Trapped a Neighbor's Dog on My Deck....Got an Earful

[speckledhen]

Am reopening this old thread to update the situation. Interesting thing happened today, but first I want to say that the owner did install a huge area with chainlink fencing. The problem is that you must make the dog stay in the area and they tend to let him out in the front yard or to run alongside them when they take the jeep or the gator down the street. At least, he has not been back up here to my place.

What happened just a little while ago was this: The birds had just been locked in for the night, except that I was out in the yard with my ailing elderly Brahma hen when someone called from the driveway gate. I looked up to see two people, a man and a woman. He shouted, "You have any eggs for sale?" I didn't know who it was, wouldn't have been able to see from that distance, asked them to hang on a minute, called my DH, who walked down the drive and talked for a few minutes. When he turned around and looked toward the house, I asked if he needed me to bring some eggs, he held up one finger for one dozen, so I went in and grabbed a dozen from the fridge. As I handed them off to him, he handed me the money, which was a bit more than we had quoted for the price, but he said the guy said to keep the change. I asked him who it was. He told me and my jaw dropped. It was the kid from August 2010 who threatened to kill all my birds with a shotgun if we shot his dog.

He apologized for the incident, said he didn't mean for any of that to happen, etc, etc. so I guess buying a dozen eggs was a way to make amends. All he really needs to do is to keep his dog on his own property and we'll be hunky dory. Maybe he's educated himself on the local laws or has read about the local recent court case and knows what side he'd end up on if the dog came back up to harass my chickens. We can hope, anyway.

 

[EweSheep]

Just awesome! Sometimes people have a bit of growing up to do and they felt so embarassed about what they said to you about wanting to kill your chickens.

Glad it came out to be!

 

[marty8587]

Darn it!! Just when you get ready to write someone off they go and turn decent on ya! The kid will get through life much better without the chip on his shoulder.

 

[speckledhen]

I hope he really means it. He's not a kid anymore, in his early 20's now. Consequences are real for adults when they act out in stupid ways. Helps if you can actually grow up before you get gray hair.

 

[Cetawin]

Well that is a change to his tune...about time he grew up a bit. Yay!

 

[Mattemma]

Thanks for giving the update.Nice to read the neighbor has realised his error and apologised for the harsh words before.

 

[speckledhen]

I really, really hope it was sincere. After someone threatens to kill all my birds with a shotgun, it's a bit hard to be completely won over, you know? But, we'll do our best to take him at his word and hope he's really come to his senses and actually grown up some.

 

[gapeach717]

It's so nice when hormones calm down and adulthood sets in, no matter what age!

 

[speckledhen]

Well, I have to say

My flock was free ranging today. Isaac followed me out on the front side of the property, down the driveway (gate was closed, thank goodness), and had most of his hens almost to the perimeter fence. They were happily grubbing away in the leaves and munching on the newly sprouting scrub when I happened to glance up and saw a dog at the end of my driveway, turned away from me, so didn't know whose/which dog it was. All I saw was a husky-looking tail. It wasn't until it turned around and I saw the blue heeler face that I realized it was the dog who is the subject of this thread, loose, no owner in sight.

I listened, heard nothing from their house down the hill to indicate they were anywhere around. I called for my husband and picked up the closest weapon I saw, a large stick, just in case. The dog smelled around and made a "deposit" on the corner of my property outside the perimeter fence at the corner and eventually trotted back toward his home. Someone explain to me why they spent a couple thousand bucks on a nice chainlink fence, why? What if I'd had my gate open for an expected delivery/visitor?

 

[herfrds]

Their idiots!
Keep your eyes peeled and your gun loaded. That dog will be back.