Neighbor's Dog Pack - Help Please (long, sorry)

[jdeere562]

Send them home with some #6 pellets from a shotgun in their butts.
They will associate your farm with pain and stay away.

I speak from experience.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Replies and advice are appreciated. To answer some of the questions:
-File a Police report? I'll see if I can do this with the sheriff's office.
-Videos/Photos? Yes, and have shared with Animal Control.
-Type of fence? Five wire, barbed wire.
-Documenting? I will follow up with Animal Control and Sheriff's Office. I've also sent pix/videos and reports to friends in the past.
-Lawyer? I will contact in the morning. ($300 - $550 per hour)
-Animal (dog) owners? Separated (not legally as far as I know - he lives in a travel trailer, she lives in the house.) SHE "rescues" animals - dogs, horses, pot belly pigs, goats. He provides the feed. None of the animals are groomed or bathed or trained by these owners in any way as far as I know.

The time for all of that was when it happened, not weeks later.

 

[John M]

Kind of late for that. The OP has already confronted the neighbor. The OP will be at the top of the list if the neighbor can prove one of his dogs was possibly gotten by a person.

Animal Control said he could shoot them if they were threatening, and they probably would be.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Help, please. I have a small farm. Neighbor has a pack of dogs. About two months ago they threatened me in my front yard. I yelled at them and they turned and ran. I phoned him. His response: "Well, they haven't hurt anybody." I called animal control. By that time the dogs were home, not on my property and animal control did nothing essentially. They said I could shoot the dogs if they were on my property and threatening. I told the owner I'd shoot the dogs if I saw them again. I carried my pistol for several days and had loaded guns next to each door. Didn't see the dogs for days.
This morning the pack (loose again) chased a momma cow away and chewed up a two week old calf and the calf's ears. I tried to save the calf-took it to a good vet. After $477.50 of effort, the calf died on the way home. It isn't so much the value of the calf but that it is so wrong for the neighbor to have animals that come onto my property and threaten and/or harm or kill. And to maul a two week old calf is horribly wrong. These dogs are a PACK.
The Sheriff's office says they can only shoot them IF they (police) are threatened or see them threatening me.
I've shot at the dogs but haven't hit any. I'm fearful of injuring one and getting sued and big vet bills.
Ideas? Marksmanship training? Wolf trap? Get myself a PACK of mean dogs? Maybe some of those that live with animals? (Great Pyrenees???)
Coyote bait?
Thanks, kelly
FYI The owner has no pens, just puts dogs into a house or shed. Eventually they are turned loose, of course. I can't afford to put dog fence around 40 acres to keep the neighbor's dogs out.

kelly
Some people say it is my property and I don't want anyone telling me what I can and can't do.
I live in a county that tells me what I can and can't do. It is called area planning.
They tell me I can't build in a floodplain is just one example. Code enforcement will tell me if I have a dog it must be fenced up
or on a lease. That is to prevent dog packs and an overpopulation of unwanted dogs.
If I don't call code enforcement when a stray dog shows and I feed it and water it, the dog is officially my dog.

 

[showcrop]

A neighbor and his kids and dog were walking by when the dog saw our sheep. The dog took off like a rocket after our sheep and caught a lamb. I chased him off and called the cops. In a few minutes one showed up with a photocopy in hand of the state law saying that if a dog looked at "worried" our sheep, I could legally shoot it. The law is solidly in your favor.

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Kind of late for that. The OP has already confronted the neighbor. The OP will be at the top of the list if the neighbor can prove one of his dogs was possibly gotten by a person.

Correct-a-mundo! Kelly's name is all over it now. The three S's are no longer a viable option or the five S's will apply for court.

Mike

 

[wp6529]

My wife shot and killed her neighbors dog when it was attacking her goats - twice, two different neighbors. That was the end of the story both times, this is TX, you can do that. Both neighbors were more careful to keep their dangerous animals properly contained after that.

 

[bc]

Send them home with some #6 pellets from a shotgun in their butts.
They will associate your farm with pain and stay away.

I speak from experience.

Or load a few shells with rock salt after removing the pellets. They will feel the pain/burn with no steel pellet evidence left behind.

 

[WNYBill]

Sounds like a case for the SPCA. Shooting dogs is iffy! Ask the SD Governor.

 

[INCase]

Baby calves were selling at Texas auctions for $375 to $725 last Saturday. The only thing standing between you and collecting in small claims court is proving who the dog(s) that attacked your calf belongs to. $477 vet + $550 calf + $5k pain and anguish will get his attention and give you more satisfaction than killing dogs. You don't need a lawyer for small claims, the justice of peace only wants to hear the facts and isn't impressed by lawyer antics. You have two years to file but I wouldn't delay any longer than it takes to sit in to observe a case or two to convince yourself you can handle it.
If you decide to kill dogs and can't hit them here's the solution. Suspend large treble hooks baited with meat (the stinkier the better) 24-30 inches above ground with heavy trotline cord. Attach a cow bell between hook and overhead support. Day or night,when you hear the bell clanging walk out and dispatch the dog. The dog will suffer far less than the calf before his lights go out.

Need to make it painful for the dog owners or nothing will change.

that "pain" or change could be the embarrassment of the sheriff stopping by and talking to them (and not wanting them poking around), our sherrifs office would have at least stopped by their place and talk, or loosing a dog(s) , or as mentioned above a lawsuit. I suspect there wouldn't be any $ to gain as from what you describe those people probably don't have any $ but you never know. At a minimum maybe the judge would order them to dispose of the dogs. that would also be a solution to the problem. are the dogs and other animals neglected? get the animal rights folks after them??

they cannot be allowed to roam free. need to brush up on state code/statutes for that. what state do you live in?

 

[ss55]

Replies and advice are appreciated. To answer some of the questions:
-File a Police report? I'll see if I can do this with the sheriff's office.
-Videos/Photos? Yes, and have shared with Animal Control.
-Type of fence? Five wire, barbed wire.
-Documenting? I will follow up with Animal Control and Sheriff's Office. I've also sent pix/videos and reports to friends in the past.
-Lawyer? I will contact in the morning. ($300 - $550 per hour)
-Animal (dog) owners? Separated (not legally as far as I know - he lives in a travel trailer, she lives in the house.) SHE "rescues" animals - dogs, horses, pot belly pigs, goats. He provides the feed. None of the animals are groomed or bathed or trained by these owners in any way as far as I

A neighbor and his kids and dog were walking by when the dog saw our sheep. The dog took off like a rocket after our sheep and caught a lamb. I chased him off and called the cops. In a few minutes one showed up with a photocopy in hand of the state law saying that if a dog looked at "worried" our sheep, I could legally shoot it. The law is solidly in your favor.

I agree. However, it still depends on the OP's state and local laws, if we are not in the same state, county and township as the OP our local laws may not apply in his area.

 

[37chief]

Help, please. I have a small farm. Neighbor has a pack of dogs. About two months ago they threatened me in my front yard. I yelled at them and they turned and ran. I phoned him. His response: "Well, they haven't hurt anybody." I called animal control. By that time the dogs were home, not on my property and animal control did nothing essentially. They said I could shoot the dogs if they were on my property and threatening. I told the owner I'd shoot the dogs if I saw them again. I carried my pistol for several days and had loaded guns next to each door. Didn't see the dogs for days.
This morning the pack (loose again) chased a momma cow away and chewed up a two week old calf and the calf's ears. I tried to save the calf-took it to a good vet. After $477.50 of effort, the calf died on the way home. It isn't so much the value of the calf but that it is so wrong for the neighbor to have animals that come onto my property and threaten and/or harm or kill. And to maul a two week old calf is horribly wrong. These dogs are a PACK.
The Sheriff's office says they can only shoot them IF they (police) are threatened or see them threatening me.
I've shot at the dogs but haven't hit any. I'm fearful of injuring one and getting sued and big vet bills.
Ideas? Marksmanship training? Wolf trap? Get myself a PACK of mean dogs? Maybe some of those that live with animals? (Great Pyrenees???)
Coyote bait?
Thanks, kelly
FYI The owner has no pens, just puts dogs into a house or shed. Eventually they are turned loose, of course. I can't afford to put dog fence around 40 acres to keep the neighbor's dogs out.

It's too bad you have to put up with this. Like others have mentioned file a report with the sheriff. When my brother was raising cattle here in Southern California, one of his biggest problem was, dogs chasing his cattle, then horse back riders cutting his fence., all he could do for this is repair the fence. As for the dogs, shoot shovel, and shut up, was used. Another problem was balloon ride people. They would land in his pasture, and cut the fence to get the balloon, and passengers out. Stan

 

[John T]

Kelly, sorry for your problem, its a question I get asked by some of my rural clients now n then..

I agree 100% when you stated Lawyer? I will contact in the morning. ($300 - $550 per hour)
VERSUS what someone else in a different state under different circumstances may have done

That along with pictures, videos, log of event time and dates, police calls, RECORD KEEPING to generate and preserve good hard ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE

Do your homework, get some professional advice as sometimes SELF HELP may or may NOT be great, it depends on the laws and is very fact sensitive

Best wishes take care now

John T

 

[1948CaseVAI]

Some older (still sweet) anti-freeze in a bowl. And be ready to pick it up and dispose of it on a moments' notice. You should never have to tolerate a pack of angry dogs nor should you have to fool around with the law over it.

 

[JOCCO]

Kelly, sorry for your problem, its a question I get asked by some of my rural clients now n then..

I agree 100% when you stated Lawyer? I will contact in the morning. ($300 - $550 per hour)
VERSUS what someone else in a different state under different circumstances may have done

That along with pictures, videos, log of event time and dates, police calls, RECORD KEEPING to generate and preserve good hard ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE

Do your homework, get some professional advice as sometimes SELF HELP may or may NOT be great, it depends on the laws and is very fact sensitive

Best wishes take care now

John T

John glad you came in on this! Read my post above. Exactly what happened kept videos, logs etc. Back story was local friend had neighbor who let dogs, horses and everything else run on other property. Judge was a crank and laid the law down even fined the perpetrator for contempt of court after 3 sessions before him it got pretty serious. It did not help that the lady treated the judge as a joke! You and I know that is a bad move. Let's say she came away with a very clear understanding and the issue got resolved! Yes animal officer and sheriff had to follow the courts orders. take care.

 

[tomturkey]

Sounds like a case for the SPCA. Shooting dogs is iffy! Ask the SD Governor.

South Dakota gov did one thing wrong, she wrote about it in a book. Euthanizing her dog because he killed and ate chickens, and was acting vicious toward a human trying to stop it was the correct thing to do. gobble

 

[Dennis K]

Noem's dog was barely a year old and she said it was a poor hunting dog. Wasn't trainable. What did she expect from a almost pup. I know of a dog that killed a chicken and then got beat with the dead chicken and was a good dog who never bothered any chickens again.

 

[Donald in MN]

Help, please. I have a small farm. Neighbor has a pack of dogs. About two months ago they threatened me in my front yard. I yelled at them and they turned and ran. I phoned him. His response: "Well, they haven't hurt anybody." I called animal control. By that time the dogs were home, not on my property and animal control did nothing essentially. They said I could shoot the dogs if they were on my property and threatening. I told the owner I'd shoot the dogs if I saw them again. I carried my pistol for several days and had loaded guns next to each door. Didn't see the dogs for days.
This morning the pack (loose again) chased a momma cow away and chewed up a two week old calf and the calf's ears. I tried to save the calf-took it to a good vet. After $477.50 of effort, the calf died on the way home. It isn't so much the value of the calf but that it is so wrong for the neighbor to have animals that come onto my property and threaten and/or harm or kill. And to maul a two week old calf is horribly wrong. These dogs are a PACK.
The Sheriff's office says they can only shoot them IF they (police) are threatened or see them threatening me.
I've shot at the dogs but haven't hit any. I'm fearful of injuring one and getting sued and big vet bills.
Ideas? Marksmanship training? Wolf trap? Get myself a PACK of mean dogs? Maybe some of those that live with animals? (Great Pyrenees???)
Coyote bait?
Thanks, kelly
FYI The owner has no pens, just puts dogs into a house or shed. Eventually they are turned loose, of course. I can't afford to put dog fence around 40 acres to keep the neighbor's dogs out.

Help, please. I have a small farm. Neighbor has a pack of dogs. About two months ago they threatened me in my front yard. I yelled at them and they turned and ran. I phoned him. His response: "Well, they haven't hurt anybody." I called animal control. By that time the dogs were home, not on my property and animal control did nothing essentially. They said I could shoot the dogs if they were on my property and threatening. I told the owner I'd shoot the dogs if I saw them again. I carried my pistol for several days and had loaded guns next to each door. Didn't see the dogs for days.
This morning the pack (loose again) chased a momma cow away and chewed up a two week old calf and the calf's ears. I tried to save the calf-took it to a good vet. After $477.50 of effort, the calf died on the way home. It isn't so much the value of the calf but that it is so wrong for the neighbor to have animals that come onto my property and threaten and/or harm or kill. And to maul a two week old calf is horribly wrong. These dogs are a PACK.
The Sheriff's office says they can only shoot them IF they (police) are threatened or see them threatening me.
I've shot at the dogs but haven't hit any. I'm fearful of injuring one and getting sued and big vet bills.
Ideas? Marksmanship training? Wolf trap? Get myself a PACK of mean dogs? Maybe some of those that live with animals? (Great Pyrenees???)
Coyote bait?
Thanks, kelly
FYI The owner has no pens, just puts dogs into a house or shed. Eventually they are turned loose, of course. I can't afford to put dog fence around 40 acres to keep the neighbor's dogs out.

in Minnesota the dog owner would be liable for triple damages of the value of the calf . plus vet bills. this spring calves in that age group were selling for $800 - $900 dollars a head . that would be a pretty good pay out if you can win in court. I am sure the dogs will be back they have tasted blood now and will be worse than ever.

 

[Tony in SD]

Noem's dog was barely a year old and she said it was a poor hunting dog. Wasn't trainable. What did she expect from an almost pup. I know of a dog that killed a chicken and then got beat with the dead chicken and was a good dog who never bothered any chickens again.

Fact remains it was not a pup. By year one on most breeds is considered an adult trained dog. After year one it truely is difficult to teach an old dog new tricks. In other words "untrainable".

I’m glad that beating your dog rather than killing it was a satisfactory solution for you. That may work on some dogs some of the time. But hunting dogs are not usually a breed that will work on. They are bred to seek out birds. Some dogs like people are just bad and there is no way to correct their behavior. Especially after one year.

 

[John T]

John glad you came in on this! Read my post above. Exactly what happened kept videos, logs etc. Back story was local friend had neighbor who let dogs, horses and everything else run on other property. Judge was a crank and laid the law down even fined the perpetrator for contempt of court after 3 sessions before him it got pretty serious. It did not help that the lady treated the judge as a joke! You and I know that is a bad move. Let's say she came away with a very clear understanding and the issue got resolved! Yes animal officer and sheriff had to follow the courts orders. take care.

Thanks, yep I read your post and was glad to hear that someone already wisely took those actions and plan to see an attorney. Creating a good paper trail is my first advice. Trouble is you win this in law not a problem but I always caution against repercussions by someone who may not care about the law grrrrr

Best wishes to the OP to stay calm, think before you act , be careful where you get advice, and it sounds like that’s being done !!
John T. Country Lawyer