Neighbor dog on my property harassing wildlife

[hunt4570]

The reality is if ANY dog is on your property, you have the legal right to put it down as long as the dog has shown aggression in your opinion at that point in time (dead dogs can't bark/talk). Shoot a dog off your property, and depending on the circumstances, you could be in a world of hurt legal wise.

What I'm curious about per your own situation is if you filed a report on the dog with the proper legal authorities and what was done about it per the legal and insurance systems? Assumption would be (right or wrong?) that the owner of the dog took care of the legal costs for your daughters dog bite? (I'm assuming the dog was on your property?).

I had a truckload of, shall we say hillrods, pulled into my driveway once back when I lived in Texas. They informed me they were looking for a Great Pyrenees that had been harassing their goats or something a mile or so down the road. Said if they found it they would shoot it on sight. I informed them that they were a long ways from home, that I had a Great Pyrenees, and that if they shot it I would shoot back and that I was good to about 4-500 yards and they made a great target up in the back of their pickup. They left and I never saw them again!

 

[hunt4570]

I find it hard to believe that a two year old understood what you were instructing them per firearm safety when they had access to loaded firearms.

Well not at that age, but at that point its easy to put a gun out of reach and still not have it locked up, which I refuse to do! Both my daughters were shooting by the time they were 6 or 7. The one was a great deer hunter by the time she was 11!

 

[Sigarms]

I had a truckload of, shall we say hillrods, pulled into my driveway once back when I lived in Texas. They informed me they were looking for a Great Pyrenees that had been harassing their goats or something a mile or so down the road. Said if the found it they would shoot it on sight. I informed them that they were a long ways from home, that I had a Great Pyrenees, and that if they shot it I would shoot back and that I was good to about 4-500 yards and they made a great target up in the back of their pickup. They left and I never saw them again!

We kind of have the same philosophy. Ironcially, my one gate to the backfield has been down for years, and not once in the same amount of time have I ever had a trespasser on my land.

Please note, in a previous post in this thread, I mentioned that my neighbor asked me if he could hunt on my land and I told him yes.

General rule in life, always be nice and polite. Sad to say, I don't always adhere to that rule on a internet forum.

 

[95XL883]

There are two dogs that are hunting here now, this morning it was those two plus they brought a friend. I see them on my game cams, one day they were running deer.

This morning they were hunting and came up around the house, second time they came through tracking a rabbit (no doubt) and as I went out with my shotgun they already ran through. Third time they came up to my house, I grabbed the shotgun and shot into the ground 2 feet in front of ones nose, that took their mind off hunting and they ran.

They have no collars, are not friendly and I have no idea where they come from... THAT, was their one and only one warning shot, next shot will be with buckshot and they will be coyote feed...

I have very little tolerance for dogs that go hunting "all the time" on their own...

SR

Oh man! Good Luck. My situation with my neighbor's dogs started to disintegrate when his pack took to running game. I watched them pack hunt and it was scary. If they had ever turned on a human like that, they would have mauled that person badly or worse (if that person wan't armed.). There was only one that was actually vicious, the others just followed his lead. They got a couple of passes from me but their time was running out. In my case, I knew who the owners were. One quickly tied his down for a while. The other one, with five dogs, didn't want to control them. When he finally realized I was serious, he took action and had a strong fence installed. It has been good since. The passing throughs aren't a problem; the pack hunters are a big concern.

Without an owner to go to, you have few options. Check you state and county laws. In Kansas, it is not legal to shoot loose dog unless it is harassing/threatening/killing livestock or people. The local sheriff suggested rock salt from a 12 gauge but that requires so much time I can't see how it would be practical.

From what I have seen, pack hunters are very dangerous. I am always armed. And that didn't help me when the worst encounter happened. My hands were full, in one was a walking stick and the other a bow. I was able to use those to keep the aggressive one back till it decided I wasn't worth the hassle. You should consider having at least a walking stick or pepper spray with you when you are on your ground.

Good luck. You have a rough problem.

If you do have to shoot them, please use an appropriate shot. I am not sure small birdshot would be much of a deterrent to an angry charging dog. Again, good luck and be careful.

 

[Sigarms]

Well not at that age, but at that point its easy to put a gun out of reach and still not have it locked up, which I refuse to do! Both my daughters were shooting by the time they were 6 or 7. The one was a great deer hunter by the time she was 11!

My point is under the age of 5, you can't assume "children" know what the rules are even if they can regurgitate them back to you verbally.

When we did work for the humane socitety at Petsmart on the weekends trying to find homes for dogs in our care, the amount of idiot parents who would let their kids run up blindly to a strange dog was mind numbing. You NEVER go running up to a strange dog you don't know, even if you're an adult IMO.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You should consider having at least a walking stick or pepper spray with you when you are on your ground.
Good luck. You have a rough problem.
If you do have to shoot them, please use an appropriate shot. I am not sure small birdshot would be much of a deterrent to an angry charging dog. Again, good luck and be careful.

Thanks for the advise, but I don't need a walking stick or pepper spray, folks carry guns where I live...

This isn't anything I haven't taken care of before... As for shot size, I keep #4 buck in one 870 just for that reason, and I'm never far from a rifle..

SR

 

[ovrszd]

I agree. However, they didn't learn a thing, and the kid still had to live in the trailer with the dog which bit her. Say what you want, if my dog ever bit somebody I would shoot him myself.

I absolutely agree.

Of course the other side will respond with "So if someone is in your house raping your wife and the dog bites them you would shoot the dog?" We always get stupid responses like that in this discussion.

 

[95XL883]

I am with Sig on knowing the particulars of any dog bite before making a judgement.

My brother had a very friendly and passive lab. had never shown aggression to anybody. Mom had a pool. Big 4th of July party. Dog inside. Everybody outside. My grandniece, Mom's great grandchild, had a friend with her. They went inside. Mom's great grandchild got bit in the face, a single bite and release, not a bite, hold and shake or multiple bites. The dog was hiding in a corner. Her parents wanted the dog shot right then and there. Harsh words were spoken. Mom put her foot down and started asking questions. Turned out the friend was tormenting, threatening and/or hitting the lab. The lab had retreated until it was trapped in the corner. The granddaughter felt bad for the dog and tried to hug it, to comfort it. That is when she got bit, trying to hug a frightened, cornered dog. The dog bit once and stayed in the corner. It took a lot of coaxing to get the dog out. The great, granddaughter's parents, insisted the dog be shot or they wouldn't allow mom to see her great grandchild again.

Mom was maybe 5 feet tall. Her grandson is 6'4" and 250 lbs. Mom pointed to the door and said "Fine. Your daughter's friend caused this, the dog was just trying to protect itself. The dog will not be shot and is welcome at my house. You are welcome also. If you choose not to come here anymore, Weill, I will miss you. But that dog will not be shot."

Sig is right. Never let a child be alone with a dog. No telling what may happen and it can happen fast.

I have a GSD. Typical GSD, big, beautiful, somewhat scary, protective, not overly friendly and loves my wife and I. We had a big gathering at our house. I stayed close to my dog and kept a close eye on her. A toddler approached from behind and grabbed my GSD. It happened so fast I couldn't prevent it. My GSD wheeled quickly around and just looked at the toddler. No huffs, no woof's, not a bark, growl or snarl, not a hackle raised, ears were normal, tail down, not a sign of aggression. I was moving quickly to get my hands in between them. It was over in three seconds at most. I and the toddler's dad were the only two who noticed. He complimented me on what a well-behaved dog I had. I regretted that I didn't see it until I couldn't stop it. I resolved then to do even better at watching her around children. A child may provoke a bite but it is the owner's and parents responsibility to prevent the situation.

Mom's house

 

[95XL883]

Thanks for the advise, but I don't need a walking stick or pepper spray, folks carry guns where I live...

This isn't anything I haven't taken care of before... As for shot size, I keep #4 buck in one 870 just for that reason, and I'm never far from a rifle..

SR

Good man. Good to know you are prepared. Do be careful. Do what you have to, to protect you and yours. It's a tough situation, You have my respect, sir.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I had a truckload of, shall we say hillrods, pulled into my driveway once back when I lived in Texas. They informed me they were looking for a Great Pyrenees that had been harassing their goats or something a mile or so down the road. Said if the found it they would shoot it on sight. I informed them that they were a long ways from home, that I had a Great Pyrenees, and that if they shot it I would shoot back and that I was good to about 4-500 yards and they made a great target up in the back of their pickup. They left and I never saw them again!

So it's only wrong to shoot the dog when it's YOUR DOG.

Got it.

Not surprised at all.