Neighbors dog came into our yard and killed one of our awesome Barred Rock Hens

[CluckyCharms]

Thinking on the other side of the situation, which I doubt pertains to the OP's situation since the neighbor doesn't seem to care, how would you feel if you had a pet, that was contained appropriately and somehow accidently got out. How upsetting to find out that the person that found your dog kills him instead of returning it or calling you to pick it up when it was an honest accident.

If my dogs got out, even by "accident" and went after a neighbor's chicken while their child was in the yard?? If that kid went running after their chickens to save them while my dog was attacking the chicken....YES I would want them to shoot my dog. The value of a human life is far greater than a dog's. People love to think their dogs are incapable of hurting a child, but when push comes to shove, dogs are not wired the same as humans...period.

Granted, our dogs are all 10 lbs or under, but are still perfectly capable of killing a chicken and hurting a child. All three are trained in obedience and two of them participate in Agility and Rally. They are extremely well-behaved dogs and have never so much as snapped at anyone. I still wouldn't ever trust them around chickens, especially with a child in the yard.

(I fully respect your point of view and your opinion, I just disagree with it. It's a good thing we're all different. Otherwise, the world would be a very boring place!)

To the OP:

I would definitely PUSH the issue of monetary reimbursement as well as contacting the animal control in your area and find out what (if any) leash laws there may be. If you terminate the dog if it comes on your property again without taking any other action; your careless neighbors will most likely just get another dog and the cycle will repeat.

 

[Chicks on DL]

I am sorry for your daughter's loss. I am glad that she did not get physically injured. Everything there is to say has already been said.

 

[chickortreat]

I agree. And if the cycle repeated, so would the result.

I would take that stance farther by saying that if my dog(s) ever got out in the road and hindered traffic, I would shoot them myself. I return the sentiment every time some lazy canine won't move out of my way when I'm driving down the road. There used to be some dogs down the road that would literally lay in the road until drivers came to a complete stop before getting up and moving. I had an old 1970 Chevrolet back then (when they made them out of steel), and I decided I was through stopping for two stupid old dogs. I slowed (slightly) and kept on rolling. They learned to move at a swifter pace than one would think them capable of. I have no use for dogs that cause (or nearly cause) accidents.

 

[Hennyhandler]

CluckyCharms, I have to agree that we definitely do not agree on this subject. Which is ok. We all have our opinions.

I can't help but mention that shooting your dogs yourself for getting in the road makes no sense to me. It is the dogs fault that they are not trained appropriately by their owner? And if the dog cannot learn then shouldn't measures be taken to avoid the situation since it is the owner's responsibility?
I do not like owners that don't keep their dogs out of the road not because it is an inconvenience to me but because the dog could be killed and it is unnecessary if an owner would handle the responsibilty that they willing took on. That is unfair to the animal. If they do not care to take care of the dog in general then when something happens to the pet, it won't faze them then either. So then who paid the price?

I respect others having differing opinions even if I do not understand the viewpoint. I suppose in writing this I will not change any opinions or decisions and while I can't help but try, I really should let it go.

ETA: I hope this does not sound rude as I did not intend it to be that way.

 

[AnotherKim]

Killing dog may cause more problems. Having dog continue will cause more problems. Stopping dog is goal. Avoid having emotions influencing your actions. Try to keep in your mind that actions are more for prevention of future loss than revenge, especially when number of losses so small to this point. Neighbor dogs are ticklish issues at times straining good neighbor relationships. Regardless of outcome with this dog issue, consider upgrading property boundary / poultry confinement to control losses. If neighbors dog can get in, then so can another or a feral dog or wild predator like like coyote or fox.

But, this is exactly why we have ownership laws in the US. As a dog owner, it is my responsablity to control my animals. It is MY responsablity to fence my dogs in and make sure they don't get out. I understand that dogs escape sometimes. If the neighbor had shown some compassion and made an effort to apologise AND compensate, then I'd say, be neighborly. In this case, the neighbor not only blew their responsablity, they totally blew off the situation.

PP, you have given the neighbor warning. It time to call Animal Control. The next time the dog comes on your property, if it's within the law, blow the b*&#% away! If it's not lawful, let Animal Control blow it away instead.

A few years ago, three dogs broke into my goat pen and attacked my pygmys. Thank God, I heard the goats screaming and ran out. The rocks I threw, scared the dogs away, and I certainly wouldn't have cared if one had downed a dog. Fortunately the goats were ok, but they were scared for a very long time afterward. Animal Control took care of the problem dogs. I hope their owner had to pay dearly to get them back.

 

[centrarchid]

But, this is exactly why we have ownership laws in the US. As a dog owner, it is my responsablity to control my animals. It is MY responsablity to fence my dogs in and make sure they don't get out. I understand that dogs escape sometimes. If the neighbor had shown some compassion and made an effort to apologise AND compensate, then I'd say, be neighborly. In this case, the neighbor not only blew their responsablity, they totally blew off the situation.

PP, you have given the neighbor warning. It time to call Animal Control. The next time the dog comes on your property, if it's within the law, blow the b*&#% away! If it's not lawful, let Animal Control blow it away instead.

A few years ago, three dogs broke into my goat pen and attacked my pygmys. Thank God, I heard the goats screaming and ran out. The rocks I threw, scared the dogs away, and I certainly wouldn't have cared if one had downed a dog. Fortunately the goats were ok, but they were scared for a very long time afterward. Animal Control took care of the problem dogs. I hope their owner had to pay dearly to get them back.

I was trying to be fair and balanced in approach. Ultimately dog owner has all responsibilty in this instance since owner is known. If dog owner not known, then poultry shoulders responsibilty unless / until government steps in.

Owner of dog in this case should compensate.

I have gone through all this stuff many times before as poultry owner loosing birds to dogs and wildlife. I have tried using law enforcement which requires often multiple losses on multiple occasions with documentation to get action, asking nicely for payment to replace losses, saying nothing while shooting multiple dogs in relatively short period of time when SSS does not work very well because ground is too dry / hard to dig and dogs were very large (humor intended there), and getting bulligerent which I think I can take any three of you on and win (serious). Over the years pretty much every strategy but poison I have used and come to learn each case if different. What I have learned is that frontal aggression is counter productive and causes you a great deal of stress. I keep chickens in part to help release stress.


Ultimately OP needs to upgrade defenses. This only one instance of loss. Keeping birds for a few years more will educate OP into knowing you can not always blame neighbors for losses since wildlife will ultimately be a more consistent taker of birds and methods for limiting such losses are very similar to those used keeping dogs out.

 

[GulfStar]

All good advice, just don't forget to file a police report in case this happens again. As for the price of compensation, how much would it cost to replace the hen, and the time and expense of getting the bird also. Maybe your Ag extension office can help you with the value of the bird. When I was stationed in Germany and we killed a farmers livestock or damaged trees, the Army would have to pay for what that animal or tree would have earned through out it's full life. That's why chickens and saplings would cost us about 200 dollars if we ran over one.

 

[Cetawin]

I agree with Chesterchook.  It is not the dogs fault.  Few dogs can contain themselves when seeing chickens running around.  Yes,  the neighbor should pay $20 or so for the chicken, but you also may need to consider fencing your birds or you will likely have other losses from this dog or others.  I am not trying to sound harsh,  but the reality is we need to protect our chickens from irresponcible animals owners and wild animals.  I have had to resort to 9' fences and wire tops on my bantam pens to keep my birds safe from domestic and wild animals.  

Nevermind




OP male sure you seek monetary damages for the bird and any property damage
..should the neighbor be a complete jerk....seek emotional pain and suffering damages for your daughter. I am so sorry she had to see that and lose her pet

 

[chickortreat]

I have gone through all this stuff many times before as poultry owner loosing birds to dogs and wildlife. I have tried using law enforcement which requires often multiple losses on multiple occasions with documentation to get action, asking nicely for payment to replace losses, saying nothing while shooting multiple dogs in relatively short period of time when SSS does not work very well because ground is too dry / hard to dig and dogs were very large (humor intended there), and getting bulligerent which I think I can take any three of you on and win (serious). Over the years pretty much every strategy but poison I have used and come to learn each case if different. What I have learned is that frontal aggression is counter productive and causes you a great deal of stress. I keep chickens in part to help release stress.

I don't worry about SSS. I shoot, then drag it off out of the way and feed the buzzards. I'm not wasting my time burying a dog that was harassing my chickens.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm so sorry for your loss and for what your little girl had to witness.

If you go to the Murray McMurray website here: http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/started_pullets.html they sell started pullets for $17.95. You can check shipping costs for your zip code and add that in. Although, it feels as though you would want to charge more. i think this would be the beginning point of what you should ask. i don't think $30 is unreasonable, and like someone else said, even $100 is not unreasonable, considering it was a child's pet.

You've gotten a lot of good advice from others on this thread on how to approach the whole dog situation. We've never experienced dog problems here, but did have bothersome neighbor cats who did cause injury to one of our birds. The neighbors were totally unsympathetic until i took one of their cats to Animal Control and they had to go down and pay to get them out. Somehow since then, they were able to keep their cat inside. Good luck. i hope everything works out with your situation.