Stray dogs are becoming a pain

[RollingsFarms]

It seems like every other month a stray dog shows up at my house and won't leave. I don't feed them, matter of fact I try to chase them away but most of the time they don't move along. I'll take time out of my day to take one to the spca and I swear as soon as I get home it seems like there's another one. I don't feel like shooting them just because I don't want to bury them. It's just aggravation all around and I wish I could catch people who did this and dumped trash so I could give them a good whipping!

 

[rekees4300]

Unfortunately many irresponsible people view dogs as disposable property. Our county has a "dog catcher" that will pickup a stray and take it to the shelter for adoption. Perhaps your county provides this service?

 

[wawajake]

our area the problem is stray cats not dogs..........barn cats that are not fixed..hopefully coyotes keep the numbers of them down...........they take a toll on my wife's fondnest for birds and nesting. Stray dogs the county dog catcher is diligent on..but he can do little about the cats.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Unfortunately many irresponsible people view dogs as disposable property. Our county has a "dog catcher" that will pickup a stray and take it to the shelter for adoption. Perhaps your county provides this service?

Supposedly we have such a service but I've never had any luck with it. You call, they say they'll come, they never do. Wash, rinse, repeat.

 

[CobyRupert]

Last winter a couple dogs showed up and killed my daughters chickens. I captured one of the collarless mutts and my rifle was a finger pull away from "a 10 cent solution" (now about a dollar due to inflation and ***** :laughing. But like you it, was winter and didn't want to bury it. Seeing how I pay enough taxes to employ government workers I figured I let the dog catcher take it, hold it, then he could bury it 7-10 days (whatever) later.

Turns out it was a neighbor and former schoolmate's dogs, his wife had just left him and they were his only companions now, then somebody tried to break into his house and opened the door and the dogs got out (sob, sob). I have no problem shooting a stray, that's on the previous owner's conscious, not mine, but I probably would of felt bad if I'd found out later it was my friend's dog and thieves let it out. Then again, those chickens were my daughter's pets too.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Well this was a pretty friendly dog and didn't pose a threat other then being a pain so that's why I took it to the shelter and figured someone would adopt it. Ofcourse they asked for a "small" donation but that adds up when you make two or three trips a month!lol the last dog I shot was out by my dog pens acting like he was trying to fight my dog through the fence. I put and end to that real quick.

 

[dusty3030]

Judgement call. Our county has no animal service. There are shelters in two cities but neither will accept a stray you bring in from the county.
So, there is a lady down the road that will take them in. I'll tell her if I see one out and about or on my place but with these exceptions -

1. Pit bull - I have had bad experiences and I give no quarter. I have livestock and a small child as do the neighbors.
2. Chasing livestock - stray or not I'm not letting a dog run one of my horses through a fence. Neighbors have a dog that actually sleeps out there with my horses sometimes and plays with them so I don't "shoot on sight" but if its an unknown dog getting after one they are removed via 22/250 round.
3. Obvious sick / injured / really bad shape. I think it is cruel to leave one to suffer.

I think it is really wrong that other people shuck their responsibility onto me but that is what it is in country life sometimes. I buy some dog food and bring it to the lady down the road every time we make a Sam's run just to help her out a little as gratitude for being the neighborhood animal shelter.

 

[roadhunter]

Tough problem many folks deal with. Around here the Mt Lions take care of any stray dogs and the coyotes and owls take care of any cats left out.

 

[MoKelly]

Last winter a couple dogs showed up and killed my daughters chickens. I captured one of the collarless mutts and my rifle was a finger pull away from "a 10 cent solution" (now about a dollar due to inflation and ***** :laughing. But like you it, was winter and didn't want to bury it. Seeing how I pay enough taxes to employ government workers I figured I let the dog catcher take it, hold it, then he could bury it 7-10 days (whatever) later.

Turns out it was a neighbor and former schoolmate's dogs, his wife had just left him and they were his only companions now, then somebody tried to break into his house and opened the door and the dogs got out (sob, sob). I have no problem shooting a stray, that's on the previous owner's conscious, not mine, but I probably would of felt bad if I'd found out later it was my friend's dog and thieves let it out. Then again, those chickens were my daughter's pets too.

Did the dog have a collar to at least indicate it was someone's pet?

If not, shame on your friend.

MoKelly

 

[CobyRupert]

Did the dog have a collar to at least indicate it was someone's pet? If not, shame on your friend. MoKelly

No, and that's why it almost got shot. I figured it was a stray. I.e its fate was ready sealed and only a matter of by whom.
Like was said above, it gutless for someone to put that responsibility on others. It's like an anti-hunter who buys their meat in the grocery store, it was still them who killed the animal.