Years ago a neighbors dog attacked my chickens, I had to shoot him as it wasn't the fist time, they had been warned. When I went to let my neighbor know that his dog was dead and he needed to come pick him up I got a rather heated lecture on how the dog was just doing what was natural for a dog to do. I explained that as the #1 roo for my flock I too was doing what was natural, I cant help it if I am better at protecting than the dog was at attacking............He understood
I am sorry for your loss.