I can't beleive some people

[SkyWarrior]

I am so sorry for you loss. I hope you can at least get some restitution from the owners even though it will never replace the goats and the horror you went through.

x2.

Terrible. Simply terrible. And completely avoidable if the owners had simply not let their dogs run.

 

[bigmike]

We've gotten most of the free ranging dogs "weeded out" in my community. After two or three were shot for chasing or killing calves, the rest of the new to the area neighbors decided on some underground fencing.

We have one dog, a German Shepherd, that is still running loose. He has "eyeballed" my goats a couple times, and tried to get in at one point, but our electric fence is pretty secure with a powerfull wallop. He went home screaming that time, but he will be back. I've made sure his owners know of the situation and the possible outcome, but he is still running loose. He is a sweet dog, and I hate to see anything happen to him, but once he figures out how to get in the pasture.....well, I'll do what I have to do.

At this point, I am pretty quick to shoot, esp cats. In the past two years, we have had one raccoon, two skunks, a horse, and two cats with a POSITIVE rabies. One of the cats, and one of the skunks were found within a mile of my house THIS YEAR! I have no idea if the neighbors cats and dogs are up to date on their shots, and with this rabies epidemic in my county, I'll take no chances. It's been argued that I dont have to worry because I keep my cats and dogs vaccinated against rabies. This is true, but the goats are not vaccinated........and neither is my husband, my kids or myself. I will try to call the owner if I know who the cat or dog belongs to, if possible.

Animal control around here is a joke. When I have called to report a dog for harassing livestock the response is "Just shoot 'em". It ticks me off to have to "Just shoot 'em".

My dogs stay in my yard. My mastiff has grown up around livestock and been well schooled in her farm manners. I would have a hard time believing that she would harass anyones livestock. However, if she is out of my yard, I have failed to protect her from folks that would lie, and I have failed to protect my neighbors livestock from the possibility that my dog gets a wild red hair and actually DOES chase livestock. If she left the farm, and was shot, it would be MY FAULT......regardless of whether she actually harassed livestock or not.

You sound like us..If there is a nusiance animal the sherrif's office says to just shoot it..My cousin who lives across the street has really weeded down the number of stray or roaming dogs and cats around here.There cats are mostly feral and wiped out his chickens..Folks in town learned if their dog was caught messing with his livestock that it WOULD BE SHOT.Not near as many roamers anymore....Here I think that you could get away with murder before the Sherrif or deputy got here..It is a HUGE county and they only have 3 deputies and the Sherrif..