Neighbors Dogs Advise

[birdlady79]

Today's Damage... Police were called.. The owners wouldn't open up... Told me to call AC tomorrow. Luckily my DH got home just in time... Popped DP in butt w BB gun... Both dogs ran off... Then their JRusell pops up and is in my backyard when police get here. .. Ughhh. Changed all wire windows over to hardwire tonight.

 

[birdlady79]

I don't know how your town deals with dogs, and how your animal control officer is, but in my town, if a dog is unlicensed, there is a stiff fine.  I'm betting that this bozo does not have his dogs licensed.  If a nuisance dog is reported, the owner gets one warning, depending on the situation, then, the dog is impounded, and there are some stiff penalties.  About 25 years ago, the penalty was $75.  I bet it's more now.  I wouldn't care if the neighbor got mad.  I'd call the ACO and file a complaint right away, and not even wait for the dogs to come back.  This idiot may wise up if he is hit in the wallet.  If I had to resort to shooting, I'd shoot to kill.  I love dogs, but a dog at large who is killing livestock is a PREDATOR.

Thank you for info... I will be calling ACO in morning... They were closed when the police came tonight.... I don't care at this point if we piss him off or not, I just don't want him to relaliate..... Other neighbors are starting to complain as well... One stopped by tonight and told us he tried to run them off this afternoon... That 3 of their dogs are terrorizing their neighbors horses too....

 

[Coralietg]

Our biggest losses have been to neighbourhood dogs. Over 20 at once last year.

People think that living in the country means they can let their dogs roam freely, that is not true. They have to be in control of their dogs, their dogs need to be contained. They are causing damage to your property. The same goes for your chickens, being in the country doesn't mean they don't have to be contained. Not only will they be more at risk from predators, you are at risk if they cause damage to someone elses property. We had to spend over $1000 fencing our property, to protect them from dogs.

Call Animal Control, make sure to document damages and take pictures of the dogs on your property. It sucks that the owner doesn't care about your shooting at his dogs, that also shows he really doesn't care if they go onto your property and kill your chickens. It is only a matter of time, and dogs can be devastating to a flock.

 

[birdlady79]

Our biggest losses have been to neighbourhood dogs. Over 20 at once last year.

People think that living in the country means they can let their dogs roam freely, that is not true. They have to be in control of their dogs, their dogs need to be contained. They are causing damage to your property. The same goes for your chickens, being in the country doesn't mean they don't have to be contained. Not only will they be more at risk from predators, you are at risk if they cause damage to someone elses property. We had to spend over $1000 fencing our property, to protect them from dogs. 

Call Animal Control, make sure to document damages and take pictures of the dogs on your property. It sucks that the owner doesn't care about your shooting at his dogs, that also shows he really doesn't care if they go onto your property and kill your chickens. It is only a matter of time, and dogs can be devastating to a flock.

WOW! That's a big loss.... Yes I agree with you 100% on dogs being out and chickens roaming... I let mine roam but will be keeping them up unless I'm there w my gun and watching them...but If they got in my neighbors yard, they would go up... I don't want mine eating my plants or theirs. lol .. It's frustrating... I just want to enjoy my chickens and let them be happy chickens.... I expect this from coyotes or something, just can't believe it's dogs!! I just hope I secured the coop enough this time.

 

[bobbi-j]

You're lucky he gave you the go-ahead to shoot em! Usually these situations are try to kill em and hope the owner doesn't find out, animal control does nothing, complaining does nothing, don't wanna pay arm and a leg to fence in your animals, etc. Maybe just shoot em with a pellet gun instead and move up the caliber ladder if that doesn't work

Again - you're setting yourself up for animal cruelty charges for doing something like that. Maybe not if the pellet didn't penetrate the skin, but if it got under the skin and the dog got an infection...

Thank you for info... I will be calling ACO in morning... They were closed when the police came tonight.... I don't care at this point if we piss him off or not, I just don't want him to relaliate..... Other neighbors are starting to complain as well... One stopped by tonight and told us he tried to run them off this afternoon... That 3 of their dogs are terrorizing their neighbors horses too....

I'll say it again - SSS. With the dogs bothering more and more neighbors, who's to know why Rover and Fido disappeared? If the neighbor comes looking after a time, you can honestly say, "Huh - haven't seen them in a while."

 

[kjanda]

Again - you're setting yourself up for animal cruelty charges for doing something like that. Maybe not if the pellet didn't penetrate the skin, but if it got under the skin and the dog got an infection...

I'll say it again - SSS. With the dogs bothering more and more neighbors, who's to know why Rover and Fido disappeared? If the neighbor comes looking after a time, you can honestly say, "Huh - haven't seen them in a while."

It's not animal cruelty if they're on your property, at least not where I'm from. I even checked with the cops and first thing they told me was you can shoot em; it's their responsibility to keep them off. It's probably not the best way to go about every situation but you've got no liability. If the neighbor hadn't given permission to shoot the dogs, I'd agree with you to shoot to kill and hide the bodies.

 

[bobbi-j]

It's not animal cruelty if they're on your property, at least not where I'm from. I even checked with the cops and first thing they told me was you can shoot em; it's their responsibility to keep them off. It's probably not the best way to go about every situation but you've got no liability. If the neighbor hadn't given permission to shoot the dogs, I'd agree with you to shoot to kill and hide the bodies.

I will repeat my concern with just shooting to wound them. It can be considered cruelty no matter where they are if you shoot them and cause injury. There is NOTHING to stop that neighbor from filing cruelty charges against whoever shoots them in the butt with birdshot. Yes, the OP can say, "but he told us to" and the dogs' owner can deny it. It is the owner's responsibility to keep his dogs contained, but he has already indicated that he's not going to do that.

OP, would you consider electric fencing around your coop and run? It's not that expensive to run a few strands around. I'd start about 8" off the ground, and put up another 3-4 strands about 8" apart. Usually a dog will learn the first time. If you have kids, they'll learn, too. Mine did, and so did their friends. (What is it about boys daring one another to pee on an electric fence, anyway?) If you have very little ones that you worry about, unplug the fence when they're out playing, plug it back in when they come in.

 

[kjanda]

It doesn't sound like this neighbor would be the kind to file animal cruelty charges. But regardless you don't have to use him giving permission as the reason. He's not containing his animals, they're harming your property, end of story. If you have any proof whatsoever, it DOES NOT MATTER if it's slingshot, pellet gun, .22, or .308- you are protecting your property.

 

[bobbi-j]

It doesn't sound like this neighbor would be the kind to file animal cruelty charges. But regardless you don't have to use him giving permission as the reason. He's not containing his animals, they're harming your property, end of story. If you have any proof whatsoever, it DOES NOT MATTER if it's slingshot, pellet gun, .22, or .308- you are protecting your property.

On this we agree. I'm not saying the dogs shouldn't be shot. We just have different ideas of how far to go to protect one's property. I would be making sure they don't have a chance to come back ever. I have stated my opinion enough times now. I'm done.

 

[birdlady79]

I will repeat my concern with just shooting to wound them. It can be considered cruelty no matter where they are if you shoot them and cause injury. There is NOTHING to stop that neighbor from filing cruelty charges against whoever shoots them in the butt with birdshot. Yes, the OP can say, "but he told us to" and the dogs' owner can deny it. It is the owner's responsibility to keep his dogs contained, but he has already indicated that he's not going to do that. 

OP, would you consider electric fencing around your coop and run? It's not that expensive to run a few strands around. I'd start about 8" off the ground, and put up another 3-4 strands about 8" apart. Usually a dog will learn the first time. If you have kids, they'll learn, too. Mine did, and so did their friends. (What is it about boys daring one another to pee on an electric fence, anyway?) If you have very little ones that you worry about, unplug the fence when they're out playing, plug it back in when they come in. 

Electric Fencing is a option we will be looking into... My coop is a tractor, I'm assuming the fencing can be moved? The neighbor who stopped to help yesterday, had to put EF around part of his property bc he has 2 big GS and these dogs were terrorizing his dogs.... He said he's wanting to get chickens too but is scared for this reason..... I know what needs to be done to these dogs but I guess I just don't have the heart to do it.. My DH however, stands with the SSS... I guess I was hoping the problem would go away, but as you can see from yesterday's picture, it's not!! Thank you all for advise.