Not that we would do this but as a last resort....

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Quote:
I understand that the owner is part of root problem. Often when a dog kills it is not just one bird but multiples. Often that dog will re-offend unless it is removed from society. My birds are valuable as are my lambs/sheep. I do not want to kill anything but will to protect my chickens or sheep/lambs. When they get a new dog it may not be a chicken killer since not all dogs have a strong prey instinct so you might break the cycle.

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
I guess someone needs to to start a petition in every jurisdiction, calling for the removal of the owner from society, care to volunteer?

wow your wit is so subtle

People sure do get defensive when someone disagrees with them about the whole predator shooting issue. I don't even disagree I just feel like more discretion is not a bad thing....How stupid me of I guess.

People don't like have to like to that there are those of us who aren't thrilled with the casual attitudes toward killing animals besides chickens. That doesn't mean my opinion is any less valid than everyone else's. My point was that you can kill dog after dog but you aren't solving the problem you are addressing the symptom. The owner is the problem, a much more challenging one to solve but the problem none the less...I don't understand why it is so hard for people to accept that really simple fact. It is amazing that people actually acknowledge that the real problem IS the OWNER but then insist the best solution is to shoot the dog...Are you kidding me?...I know it is hard if an owner is an idiot and doesn't care but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try your hardest. If you try your hardest and nothing works then shoot the dog, no judgements from me.

I don't take issue with people defending their livestock. I don't take issue with someone shooting a dog when there really isn't any other option. I would do it myself. I do take issue with the prevailing attitude that a dog's life is any less valuable than a chickens and therefore go ahead just shoot the thing. I can't fault a dog for doing what a dog does...I myself don't let my chickens free range unless I am out there specifically because I know dogs in the neighborhood escape their yards periodically. It happened last week and I returned the dog to the owner. If a dog killed my chickens I would only blame myself for not making my run/coop as secure as it should be. If I did everything I could and a dog continued to harass my chickens I would shoot the thing and bring it over to the owner's myself knowing the law was on my side and apologize for what I was FORCED to do.

I find it interesting that we are supposed to reserve judgement on SSS and can't say a bad word about it but if someone disagrees with it and is polite about the whole thing that person can be torn a new one...

 

[amynbrent]

Sorry if my post started a big debate. We are for defending our children, family, dogs, chickens and whatever else we may own. We will not just grab a gun and shoot the dog because he is in our yard. Like I said I've talked to the owners, wrote letters and called A/C numerous times and nothing is being done. The dogs do seem friendly just a little wild from lack of attention and I'm sure that is what they want from our children....their labs and labs are jumpy and want alot of attention. If one bites or hurts my kids, dead. I was just curious if we could shoot the dog if they were in my coop and attacking my chickens. Yelling at them is not going to make them leave, throwing something at it...probably not. So my husband said if that happened he would shoot first trying to scare them if that didnt work he is defending his livestock and would shoot them. Bottom line these people are cruel to their animals. Who would leave them out all day and night and in every weather condition? You can drive by their house and see the front door scratched from them probably wanting in. I myself have gone over there to make sure they had food and water. If they get shot and killed they can be mad at themselves. Also who goes out and gets a dog that looks just like the one who got killed by a school bus? We all speculate they did that because they didnt want their kids to know (their little) and tried to cover up their mistake. That alone should have made them learn and do something to contain their dogs.

 

[mamabahre]

I would contact the AC again under the pretense that they are being cruel to their animals and not providing adequate shelter from the elements or food or water...The AC MUST investigate an abuse claim even if they are "really" busy....That is what I would do based on what you just posted...

Sorry for hijacking your thread BTW

 

[theFox]

Quote:
Since you don't provide even the state you are in I'd suggest that you do a Google search with (state name) state statutes and if the statutes also have a search feature do a search on, at large .

In most states once a dog leaves the property of the owner without its owner the law has been broken. You call the police when you believe the law has been broken.

Those owners you have just described are why it is useless to deal with an owner close to 100% of the time.

Two of the most responsive sets of law enforcement officers are a county sheriff or a state's game warden service. If the dogs are chasing game the warden's service will be all over it.

 

[amynbrent]

Sorry....we are in Michigan. We have researched but we keep finding different things and people are telling us different things so now we are just going to call the police department and find out exactly what we are allowed to do.

 

[theFox]

Quote:
Pretenses can land a party before a judge and it won't always be the one that is the object of the pretense.

 

[la dee da]

Have you told the owners that you will kill their dogs if they attack your chickens or hurt your children? We had a similar problem with a friendly lab, only instead of jumping on us the lab would destroy my mom's started garden crop. We told the man several times about it and he knew the dog was a problem and did try whatever he could to kept he dog contained, outside of buying a kennel. Needless to say mom got fed up with it and when the lady came to pick up the dog (first time we'd seen her) mom told her in no uncertain terms that we were getting chickens and if that dog chased them even a little it was a dead dog. We haven't seen the dog since.

 

[amynbrent]

That we have not done. We probably should. I did put a letter in their mail box (since they are hardly home) and told them that they were harassing my kids and my dogs and that if anyone of them were hurt there would be a problem. I told them they were tearing into my garbage too. After that and several letters like this maybe 2 days we would not see the dogs. The chickens are new and they are in my garage, I know that is the reason they are down here. I just decided even if it's midnight when they get home I will go knock on their door. I would rather tell them face to face that I'm killing their dog than have it in writing. Also, last year they tore up my garden...lost it on them then and it's still continues.

 

[schellie69]

Quote:

I would call the local law enforcement the next time they knock your children down I am sorry that behavior can be a problem I don't allow my dogs to jump up on people. Even my ankle biters are not allowed to jump it can and does scare kids when a dog jumps up by their face.