Neighbor's Dogs Killed 18 Chickens

[chickengeorgeto]

Maybe we need a few parties to report judgments concerning situations like this. That would give some insight into what to expect. I do not know of anyone personally that has been in court over such. I do know a lot people that have chickens lost to dogs.

Maybe the experts need to send in examples as well?

As a general rule the high Sheriff, Court Clerk, and District Judge are all 3 elected Politicians and as such they are loath to anger voters.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Run it through the courts and see. The situation leading to losses had two parties at fault.

IMO this is the kind of twisted reasoning that has our country in such a mess. Ascribing fault to a victim. Justice hamstrung by political correctness.

 

[centrarchid]

As a general rule the high Sheriff, Court Clerk, and District Judge are all 3 elected Politicians and as such they are loath to anger voters.

This response is respectable. What your neighbors, the voters, think is generally extremely important in shaping how laws are interpreted and ultimately enforced. We from the outside need not enforce our values on others. Cherry picking which voters we listen to is where we get into trouble.

 

[featherhead007]

I kind of figured they were trying to drag it out till they can bail. I am filing in small claims court on Monday or Tuesday so the case will be started while they are still here. Then if they leave the state I am hoping there will be something that can be done.....maybe make it such a hassle for them that they make good on the damages their dogs did. Had to put down 2 more today that just were not recovering, internal damage I figure.

I also intend to send a cert letter to their address as a notice of damages and intent to file in small claims court so that there is lots of paper to show I tried to get them before they left.

They already have a court summons for like the 14th of Sept from the County to appear in in court....I guess because the sheriff had to come out and get the dogs and there was destruction of property or something like that. The lady was crying about how they could not afford to come back.....I plan to be there that day and if they do not show, hope that a bench warrant is issued.

Thanks for the advice on potential compensation. At this point I plan to ask for the max.....and then settle for what's fairs but right now the max of nothing is nothing.

I hate this.....insult to injury. Our chickens are not pets per say but we do grown fond of the them as they each have a certain uniqueness to them and we enjoy them.

YES THE DO HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONALITIES! I love my wonderful flock of chickens

 

[TalkALittle]

Double check with your town or municipality. Some have a policy where the town will reimburse the owner of the livestock from town funds and then the town does all the legwork of collecting from the dog owner.

 

[centrarchid]

Double check with your town or municipality. Some have a policy where the town will reimburse the owner of the livestock from town funds and then the town does all the legwork of collecting from the dog owner.

Good idea but likely restricted to a New England approach.

 

[FrankHomestead]

This is CRAZY!
Victims at fault?! What kind of knuckle head thinking is that!
CRAZY
The only people at fault are the neighbors for not containing their mutts.
Don't let ppl make you feel otherwise. Your property, and I'm assuming it's perfectly legal to free range in your county.
In this country we feel safe assuming our neighbors will contain any beasts they have, and we have that right.

 

[FrankHomestead]

I kinda wanna go kick this guy's a$$ for you, where does he live

 

[RAsChickens]

Omg, Im sorry for your losses!

 

[TalkALittle]

So I Googled some (and now I'm an expert) and got the impression that, in general, property owners don't have a "duty to fence", only that allowing ones animals (livestock included) to run at large is prohibited. Fence laws (and a majority of the rulings I saw) are about keeping animals on the property of the owner of said animal. It doesn't look like there were any references to keeping other people's animals out.

This makes complete sense to me and I would be amazed if any judged ruled otherwise. I have a reasonable expectation that others will abide by the law and keep their animals contained. I shouldn't have a legal responsibility or bear the burden (financial or otherwise) of ensuring sure that they do so.