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ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => FARMING & COUNTRY LIFE => Topic started by: danno on March 27, 2008, 09:29:21 am

Title: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: danno on March 27, 2008, 09:29:21 am
Yesterday afternoon my neighbor called me telling me he had just chased a dog that was killing my chickens.  I grabbed my rifle and ran up to the barn but the dog was gone.  I have about 60 layers.  Feathers were everywhere but I could only find a half a doz birds, one dead and two bitten badly and a few in good shape that were hiding.  I started walking and found them hiding all over the place alittle raddled but unharmed.  I got in my truck and started driving into  my back fields and found them hiding up to a 1/8 mile away.  The sheriff came out and took a report.  Today I'll get with animal control and my township supervisor.  Last year almost to the day two stray huskies killed my whole flock.  At that time someone told me something that the local government didn't want everyone to know.  Because we have a dog ordiance (they must be lic.) that the country would pay for stock damage if the owner of the dog could not be found.  I was told this is a 100 year old law. I check and it was true they replaced all my dead birds
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: JP on March 27, 2008, 09:51:03 am
Yesterday afternoon my neighbor called me telling me he had just chased a dog that was killing my chickens.  I grabbed my rifle and ran up to the barn but the dog was gone.  I have about 60 layers.  Feathers were everywhere but I could only find a half a doz birds, one dead and two bitten badly and a few in good shape that were hiding.  I started walking and found them hiding all over the place alittle raddled but unharmed.  I got in my truck and started driving into  my back fields and found them hiding up to a 1/8 mile away.  The sheriff came out and took a report.  Today I'll get with animal control and my township supervisor.  Last year almost to the day two stray huskies killed my whole flock.  At that time someone told me something that the local government didn't want everyone to know.  Because we have a dog ordiance (they must be lic.) that the country would pay for stock damage if the owner of the dog could not be found.  I was told this is a 100 year old law. I check and it was true they replaced all my dead birds

Danno, man that sucks about the chickens that bought it. Great they will be replacing your chuickens. Those some mean dogs, what did those chickens ever do to them, nothing. Animals can be such beasts sometimes, I know they are beasts to begin with, well, you know what I mean. Sick the falcons on them!


...JP
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: johnnybigfish on March 27, 2008, 11:53:15 pm
Hey Danno,
That was a lucky break about getting paid for the chickens , I mean.
 A dog got into my chicken coop and killed all my chickens except 2...Just killed 'em, not for dinner or anything..I gave the last to to my nabor Paul and havent had chickens since.
your friend,
john
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Kathyp on March 28, 2008, 02:08:41 am
i know how you feel.  i had dogs chasing my horses and another neighbors dogs eating my barn cats.  calling animal control was about useless.  one neighbor was good about it when i talked to him.  the other was a real jerk and we had problems for years.  once dogs start doing that, there isn't much of a cure for it except a well placed round. 
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: prisoner#1 on March 28, 2008, 05:28:19 am
if the owner cant be compelled to keep his dogs under control, it may be the only option
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: abejaruco on March 28, 2008, 05:59:43 am
Here there are good photos to finish with the problem. I have used it and it is "Saint Hand", 100% efective.

round lazo (http://www.club-caza.com/gestion/articulos/depredadores/predadores10.asp)

cable de embrague de moto: motorcycle clutch wire: steel wire. The wire must not shine, so it has to be a pair of weeks in water.

alambre dúctil 25 cm.: malleable wire 25 cm.

anilla: ring. To make the ring with the steel wire you have to get hot the end.

Prisionero: prisoner .It´s a top, limit, to take the fox or dog alive. I don´t use it. (It´s complicated).

Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: abejaruco on March 28, 2008, 06:21:16 am
more inteligible lace (http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000101-d000200/d000129/d000129.html)

This is in English and doesn´t take prisoners.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: danno on March 28, 2008, 09:10:20 am
I have been a fox and coyote  trapper since 1970 and started useing snares in the early 80s.  They are a k9 nightmare but my barnyard setup wouldn't work.  I use 220 conibares baited in square buckets.  The problem catching dogs is there aren't there for food.  They never eat what they kill.  the birds are just playtoys.  This whole thing did give me a idea.  My chicken door is about 20" high and the chicken only need about 12.  I'm going to loosely staple a snare over the upper 1/3.  This wont help the birds out in the yard but both times I had dog attacks they went in the hen house 
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Kathyp on March 28, 2008, 11:15:34 am
we used to use snares to trap rabbits.  :-).  that was fun.  the good old days before the PETA folks. 
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: randydrivesabus on March 28, 2008, 11:22:15 am
electric fences work for me...then I don't have to worry when I'm not around.
http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?mode=detail&fence_id=96
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: poka-bee on March 28, 2008, 12:29:38 pm
Sometimes I feel bad for the dogs, they are only doing what dogs do..it's the owners....I've even captured the dog & taken it to the police station saying I found it in the highway...the owners bailed it out & it was back the next week...If you use the SSS method they don't return.  ;) The snares would work though if you can't catch it in the act....We are now in the process of trapping a racoon..little bugger knocked one of my guinnea's off the branch (20ft in the air) at night...I went out to see what the rucus was & the Ba^%$!* had the balls to puff & stand up growling @ me, in MY own yard with the blood of MY pet..I ran in for my pal HK but it wouldn't come out where we could "chat"..I'm sure it's the same one that has gotten my chix...new chix house is going to be varmint proof, w hotwire & anything else I can think of..it picked a bad day to piss me off as my coffee maker had quit & my mare died that morning.... :-x I havn't decided, swimming lessons or animal control to come get it...guess it depends on how soon I get another coffee maker....Jody
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: thomashton on March 28, 2008, 12:52:47 pm
A year and a half ago I was at an Army leadership school when my wife called in hysterics that a neighbor (0.5 miles away), dog had gotten into my fenced chicken run (with the help of my 5 year old son) and killed two of my chickens before they got him out of there.

This is the second flock that he had gone after. The same dog wiped out my buddy's flock (save one that he gave me only to be taken by a Cooper's Hawk two weeks later). Shortly after my experience, the dog was found out in a different farmers' pasture. It had killed two sheep (!). The farmer took his rifle out of the truck and shot it dead on sight.

Sometimes that's all you can do. These same neighbors now have two new dogs, but have an invisible shock fence up. They don't leave the property. Not even when I go running by their house. Seems to be working great.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: danno on March 28, 2008, 02:33:10 pm
I agree with poka-bee.  If you put 100 dogs in a flock of chickens 99 will just be dogs.  Its the owner that has the problem. Problem is owners are protected so I have no choice but to take it out on there pets
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Scadsobees on March 28, 2008, 04:04:15 pm
Sometimes I feel bad for the dogs, they are only doing what dogs do..it's the owners....I've even captured the dog & taken it to the police station saying I found it in the highway...the owners bailed it out & it was back the next week...If you use the SSS method they don't return.  ;) The snares would work though if you can't catch it in the act....We are now in the process of trapping a racoon..little bugger knocked one of my guinnea's off the branch (20ft in the air) at night...I went out to see what the rucus was & the Ba^%$!* had the balls to puff & stand up growling @ me, in MY own yard with the blood of MY pet..I ran in for my pal HK but it wouldn't come out where we could "chat"..I'm sure it's the same one that has gotten my chix...new chix house is going to be varmint proof, w hotwire & anything else I can think of..it picked a bad day to piss me off as my coffee maker had quit & my mare died that morning.... :-x I havn't decided, swimming lessons or animal control to come get it...guess it depends on how soon I get another coffee maker....Jody
Whew!  Glad I'm not planning on being anywhere near Buckly, WA anytime soon!!!
 :-P
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: poka-bee on March 28, 2008, 04:51:45 pm
Bring me coffee & be nice to my animals & you'll be fine!  :roll: really!! :evil:
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Kathyp on March 28, 2008, 10:21:52 pm
poka-bee, i believe we might be related!!!   :-D
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on March 30, 2008, 11:38:22 am
Danno, that is simply a hideous travesty.  I can't stand that!!!!  And it leaves me speechless, and the stories that our forum friends have put forth here make me wince.  So many bad deeds that happen to humans and their livestock.  Eeeks!!!!  Bugs the crap out of me, to say no more.  I have had that stock kill, overnight 10 dead, 2 alive, some think it was a coyote or neighbourhood dog, but by the size of the entry point through the wire, I am still of the belief it must have been a weasel type vermin.  Disgusting......

Poka-Bee, I do think you and Kathy might be related, and I think you are related to me too, so is Kathy and a few other girls here too, hee, hee.  So Jody, tell me, what happened to your mare?  That must have bummed you out terribly, start a new thread about it if you so chose, we don't want to go off topic with Danno's stuff about his losses in his chickenyard.  (I have a story to tell about dogs and the loss of a foal too), so start a thread, girl.  Have a beautiful and wonderful day, lovin' our lives we live.  Cindi



Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: the kid on March 30, 2008, 02:19:53 pm
the dogs around here that are kept in the house and let out to run for hours ,,  have a hadit of eating somthing that some how gets mixed with a half cup of     epsen salt ....  I dont know how that would happen   :?  ....    but by the time the owner knows what is happening its allover   :shock: (  both ways  its all over the house  and already happened  :'()  some take the hint but others it happens to off and on for five years ..  :roll:
tuna makes it real stinky... ;)
I dont know how I know that they eat stuff with epsen salt in it , good guess :-X???
the kid
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: poka-bee on March 30, 2008, 07:49:44 pm
 :evil: :evil:OOOhh, Kid, I like your style! I have some...& tuna for cats from Trader Joes!  The neighbors I don't like keep letting their Sharpei (sp?) out & it booga booga's my pigeons..WAAHAHAHAHAOOOO That does bring a smile to my face!! :-D  Jody
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: danno on March 31, 2008, 08:39:22 am
poka-bee
I have heard they also really enjoy sponges soaked in gravy
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on March 31, 2008, 10:16:27 am
Ooooh, the party's getting rough, hee, hee!!!  Dad blasted dogs anyways.  I am of a firm believer that one has to protect their livestock.  There is no place for predators that should not be hangin' around, like the neighbourhood dogs.   Have the best of this beautiful day, Cindi
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: JP on March 31, 2008, 10:35:48 am
Guys, I just want to chime in quick here. I may get some flack but I want to point out that chickens and dogs are both animals, and we don't want any animal to suffer now do we?

If you have to deal with a dog that is a constant nuisance, either safeguard your pets, livestock, or catch the dog and either bring it to the owner IF the owner is a good neighbor and the dog just got out, IF the neighbor is a jerk, then, either remove the dog, perhaps the epson salt or something similar that gives the owner a mess and a lesson, but lets not make any dogs suffer, ok. You are just as bad if you are making animals suffer until they die. If you are in a position where you have to 86 an animal, then 86 the animal swiftly, so it doesn't suffer until death.

One last thing, when we are upset, we don't always make good decisions, so try and compose yourself and make a logical, rational decision. pLus you'll sleep better at night.

I have been there trust me, but please lets be humane about it.


...JP
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: danno on March 31, 2008, 10:55:43 am
I agree JP and heres a good example.  Last spring I came home to find dogs had killed all of my free range chickens.  I grabbed my rifle and called 911.  While I was waiting for the sheriff, two labs ran through my field.  I didn't shoot them but instead just watch for a moment with rifle in hand.  They ran within 100ft of my barn but didn't even look in that direction.  If these had been the dogs that had killed the chickens a few hours earlier they would have been back up there sniffing around.  They were almost in the wrong place at the wrong time.  It turned out that they were from a new person that had just moved in 1/4 mile to the south of my property.  I went and talked to them telling them that they almost lost there pets and I have never had a problem with them  again.  The next day my neighbor to the south told me he had seen 2 huskies cross his farm in mid afternoon
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: poka-bee on March 31, 2008, 12:29:45 pm
Guys, I wouldn't want the animals to suffer, they are just doing what animals do.  The epson salts won't do any long term damage, would just make a huge stinky mess in the house...preferrably on shag carpeting, or if outside dogs, right in front of the front door or garage...middle of the walkway...heh heh!  maybe even in the CAR if taken to the vet!! WAAHAHAHAHA! :evil: Some people are not reasonable, they live in the country and by golly their animals & kids can run free wherever they want even others property.  They don't listen to reason so $$ or inconvenience is the only thing to open their eyes.  If not, S.S.& S. is the only way to go, no suffering, you can look blank saying you havn't seen em in however long (in your mind saying minutes, hours ect..)have they tried looking at other neighbors...or you saw em once wherever...not a lie, you did see em there once! I havn't caught the racoon yet but did get a possum yesterday..my daughter & I ran out to poke it, looked at it & at each other & knew we couldn't kill it. I didn't see it actually hurt any of my animals..Did poke stix in to see what it would do & look at it's teeth.  It bit the stick but only when I had been bothering it for awhile & it wanted to close it's mouth.  Their feet are really cool! We put it in the car & took it for a ride..they stink by the way so while it was hailing & snowing we had the windows wide open & heater blasting!  Took it about 5 miles away to a wooded swampy area..has to cross a river & 2 BUSY roads if it wants to come back. I know, I'm a softie! We'll see how I do when I catch that %$!!** raccoon!  Have a GREAT day!!
Jody
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: johnnybigfish on March 31, 2008, 04:37:35 pm
 Man, you guys,.....This is such a bummer.....
 But you're all ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
 Dogs, even in the country shouldnt be on other peoples land, regardless of WHY.!
 I'm one of those people who have dogs what run all over the place. They stand in the road,....They visit nabors just to visit...They just come and go as they please, pretty much.
 At nite, they stay inside...if its too hot in the house, and they want out at nite, we close the gates off and let them out.
  The 2 Collies and the Rotty are mine from the start. Loki, The Rott/Lab mix was from next door.....The people over there constantly brought dogs home then ignored them...The hound was Pauls...It was a stray(actually "dumped" out here)..It has seizures regularly..It just decided to stay here instead of Pauls house..It was at pauls for about 2 years... Theres been other dogs here which liked it here because someone showed them some attention.
 I cant even begin to mention all the dogs which we took to the "Place" to most likely get put to sleep.
 My dogs just figure that all this land is theirs...The house next door has been empty for a long time. Now though,somebody bought it.
They're old friends of mine from years ago, and i like them just fine...Mike is a veterinarian..His wife, Tracy used to work with me. She was even on our bowling team for a year, maybe two...They've both been fishing with me and dad several times. Anyways, I told Tracy NOT to be friendly to my dogs(particularly the collies as they will be at her doorstep as soon as I go to work) Whats wierd tho...Mike was the one who I called to put THREE of my dogs to sleep at one time(NOT CHEAP)..One was BUck, A Rotty which was dumped out here. Spent 2000$ on this dog to Mike to get him fixed up. The other 2 were the choco lab which once belonged to the previous owner of the house next door and the son of Buck and the lab. These dogs tried to rip their Jack Russel apart when it came over to my yard..RIGHT BEFORE THEIR VERY EYES!!(Yeh, I know what you're thinkin'...What if it was a child?) God FORBID!

So,...If someone kills my dog (or dogs) .....I'll have to bite my tongue!..I'll be REALLY mad! :-x But I have no excuse ..It'll be ALL my fault!
 I REALLY have to start locking them down when I go to work, since we're gonna have nabors.
 Fortunately, Mike and Tracy are putting up a "Dog-proof" fence.(to go arounnd 9 acres) Tracy said that the fence(and horse arena) will be up before they move in......20,000 BUX!!!(For the FENCE) Its so that their dogs cant get out to bug nabors.
 So,....Like I said, I agree with you guys, And when I'm wrong I try to admit it.

 I guess I better go see if Tracy has my new dogs yet!(Every time my friends see a family with a new pup in the area they always tell me,"Hey John, We saw your new dog!"..because the dogs ALWAYS come to my house, eventually!

well,...thats about it...Sorry to you guys on behalf of pet owners who do like me but think they have the right..I'm going to do better starting today.

your friend,
john
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Kathyp on March 31, 2008, 06:36:05 pm
today i stepped out the back door to make a phone call and smoke.  they go hand in hand when you know you are going to be put eternally on hold, and have to listen to automated apologies and elevator music.....

i heard a dog barking and saw my horses bucking and running in the pasture.  they aren't afraid of dogs, but they do like to play with them and kick the snot out of them if they get to close.  sure enough, there was a strange pit bull mix running up and down the fence barking at them.  i took about 20 seconds to decide whether i wanted to confront this dog unarmed, but it looked like it was having fun rather than being aggressive.  i hiked out there and called the dog.  it came right to me.  i took to dog out to the road and spotted one of the neighbors guys doing some tractor work.  turned out the dog belonged to a worker and he hadn't been paying attention to it.  he was apologetic and put the dog up. 

sometimes it works out ok, but....dogs running horses in this mud and muck is a recipe for a broken leg.  most dog owners can't see their dogs doing any harm.  they don't realize that dogs don't have to kill to ruin livestock.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Brian D. Bray on April 01, 2008, 01:06:07 am
If you know who the owner of the dogs are send them a bill for the damage via hand delivery.  If they protest tell them you can take them to small claims court which will make it a public matter and cause their dogs to be listed as aggressive or dangerous dogs.  Then inform them that it is legal to kill dangerous dogs that mame or kill anything.  That should be sufficient for them to get the hint and cause them to keep their dogs up--if not follow through with complaints on vicious animals to the Police or Animal Control, after a few fines for noncompliance their dogs may be confiscated and destroyed.  And keep your rifle handy--Killing a stray dog on your property is legal if it shows any aggressiveness--it's called self-defense.  If you do kill it call the Police immediately and report that you've just killed an stray aggressive dog. 

It is too bad that pets have to suffer for their owners lack of responsibility but when they go bad they stay bad.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: the kid on April 01, 2008, 08:59:47 pm
well this dog that gets the salts ,, has bit a lady for walking in the street ,,, the city has a leash law and vishes dog laws but they dont seem to care ... the city atterney sees four cars in the yard more to be conserned about ..
the guy with the dog does not think his dog done any thing wrong ....   when I first moved out here (30 years ago ),,, dogs would come up to you with the hair standying on end ,,, after I shot 6 or 7  the first 2 years  ,,, most  kept them tyed up ,,,  Ive mollowed out a little in the years ,  as its harder to dig the holes  ..  now I watch them carry the carpet cleaner in and out ....
the kid
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Brian D. Bray on April 03, 2008, 02:01:20 am
Get a posthole auger, speeds up the digging and you can go back to planting dogs.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Beekissed on April 12, 2008, 04:04:11 am
I had a similar problem with a neighbor's dog who killed 2 of my best rabbits, destroyed rabbit cages, chewed a hole in my garage door to get at MY dog, and bit off each and every one of my pepper plants (I turned around in my garden when I kept hearing a funny noise and there he was, glaring at me with a whole row of pepper plants bit off at the stem!).  I bought the dog a new collar and tie out and took him back to the neighbor repeatedly, once tied to the bumper of the car (don't freak out, folks, I drove slowly!) just to "drive" home the point.  He never got the picture.  I finally called the cops and they said that a landowner has the legal right to shoot dogs that cause property damage or kill livestock.  I drove him out to the homeplace and my Mom gave him quick lead therapy.  Hated to do it, but the man had chance after chance to tie up the dog....I even bought him something to tie him with! 

You know, for a small investment, one can contain their dogs in the yard AND give them running room without building a fence.  I have an above-ground invisible fence for my dogs that works beautifully!  I can increase or decrease the boundary with a flick of the finger, change the boundaries by plugging in the transmitter in a new location, etc.  You can even take it on trips, it plugs into the cigarette lighter (with an adaptor).  It is only slightly more expensive than the in-ground fencing and works much better!  We live right on the highway and no problems yet!  And, the best part, this gives them the freedom of protecting my freerange chickens, the apple orchard and garden from deer and us from intruders.  Worth every penny!  Happy dogs who get lots of exercise and entertainment and are safe from gun-totin' neighbors and fast cars...what could be better?   :)
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on April 12, 2008, 01:41:08 pm
Beekissed, I am with you on that.  Beautiful and wonderful day, Cindi
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: HAB on April 15, 2008, 06:21:54 pm
Last week I was walking down my drive (1/4 mile to mail box) when four large dogs began to growl and generally act mean.  Let them know I wasn't to be messed with (large stick) only to learn later that they had already killed all of my chickens (my wife caught them in the act.)  Next day they were back.  Lets just say they won't be back again.
Here we have cattle, goats, chickens and other small animals, we own 135 acre small farm.  The human population has exploded around us with the resulting dog problems.  Animal control just laughs.  So we have no choice but to protect our property any way we can.  We hate it but people believe their pets would never do such a thing.  So my Wife and I have to clean up the mess they make.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on April 16, 2008, 12:33:45 am
HAB, that is truly a really bummer about your chickens.  I am of the firm belief that if a predator comes back for round two, do what you have to do....have the best of a beautiful day, Cindi
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: JP on April 16, 2008, 12:53:30 am
HAB, that is truly a really bummer about your chickens.  I am of the firm belief that if a predator comes back for round two, do what you have to do....have the best of a beautiful day, Cindi

Hey Cindi, if you see a predator that looks cajun don't shoot!!! :-*


...JP
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on April 16, 2008, 09:37:35 am
Now my dear JP, would that be you?  Hee, hee  :evil: :) :).  Beautiful and most wonderful day, Cindi
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: poka-bee on April 16, 2008, 12:31:31 pm
JP, Things in BC might be a little more friendly if you showed up with a trunk full of home made gumbo, hoppin-john & cornbread!!  :-D Throw in some red beans & rice & she might even look the other way whilst you wrestle with Whoppo!!...oh yea, don't forget the snips :evil:
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Kathyp on April 16, 2008, 02:42:52 pm
mmmmmm....gumbo.....

i have tried to make it, but it's never quite right.  it must be like sourdough bread.  it has to be made in the correct environment :-( .

HAB, i know your problem.  same here. people look at my property as a place to let their dogs run.  then they get upset when they are confronted.  like they think i'm being selfish or hogging land. 

our animal control is responsive, but they have no teeth.  i  have .45 teeth.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Brian D. Bray on April 17, 2008, 01:08:18 am
I find an aggressive dog, anywhere, and it takes after me, or mine, it will be its last act.  Like KathyP I pack heat and will use.  Dogs that attack other animals are just a split second from attacking a person.  150 grains of cure is worth a pound of prevention.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on April 17, 2008, 10:17:02 am
Yep, yep, yep.  If my critters were out attacking other peoples' livestock, if I caught them, they would go before the neighbour's got a chance to get them. 

My Sister raises quarter horses in a neighbouring town.  She had a mare foal a couple of years ago.  Two of her dogs ran the foal and attacked it, maiming it terribly.  Those dogs bit the boneyard that day.  No place for dogs running livestock.  Period.......Cindi
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: HAB on April 17, 2008, 06:54:20 pm
Just came back from delivering hay to my neighbor, Rhonda.  She was just crying her eyes out.  Dogs had killed four of her baby goats (she has 30 goats and kids) and she was burying them.  She pens them up at night, but the dogs knawed through the corner of a 2X6 gate like a squirrel.  They badly mutilated 8 other young goats, several may have to be put down.  Her son will spend tonight with the goats and a 12 guage. :(

Just another day in the life.
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on April 18, 2008, 10:27:53 am
HAB, oh no!!!!  That is just horrible, just a nasty, terrible thing, that poor family!!!  Still, try to have a great and wonderful day, Cindi
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Beekissed on April 20, 2008, 02:23:37 am
I find an aggressive dog, anywhere, and it takes after me, or mine, it will be its last act.  Like KathyP I pack heat and will use.  Dogs that attack other animals are just a split second from attacking a person.  150 grains of cure is worth a pound of prevention.

I would have to agree with this post....even if it is my own dog.  I have a beautiful, and up until lately, very sweet and harmless Lab.  Lately she is showing signs of aggression to the other animals and attacked, without provocation, the neighbor's dog that she had brought into the yard when she was out for a walk.  At first I thought, her territory and all, but she put a hole in my young dog's face the other day when she tried to steal his food, she lunged at the cat for no reason and the same for the chickens who wandered too close.  This is a dog who has always got along with other animals and has never offered to snap, growl or jump at another animal or person.  I know she is getting a little age on her but I already told the boys, at the first sign of aggression towards us, she is history.  Not rehomed, but put down.  I love her dearly and I can only imagine what has caused this change, maybe a medical problem, but I will not tolerate an aggressive animal.  She doesn't appear to be in any pain but there is definitely something going on with this dog.  She gets plenty of attention, plenty of food, plenty of exercise, etc.  All in all, though, a cranky dog is a dangerous dog!   :(
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Cindi on April 20, 2008, 08:54:36 am
Beekissed.  I know that will be a sad day for you.  But you must think in reality here, put that human emotion aside.  I agree with you 100%.  There is something brewing within your pooch, and it is not good.  I don't know her age, but the time has come.  If she is becoming aggressive like she is, then she must go to a happy place, where that aggression has been left behind in her earthly body.  It will be a very hard thing to do and will break your heart in two.  I have been there, many times with dogs, and my heart is still broken.

Last fall we had to put down my beautiful Keesha.  She had become stone deaf, she was 14.  I fell over her one night because she didn't hear me to move, she was black as the blackest night.  It was only time before she was run over by a car, eaten or maimed by a bear or coyote, and that would have been horrible vet bills or whatever.  She is in that happy place now, and she can hear.  My girlfriend thought that I was ruthless and cruel to put her down, she asked me what would I do when my Husband became completely deaf.  Hee, hee.......I was and am still very annoyed with her for these nasty thoughts to me, and there was a breakdown in our relationship it hurt me so badly.  She was the one that carried her great big Belgian Sheppard up and down the stairs to go to the bathroom, until he finally died in her yard.  I don't go that route at all, her and I are on different plains for surely.

Good luck with what you have to do, it will be a sad day, but you must protect everything within your life, it may be one of the children next.....have a beautiful, greatest of days, keep that chin up and be strong, and think logically.  Cindi
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: JP on April 20, 2008, 01:47:28 pm
Many yrs ago during an inspection for a sale, the homeowner informed us in small talk, that one of his cats had been hit by a car and the vet bills were over $3,000.00, which he paid.

I am an animal lover as well. That three thousand would have bought a lot of cats, if you like cats, me, I'm more of a dog person, although there have been a few cats that have gotten under my skin.

Cindi, that's sad about you and your friend, she has no right. You gave that dog 14 wonderful yrs, I'm with you on that one. You have to draw the unfortunate line somewhere.

Your friend prolonged the death of her dog because she couldn't let go, and that dog, I'm sure was suffering, more than it should have.

Look at it this way, if one of your dogs turned viscious, that doggie that you loved for so many yrs, wouldn't you want to be the one to privately put it down?

That way you can have proper closure with your pet.


...JP
Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: Kathyp on April 20, 2008, 03:02:09 pm
cindi has it right.  better for all to do it before something really bad happens.  it's just part of owning animals.

Title: Re: another stray dog in my chickens
Post by: poka-bee on April 20, 2008, 04:14:47 pm
JP, Cindi & Kathy you are all right!  My aussie is 13, getting deaf but still moves without much pain. The time will come however when her quality of life doesn't equal my need for her to be with me.  Our animals let us know when it's time..don't know how but if you really listen with your heart you can tell.  Cindi, a deaf dog in your situation, so much can happen in a painful, scary way.  We aren't so far out & my property is fenced but worry every day when Maddy goes to "mark" the corner of the driveway that some car will sneak up on her.  I would much rather have the last minutes of her life peaceful & loving than scared & hurt.  In the wild they would not even have lived this long as only the strongest most able usually live to maturity anyways.  Beekissed,  I know that our dogs are domesticated but some of the old triggers still exist, like the prey drive, dominance, you never know what will set off a particular instinct.  We love & trust our animals but always have to remember that they are animals & WON'T react like people do.  People with alhizmers or other disease don't react like we think people should either & a good portion of them wouldn't want to live like they are if they were able to make a rational choice. I know I wouldn't!   Just my .02 off to feed the girls!

Jody