Neighbors Dogs

[nuggets4life]

I know there are many posts about dogs. However, I need help. I am completely aware that there are predators around where I live. I live in the mountains where many things roam. We have a baby black bear living in the woods by our driveway right now. We also have a massive amount of foxes. We have done our due diligence to protect our flock. However, the other day I was at home and heard loud squawking coming from my 4 hens. I had a hunch it was the dang fox (even though they tend to go for eggs since our chickens are bigger then them). I run outside and see a dog I had never seen before with one of my chickens in his mouth! BTW, my chickens free range my acre and half and no we dont have a fence. I chased that dog down with all intention of shooting him, but he ran away into the woods. Later that day 3 of my hens came back, and my husband found the one the dog had grabbed across the street still alive! I am wondering if I should track down the people who own this mutt and tell them I have all intention of shooting him if he comes back. Our dogs roam the yard, our friends small children play in the yard and I dont know how I feel about this dog. We live off a very busy road, and the dog was almost hit by a car. I dont feel it is my responsibility to protect my yard from someone elses irresponsible dog ownership. I would feel horrible to kill a family pet but I dont know how else to deal with it....

 

[chfite]

A word to the wise, or your neighbor, regarding the dog will put the notice out. I feel that I have an absolute right to protect my animals.

Chris

 

[Stetson]

That is troublesome. If you can catch the dog somehow, and it isn't vicious towards you and has a collar, you could do what my mom used to do with cats that would come into our yard to stalk our bird feeders. She would trap the cat using a can of tuna in a small animal trap, then write a note stating that the cat would be taken to the pound if it returned to our yard. She would place the note in a ziplock baggy so it wouldn't get wet, roll it up, and affix it to the cat's collar along with a bell, which would alert birds to it's presence. A dog is a little more difficult and a bit scarier, as you're more likely to get bitten, if the dog isn't friendly. The other option would be a BB gun, which would really scare the dog but not kill it.

 

[nuggets4life]

If I can catch him I thought about putting a note on the collar or just taking him straight to the pound.

 

[Ashleymama07]

Could you find out who the dog belongs to? The dog is just being a dog....

 

[centrarchid]

I know there are many posts about dogs. However, I need help. I am completely aware that there are predators around where I live. I live in the mountains where many things roam. We have a baby black bear living in the woods by our driveway right now. We also have a massive amount of foxes. We have done our due diligence to protect our flock. However, the other day I was at home and heard loud squawking coming from my 4 hens. I had a hunch it was the dang fox (even though they tend to go for eggs since our chickens are bigger then them). I run outside and see a dog I had never seen before with one of my chickens in his mouth! BTW, my chickens free range my acre and half and no we dont have a fence. I chased that dog down with all intention of shooting him, but he ran away into the woods. Later that day 3 of my hens came back, and my husband found the one the dog had grabbed across the street still alive! I am wondering if I should track down the people who own this mutt and tell them I have all intention of shooting him if he comes back. Our dogs roam the yard, our friends small children play in the yard and I dont know how I feel about this dog. We live off a very busy road, and the dog was almost hit by a car. I dont feel it is my responsibility to protect my yard from someone elses irresponsible dog ownership. I would feel horrible to kill a family pet but I dont know how else to deal with it....

Just as it takes a village to rear children, it takes village to farm and keep pets safe. Defense of your birds is always your responsibility before anyone else, even the owner of that dog. Ideally dog owner will take responsibility for his / her dog. Do what is needed to protect birds but also strive to get owners into the loop as they may correct situation. Shoot dog if need be but keep cool head regardless. Hopefully local laws are in place for handling situation.

I been though such problems multiple times. The hot head route never really worked to my satisfaction. I now try to cultivate good relations with neighbors and sometimes absorb losses in process. Long-term has made for better neighbors. I also put in a fence and got dogs of my own which cost $. Did not improve quality of the worst neighbors but did make keeping birds safe easier.

Another point is this is just one dog, there will be others so planning for the future unknowns should be kept high on your to do list. Such plans will prepare you better for wild critters as well.