l I'm so sorry. What a rough ordeal!Today started out to be a really nice day, but a dumped dog ruined my afternoon. Leaving a dog in the country is not an act of kindness. It's an act of irresponsibility and neglect, and everyone loses. I heard a ruckus outside but ignored it because we were expecting a delivery from FedX. Sure enough, I heard the driver honk, so I bundled up and went out front to sign for the package. The dogs were still barking after the driver disappeared down the driveway, so I put the box in the house and went to check the barn. I heard chickens screaming, so I took a shovel from the barn and ran. By the time I got to the back of the barn, the stray had already killed most of the group that was free-ranging. Shovel 1, dog 0. Emaciated, covered with ticks, the stray must have been out of his mind with hunger. I don't blame him for killing my birds. I blame the owner for leaving the dog in the country to fend for himself. It took two hours to dig a hole deep enough to bury the dog and the chickens he killed. I feel sick. My heart is sick. Mossberg is gone. His red NN hen is gone. His black NN hen is gone. My blue Ameraucanas from Mitzi are gone. I found Shasta and two barred hens further away. In total, the stray took twelve from my flock. Vesta was penned because I was expecting FedX. Ironic, isn't it? I put the guard dog away so that the delivery driver wouldn't be scared.
