Pyxis, am thinking of your complicated situation, and wonder if a camera mounted to cover the coops etc would be a good investment. The police may choose to ignore laxness in dog restraint, but trespass, theft, criminal mischief, animal cruelty...etc they could not ignore.
Gramma, Coda is a neutered male, and has gone home to my son, Bella is a neutered female who is not likely to play with coyotes. She would sometimes refuse to continue on a trail in the woods, and urgently require me to follow her home. I trust her in these situations. Am making the call to a friend who hae offered to help me obtain and learn to safely maintain and use a gulp, gun. Today.