Neighbors dog

[LowerBamaMama]

Also, the neighbor patched up her vinyl with wire fencing but didn't do it all the way around. She kept the dogs in their smaller 12x12 run for two days while she was gone but now they're back in her yard. So idk if I feel comfortable letting my babies out or not.

 

[LowerBamaMama]

LSO also, my dogs found my dead rooster and rolled in it. My idiot husband let them out last night instead of walking them and they came back smelling like rotting death. So that's nice.

 

[Kelsykin]

Ugh. Completely grosss.

I got a treat this morning. One of the silkies drowned in the duck pool. I took the body out and emptied the pool. Put the dead bird on the one table outside the poultry pen. Dogs grabbed it and came up to me whining. I reached down to see what was wrong and she dropped the dead bird back in my hand and kept nosing my hand and the bird. I think she thought I could "fix" the bird. lol

 

[Blooie]

I was asked to take a look at this thread and see if I could help. Not sure that I have much to offer that hasn't been said, and I'm sure that some of what I have to say might not be received very well. But that's never stopped me before.

First of all, your dogs running loose sometimes and getting under her trailer, and her dogs coming onto your yard and killing your chickens are NOT two separate issues - not in this case and not in the eyes of the law. They are firmly connected by the fact that she has made it very clear that she does not want them on her property, just as she knows you don't want hers around your place. So it becomes a matter of, what is known in legal terms, as both parties having "dirty hands." I know your dogs are sweet and all of the other neighbors like to give them treats and such, but they are still NOT where they are supposed to be. And I know that you said your dogs are not causing any kind of damage, but if you can't see them you can't be 100% certain of that. For instance, did you SEE your dogs roll in the rooster carcass? There's an old saying, "The only person who doesn't hear a barking dog at 2:00am is the dog's owner." Okay, so that's the part where the yelling at me can commence. I'm glad that you will accept responsibility for any damage your dogs might do on another's property. But I'm sure that you'd want them to prove your animals did the damage, unless you personally caught them in the act and knocked on the person's front door.

Now, for what to do. You have two first steps here. One is to put away the telephone, the second is to document, document, document. Phone calls to officials rarely mean much and you can play phone tag until you have no chickens left. It's a waste of time by this point, and the more they see your name on the caller ID the more they are going to roll their eyes and say, "Oh, it's just the chicken lady again." Town officials do not like to get in the middle of anything that looks to them like a neighborhood spat. So fire up the word processor on your computer and compose a letter. You'll need to call up all of your word skills and make your letter short, firm, but leave the sarcasm, any exaggeration, and anger out of it. In the first paragraph simply state who you are, where your property is located, and what the issue is. In the second paragraph give the dates and times you have had problems, and you can do that in bullet form or outline form, and the ways you've attempted to remedy the situation. You can tell them that you've talked to the neighbors, and log in as best you can remember (making sure to use the word "approximate" if you can't remember the exact date and time you called) when and who you called. Give the responses you got and in your final sentence in that paragraph let them know that those responses are neither adequate NOR within the parameters of the law. In your last paragraph inform them that you have been in contact with the breeders of your chickens and have replacement costs available in an enclosure, but here's where you are going to have to be the bigger person. You are going to have to concede that although the cost might seem high, you are more than willing to meet the neighbor halfway. I know, it's a financial hit, but it looks far better for you if it doesn't look like you are just out to see what you can get. This letter should then be signed, and indicate on the bottom that you have enclosures and will be cc'ing another office. Those enclosures will be a copy of the "animals at large" and "killing livestock or domestic fowl" sections, a letter from the breeder of your chickens stating reasonable replacement costs, (a print out of an email will do here) and any photographs you have. You can tell them then that you'd like to set up a meeting with them to resolve this situation as quickly as possible because your goal is to have a equitable solution that all parties can accept to ease any further tensions.

This letter will be addressed to the mayor and town council of your community, if applicable, or to your local county officials as well as to the Animal control officer, in care of the town if you have to address it that way. In most communities, not all, the ACO is hired by the town council or appointed by the mayor. If it is sent in the mail, it MUST be acted upon by officials, whereas a phone call is just "he said, she said, they said, we said" communication. Send copies to the state livestock commission as well, and indicate on your letter that you are doing so. Every state has one, I'm just not sure what it's called in Alabama. Then from now until after you hear back from them, keep your dogs at home, no matter what you have to do accomplish that. Keep a camera handy to document her dogs coming back to your place. And for heaven's sake, keep your temper whenever you are dealing with these folks and with the local officials. Keep a copy of your letter for yourself. If you can afford it, send theirs registered or certified.

I am posting this as a former member of our community's Planning and Zoning Commission and as a Town Council member who was heavily involved in drafting our town's first animal ordinance. I know that we would always, always act upon any written complaint before sitting in a council meeting and listening to who called who first. I know it seems like a lot to do, but break it down into steps. Fencing is expensive, but if you look on Craig's list or in the local Penny Saver you can usually find dog kennels at a reasonable price. That will weigh in your favor as well because it tells them that you took her complaints about your dogs seriously and have taken steps to placate your neighbor. Good luck with this....just remember, YOU are the person who has suffered the loss and YOU have a right to expect that your local officials DO THEIR JOBS. They can do that much better with a calm, rational person.

 

[enola]

Blooie, I don't give ovations often. You definitely get one from me for this post. It is very well worded, to the point and very easy to under stand the steps to reconcile this problem.

 

[Kelsykin]

I recommend always sending it register or certified mail when dealing with any government entity. I have seen government officials "lose" letters and forms that were mailed. With the registered or certified mail you have proof it was delivered, to whom and when.

 

[Blooie]

Thanks, Enola. I know that LowerBamaMama has a lot of people in her corner, so with some perseverance and a dose of common sense she may come out of it okay. I sure hope so.

 

[beginnergirl]

A letter from several breeders indicating the value of the birds destroyed would help.

 

[enola]

In SC the judge awarded me value of the birds. But, refused to consider values of future production or costs of raising them. He told me to take the money I was awarded and buy chickens that were old enough to lay.

The third trip to court, the judge ordered the dog be destroyed.

 

[jimbob86]

She kept the dogs in their smaller 12x12 run for two days while she was gone but now they're back in her yard. So idk if I feel comfortable letting my babies out or not.

They'd be pretty secure if you let them out under armed guard ...... and considering that it appears that most folks only get the value of the chickens in question (or even less!) and nothing for your time and costs getting them to where you had them, that's what I'd do in your case.

My chickens only "free range" when I am standing right close by, with the means on my person to mount an effective defense against anything short of a bear ......