My dogs killed neighbors chicken

[8N Ren]

I don't think it matters where you live, when it come to biting dogs you the owner are totally legally responsible for that animal.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. the only person i want my dog biting is the person breaking into my house attacking me... Too much liability to have a dog that lunges at and bites people because you allow him to be unrestrained and agressive. That's the owners fault.

Unfortunately, the OP is in a bad situation here.

The neighbor has had a dog bite, can call code enforcement and report it.. and then show that they found a dead chicken on their property, and you have an admitted 'agressive' dog.

In my county that would be impounded and very possibly charges.. even though the details of the situation may be a hair sketchy.

 

[HEC]

Sorry to hear about those kind of problems with neighbors no matter whose fault . Life is to short to be upset about things such as you have mentioned . I agree with the chain link fence or get rid of the dog , and don't get me wrong i have and love dogs but if my dog bit someone it would be gone . You could never live with yourself if a child was bitten or even worse seriously bitten . Honesty is always the right policy about the chicken situation . Try and build up a good relationship before things get out of hand and things get way worse then they are now . Wish you the very best in a tough situation for sure .

 

[MH8675309]

I feel for ya. I lived where I'm at for 20 years and it used to be peaceful and quiet. Then 2 neighbors moved in and that all changed. The ones in back aren't so bad. Lots of shooting back there (never mind they're on 2 1/2 acres) and some major explosions at times. But if I needed them they'd be there and, I'd be there for them too. The ones on the east - the first week they moved in their dog came over and bred one of our dogs - after we told them to keep their dog home. Puppies! They get into screaming matches (they are probably 500 feet away) on a weekly basis and I'm just waiting for one of my grand kids to ask what a MF er is. They should move to a ghetto if they want to act that way or take it inside! But there area I live in is good and I figure they'll probably move sooner than I will. The ones in back have a few German shepherds and one went through our board fence one day and starting barking at us as we sat one our back deck. I shouted at him to go home and he just looked at me. So I picked up a rock about half the size of a tennis ball and hurled it at him. It hit him in the back leg and for a minute I wondered if it was broke for all the fuss he made. To my knowledge he hasn't been back but if he ever comes over again I may do my talking with lead.

 

[dave1949]

Fences are good, invisible fences make good dogs insane

We used to live where the neighbors had a pair of Dobermans. They ran an invisible fence all around their property--right on the lines. If I walked our dogs past their place, their two dogs would charge right to that fence and bark their heads off. The road wasn't wide enough to give them enough space to feel like they aren't being challenged, so that is something to think about with invisible fence placement, if used.

I do think invisible fences somehow reinforce and amplify the natural territorial tendencies of dogs. Since they aren't fool-proof for keeping dogs in, and don't keep things like skunks and porcupines away from your dog, I don't think I'd ever use invisible fencing.

Edit: I should add that neither one of those Dobbies was an aggressive dog. Quite friendly actually if I visited the neighbors.

 

[MH8675309]

Also - I wouldn't own a dog whose aggression I couldn't control. That's a liability and a lawsuit waiting to happen. And it might involve a small child - then no one will understand or feel the dog is justified. Once the dog crosses the line and bites a person its just a matter of time before they do it again. Just my 25 cents worth ( I said too much for it to be considered my 2 cents).

 

[tractorshopper]

Not to hijack, but this is along the lines of an issue I'm having with my neighbor's dog. He got a dog last fall that was full grown. It is a larger spaniel of some sort, no doubt a bird dog. I love dogs, but he does not keep this dog penned or fenced and it runs free. It is a nice dog; no issue there, but I have chickens and ducks and it pesters the crap out of them. I am missing 2 ducks. Found one dead in my pond. Can't prove either are due to the dog, but he comes across the road regularly and chases them and jumps in my pond. I haven't seen him catch one yet and haven't made a big deal about it other than running him off if I'm around to do so.

Not too long ago my cat came running around the side of my house. I thought that was odd until the dog rounded the corner too. My cat recently had kittens. Yesterday while mowing the grass in my front yard, the neighbors dog was running across his front yard with a kitten dead in his mouth. I'm guessing it's one of mine.

I have great relations with my neighbor, but am really getting tired of this. When he first got the dog, I told him it's a bird dog having owned several spaniels myself over the years.

He mentioned about putting up a pen or electric fence or something but has not done this. Frankly I don't want to fence myself in to keep his dog out. On the other hand, though, there is nothing in my yard to keep my cat from roaming to his yard although I've never seen my cat over there. I don't want to be two faced and certainly don't want to strain our relationship, but this can't keep going on. I rarely let my chickens out of the coop to free range anymore unless I'm around in the evenings to keep an eye on them. My oldest bird went missing about a month ago now. Once again, can't pin it on the dog, and it could be hawks or anything, but I do have my suspicions based on him chasing my cat and ducks regularly.

Thoughts? Advise?

 

[Gary Fowler]

Agree on the fence. First thing any land owner should do is fence in his property with a sturdy fence that will contain his animals and prevent other animals/ people from entering. Fencing is cheap insurance against a lawsuit. I suppose you could be held liable for dog bites even if someone climbed over your fence but you would stand a better chance of defending yourself with a fence.
A biting dog that is unprovoked, needs to go same as any other animal that attacks humans for no reason (fighting roosters for instance) and someone walking onto your property even uninvited and getting bit will cause you some major monetary problems plus it will mean the dog will be taken and put down so you may as well get rid of it yourself unless you can build a fence that is un-climbable to keep him in.


If you insist on keeping your dog, you will need a 6 foot tall chain link to start. If folks (kids etc) try climbing over it, adding an electrified wire on top will stop just about anyone from climbing over. Make sure all the warning signs are in place about biting dog, electrified fence etc. A common cattle hot shot fence would work and not do any damage to whoever might come in contact.

 

[MoMower]

She was told not to approach and did so anyway, on your property...her fault. As far as the chicken is concerned they chose to let them free range and one fre ranged to the wrong part....again their fault. I might let them know because it is the neighborly thing but that's about it.

That being said my dogs have always been fenced, even the guard/ sentry trained ones and my chickens are locked up in a run as well.

 

[Travelover]

No excuse to have a biting dog. You are lucky you were not sued. The average settlement is on the order of $25K. The $30,000 Dog: How a Biting Pooch Costs You - Forbes