They're all gone

[Serrin]

Quote:

Nor will that rotten mutt who took my beloved girls from me, should s/he ever be foolish enough to return to the scene of their crimes!


gessieviolet, that is the most amazing and wonderful news! It renews my faith in the system. Here's to hoping that they'll prosecute the owners to the fullest extent of the law. And if not the authorities, then I hope that you'll take it to civil court. No amount of money can ever replace your babies. But maybe, if it costs the owner enough out of his/her pocket, they'll think twice about letting their dogs run free ever again.

I sincerely hope you will take them to court, regardless of the outcome with the animal control authorities. People have to understand that allowing their dogs to run free is not acceptable! Make a poster child out of them!

With any luck at all, animal control will seek a death penalty for these two dogs. You can't get the killer instinct out of them once it's gone this far. And their continued existence poses a very real threat to not only the neighborhood chickens and cats, but small children and even adults as well. Two dogs running together and killing are just one dog shy of being a pack!! I've seen/heard of it happening before.....it's not a pretty sight.

Good luck and keep us posted on the outcome of the fate of the two dogs. I for one would really like to know how your area handled the situation!

 

[Suzie]

Hi Gessieviolet!

So pleased to hear that some of your flock are coming back - hope the black Silkie makes it too!

It is good news that you have now found the culprits - I hope the owners are heavily fined and made to keep their dogs under control - I found out the hard way myself when my dog frightened one of mine to death - he is never allowed near them unless he is controlled on a leash.

Hope you continue to find others that may have taken flight

Best wishes

 

[turbodog]

Quote:
I agree with your method of dealing with predators. Had a neighbors dog that would go after my beloved cats. When it got into the screened patio to get at them, that was the last straw. That dog disappeared.
I expect I'll feel the same way about our chickens.

 

[twinstar]

Quote:
I work for a Sheriff's Office here in Georgia, and I figure this pretty much sums it up. If we consider two inmates showing their butts inciting a riot, I consider two dogs killing whatever they feel like a pack. Here in GA, those would have been shot. And by state law, would have been protected.

I am glad to hear that Animal Control did you right! I am very sorry for your whitey. Maybe it wasn't totally in vain, maybe he saved some others folks pets from those uncontrolled chicken-eaters.

 

[fordmommy]

.....

I had an experience with a lab/boxer in January. he killed more than half of my flock. I reported it to the sherriff. I also caught the dog and the animal control came and got the dog. And we live out of town. The owner was charged with dog at large and restitution for my dead chickens. Don't get me wrong, it will never replace my babies and I probably won't see the money. But the knowlodge of the owner knowing there are consequences for his dog's deadly rampage is good for me. I know the owner also knows that there will NOT be a next time.

 

[gessieviolet]

In so far as I know the owners of these dogs is unknown. The collars were simply red fabric with a buckle around the necks. On another forum a couple of people were upset that the dog is id as pitbull.

That is not my id, I am simply repeating what animal control told me. I really don't care what breed they are, in this case it is spelled the same way:chicken killer.

 

[csaws]

Remember the three S's

Shoot
Shovel
Shut-up

 

[Serrin]

Quote:
I don't know how prophetic that was, but that rotten creature was back again this morning. I swear it has hyper hearing! The minute DH laid his hand on the door knob and opened the door, the killer was gone in a flash! Never even got one shot off at it before it was well out of range!

We checked the chickens immediately and found that wretched dogs tracks all around the large enclosure that the coop sits in the middle of. Thankfully it was still so early in the morning that I hadn't let the flock out. Griffin was hopping mad inside the coop though, I can tell you that! That new roo of mine was frothing at the mouth to get out and get a beak full of killer dog!

He's gonna be such a great roo! I just hope he doesn't get stupid on me and take on more than he can handle! I just want him to raise the alarm if any predators appear! We can handle the rest!

I even found a spot where it looks like the dog tried to dig under the fencing, but gave up when he encountered the steel rods my DH had had the presence of mind to drive into the ground to prevent just such an attempt to circumvent the fencing! Gawds! I love that man! I never would have thought of that!

Anyhow, seeing the evidence of just how determined that dang dog was, was the final straw for me. If we can't catch him, and we can't shoot him, I resolved to call the authorities. I was really surprised at how quickly they came out. Within about an hour, give or take. Knowing that we're every bit of a half hour drive from the shelter, that was pretty impressive in my book!

The gal from Animal Control was very nice and very sympathetic. She took one look at our set up and our flock and knew we'd done everything we could to protect them. It also helps that there have been a number of complaints from other neighbors that this dog is on the loose and killing chickens. We got the full story from the AC gal, and it was a bit of a long one. I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say that, one more call, or one more killing with an eyewitness to the act, and the dog (all 5 of them at that household in fact) would be history!

DH is still going to set a live trap on our property. The AC gal said that if we trapped it on our property, we had two options. We could either kill it ourselves, (NP!!) or they would come out, retrieve the animal and do it for us. Either way, the dog would not be a problem ever again!

Wish us luck folks! This long nightmare might soon be over for us. Just knowing that Animal Control is on our side in this one, and that they're aware of the problem, gives me hope that our babies may soon be able to return to free ranging the farm as they were always meant to do! Just in time for all of the yummy springtime crawlies that are due to appear nearly any week now! Why, I even heard the first frog of spring during the morning walk!!

Remember the three S's

Shoot
Shovel
Shut-up

Oh Boy!! Can I get a BIG AMEN to that one!!

 

[turbodog]

Quote:
Good deal! Glad you see a light on the horizon to this issue and your girls will be able to be "natural" chickens again.