Neighbors Dogs Advise

[Coralietg]

Ohhh I agree!! I couldn't stand to know an animal of any kind was suffering!!! I cried all day when I found my chicken dead!! I'll post how the EF goes!!! Thanks.

It is a very bitter pill to swallow when you have to spend a lot of money in order to protect your animals from others pets. I remember reading a post from someone when we were having all the issues with dogs, who said "good fences make good neighbours". Sometimes it has to be your own good fence when your neighbours suck! Lol.

 

[kjanda]

Unfortunate you had to spend all that but I hope it works out. And once again animal control does nothing. Best of luck

 

[amenfarm]

to test your new wire windows, pull hard on the wire using a pair of pliers. if the wire is damaged, it's the wrong gage--if it comes lose from the frame it needs to be re reinforced with fender washers and screws, or samwhiched between two pieces of wood, fender washers and large head screws. Premier fencing has a move-able Ef option that may work. link: http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?mode=detail&fence_id=30. My farrier uses the one for goats.

 

[birdlady79]

to test your new wire windows, pull hard on the wire using a pair of pliers. if the wire is damaged, it's the wrong gauge--if it comes lose from the frame it needs to be re inforced with fender washers and screws, or samwhiched between two pieces of wood, fender washers and large head screws. Premier fencing has a moveable Ef option that may work. link: http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?mode=detail&fence_id=30

Thank you... I used washers and big screws on the wire this time.... We also installed an EF around back of property.... It lit our dog up real good last night , so I know it works.... I'm just waiting to see what it does to the DP's. They came back yesterday but I was outside so they ran off bf they made it to fence....

 

[amenfarm]

We used to have EF in the front yard because a pack of dogs were trying to dig under our fence. Not sure if they wanted to liberate our golden girl ( she has sinced passed away)or just play--or worse. But , after having the fencing and getting zapped--my husband just put white string around my flower beds,to keep her from laying on the hostas, and she acted like it was Ef--sooo funny--gave my beds a large berth.

 

[Mallory8502]

Obviously, this guy doesn't care too much about what happens to his dogs...

With this type of person, only losing money might make them care. Call animal control every time you see the dogs running loose, even if they are not on your property, get a paper trail going. Animal control will pick them up, and where I live, there is a fine for dogs running loose, AND a fine the owner has to pay to release the animal from animal control. Sucks when you call and animal control shows up and can't find the dogs or they are already back in their yard, but if you can video them running around on your property it is usually enough proof. For some owners, picking the dog up from animal control is already so much of an inconvenience they just leave it there. I'm lucky where I live that animal control works with no-kill rescues in the area to attempt to re-home as many dogs as possible.

I completely understand that you would not shoot a dog. This should not be your problem to deal with in the first place. If you do feel comfortable talking to him again maybe politely remind him that it is YOUR property, and no amount of securing a coop against predators is enough to fend off a pack of 3 dogs forever. You cannot be home 24/7 on 'shoot the dogs in the a**' patrol' I am sure you have other stuff to do. You shouldn't have to spend money repairing your coop or replacing chickens because his dogs are doing property damage. Chickens are supposed to live in the country, I don't know what this guy is thinking acting like something will just kill them anyway so it is acceptable. You might also want to remind him that 'in the country' farmers would not think twice about killing a dog, even if it was their own, if it could not be trained to get along with the flock. If he doesn't respond well to that then tell him next time they set foot on your property they are dead. You don't have to do it, just make him believe you will. You should check, but in most places it is legal to defend livestock with lethal force. The only hangup is if you live in a town that has a ban on discharging a firearm within town limits.

Not to mention that otherwise 'friendly' dogs can sometimes act differently in packs, and a pack of untrained big dogs can be extremely dangerous to children as well as animals. Unlike wild animals, these animals are his RESPONSIBILITY and you are probably doing the whole community a favor by pushing the issue. I love dogs too, but it is certainly not your fault if they end up getting put down because this guy refuses to follow rules.

In the mean time, I would strongly suggest getting yourself a 'hot wire' or other electric fence/netting because it might be the only thing to give you some peace until this is resolved.

 

[birdlady79]

Obviously, this guy doesn't care too much about what happens to his dogs... 

With this type of person, only losing money might make them care. Call animal control every time you see the dogs running loose, even if they are not on your property, get a paper trail going. Animal control will pick them up, and where I live, there is a fine for dogs running loose, AND a fine the owner has to pay to release the animal from animal control. Sucks when you call and animal control shows up and can't find the dogs or they are already back in their yard, but if you can video them running around on your property it is usually enough proof. For some owners, picking the dog up from animal control is already so much of an inconvenience they just leave it there. I'm lucky where I live that animal control works with no-kill rescues in the area to attempt to re-home as many dogs as possible. 

I completely understand that you would not shoot a dog. This should not be your problem to deal with in the first place. If you do feel comfortable talking to him again maybe politely remind him that it is YOUR property, and no amount of securing a coop against predators is enough to fend off a pack of 3 dogs forever. You cannot be home 24/7 on 'shoot the dogs in the a**' patrol' I am sure you have other stuff to do. You shouldn't have to spend money repairing your coop  or replacing chickens because his dogs are doing property damage. Chickens are supposed to live in the country, I don't know what this guy is thinking acting like something will just kill them anyway so it is acceptable. You might also want to remind him that 'in the country' farmers would not think twice about killing a dog, even if it was their own, if it could not be trained to get along with the flock. If he doesn't respond well to that then tell him next time they set foot on your property they are dead. You don't have to do it, just make him believe you will. You should check, but in most places it is legal to defend livestock with lethal force. The only hangup is if you live in a town that has a ban on discharging a firearm within town limits.

Not to mention that otherwise 'friendly' dogs can sometimes act differently in packs, and a pack of untrained big dogs can be extremely dangerous to children as well as animals. Unlike wild animals, these animals are his RESPONSIBILITY and you are probably doing the whole community a favor by pushing the issue. I love dogs too, but it is certainly not your fault if they end up getting put down because this guy refuses to follow rules. 

In the mean time, I would strongly suggest getting yourself a 'hot wire' or other electric fence/netting because it might be the only thing to give you some peace until this is resolved. 

T

Thank you, we put up 6 strand of elecric fence this weekend.... I did see the dogs Sunday but I was outside and scared them off bf they got a chance to meet the fence, our neighbor ran them off on Friday too .. One of the owners kept driving by our house Sat very slooowwwly, in not sure what that was all about but even our neighbor said something about it...... AC said they prob couldn't get out that day to pick up dogs, and if owner wouldn't open his gate, they couldn't do anything.... He wouldn't open up for police so I know he's not going to for AC..videoing is a great idea, I've been taking pics.... It's a unfair situation, but I feel a little better with the fence.... We will see if it keeps them at bay,if not then I guess we will do what we gotta do...... I agree about a pack of dogs, Expecially untrained dogs.....

 

[lazy gardener]

Re: dogs and the electric fence. I'd recommend that you keep a watchful eye, but not try to scare them off unless they breach the fence. The ideal would be for them to get a good healthy dose of electricity. Perhaps, smear some peanut butter or any other tasty doggie tantalizing treat on the fence so they'll get a good zap. They won't get trained by the fence unless they have contact with it. If it were my yard, and they passed the fence, I'd have a .22 handy after going the ACO route. I once caught a neighbor's dog and tied it up, after it had killed half a dozen of my birds. I then called the neighbor, only to be told that it couldn't have been her dog killing my chickens b/c her dog had been home all morning. I then heard her outside calling her dog. I called her back, and told her that if she wanted her dog back, she needed to come to my house and get it. She didn't get her dog until she had witnessed the carnage the dog had caused, and agreed to replace the dead birds... not that that makes up for the terror and loss of life.

 

[bobbi-j]

Re: dogs and the electric fence. I'd recommend that you keep a watchful eye, but not try to scare them off unless they breach the fence. The ideal would be for them to get a good healthy dose of electricity. Perhaps, smear some peanut butter or any other tasty doggie tantalizing treat on the fence so they'll get a good zap. They won't get trained by the fence unless they have contact with it. If it were my yard, and they passed the fence, I'd have a .22 handy after going the ACO route. I once caught a neighbor's dog and tied it up, after it had killed half a dozen of my birds. I then called the neighbor, only to be told that it couldn't have been her dog killing my chickens b/c her dog had been home all morning. I then heard her outside calling her dog. I called her back, and told her that if she wanted her dog back, she needed to come to my house and get it. She didn't get her dog until she had witnessed the carnage the dog had caused, and agreed to replace the dead birds... not that that makes up for the terror and loss of life.

My dog ran under the electric fence we had up for the horses - once. He had his tail sticking up in the air and the end of it got zapped. He exercised extreme caution after that.

 

[birdlady79]

Re: dogs and the electric fence.  I'd recommend that you keep a watchful eye, but not try to scare them off unless they breach the fence.  The ideal would be for them to get a good healthy dose of electricity.  Perhaps, smear some peanut butter or any other tasty doggie tantalizing treat on the fence so they'll get a good zap.  They won't get trained by the fence unless they have contact with it.  If it were my yard, and they passed the fence, I'd have a .22 handy after going the ACO route.  I once caught a neighbor's dog and tied it up, after it had killed half a dozen of my birds.  I then called the neighbor, only to be told that it couldn't have been her dog killing my chickens b/c her dog had been home all morning.  I then heard her outside calling her dog.  I called her back, and told her that if she wanted her dog back, she needed to come to my house and get it.  She didn't get her dog until she had witnessed the carnage the dog had caused, and agreed to replace the dead birds... not that that makes up for the terror and loss of life. 

Why do they always say " my dog was in house"? Lol.... Sorry about your birds.... I will be watchful of the EF and dogs.. I'm curious to see if they will be affected by it....

Have you ever heard of dogs having sezuires after being shocked? Our Boston Terrier got shocked bad Sunday... Monday night he started having sezuires.... He's 5 and his bloodwork came back fine.... We read where they can but usually right after it happens...