Just this morning I had a nice long talk with my countys dog law enforcement officer. He says as a non lethal deterrent pepper spray is the very best and most legal thing to use. It does not matter if the pepper spray is marketed for human use, dog use or even bear spray. Each spray can just has a slightly different propellant to reach farther and with a different amount of force. Using paintballs, bbs or my moms suggestion of wasp spray
can be considered cruel and be used against you.
He also suggests taking pictures if possible and the use of lethal force as an absolute last resort. Like in the case of a dog directly threatening the life of you, your children or your livestock. The best prevention he says is electric fence around important spots and getting pictures of the offending animals. That way the owners can not only be fined but have the dogs rehomed or put down if they are very dangerous.
Two more questions I had for him would be if your livestock injured a dog or other animal. Because I can guarantee my old gelding is not going to run around or stand there and get bit. If your livestock or animal(NON DOG) is on your property you are 100% not liable if they are attacked and cause damage to someone elses animal. Dog and livestock owners are 100% responsible for their animal at all times and need to keep their animals on their own property. However even if a strange dog or person comes onto your property and goes after you, your kids or your livestock and you own dog defends them you are responsible unless you can prove the attack was provoked and in direct defense of your property. So for example you go for a walk down the street and your dog gets into a fight with another dog- you are also responsible. If the strange dog trespasses on your property, especially goes past fenced areas, provokes a fight and it can be proven then the strange dog owner is primarily responsible.
I have the local dog wardens office and cell number, in case of emergency I will call 911 and by law they are compelled to come out and deal with the animal.
Also thought I would add that I think pepper spray is a great deterrent because while non lethal or long term it hurts like hell. In areas of greater bear population it is recommended to spray any bear coming into the human populace, camp or homestead. If you spray a young curious bear before it becomes a nuisance it will learn to avoid humans. So instead of becoming a problem and needing to be shot or relocated it avoids human interaction. I would think dogs would have the same exact reaction to getting sprayed.
