Number 2 Dog Dead

[Mattemma]

Poor dog. I wouldn't hesitate to do the same, stray or pet, if it killed some of my flock.

 

[bucky52]

I would have done the same thing.whatever it takes to protect my girls i will do.i keep my hens penned and hot wire all the way around.

 

[speckledhen]

I hate everything about these situations, I really do. Sometimes, it seems like the flock owner should be able to sue the dog owner for pain and suffering of having to put down their roaming dog for them. Sorry you had to do that. It's never a pleasant thing.

 

[keckels]

Quote:
From the sounds of it, he already hit you once, so you're right I'm sure he'd keep coming. I'm a dog & chicken person, but you can only tolerate so much.

 

[jamesnoldsr]

My husband got into a situation like that here in Texas a few years back. He is still on probation for the incident. What happened with him though was he used a 22 and the dog ran off. It was mortally wounded though and he felt the right thing to do was to shoot it again to kill it. By the time he got to it, it was off the property and out in the road. He shot it again and it finally died- but not before bringing out most of the neighborhood with its howling. It too, had killed a number of turkeys and ducks and chickens over a period of at least a year.
I have to admit I don't know what I would have done in his place. I don't have a problem shooting something I feel is threatening me or mine, but if you only hurt it very badly and it runs off- I think I might be responsible for it's vet care? Or I'd have to go find it and kill it. Bad situation. Glad yours didn't escalate to that degree.

 

[lotzahenz]

I think of it as a gateway to worse things. Like they say about smoking dope, once a dog gets the thrill of that, understands the adrenalin rush, it is hopeless and there are way too many good dogs looking for homes to allow one rogue dog to terrorize your poultry. I applaud you for protecting the livestock, and if that dog was truly cared for, he would not of been roaming over to your place more than once. So, don't feel bad at all, just be glad it was not yours or someone else's toddler he was after. You may just have saved a child.

 

[fc]

That's a really bad situation with the wounded dog. There was no way I was going to let that dog get away, and didn't want it to suffer long, so I shot as fast as I could. My birds really enjoy running free, but it cost them. Chicken electric netting is terribly expensive. Last night I went a little cheaper and bought heavy gauge mesh fencing and T-posts. I put up a wooden fence with 8 inches between slats, and plan to one strand of electric fence low, and one high up (for anyone trying to climb over my fence). I have to get a gate and openers too. Money, money..

 

[lotzahenz]

Quote:
I am sorry for your husband, as he did do the right thing, but with the law and how it works, he should of ignored the dog to save himself all that trouble and that is a sad state of affairs for our country. He was in his prefect right to protect his property from that dog and the owners should not only be sorry, but pay you for the lost property and write you a sincere apology. BUT, there are way too many folks today that feel like dogs are as valuable as people, and deserve as many rights and should not be held responsible for their actions, that it is our fault for having such enticing morsels running about. I love dogs, and if i had any animal that went into predator mode on my neighbors property, if I cared for my own dog it would not run free, ever. I would build it a fence, or whatever it took to keep that dog secure. So, the only law your poor DH broke was by going into the road, public property and doing what a good man would do and HE is the one punished. I also feel this way about when the police take out a rogue dog, no matter what the reason, if a dog is a man-biter, people should have the right to protect themselves. Any dog that is that untrusting of people should never be allowed around people. I could go on about the unjustness of this forever, sorry. I am just sorry your DH got into that trouble but you tell him there are many of us realists out here that are on his side. HenZ

 

[lotzahenz]

Quote:
I know how it is, but the peace of mind what little it gives, is worth it and I am so sorry for your senseless loss. At least with wild predators, they are doing it for the food or to feed their young and although I get angry at them, I understand. I don't even mind the hawks here that take an occasional slow bird, I just 'grin' and bear it. But a dog is different if it is killing for sport and most of them are, and no matter what you do, that dog will come back and come back, so you have no choice. MY HEN has just as must rights as their DOG. Just makes me wanna get one of those big cats and let IT roam the neighborhood feeding on random dogs! Just kidding, but you get the idea. Wonder how that would go over? And yes, I know a dog is capable of killing a small child, it happened here more than once, heck it happens all the time. A couple had their new baby snatched out of her crib by their female wolf-dog. It the dogs defense, it was not intent of harming the baby, it just could not carry the baby (no scruff) and it wanted to take the baby the dog's 'nest'. Baby ended up bit around the neck and head and it did not survive. The dog did not get put down, as it was not considered aggressive, but maternal.

 

[War Chicken]

Well, shooting it with the .22 may not have been the greatest idea but if that's what was close at hand then the only mistake would have been putting the dog out of its misery.

You can never predict with 100% certainty whether authority is going to side with you and it's best to maintain anonymity even if it means letting the dog runs off wounded and dies a slow death. The animals or people loose dogs attack also feel pain so I'd call it even.