Neighbor dogs, what do I do?

[7L Farm]

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Agree!! And animal life.A few years back I was deer hunting & saw a pack of dogs chasing the deer. My neighbor shot the dogs.

 

[jjthink]

Much less horrible outcome than that nightmare GA case, but I can attest to what happened when just 2 dogs came on my property December 1, 2008. A Rhodesian Ridgeback and a Jack Russell Terrier. I heard a terrible ruckus and ran to see that the dogs were tearing around my yard. Panic flowed through me, wondering if my BJ roo and hen Ellie were okay. I had to go alpha on these dogs to try to get them off the property and edge them toward the property of the humans who so irresponsibly let them roam - not until I got the dogs out of there could I check to see how BJ and Ellie were. Well, these 2 dogs wanted no part of listening to me - they faced off with me, pack mentality in full gear, barring their teeth and growling. The Rhodesian Ridgeback lunged at me and bit my hand. It took some serious doing to get them back to their property (where their human responded by telling me she was busy with her baby - translation - I was bothering her). Finally I could go check on BJ and Ellie, who thankfully had managed to safely elevate themselves really high in their building but until I was able to check on them my heart was in my throat, imagining them maimed or dying, without me at their side.

These dog people continued to irresponsibly let their dogs roam until finally they got the Jack Russell killed by a car. Their response was not to reform their behavior but rather it was to go get another Jack Russell. Again, both dogs roamed. Two years after trying to reason with them repeatedly I finally told Animal Control I had had more than enough. Animal Control was fed up with them too and finally ticketed them. The people flooding me out live next door to the dog people and they are actually trying to use this dog situation to paint me as a complainer and troublemaker. I would argue that I gave them more time to reform than most anyone else in my position would. And it cost my feathered friends dearly, because they had to stay confined so much of the time. (I feared that there would be an attempt to make me get rid of my babies, as there is a bizarre 32 year old ordinance that appears to be on the books prohibiting both chickens and fur-bearing animals [dogs, cats...]).

JJ

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
If it were me I would do as above but you can get get into a legal problems. If done, do not brag about it and hit where no lasting damage is likely.

Since the dogs are harassing you stock, animal control should be involved if owner is unable to control situation.

You need to talk to owner, not his wife. Keep lines of communication open.

 

[Jubilee1111]

One thing you can do for your immediate protection is get a giant can of pepper spray. The ones called Bear Spray have a pistol grip type handle that are really easy to aim and have longer range.

Make sure you don't spray it into the wind! Get a little wrist holder for it so it's convenient to strap on your wrist and carry that way.

Normal Pepper spray has a 12' range so if they run at you while you're outside you can hit them in the face before they make contact.

I'm sure you are but PLEASE take the threat of these dogs seriously. Pack mentality can make even the weakest nerved little wimp of a dog think he's billy bad@$$. And do not let them get behind you if you have to deal with them, they are most likely to tag you from behind.

 

[ivan3]

See: Title 4, Chapter 3 of current OK revised statutes and plan accordingly (dogs should always be reported to be threatening/attacking the chicken owner/not the chickens - doesn't everyone get between the chooks and the dogs, for the purpose of filing complaints?).

http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/Index.asp?ftdb=STOKST04&level=1

 

[chicken grandma]

Wood privacy fence - 6 feet tall with chicken wire on the bottom dug down several feet into the earth.
I have huge dogs on both sides of my home and they don't get my hens ever.


edit - I actually love these dogs because I know that they deter the racoons, weasels, minks, foxes, skunks, opposums and even rats/mice, hawks! It is just up to me to make sure there is no way they can get in my hen area. And we used premade privacy panels that were cheap! But a 6ft fence with wood - they can't get through. And chicken wire dug down into the ground - not that hard, not that expensive and it works!

 

[Debbi]

I live out in the sticks too. 6-8 large dogs could do some serious damage to your pets, livestock, and humans! First thing I would do, is to call the Sheriff's office, and tell them you want to file a report, a written report, so it will be on record. Most times here, if you call them, they tell you to deal with it when referring to livestock. These dogs are a real threat to your personal safety, make the Sheriff aware of this! Years ago, I had trouble with the two-legged variety of trespassers, one of whom was stalking me and my children. The Sheriff's deputy came out, and asked me if I owned a gun? Yes. He told me I had every right to shoot, as long as they came into my house. Since then the laws have changed, and if you fear for your life or your family's, you have the right to shoot. I don't ever wish to take a human life, nor one of an undeserving animal; but if push comes down to shove, it isn't going to be me down in the dirt! If the Sheriff won't come out and talk to the neighbor, then I would get a Game Cam so pics can be taken 24/7, even when your aren't home. If I caught the dogs on my property, it would be a SSS situation...period. Don't tell anyone! Don't threaten the neighbor, as obviously he is a nut job. Remember, you have to live there with the neighbors, so the less confrontation the better. Save any and all dead animals that the dogs have destroyed and the camera pics, because otherwise, when the neighbor finds his dogs missing, he may call the law on you!! If he comes knocking on your door and asks if you've seen his dogs, just tell him no.

Luckily, I have decent neighbors, none too close, and we all follow the rules of the "country". Any loose dogsfound harassing or killing livestock will be shot on sight! That's just the way it is, and we all know it and respect it. Good luck, stay safe!

 

[Criskin]

Quote:
That came up again yesterday and was again proven to be a rural legend.

It was proven to be a rural legend in your state, not all states. It is important to check your own state laws before you accept this as fact. The laws in my state are worded to be open to interpretation on this point, as I confirmed with both a local lawyer and police officer, so animal cruelty charges could feasibly be filed. It isn't likely, but I'd be uncomfortable advising people it is legal when that isn't the case.

 

[Ole rooster]

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But the chicken wire won't last more than 2 years buried. It's rots very fast as it's so thin.

 

[War Chicken]

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That came up again yesterday and was again proven to be a rural legend.

It was proven to be a rural legend in your state, not all states. It is important to check your own state laws before you accept this as fact. The laws in my state are worded to be open to interpretation on this point, as I confirmed with both a local lawyer and police officer, so animal cruelty charges could feasibly be filed. It isn't likely, but I'd be uncomfortable advising people it is legal when that isn't the case.

In every state it's come up in, the statute provides for killing or injuring. One thing you learn in law school is how to read statutes and when it says you can kill a dog attacking livestock, it implies you can injure it as well since you can't kill a dog without injuring it first. In most states, the definition of animal cruelty has expanded beyond merely causing suffering to encompass humane but unjustified killing. Therefore, a humane killing is not legally preferable to injuring a dog. Both are animal cruelty and the livestock defense exception will absolve you of liability in both cases.

In a previous thread, I quoted the statute for your state, Arkansas that allows one to injure dogs attacking livestock as well as kill them. The lawyer and police officer you consulted were wrong. I don't expect the latter to know the law that well but the former should know better.