when and where do you report chicken loss?

[chickenology]

Had a bad time this week with my pen of 14 broilers. They were 6 1/2 weeks old, 1 week left until processing, and all were killed by dogs that pried the door off the Salatin style tractor. The birds were just slaughtered, it was an awful sight. I was at work when it occurred, but fortunately I had a teen aged neighbor that happened upon the scene while it was occurring, went home and got his dad. To make a long story short, the two dogs will not be creating any more problems for anyone. This is my first time with significant chicken loss, and I am not only disgusted at the horrific end these chickens experienced, but I am disgusted at the loss of financial and physical efforts that went into raising these broilers up until this point. I have been told that I should report this to the county (not sure which agency though), as there may be financial compensation available, and it needs reported in case the owners of the dogs are located. However, the neighbor who helped me out has asked that it be handled in a SSS manner, as he was on my property and it was my livestock that was being attacked when he took care of the problem. I think he is afraid that he is going to get in trouble somehow. I guess I need some advice on how to proceed, I certainly am appreciative of my neighbor's efforts and don't want to risk losing this help if/when there is a "next time". I am okay financially with this loss, although I am very angry and would love to take some money from the dogs owners if possible. More than that, I would love to show the owners the pictures I took of the scene that resulted from their irresponsibility, and describe how it felt to have to clean the mess up and listen to my children cry when I told them. I doubt it will ever be known who owned the dogs though. Any advice?

 

[terri9630]

The only place I'd know of to report it to would be to the sheriff or local police. Around here they are the ones who take reports. I don't know how you would go about getting them to pay for this. You'd have to prove they owned the dogs and then probally take them to court.

That is the route we would have had to go to get a dog owner to pay for our horses vet bill when he was bit, in his own pen. The sheriff and livestock inspector both said since no one would claim the dog and he'd already attacked our livestock we could shoot on sight. On or off our property. But those are our laws, you'd have to check on your local laws.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

The proper authorities would be your local police. Most jurisdictions have laws protecting livestock, as well as laws against dogs at large. If they brought charges against the dogs' owner it's possible that a court could order restitution to be paid. If the owners are not charged it would be up to you to take them to court for damages.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Check your laws, but here, if livestock is killed by a roaming dog, dog can be removed, and owners pay the loss. Report to sheriff.

 

[WingingIt]

What #2 and #3 said. In the last two states we've lived in you'd have to get the money from the owners via their cooperation or court. In court you'd have to prove it was their dogs, which would mean involving the neighbors. Even if you just call to report it, they are going to ask what happened to the dogs, so if you truly want to keep it quiet, I'd just go about my business (providing those people don't own MORE dogs).

 

[BrattishTaz]

I think respecting you neighbor's request would be best in this case. It is hard to find someone who watch over your interests while you are not home, you shouldn't risk ruining it.

 

[donrae]

Quote:
this

If you're never going to know who the owners were, what's the point? Financial comp would only come from the owners. What I see happening is you calling the sherrif, telling them some dogs killed your chickens, even giving them a description of the dogs, then what's going to happen? The dogs are gone. I'd say leave it this time. Do something nice for your neighbor---maybe buy him a box of ammo

That stuff's not getting any cheaper!

 

[chickenology]

I will respect my neighbor's wishes and keep the loss to ourselves. I really didn't see much point in reporting it, we have no idea where the dogs were from. I never even saw them and wouldn't be able to give a description as DN (dear neighbor??) had removed them from the property and buried them by the time I arrived 1 hr after they called me at work. They even helped me clean up the chickens. I was going to bake some cookies or banana bread for the neighbor, but I love the box of ammo as a thank you gift idea even more! I really can't tell them how thankful I am for their help. My layer flock and 4H bantam pens may have been next on the dog's list for fun. This loss has been an eye opener for us, and I am looking into running an electric line along the bottom of my pens to try to prevent future occurrences. Thank you all for the advice!

 

[Kudzu]

Quote:
I agree, why even risk putting your neighbor in a bad situation.

OOOps, guess I should have read all the post before jumping in with my two cents.

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

Oho Law-


§ 955.28 Dog may be killed for certain acts; owner liable for damages.
Text of Statute
(A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of section 955.261 [955.26.1] of the Revised Code, a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, that attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, or that kills or injures a person or a dog that chases, injures, or kills livestock, poultry, other domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed at the time of that chasing, approaching, attempt, killing, or injury. If, in attempting to kill such a dog, a person wounds it, he is not liable to prosecution under the penal laws which punish cruelty to animals.
(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog, unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time, was committing or attempting to commit a trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or was committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense against any person, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner's, keeper's, or harborer's property.
HISTORY: RS §§ 4212-1, 4212-2; 93 v 128, 129; 94 v 118, §§ 1, 2; GC § 5838; 124 v 428; Bureau of Code Revision, 10-1-53; 142 v H 352. Eff 7-10-87.

It sounds like you and the gunman are in the clear so far as the law goes. As far as recovering damages for the lost birds unless you can identify the dog owner, harborer, keeper you would have to seek reimbersement from the county (which liscences dogs). The dog warden would probably be the best person to contact re this.

You good neighbor may be the most valuable asset to protect in this matter.