One less dog in the neighborhood!

[4hooves&featheredfriends]

I am sorry for the loss of your livestock - but it must be a geographic thing, because I for one was not taught that this is how you deal with such a situation. I am actually a bit disgusted that this is considered OK with people.

The ignorance of the "stupid human",(the owner), is taken out on the "dumb animal". Hmmm..interesting. God gave us dominion over the animals...I can't imagine that this is what he meant.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

It really doesn't matter if any of us are cool with this or not. It is not our chickens, they were KHayward's. Not our neighbor either.
Rest easy K, you did something hard that you felt you had to do to protect your livestock/pets. This too shall pass.
I live in a semi-rural area where there is no animal control, very few responsible pet owners (Pit bulls wandering the neighborhood, packs of feral strays, you name it). Our humane society is a joke, the vets will just euthanise anything you bring in.
You do what you have to do to protect your own.

 

[Bwaaak!]

Kathy, I admire you for having the courage to take down the dog, friendly or not. Just yesterday, we had to put our daughters silkie hen *to sleep* because of a dog attack on Easter. Daughter is 25 and bawled, crying sooo hard. It made me mad that her chicken was taken from her through no fault of its own.

I only live on 2 acres, just outside of a small city's limits. Husband has talked to a sheriffs receptionist and though they do not condone shooting, they really had no recourse except to call animal control. And I already know what a joke animal control is from past experiences.

I feel guilty about the thought of shooting a neighbors dog, but I dont think I can stand the thought of my chickens not feeling safe on their own property.

So, I stand by you all the way. Barb

 

[hollyk]

Quote:
No, I for one am NOT cool with this. There are other options. There are humane societies available, at least nearby, to almost all communities, and with an otherwise friendly and nice dog, why couldn't you confine her on your property until she could be picked up and the proper channels followed? It doesn't involve guns - sorry - but it is an advantage of civilized society. And I can't believe that someone is going to shoot a puppy for chasing chickens! Go to a little trouble, go through channels, keep your chickens in a protected environment. If it isn't some poor lab puppy, it's gonna be a raccoon or a fox or a coyote or a hawk... and they were here first! I've lived out in the country, I understand the culture, but that doesn't mean it's right.

First of all- this livestock owner did not choose this method because of a love of guns.
Stop refering to this as a "puppy" I own 2 labs myself and I know what they are capable of both good and bad. It is a full grown dog. For all of you who say a lab wouldn't hurt anyone and labs don't bite- yes they do.

Second- your yard in and of itself should be a protected place. This is how you keep your yard safe. My birds free range with my labs. We have no problems. I have never lost a bird to racoons or foxes. It took the resident hawks nine months to take 2. I am sure that lab took out 2 chickens in about 5 minutes.

Third- obvioulsy this neighbor did not care about being a neighbor, her animal, or her daughter. If the neighbor had it would have done anything needed to keep the dog home. I have a neighbor that only keeps his dog penned because I have made it clear that if found it on my place again- the dog would be shot. I don't fault the dog, but the neighbor is an absolute idiot who is SO lazy. Paint balls and nasty smells would not bother him- he lives in the trashiest trailor ever seen.

It is sad, but it is your responsibility to your own livestock- who trust you to protect them- to take care of what needs doing. I can sat for certain that once this dog learned to kill, it would never stop.

 

[Lorettawyandotte]

I would have shot the dog as well...I live rural...no animal control and no deputy that is going to come and resolve my dog problems...people drop them off around here just certain I will love them, feed them, take care of them when they haven't the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing for THEIR dog or cat...I have called the sheriff and all they ask me is, "do you have a gun?" I have had feral dogs stalking my horses with intent...I shot them...I was chased by a pack of feral dogs while riding in the back woods...I saved my neighbor's children from being attacked by a pack of dogs on their way up their drive one afternoon...I heard them screaming, grabbed the gun, jumped in the truck and drove up their drive...a pack of dogs had the kids in the trees...I got out and yelled at the dgs hoping they would leave...they hackled up, dropped their heads, snarled and started walking toward me...I shot three of them before they backed off and left...I have no use for dogs that are destructive of other people's things because of stupid people...those who don't train and confine or those who just dump them on others...too bad for the dog...the animal shelters are full and resources are stretched to the max and there just is not a place for all of them...you better honk that the first time I see a dog eating or even stalking one of my birds, he is one dead dog...sorry if that is harsh but I live in real time and my birds are not listed as a 4 star diner for anyone or anything...I have 4 large dogs and they are trained and not allowed...neither is any one else's

 

[beak]

I fully agree with feral or even just mean dogs. We had a pair of dogs trying to dig in to our chicken run and I shot one with a high powered pellet rifle. He yelped and ran. Didn't see him again either. I would like to get a 510 shotgun in case anything serious needed to be done like protecting our kids or animals. My DW hates guns but I know she would use a shotgun to protect our kids or livestock.

I couldn't take a dog that was being friendly and go shoot it though. I could shoot the same dog if it had a chicken in it's mouth though.

I'm just a wimp like that.

 

[gypsy2621]

I likely should just shut up, well here goes.

To all you who are up in arms,( litterally) about taking care of a situation the owner had no problem creating.
All I can say is when its your turn and dogs wipe out your animals I am very sure you are going to have a whole different take on the situation.
There is nothing worse than hearing your chickens scream in terror or the pain of being bitten, or shaken.

I have said this repeatedly to my kids , JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED.
and also dont complain about anothers actions till you have experienced what they are going through.

 

[speckledhen]

From the "READ HERE FIRST" at the top of the P&P section:

*Dealing with predators and pests is not always pleasant. Although sometimes hard to do, please be as sensitive as possible when explaining procedures and results. Some younger members and/or squeamish adults will appreciate it.

*Although some ways are not considered ideal to some, it serves the purpose of removing the offending predator. If you have an idea or a helpful comment, please do reply. If it is a sarcastic comment about the disposal or capture of a predator, please keep your thoughts to yourself. We are not here to judge one another on methods or ways and means.

It's always sad when dogs suffer in whatever way for the irresponsible attitudes of their owners, but it's also devastating when someone comes upon a scene of ripped apart chickens caused by that dog owner's irresponsibility. Please be kind, folks.​

 

[TexasVet]

First, let me say that I respect all your opinions, whether for or against shooting the dog. Now let me clear up a few things....

1. This was not a puppy. It was two years old and weighed 30-40 lbs.

2. It's been on my place 5 or 6 times over the last year, and it's killed chickens every time.

3. I own a dog myself, so I am not anti-dog.

4. We live in a rural area; there are no animal shelters or animal control officers. If you call the sheriff's dept., they tell you to shoot the dog.

5. The reason the dog lived this long is because it's so friendly. And even though it was friendly this time too, it's face and neck was covered in blood and I had dead birds and feathers all over the yard. Not to mention the crying/screaming kids.

6. As a rule, my birds are kept in a closed run. However, we had 9 inches of rain in two days and the run was a lake. I had let the birds out about an hour before dark so they could eat a little grass and some bugs on dry ground.

7. I tried to call the dog off and she wouldn't respond. Then I tried using the BB gun on her, and that didn't work either. DH finally caught her by the collar and held her while I went for the gun.

8. Enough was enough. This was 2 attacks in 3 days.

9. I called the owner and told her she now owned one less dog. She was OK with it, and reminded me that she'd told me before to shoot the dog if it attacked again. She also said it's been getting out on a regular basis. So she knew the dog was getting out, she knew the potential consequences, and she still didn't put it on a leash after she let it out of the kennel.

I was just out mowing and can see that her goats are out again too. I've rounded them up multiple times over the last week or two to keep them from eating the neighbor's landscaping or getting hit by a car. She said she knows where they're getting out too.

What is wrong with this person???

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[danielbrown]

"I have said this repeatedly to my kids , JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED.
and also dont complain about anothers actions till you have experienced what they are going through."



Exactly

One time 2 of by neighbors dogs killed over 50 of my birds. my dad shot them both.

After that I have much less tolerance for stray dogs.

Around here its less trouble just to shoot them than calling control who will put them down anyway.