Neighbor's dobermans on my land, protecting "their" property ...??

[CurlyDave]

I would be inclined to talk to my neighbor first, and then drive the property line with my tractor much more frequently.

Always be armed, but don't be afraid to drop the FEL on a dog. A tractor accident is just that -- an accident.

The dog startled you and the FEL came down, or he got in front of the tractor and got run over...

 

[Sigarms]

What did they have dogs in the old days for? Killing and maiming sheep? Guess what, dogs haven't changed.

And interesting enough, even today, like the "old days", you have dogs running loose without supervision, perhaps causing damage to other peoples property. Guess what? Seems that people haven't changed as well. Ironic isn't it considering we're supposed to be the most intelligent animal on this planet.

To the OP, go talk to your neighbor if you haven't already. From your first post, I get the impression since you mentioned it was a "vacant lot" you may not be over there that often, and the dogs were just wondering what was going on. Use common sense, and I would suggest keeping a gun on the tractor if you're over that area again, but if you go over to talk to your neighbor, I'd suggest leaving it (gun) on the tractor.

 

[dieselbeef]

the vet bill from that wasp spray will deter that guy from his dogs being loose...he wont want the grief a scond time and they probly wont ever know what i is

 

[boggen]

talk to neighbor first.

if things go badly after talking, you need to call ""animal control"" for your area. police do not do squat. and my experience do not know the animal laws, and on top of that, they will most likely not make a record of any kind.

do a internet search for "county animal control" and state you live in. should bring back what you need in first couple links.

as far as shooting a dog. most laws i have looked at from various states. if live stock or your other animals are in danger, ((other words being chased on your property and being harassed / killed)) the own of live stock and other animals, can shoot the dog dead, and most laws will state that right in the law itself, and the owner of dog is responsible for damages to live stock and other animals you own on your property.

===============
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/statestatutes/stusflset.htm (((errr animallaw.info tractorybynet is renaming the title))
i have noticed some of the laws are a tad off vs actual statutes and laws and in they read. but it is a good starting point to know your animal laws.

besides animal laws, you also need to check "fence laws" more so if you plan to put live stock at a property. some times you need to give 1 year advance notice of live stock / farm. to given neighbors. so they have time to build an appropriate fence for there fair share of property line fence.

 

[Transit]

Sandman, the Florida law allows you to shoot. The other mistake you made was not having a camera handy. If you had problems I am sure others had problems too. I'd have them in court so often they would be adding a wing to the building.

 

[sandman2234]

Working two jobs back in those days didn't allow for much time to play down at the courthouse, and even the check for the damaged goods wasn't worth what it cost me. I got my satisfaction by adding about a foot of dirt to my property and getting the guy behind them to cut off any drainage from their property, making their property a holding area for the drainage of a lot of property. Making a guy with a tractor and access to a lot of dirt and sod can be detrimental. When they moved, we cut the birm to the rear, allowing drainage into the neighbors pond.
David from jax

 

[Fred Barbour]

My advise. Go over to your neighbour and introduce yourself and have the owner introduce the dogs to you. Get to know them by name.

A short story about my own situation. On moving to my property, the elderly lady next door had a shepherd/Akita/Husky cross. The dog was 135 lbs and had one blue eye. The scariest dog I'd ever seen. He got to know us and in fact was over at our place more than his own due to the large number of people coming and going (my wife teaches kids how to ride horses). Over the years he had a path from his house to ours so beat down the grass wouldn't grow. When he got older and arthritic I had to remove the bottom rail of the fence to make his trip easier!

Everytime someone entered our property the dog came over to "protect" HIS property. When I went away on business he would come over to assist my wife feeding the horses at night. His steadfast attention to our life and routine made it very comforting knowing he was protecting us.

In short, he was the best dog I never owned!

Forget the police, make friends with both the human and his dogs!

Fred

 

[Milton Burro]

And interesting enough, even today, like the "old days", you have dogs running loose without supervision, perhaps causing damage to other peoples property. Guess what? Seems that people haven't changed as well. Ironic isn't it considering we're supposed to be the most intelligent animal on this planet.

Agree. Some folks shirk their responsibility towards their animals. Fortunately, I knew the owner of the dog and did everything in my power to keep from shooting it. We get strays passing through all the time and as long as that's all they're doing, I just hope they were not a drop off from someone that doesn't want it anymore. We get too much of that out here. I have adopted some and taken others to a private group in town that helps find them homes with a generous donation to help with expenses. Dogs are my favorite animals, but I can only take care of mine, don't force me to take care of yours. It pisses me off.

 

[bdeboer]

Great idea! Putting dog treats in the road! BRILLANT!

Not exactly what I meant, but am familiar to that line of thinking.

My personal experience is a "neighbor" who thought it was cute to feed our puppy when he would visit their dogs at the property line with our older dogs. Eventually inviting him on their porch and feeding him treats while we were hollering for him. Now 5 years later we have a dog loved by our kids that will escape if loose even for a couple of minutes.

Oh yeah she complains now if he goes to her house. It is also OK for her dogs to chase mice and dig up my hayfield. NOT!

 

[forgeblast]

First of all its your property. The instance the dogs cross into your property the owner in my view has lost control of their dog and forfits all rights to owning them.
But its only a ____________(fill in breed). Doesnt matter, as all dogs have teeth all dogs are dangerious. I, my self have been bit by 4 german shepherds, one as I was delivering newspapers crashed through a front door and went for my throat, really hurt my arm, and destroyed my jacket.
Second there is no choice between my family and a strangers dog. I am not going to put my family in danger, which happens as soon as a dog is not in control. (I have my carry liscense because of a neighbors dog).
Dog warden officer is overworked and covers two counties and most of the time the owner is given warning after warning. Took a neighbor to court twice because his dog would do damage to my wifes car every time we used our road (german shepherd again). Just wrote a letter to my other neighbor (there is only 5 of us on the dirt road) about his german shepherd and other smaller dog using my sidewalk and driveway as a bathroom.
I have two dogs. I put in a fence that would hold them, otherwise they were chained up. I expect others to do the same, or if they are on my property I will handle them.
One warning for a neighbors dog is all they get, the dog barking at me on my property when I am with my daughter means that dog has no warnings, maby a warning shot but thats where I draw the line.
Ever seen two dogs go at it? I have, and would not want to be me and the dog. My one dog I had to put down because she would redline and attack her sister. When dogs attack they dont hold back its all or nothing, you have to answer the same way.