OMGOMGOMGOMG>>>>>> UPDATE!:

[calgal98]

As a child my own german shepherd killed and/or skinned a couple of my show lambs. We were (*and still are) country folk. We had our dog put down so it wouldn't happen again to us or someone else. Its hard to accept, but much of society has lost touch with the agrarian world and what it takes to raise livestock. We have a right to protect our property and livestock. The dog was definitely and obviously where it didn't belong and you were well within your rights to protect your stock. Whether pets or not its your livestock and you can protect it. Its unfortunate that their dog was the perpetrator, but it was. If something like that happens, grab your camera as well as guns so you can substantiate that it WAS the dog that did the damage. I feel so sorry for your daughter. I never got over the loss of those lambs. To this day I have a difficult time loving dogs. Hope your daughter does well. Encourage her to start again and help her to do so. Don't focus on the negative if you can avoid it. She will take lots of her cues from you. Very sorry for your loss.

 

[Over Easy in Adna]

Quote:
Sounds like your neighbor is a troll.........

 

[Judy]

Quote:
OP had plenty of reason to suspect son would "do anything" (something) to remaining chickens, form son's remarks.

"Murdered my dog?" How about, dealt with a predator? If someone shoots your dog who has just MURDERED over half your chickens, would you still choose the word "murder?"

Evidently you feel your dog is a true pet, and your rabbits (or chickens) are not. Your choice. When your pet kills your neighbor's chickens, or any other animal, it is no longer a pet, it is a predator.

From the sound of it, your neighbor's dogs did not harm your rabbit. A bit of a different situation. The OP had already lost over half the flock, and the dog was still at it. Should the OP have chanced letting the dog kill the rest of them?

 

[lickskillet]

Over Easy in Adna wrote:

Sounds like your neighbor is a troll.........

Ahhaha, I agree (right about now)!!

 

[ZepChick]

Hi lickskillet ~

I am soo sorry, I know how much it hurts. I also know the shoulda/wouldas will drive you insane. Please don't do that to yourself. In a little while it won't hurt quite as bad, and you can talk with your daughter about funny chicken stories, and remember them with warm thoughts and love. BTW, I had an eerily similar experience last year, and my daughter was 13. It was a hard, very painful experience. We gave our neighbors a second and third chance. The dog came back. We finally fined the neighbor as much as we could. They actually packed up and moved away. It wasn't the money, it was the idea that they actually said"it's just stupid chickens", and these were my girl's (and mine) pets....no matter what anyone else thought. This was also the one time in my pregnancy that I experienced spotting, like I said it was extremely emotionally distressing. It will get better, hugs all around. Thinking about you guys in Oregon....~ Kim

 

[cariboujaguar]

Didn't read all this, but the initial post made me cry! You poor things, your poor daughter! I just lost one of my first hens last night, only had her ONE day, dunno what got her but learned the hard way my great pyrs won't protect them if they arn't in with them

I would have been much more rude then you, sounds like you went out of your way to accomodate them. I can understand them being sad, upset, but nasty isn't fair- it was their fault!

 

[New adventure]

I'm so sorry for all involved in this; especially your DD.
Reading posts like this sure reminds me to be always vigilant with my own animals. Accidents and problems can happen in such a short time frame; it helps me be better prepared for this if I visualize what my reactions might be if this had happened to me. Now, I'm wondering where I put my shovel.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
And we all know what the old saying is ~ don't feed the troll.

Oops, sorry, Guess I just did. Not real bright about such stuff. Tend to take people at their word and forget they have a different agenda. Need to learn what trolls are about.

 

[lickskillet]

Yes, we now know that shovels are useful for more than one thing!

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Huh??? Dogs are more loved than chickens? That is just obnoxious. We all have favorite pets, but we have no business judging which species others' favorites may be.

Remember that these chickens were a child's pets.

Even you said your chickens are more favored than your dog. Come now.

Of course the dog owner was saddened. That does not change whose fault the incident was, or the fact that the OP was justified in defending his own. Seems to me it was clear that the OP felt it was a sad situation for all.