I am soooo Sorry! That's awful! Just a few thoughts, don't know if it'll help...,
1. Depending on your situation and zoning rules, you may be able to borrow a free live trap from your humane society. I know ours will lend them out and come collect whatever happens into them, if you tell them something has been causing damage to your property or is a potential threat. If you are legally allowed to keep chickens, this may be an option. If not, I wouldn't say anything in case they take your chickens!
2. If you care about your relationship with your inconsiderate neighbors, you may want to warn them. They may correct it themselves if they fear a fine. You don't have to even say it's their dog you're worried about. You could say you've heard cats, dogs, skunks, whatever is in your area have been a problem for someone else, so you're being preventative. Although they, of course, are keeping their dog out of your yard you don't see a problem but felt it was the neighborly thing to do, just in case. You wouldn't want them fined, of course!
3. Depending on the dog...many hunting dogs are trained to "mouth" birds. While they may scare a bird to death, they won't puncture it. Unfortunately, they may see your birds as practice and believe they're being "good dogs." If so, they may actually be harder to stop than a dog just out for a nugget snack. If it's trained to "mouth," it should also be trained to "heel." It might be worth a try if you see it again, to shout "Heel!" and see if it does. It might keep you or your daughter from getting bit. Then, I'd alert animal control.
Sorry you have to deal with any of this!
1. Depending on your situation and zoning rules, you may be able to borrow a free live trap from your humane society. I know ours will lend them out and come collect whatever happens into them, if you tell them something has been causing damage to your property or is a potential threat. If you are legally allowed to keep chickens, this may be an option. If not, I wouldn't say anything in case they take your chickens!
2. If you care about your relationship with your inconsiderate neighbors, you may want to warn them. They may correct it themselves if they fear a fine. You don't have to even say it's their dog you're worried about. You could say you've heard cats, dogs, skunks, whatever is in your area have been a problem for someone else, so you're being preventative. Although they, of course, are keeping their dog out of your yard you don't see a problem but felt it was the neighborly thing to do, just in case. You wouldn't want them fined, of course!
3. Depending on the dog...many hunting dogs are trained to "mouth" birds. While they may scare a bird to death, they won't puncture it. Unfortunately, they may see your birds as practice and believe they're being "good dogs." If so, they may actually be harder to stop than a dog just out for a nugget snack. If it's trained to "mouth," it should also be trained to "heel." It might be worth a try if you see it again, to shout "Heel!" and see if it does. It might keep you or your daughter from getting bit. Then, I'd alert animal control.
Sorry you have to deal with any of this!