Is it possible ....

[ORChick]

... to have neighbours who are too nice?

I have lovely neighbours. There are three of us on one little cul de sac (more in our little neighbourhood, but I don't know them as well); the one family, I depend on their daughters to take care of my animals when I am away, and they are wonderful. The other, she is great. We are, not any of us, in "each other's pockets", but we get along very well, and I wouldn't hesitate to ask either for a favor, and hope they wouldn't of me.

Last year we found out that the one neighbour's dog is a chicken killer - unfortunately we didn't find out till the second chicken. However, that is what dogs do; I understand that. We have had a good understanding since; she, if anything, was at least as upset about the chicken deaths as I was. She has kept her dog confined, or on a line since then. My chickens free range from 11:00 to 5:00, and I know that Jill, the dog, is confined.

Today, somehow, she got out. Either she figured out how to lift the latch, or it wasn't quite closed properly. Anyway, she got out, and another of my chickens was killed. It was raining when we discovered the deed; my DH chased Jill back home while I collected what was left of Penelope, and tried to find the others. No luck finding them, of course, so I called our neighbour's office (lunchtime, of course), and then spent half an hour standing in the rain keeping Jill on her side of the fence, until her owner got home - as fearful for my other chooks as I was for the safety of the dog running free.

So - my little rant - my neighbour gets home, catches Jill, puts her away, and when I get there she bursts into tears, telling me how sorry she is, and doesn't know what she can do to make it better, and then I find myself comforting her, and telling her that its all OK . Well alright, not OK, but understandable.

But what I really want to do is cry at the loss of my Penelope, but I find myself trying to help my neighbour get over the trauma of her chicken killing dog.

The thing is that I understand. I understand that Jill was a rescue dog; I understand that she was abused before; I understand that she was doing what dogs do. And I understand that it was not her fault. Nor my neighbour's fault. It is just what happens. I honor her for taking in dogs (and a couple of cats) that no one else wants; all five of my cats are rescues of one sort or another.

She is talking about having Jill euthanized because she has killed 3 of my chickens, and bitten her new (much smaller) rescue dog. Of course, she is devestated at the idea. And so am I. I hate the thought that my chickens free ranging have provided the impetus for the destruction of a dog who might have been a wonderful family pet without having had a nasty childhood.

I know what the response would be on BYC - SSS; and maybe some of you feel the same way. But I don't. I am crying for the death of my Penelope, and for the possible death of my neighbour's dog: and for her sadness at that death. And also, that I, crying for the death of my chook, found myself trying to comfort my neighbour earlier this afternoon.

It would be a whole lot easier if I didn't like her.

 

[freemotion]

A tough situation....no easy answers here....

 

[The Vail Benton's]

I so sorry for the loss of your Penelope, Orchick.

Perhaps rather than destroy the dog, your neighbor can find a more appropriate home for her or maybe secure her yard so the dog cannot get out.

 

[ORChick]

I so sorry for the loss of your Penelope, Orchick.

Perhaps rather than destroy the dog, your neighbor can find a more appropriate home for her or maybe secure her yard so the dog cannot get out.

She told me today that the dog had been returned to the shelter so many times before she took her on that she had been told that the next time would be an automatic euthaniation. She would be great on a farm, with lots of room to run, but that would also mean chickens, or lambs, or such .. and she can't be trusted.

 

[Occamstazer]

I'm so sorry you're in this situation, it sounds like a huge mess

I am not going to tell you to SSS, I wish more people would have your compassion! I had to go "last resort" with one of my dogs. She's got an insanely high prey drive, and a very sharp pushy temperment. She's also my darlin, hehe. She's not dangerous, but one time she got into my neighbor's goat pasture. She wasn't actually chasing goats, just eating poop, but he came over and tore into me and said he'd shoot her if she did it again. These are the same people who had a baby goat die and the body was in the pasture for 6 days, but that's another story...
Anyway. I borrowed a coondog training collar from my boss, put it on her on a medium setting, and let her loose. I popped her hard with the remote control every time she showed interest in entering the pasture. I hated every second of it, but she won't look at the goats now.
For the record, I pen/house my dogs unless they are walking with me, but as you've shown, dogs will get out from time to time. I chose being heavy handed because for me there was no other option.
It hurts to do, but it works!

ETA-you can see the above mentioned bad dog in my avatar

 

[ORChick]

Thank you, Vail Benton's, she was a lovely lady, my Penelope. My second best layer. Of course, what with molting, and just plain thinking that it was too dark and cold to lay, I haven't seen an egg since end of October. But I had hopes ...

2 years ago I started out with 2 New Hampshire Reds, 2 Easter Eggers, and 2 Silver Spangled Hamgurgs (1 rooster); now I have 3 hens - 1 of each.

 

[dianer29]

What about the possibility of a safe coop and good size run? It can keep your chooks happy and safe. The dog,if and when he is put to his death or dies by an accident running loose, does not guarantee your flock a good life. What happens when the next dog does his thing?Just a thought Pro action instead of reaction....I know you must be real sad right now. Sorry for your loss.

 

[ORChick]

I'm so sorry you're in this situation, it sounds like a huge mess

I am not going to tell you to SSS, I wish more people would have your compassion! I had to go "last resort" with one of my dogs. She's got an insanely high prey drive, and a very sharp pushy temperment. She's also my darlin, hehe. She's not dangerous, but one time she got into my neighbor's goat pasture. She wasn't actually chasing goats, just eating poop, but he came over and tore into me and said he'd shoot her if she did it again. These are the same people who had a baby goat die and the body was in the pasture for 6 days, but that's another story...
Anyway. I borrowed a coondog training collar from my boss, put it on her on a medium setting, and let her loose. I popped her hard with the remote control every time she showed interest in entering the pasture. I hated every second of it, but she won't look at the goats now.
For the record, I pen/house my dogs unless they are walking with me, but as you've shown, dogs will get out from time to time. I chose being heavy handed because for me there was no other option.
It hurts to do, but it works!

ETA-you can see the above mentioned bad dog in my avatar

Well, yes, I can see how one might be frightened of that dog!

Thing is, I don't have a great problem with the fact that she killed my chook. I don't like it, of course, but I understand that it happens. It just feels funny that I am the one doing the comforting.

Maybe I'll ask her to pay for the replacement chicks that I already ordered last week - maybe she willl feel better - what do you think, 3 new chicks, maybe 6 dollars?

Hey, thanks everybody. I already feel a bit better, just having typed out what I was feeling.

 

[The Vail Benton's]

Maybe instead of chicks a few pullets (if you can find them there) would be in order - $20(?) and you would have eggs sooner.

 

[ORChick]

What about the possibility of a safe coop and good size run? It can keep your chooks happy and safe. The dog,if and when he is put to his death or dies by an accident running loose, does not guarantee your flock a good life. What happens when the next dog does his thing?Just a thought Pro action instead of reaction....I know you must be real sad right now. Sorry for your loss.

My coop and run are as predator proof as I could make them (just as well we don't have bears around here ), and, in the beginning, I was very watchful when the girls were out. Then I saw that the only dog coming onto our property was the aforementioned Jill, and she, eventually, was confined. The run is certainly large enough, but isn't very interesting. I would prefer not to confine them there. Though I will, if necessary. They are confined for at leat the next week, while I am away; after that we will see. I know that the neighbour will be extra careful with Jill. But it isn't entirely Jill's fault. I have to decide whether my girls' safety is more important than their quality of life - and I know that free ranging for them is important. Kind of like my cats - I know they are safer as indoor-only, but they so enjoy the garden!