Neighbors Dogs Advise

[Gayleyy]

With the proof you have, the dogs can be considered a nuisance, probably even a dangerous animal, and animal control should pick them up. Here are some things to think about. (My opinion may not be shared by everyone, but I will give it anyway. I can only assume that the laws there are similar to the ones here.) If the dogs are picked up, the owner still has options for getting the dogs back. If he gets them back, he may follow the rules for a few weeks, but I would bet he will just end up letting them free roam again. I doubt he would retaliate against you, from what you first posted, but maybe you should ask the other neighbors to file complaints as well. That way there is more reason for animal control to fix the issue, and less reason for him to point blame at you. Some people seem strange, but harmless and end up being flat out twisted. I guess what I am trying to say is that it more than likely will not be a permanent solution. Also, if the dogs are picked up, they will be given a medical exam, it is protocol. If pellets are found in the animals flesh, the ball game changes. You may very well have the right to shoot an animal in defense of yourself, and your property but that means fatal shot. Pellets are painful, they can cause muscle damage, nick bones and organs and the wounds can become infected. That makes it animal cruelty. Trust me I have seen it first hand and it is heartbreaking. (It was a hunting accident, someone brought their dog in who had been hit with birdshot.) I hate the idea of killing an animal, but I would much prefer that over causing pain and suffering. I would say take the dogs to the next county shelter and drop them off, but if the dogs are microchipped they will just find their way back.

 

[kjanda]

The point of wounding it isn't animal cruelty and nobody can charge you with that. The point is to teach the dog if it comes over it's gonna get hurt and it ain't worth coming over to mess with these chickens. Same way an electric fence or shock collar or anything else negatively reinforces (or whatever psychology term fits here). If anything it's more cruel to kill the dog without teaching it right from wrong. I have no problem shooting to kill it (good riddance!) but like I said the owner will probably get mad and I, for one, don't want him to retaliate against my animals, home, or family. It worked with my neighbors' cockfighters coming to my land. If something small isn't strong enough to deter the dogs, like I said, move up the caliber ladder. Heck, you can take a .270, .308, whatever and be off target and blow it's leg off. Sure you shot to kill but I'd say that's a LOT more "cruel".

 

[Gayleyy]

I am sorry, here it is considered animal cruelty. Blowing it's leg off and leaving it would also be considered animal cruelty. That may be different where you live.

 

[kjanda]

I don't think you understood what I said. A person might not intentionally blow a leg off, but yall are saying 'shoot to kill', 'shoot to kill'... I'm saying that's all well and good, but you may have every intention of putting it down quickly and as painless as possible even with a large caliber rifle. HOWEVER if you miss and blow a leg off (for example) that's a heck off a lot crueler than plinking it with a pellet gun or the like. And no that's not animal cruelty, for the last time.

 

[Coralietg]

I am sorry, here it is considered animal cruelty. Blowing it's leg off and leaving it would also be considered animal cruelty. That may be different where you live.

There is a fine legal line apparently. Shooting with intent to wound, can be considered animal cruelty. Shooting with intent to kill, is fine. If you shoot with intent to kill, and the predator moves and you blow a leg off, you should be following the animal to finish the job. Shooting at a dog with something that wouldn't kill it, is a problem. So much depends on your local laws too though, I've just had to look into this with a feral cat problem.

"SSS" is a sad situation, but so is walking outside and finding your chickens dead, especially when your neighbour couldn't care less.

 

[kjanda]

If you shoot an animal to wound for no reason or a very bad reason (for fun or whatever) then yes it's animal cruelty. "Sometimes the only difference between a pet and a pest is which side of the fence it's on". When the dog "trespasses" and kills your bird, destruction of property, etc. it is a predator and you have the legal right to shoot it- that is not animal cruelty. Hate to keep bringing up my situation with the neighbors' roosters but by wounding one and roughing up the other I no longer have a problem and the neighbor still has two healthy, living birds with no hard feelings between us. Perhaps this doesn't work out and you gotta SSS, but for this situation I would do that as a last resort after my suggestions and if animal control, cops, etc. don't work out. Feral cats are different than this situation, also. Might as well be a coyote. We're talking about someone's pets they have an obligation to control, not feral cats.

 

[birdlady79]

If I shoot, I will kill it, which I DO NOT want to do.... Last option... I have a dog, and I cannot imagine someone shooting him with birdshot or to kill.... But if I catch one with a chicken I'll do what I have to do to protect my chickens.... AC basically said they won't do anything!!! That I need to take it to Civil Court, which is ridiculous !! If I trap dogs, they said they might not show up that day... They apperantly are short staffed... So basically they are useless, if we lived in the city, they would pick them up that day.......

We've decided to spend the $$ and run EF around the whole back 40... IF that doesn't keep them out then SSS will come into play....

I just hate that we have to spend out $$ to keep their dogs out but it will protect the chickens from coyotes and other predators, so that will be worth it.... Peace of Mind... I just hope when I get home today, no damage is done.... If it is my DH is likely to beat the owners @&$.... Lol. He was sooo livid yesterday!!

 

[bobbi-j]

If I shoot, I will kill it, which I DO NOT want to do.... Last option... I have a dog, and I cannot imagine someone shooting him with birdshot or to kill.... But if I catch one with a chicken I'll do what I have to do to protect my chickens.... AC basically said they won't do anything!!! That I need to take it to Civil Court, which is ridiculous !! If I trap dogs, they said they might not show up that day... They apperantly are short staffed... So basically they are useless, if we lived in the city, they would pick them up that day.......

We've decided to spend the $$ and run EF around the whole back 40... IF that doesn't keep them out then SSS will come into play....

I just hate that we have to spend out $$ to keep their dogs out but it will protect the chickens from coyotes and other predators, so that will be worth it.... Peace of Mind... I just hope when I get home today, no damage is done.... If it is my DH is likely to beat the owners @&$.... Lol. He was sooo livid yesterday!!

Glad to know you have come up with a solution. Both by trying prevention and then a permanent fix if that doesn't work. Personally, I'd rather someone shoot my dog dead if it's killing their livestock than leave it to suffer.

 

[Gayleyy]

Sounds like a great plan! I hope it all works out.

 

[birdlady79]

Glad to know you have come up with a solution. Both by trying prevention and then a permanent fix if that doesn't work. Personally, I'd rather someone shoot my dog dead if it's killing their livestock than leave it to suffer.

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.