horse stud head not once but twice after we confronted them, the halters were found in the dirt on our property so we're well aware he comes on our property and steals. So I had all my quail in large dog cages and all my cages had a outdoor clip on them but one, for it had better hinges on it so last night I had checked on them 12am or 1am in the morning and there was 7 pharaohs in the cage for I know one was in the house with chicks in the brooder for he's lethargic and I believe one is still loose in the house somewhere for I believe I have 9 pharaohs in total anyway I had 2 roosters and the rest hens in the cage outside in the backyard, I have one of my foundation hen Raven, 2nd generation hens Yellow, Brindle and two young other ones that are around 6 weeks for there recently started laying anyway I went outside today at noon and one of my pharaohs hen was gone no cage door open and all my pharaohs when they saw me had a flight response and all flew up to hit the top of the cage, my white ones were not disturbed or my tuxedos for my Tibetans were in the garage in a clean cage for I'm working on cleaning the rest of the cages.I got one clean out last night and I'm working on other ones currently I need to wipe them out and put the rest of the quail in the garage. We went immediately to the police and file a report, a state trooper talk to us and said if there don't cooperate with us they will file charges and all I needed to do is call back the non emergency number with state Police so after we confronted the neighbors and I went in there barn I was looking around to see if the boy had something in his hands my mother told them if they don't return the bird now we're pressing charges, after that I was outside getting ready to clean a cage with soap and I heard the father tell the boy "you're in trouble" and then I see a pharaoh Japanese quail flying in the air and I immediately went running towards it and it flew farther into our horse field I went over there and couldn't find it but the neighbors kid did have my rooster, how it started, after today when we got done with our errands and talking to the police when got home at around 3pm I had one rooster in the dog cage and the kid did put the pharaoh hen back now I have a loose pharaoh rooster, we follow the trooper advice and got a lock on the cage and the ones with outdoor clips he didn't touch but we used utility tape to reinforce the cages, the neighbors kids never touch my 3 coral blue guinea fowl but he sure did take one of my prized roosters and they come from 2 bloodlines from two different states two different breeders and I hatched them from eggs, I've called animal control nobody answered, I call game Warden emergency number they said hire a private trapper they couldn't help me and tomorrow the trooper is going to call me back and I'm pressing charges for he's in trouble for the troopers told us it juvenile theft and he's going to jail, so now I'm worrying if the quail will return to his flock outside in the pens for now we have to leave the other out there to make him return, he's a juvenile rooster anyway, any advice would really help me for I'm devastated and we're financially broke now due to lawyer fees from handling my grandmother's estate. Please help
And the neighbors do not watch there kids they run around so much near our property line and on our property and the tenant of the neighbors are worried the kids there with down syndrome a boy and girl could get hit by a car for we live near a road connected to 2 busy highways, we're in Cecil county Maryland BTW so I know they would be considered a invasive species if they get loose (the quail).

Id start by having them pay for the lost/ free birds. Take pictures of your set up and access areas, gates, locks, everything. And taken inventory and pics of all your animals. You never know what you or the state will need. I would press charges. I know he's just a child and the parents are responsible, but no one will learn anything if there's no consequences. Especially if he's done this before, they will just keep doing it. I'm honestly shocked that if he's special needs, that they don't keep an eye on him while he's outside?
Then put up cameras and electric fence up.
Maybe get some different locks, maybe with a key, for the kennels/cages, at least that's a start and won't totally break the bank. See if family members, club or church groups would help with donating or purchasing them? Just an idea.