what would you do?

[louloubean]

a dear friend of mine just sent me the following story:

""Pumpernickel was killed yesterday afternoon at about 5pm. I was at my Mother’s nursing home visiting her and I usually take the dogs- the people there love to see them and the dogs love to go. When we were getting ready to leave, the dogs went flying out the automatic door. Instead of going after them and putting them in the car, I went back in my Mom’s room to tell her something. When I got back outside, Pumper was not to be found. I got in the car with my stepson, Sam and Jenny and Biscuit, and we road around looking for him and calling his name. There is a house next door to the Care Center with a pen of chickens and ducks. As we were looking for him, we heard a gun shot, and by the time I got to the house, the man who owned the house had killed him. The man was rude and mean and called the police on me, but by the time they got there, we had put Pumper in the car and left.
We buried him in the back yard with a rock as a headstone. I am devastated. But I know time will make it better. """


i feel so bad for everyone involved. My friend loves her dogs, and has trained them to be great companions, but one got away which she had no reason to suspect the worst.

i also feel bad for the flock owner, because HE doesn't know the dog, and he was protecting his birds to the best of his ability.

a total bummer all around.

what would you tell my friend? "sorry for your loss" or "call the cops on the guy"?

 

[Settin'_Pretty]

I think you should tell your friend to pay for any damages and apologize for allowing it to happen
she/he showed poor judgment allowing the dog to run onto private property.

 

[louloubean]

yes, poor judgement for letting the dog run, even if it were just "for a minute".

no chickens or ducks were harmed, and no fences broken. should my friend still apologize for having the guy shoot her dog?

 

[calista]

Yes, it was a regrettable and sad ACCIDENT that your friend lost control of her pet and thus lost the pet.

The chicken owner confronting a strange dog has no frame of reference for judgment and must instantly assume that his investment is in danger and must be protected. There are many threads in this section of the forum concerning inadvertent dog predation on chickens.

I am sorry for your friend's loss and grief, but I support the chicken owner's decision to err on the side of caution.

 

[Settin'_Pretty]

Quote:
Yes, the guy was the victim, he was put into the position of having to shoot the dog to protect his livestock.
He probably would have preferred none of it ever happened, I know I would have.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I lost some respect for your friend when she didn't stay to face the police. It was a sad accident, but your friend chose to have the dogs off leash, and when one ran off she did not immediately go after it. Then she finds the dog who has been shot, and doesn't stay to face the music, but essentially does a hit & run act. Nowhere does the letter say that the dog had not injured any birds or tried to attack them.

What should you say to her? Well, you can offer sympathy that she lost her dog, but if she really wants to know that you sympathize with her and agree with her upset, you will have to decide how much you are willing to say. Don't lie, but do be careful to diplomatically phrase whatever amount you are willing to share.

 

[Kennyog]

You MUST have control over your animals. NO excuses.Too bad that incident had to happen.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

I am sorry your friend lost her pet, but I guess I don't understand why she let the dogs run out of a nursing home and run free while she chatted with her mother. I would have been terrified that my dog(s) would get hit by cars!

If it was me, I would just offer my sympathies to her and not take sides. You know the chicken owner was right, but she needs you for support so rather than get into a who is right and wrong battle, just comfort her.

 

[Dora'smom]

Isn't anyone here disturbed by the fact that the man opened fire on the dog right next to a nursing home? I understand he has the right to protect his livestock, but this sounds like he is trigger-happy and maybe dangerous. If it really was close proximity, he may even be cited for discharging a firearm within city limits, etc.
She should not have had her dogs off-leash, and when the dogs ran out, she should have immediately gone out to retrieve them. It was careless of her to go back in to speak to her mother first, she could have done that after collecting her dogs. Unfortunate that the dog had to suffer for her carelessness.
You should be truthful and tell her that you are sorry her dog got killed. It really was unfortunate.

 

[wildeflowers]

IMO, they both acted foolishly.

She for going back to chat with her mother after her dogs ran out of the building without her.

And he for shooting a dog that probably could have been easily caught. This is a visiting animal, probably on the smaller side, and apparently with a personality calm enough to go visiting in a nursing home. If he wanted to teach her a lesson, he could have kept the dog inside, called animal control, therefore sticking her with the fine for getting the dog back/having an unleashed animal.

I suppose offer your condolences.