Stray Dogs Trying To Kill My Chickens!!!

[Eliz]

There is two stray dogs that run our very, very rural neighborhood. I have caught them in the act twice cornering and scattering my flock!!! The bad thing is as soon as I open my back door they are gone. Two days ago these PITA's got into my neighbors run and killed one of her hens. Later that day, while she was at work, I heard her dogs barking and looked out to see the dogs almost get one of her cats!!!!!! The lady across the street said one of the dogs tried to attack her grandkids one night in the yard!

My self and these two neighbors have called animal control but they told us that they have no more room at the shelter so until there is room they will not attempt to come catch these dogs. We were also told that if the dogs were harming our live stock we had the right to protect it by any means necessary. Not to mention that we have a increase in rabbies here in Georgia and I know these dog have not been vaccinated and don't have a home.

As MAD and UPSET as I was that day I thought the dogs killed my flock I don't know if I can shoot them. Even if I had it in me and don't see them or they don't sit still long enough to do that. I don't know what else to do at this point????

 

[kinnip]

Talk to your neighbors and see if one of them is willing to do the deed. In the meantime, I'd avoid free ranging and keep them well fenced.

 

[conroy]

OMG I feel your pain. You don't want them around but you don't want to kill them either... I would also see if one of your neighbors could do it. Maybe if you trap them and then bring them to a shelter in another town? IDK, tough decisions.

 

[All about the EGG]

You dont know if you can shoot them? Rabies?? Protect your own family and animals and get the nerve. The guilt you will feel if someone or something gets hurt or killed if you do nothing will be over shadowed if you do kill the dogs. Do not wait for something to happen. Good Luck!

 

[Felicitas]

If the dogs are getting aggressive with children and animal control won't do anything about it, they need to be shot immediately. (The dogs, not animal control.) Can you and your neighbors meet and coordinate some sort of a plan?

 

[mcfarlandteresa]

I've had 2 flocks killed this years by neighbors dogs. This last -over Thanksgiving break-they wiped out nearly 40 chickens. That for me was the last straw. Now I'm not one for killing but I've lost close to 80 chickens this years to those darn things. One day I stepped outside and low and behold the stupid thing was trying to get in the pen. I went inside got my shotgun and shot him. Now I really love my chickens. After raising them to where they follow me around and come sit on my lap it broke my heart and my little girls hearts to see my flock nearly gone so I felt no remorse for shooting him. BUT I had also already warned the neighbor of what was going to happen and he said you do what you need to.

 

[horsejody]

You may have to make the decision about what animals get to live, the dogs or the chickens. If the dogs are homeless, they are probably suffering from hunger, etc. You will be doing them no favors by allowing them to continue to be strays.

 

[Eliz]

Ok so I am going to shoot them. What can I do to get them to show up, hang around a second, and not haul tail it out of here as soon as I open my door? Should I try bait? Put some out in a spot that I know I can get a good, safe shot and just check it a couple times a day???

 

[antlers]

Quote:
You just have to keep watching. Perhaps you need not go out. A barrel poked out a slightly open window works well too but is loud. I understand this will be hard but after the deed is done you will feel better about what you ahve done for your family and the neighborhood. And it gets easier the more damage they do and the more often you have to do it.
I mentioned before that I raise deer. I lost 2 the end of November. I took care of the problem (Pitbull cross). Now MY deer are calmer, the neihbors horses are calmer, I am seeing Phesants in the fields again and other wild critters are back and happy again. It was raising cain with a lot more than my deer.

 

[waynesgarden]

Before shooting them yourself, I would call the local sheriff or state police. The dogs are a threat to the safety of people and a full shelter is not an excuse to allow citizens come to harm. The animal control officer is failing to perform the most vital duty of his job, to protect citizens. If the police won't help, call your town supervisor.

If that fails, call your state representative. Your local officials need to be accountable.

If you bait them and there is no evidence that they are threatening your animals at that time, you may open yourself up to criminal complaints. An animal tresspassing is not always a free pass to shoot, despite their history.

Wayne