I take offense at the the whole SSS thing. If you catch a dog killing or hunting or whatever to your birds, absolutely defend them, and if you have to shoot them, fine. But, if you have done the legal and legit thing of defending your livestock, then you dont have to HIDE it, do you? by burying it and not telling anyone, you are acting guilty and as if you have something to hide.
Defend your livestock, shoot and WOUND a dog caught in the act, then send it home to its owners. That is all the warning they should need, and they get thier 'beloved pet' back, and you dont have to defend yourself, cause you are legally within your rights.
shoveling and shutting up is cowardly and leads to this kind of neighborly bickering. If your aim is so bad that you cant wound it, and it dies, oh well. The point is the owners KNOW where thier animal is and why.
It is your legal right to defend your livestock, it is also your responsibility to report the incident to the police and have them handle your neighbors. Use the system to your advantage, dont make things worse by looking and behaving in a guilty fashion.