Period dogs on period leads

[JoceAndChris]

Another reminder that dogs ought to be on leads when walking past chicken's residences.

We had another horrific attack on Saturday. Chris killed the dog very swiftly with his powerful new air rifle, and so saved the life of my best hen, a gold-laced chocolate Orpington, who was in the dog's jaws. Four other hens are badly wounded and I don't know if they'll live or not, though I must say three of them seem to be ignoring the fact they've got big holes in them - but it's early days.

The police were fully supportive of our actions and also the use of an air rifle over and above a shotgun. The owner was informed by the police that his dog had been destroyed whilst worrying livestock. We saw nothing of him.

It was a smallish white terrier.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Poor dog - but well done Chris.

We had a very similar attack a couple of weeks ago when a terrier came off the bridlepath onto our land and took the back half of a cockerel. Had I been there and had a gun, I would have done the same as a last resort and to protect livestock. Again, owner nowhere to be seen. Our builders saw it - and although I have made enquiries in the village, no one seems to know whose dog it is. Needless to say the owner hasn't the manners or courage to come and apologise or enquire after the damage their dog has done. Imagine if I had run his dog over and just left it in the gutter without telling anyone; they'd have rightly been very angry.

Sadly, it is largely not the dog's fault but the owner's. I imagine the local Constabulary would have been less understanding if you'd shot him/her. :roll:

 

[Flyfisher]

How awful and upsetting. As for the dog, I'd also do the same but would be greatly upset having to do so.

Glad to hear the police were so supportive. As the owner is known, is there the option of claiming compensation for vet's bills etc? Though I could quite understand you'd want nothing to do with owners.

 

[JoceAndChris]

We had a very similar attack a couple of weeks ago when a terrier came off the bridlepath onto our land and took the back half of a cockerel. Had I been there and had a gun, I would have done the same as a last resort and to protect livestock. Again, owner nowhere to be seen. Our builders saw it - and although I have made enquiries in the village, no one seems to know whose dog it is. Needless to say the owner hasn't the manners or courage to come and apologise or enquire after the damage their dog has done. Imagine if I had run his dog over and just left it in the gutter without telling anyone; they'd have rightly been very angry.

Shameful and appalling behaviour. When you do wrong you have to face up to it and apologise, and try to make amends, otherwise you debase the best of what it means to have a human heart and mind. I was so pleased to read in The Other Place that your cockerel recovered though, I saw the pics and didn't think he would. These creatures are amazing!

How awful and upsetting. As for the dog, I'd also do the same but would be greatly upset having to do so.

Glad to hear the police were so supportive. As the owner is known, is there the option of claiming compensation for vet's bills etc? Though I could quite understand you'd want nothing to do with owners.

Well, none have died as yet. And I decided against the vet as I was sure he'd say cut your losses and cull. Schoolmarm advised flushing with saline water and that appears to be working well. But like FW, an apology would be nice, though I feel we've made enough of an impact on the owner's life without claiming compensation. According to police the owner saw his dog run in here and heard the shots and didn't come forward then or later. I find that very curious.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

A rock and a hard place Joce, so sad all round. xx

 

[Feltwell]

Not nice Joce - not nice at all, both the chickens being hurt and having to shoot the dog. Clearly the right thing to do though, good the Police were understanding. I can imagine an air rifle is a much better bet than a shotgun, which is much less accurate and would have probably killed your chicken as well. Hope the chickens recover OK.

 

[Flyfisher]

At the risk of being gruesome and prolonging an already upsetting thread, I'd be hesitant to shoot a dog with an air rifle (unless it was one of those firearms-rated ones) as I'd expect it to be more likely to be injured than killed outright. A shotgun at close range doesn't have a particularly wide spread of shot, especially if tightly choked.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I think the issue is that a shotgun can strip the flesh off the dog without killing it? Plus I don't really fancy scraping up bits of dog from the garden. It's true that the first rifle shot wounded it in the leg, (he still carried on chasing the chickens though), but the second shot killed him and then there was a third for good measure, all within the space of around a minute. I'm not upset by the death of the dog at all, it deserved to die as any rat or magpie stealing chicks from the nest or food from humans deserves to die too. You can't have these pests in society. Dogs have got to be under control, they're a wild pack animal that humans have perverted from their true course. If they can't be under control they should be destroyed.

 

[Moo]

[ Cats are] a wild ... animal that humans have [failed to] pervert from their true course. If they can't be under control they should be destroyed.

What's sauce for the goose....

 

[Flyfisher]

I think the issue is that a shotgun can strip the flesh off the dog without killing it? Plus I don't really fancy scraping up bits of dog from the garden.

In my experience (though not with dogs), the first point wouldn't be an issue at close range. The second point probably would be.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Ooh - cats vs dogs again....



I vote cat.

 

[Feltwell]

Yes, but we already know of your strange voting habits Mr Wiggs :wink: I like the posting above though - pretty much sums it up. I went to the barbers today, which is a proper old-fashioned gents barbers complete with "shop dog" who spends all day scrounging fuss and titbits off the customers and clearly loves it. Probably not quite as good a life as being a pub dog, but it must come close. A shop cat would just find a perch and look aloof, staring down it's nose at the customers and doing it's level best to ignore them.

Sticking to cats vs dogs, the chances of converting "non-believers" in either direction are pretty much non-existent. So let's all stay safe in the knowledge that our view is definitely right and those who like the other type of animal are clearly wrong :wink:

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Pleeeease could we change the subject --- bit sensitive ----

 

[Feltwell]

You're right - and I shouldn't have posted that last comment as it's bound to touch a nerve with someone who considers that to be perfectly acceptable, and I will remove it now. My apologies.

 

[Mickey]

One spring Wren's nested in our roof, we watched the parents taking in all the insects, heard the babies ....then came the day the tiny little chicks, like little bumble bees, fledged...and were eaten one by one by next doors four cats! I'd happily have shot them air gun, shot gun either would have done....it's a hard one I agree but I'd rather have seen the thoroughly irresponsible dog owner shot (just a couple of pellets in the buttocks would have done) rather than the dog which after all was only displaying the same natural instincts as cats do, albeit mostly with our wildlife as opposed to our livestock.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

You're right - and I shouldn't have posted that last comment as it's bound to touch a nerve with someone who considers that to be perfectly acceptable, and I will remove it now. My apologies.

Apology accepted!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: love that, must send to Chris immediately.

Apologies to Joss if she is suffering doggie trouble. I appreciate people love their pets, no matter what species. I'm afraid that terrier came between the tigress and her cubs, but in another life I suppose I can imagine my loyalty being different.

 

[philpjuk100]

We only have three hens,pets really,we eat or give away the eggs.Our neighbour has recently bought two dogs,black and white,biggish pointer like puppys(Im not a dog person!),he travelled a long way to buy them and I think they cost him a fortune.He raised the fences between us but the dogs find their way into our garden (I think they jump into the river and swim arround the fence as they are usually wet) A week ago I saw one looking through my window with one of our hens in his mouth,his tail was wagging and he looked quite pleased with himself.I hit him with a garden cane and he put the chuck down which seem to be unharmed.The owner was very apologetic and offered to pay any vet fees if required.I have a powerful .22 air gun but do not want to hurt the dogs and also still want to give the hens the run of the garden,the owner has extended the fence into the river as far as he can but the dogs can probably still swim around it.We are on good terms with"them next door"but can not see any way to prevent this happening again so may have to keep the chucks in which is a shame,phil.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

We are on good terms with"them next door"but can not see any way to prevent this happening again so may have to keep the chucks in which is a shame,phil.

No no no no, etc. It is THEIR responsibility to keep THEIR dogs out of YOUR garden - no exceptions. Would you accept having to keep the children inside because of their dogs in your garden? Of course not.

Dog owners have to understand that they have a responsibility to keep their animals under full control *all* the time. If that means either not having any or keeping them secured in some way, then tough. Not all dog owners are bad - but those that are do a disservice to the responsible ones.

If the dogs keep coming back, I would keep politely asking you neighbour what more he is going to do in the way of fencing or restraints to keep them in, until the problem is solved. He may have to completely fence in his garden including access to the no doubt pretty river bank - but he should have thought of that before buying the dogs. Remember - good fences make good neighbours.

</rant over>