Neighbours claiming their dog is sick from my chickens

[Kusanar]

Last night they put a line of salt along the border of our drive way - without saying anything. They told me a while ago that they heard chickens don’t like walking though salt. I don’t know if this is true either!

Lol, are they confusing chickens with demons and ghosts??? The only thing that salt will do is kill snails, slugs, and the grass / plant life in that area for a few years...

If they put the salt on your property without your permission and it starts killing plants (it will) then you could actually get them for property damage potentially.

 

[RiverOtter]

It is wildly unlikely. In fact, it is wildly unlikely for a dog to even HAVE salmonella! They're natural scavengers.
From fda.gov;
Salmonellosis is uncommon in dogs and cats. When the disease is seen in an adult dog or cat, the animal typically has another infection or debilitating condition at the same time.

And from the Merck Veterinary Manual;
Salmonellosis is seen infrequently in dogs and cats and is characterized by acute diarrhea with or without septicemia.

Your neighbors are batty control freaks. While being upset about your chickens wandering and exaggerating so you take it seriously is reasonable, continuing to harrass you after you have addressed the issue is not.

Now, if it's worth it to you, the labratories are open. And you can send them a stool sample for testing by mail. The Ministry of Agriculture probably has a website with a contact email where you could ask about this. And then you can give your neighbors the test results with a dozen eggs and a smile, and go on about your life.

But remember, crazy or not, you can't divorce your neighbors. Don't escalate.

 

[JSkelce]

Their veterinarian is the one that should put themselfs down on paper with "it might be those chickens", then you will have saved the mony for a consultation with one of your own. Also, suggest talking to the Council people, if they have a fence viewer or the like come out and see what your setup is and make a report/copy you on it, if these doodel-bug neighbors try stirring up trouble they will have to deal with an authority (hopefully) that knows you already and know that you are trying to play by the rules.

And ivory horns? Medieval vuvuzelas?

Good advice. They claimed the vet told them the first time but the second time simply said, 'our dog is unwell again with the same symptoms as before'. Makes me think they didn't take him to the vet the second time so no real proof there either. If a vet was involved for round 2 I think they would have included this info as additional amo.

And yes - ivory horns, hydes - idk too much about it as I try to avoid discussing it with them and having to pretend to be sympathetic when I'm not. My husband has had it with them, I'm a little more patient but even I'm wearing thin now.

 

[JSkelce]

Lol, are they confusing chickens with demons and ghosts??? The only thing that salt will do is kill snails, slugs, and the grass / plant life in that area for a few years...

If they put the salt on your property without your permission and it starts killing plants (it will) then you could actually get them for property damage potentially.

I said the same thing! Do they think our chickens are the devil itself..? SMH

 

[FathertoFeathers]

I know dogs can get it from eating poop but one of my moms dogs has a total garbage gut. She will eat anything and has never had a problem. She regularly goes out and eats the chicken and ducks poop (much to our dismay). She drinks out of the ducks pond and eats the bedding and she has never had a problem. I honestly don't even know how the dog is still healthy considering all the crap she eats. I think your neighbors just don't like the chickens.

 

[JSkelce]

I know dogs can get it from eating poop but one of my moms dogs has a total garbage gut. She will eat anything and has never had a problem. She regularly goes out and eats the chicken and ducks poop (much to our dismay). She drinks out of the ducks pond and eats the bedding and she has never had a problem. I honestly don't even know how the dog is still healthy considering all the crap she eats. I think your neighbors just don't like the chickens.

Likewise. Thank you.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I also think its very unlikely.
I don't think a vet visit or note will do you any good. People like that don't seem to listen to anything that don't support their side of an argument.
I think your solution is to contain your birds 100% of the time.
Hard to blame your birds if they never make it to their property but if they do even very rarely that will give them reason to keep blaming your birds.

 

[ChemicalchiCkns]

If you get it in writing, you can then look up their (vet's) licenze # and see what kind of an official reputation they have. Or they have none and are practizing without a licence and you turn them in for the fraud.

 

[JSkelce]

It is wildly unlikely. In fact, it is wildly unlikely for a dog to even HAVE salmonella! They're natural scavengers.
From fda.gov;
Salmonellosis is uncommon in dogs and cats. When the disease is seen in an adult dog or cat, the animal typically has another infection or debilitating condition at the same time.

And from the Merck Veterinary Manual;
Salmonellosis is seen infrequently in dogs and cats and is characterized by acute diarrhea with or without septicemia.

Your neighbors are batty control freaks. While being upset about your chickens wandering and exaggerating so you take it seriously is reasonable, continuing to harrass you after you have addressed the issue is not.

Now, if it's worth it to you, the labratories are open. And you can send them a stool sample for testing by mail. The Ministry of Agriculture probably has a website with a contact email where you could ask about this. And then you can give your neighbors the test results with a dozen eggs and a smile, and go on about your life.

But remember, crazy or not, you can't divorce your neighbors. Don't escalate.

That is fantastic advice, thank you. I too had read that it is unlikely and for dogs to get it and that if they do it is likely they have an underlying condition. And you’re right, I wholeheartedly accepted that they wandered too often but yes the the issue has been absolutely rectified. I may well look into sending off a sample. Be worth it to see the look on their faces. Not sure about a dozen though, maybe four (one each!)

 

[pvaldes]

A discrete trail camera set in your property near the coop, will discover their dog frolicking around at 4am probably, chasing rats or just having fun.

Other things that could be investigated is if they have turtles or other reptile pets. If they sell real ivory that is forbidden (and not fake ivory), then they are related with traffic of wild animal species, and they are committing a crime, as simple as that. Lots and lots of diseases, including salmonella and several pneumonias are linked with that.

I'm speculating but, maybe they have a box filled with illegally caught turtles in their kitchen, I dunno. Do some internet research using their telephone in "selling reptile pet" announces. This things can be transmitted to humans so, if happening, is also in their own interest to disclose it ASAP. Have they fell ill recently?

You could research discretely also if their are raising their dog, "vegan". If the dog had Salmonella several times he/she has alimentary issues, maybe from a wrong diet.

The RiverOtter's laboratory idea is really clever. Do it. Compile your info, and then show them the facts in a no belligerant way and as tactfully as possible.