Neighbor Dog Attacked Another Bird

[Ole rooster]

There is no total answer on this one. As most have read we have all kinds of attitudes when it comes to protecting ones flock. I would confront the owner, good term are not. Let them know what happened and what has to happen to ensure it doesn't happen again.

To me you have to grab the bull by the horns and settle the problem, what ever that takes. Otherwise you have a happy neighbor with no responsibility, a happy dog a lot of toys to kill, and you have a bunch of dead birds.

If a neighbor doesn't accept the primise he is responsible for his animal, and you don't want to hurt their feeling, then you really have no choice but to accept dead birds or get rid of um. It's just the fact of what matters most to you.

 

[galanie]

I think there are two problems here. One is that you are unwilling to do everything you can to keep your birds safe. Two is the dogs. But as for the law, look up livestock laws. There may not be a leash law but most states have laws about livestock getting killed on your own property. Matter of fact in most it's perfectly legal to kill that dog if it's in the act. Then get compensation for lost livestock.

PS - as for the rough talk about doing what you can to keep them safe, I well understand wanting your animals to be safe on your own property without jumping through hoops.

And in some places it is illegal to shoot them with paintballs

 

[JackE]

Dig a deep hole, then S.S.S. No more dog problem.
Jack

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
I know here in Macon Co. you have to keep your chickens in a pen its the law, but there is a leash law here too for dogs. I think that I would clip the wings if it meant keeping them safe inside the pen.

 

[Hiram]

I shoot my neighbor's dog with a round bb gun. It doesn't hurt him and he seemed to learn his lesson for the most part. Yes he was in my yard so his butt is grass.

 

[speckledhen]

You might be surprised at the laws you can find, even in most rural areas. We don't even have zoning, but there are ordinances in this county that require any dog to be under the owner's control at all times when off his property, i.e. on leash. And it gives me the right to shoot to kill if it is just harassing my chickens. A local court case was even won recently by a cattle owner who shot a dog who was a habitual nuisance on his farm. That is with absolutely NO zoning at all in the county, so don't assume just because you are in the boonies that there is no law.



In most places, shooting with bb gun is considered animal cruelty. Shooting to kill is the only acceptable thing with most of these laws.

 

[Hiram]

I would think it would be animal cruelty everywhere. And I have heard that about killing nuisance animals i.e dogs and foxes, but I really don't want to kill them. I'm just trying to condition it to know stay clear of the area. You know, something's going to sting me if I do. It has worked. But I know that my way is controversial. My mom used to tell me so. Until the dog went after her birds then it was like "Hiram bring that bb gun over here".

 

[bobbi-j]

In the end, you are responsible for keeping your flock safe. You can't controt the neighbors or how they handle their dog, so it's up to you to do what you can to keep the dog off your property. You may have to invest in a fenced in area for your chickens if you can't fence your yard. I don't know what "I live out in the country" means anymore. I have a cousin who lives outside the city limits of Fresno, CA and it's considered "country". It looked just like the city to me. I live on a farm (a real one with fields, tractors, etc.) and I consider where I live "country". Wide open spaces, closest neighbors a mile away. Either way, you need to protect your flock. Also, without proof that your guinea didn't fly or wander over to the neighbor's yard, it will be impossible to prove that their dog came over to your house and took your bird.

 

[J&J's Girls]

You should be able to reaserch the laws in your particular area. Here in this area of NM there is plenty of laws. I envoked one last night. We arrived home from shopping and found 2 stray pit bulls in our driveway tearing apart our neighbors rabbit. I called the local animal control and they came and retrived the carcass as evidence and proceeded to look for the culprets. The officer informed me any proven killing of a domestic animal, livestock included, resulted in termination of the of the killer. Here that means enthanasia via injection. These dogs ran off and I haven't heard their status. I'm not for the senseless killing of any animal, especially K-9s. And I have learned over the years working with dogs that once they get the taste of a big kill, were not talking lizards and mice even sparrows here, were talking kills like cats, chickens, ducks, geese, turkey, heck all large fowl, rabbits, etc. they won't stop. Dogs can be trained to guard chickens and not attack them. In your case either human intervention, you or the neighbor, preventing this dog from getting to your birds or call animal control they'll handle it. Save any dead fowl as evidence! Look for the kill site! On your property, your good.Hope this helps

 

[Oregon Blues]

The neighbors should control their dog, but apparently they won't. So now it is up to you to decide whether to protect your birds, or let the dog kill as many as he can catch.

I keep neighborhood dogs off my property by having a fence around the perimeter. Then the neighbors can allow their dogs to run free until the coyotes kill them and the dogs never bother me.

So, you can fence your property. You can pen the birds in safe housing so predators can't get them. You can shoot and kill any dog or other animal that comes on to your property. You can take a bill for every dead bird over to the neighbor and try to get him to pay. You can trap the dog, drive him to the animal shelter and turn him in.

Lots of options for you.