A little over a year ago, I wrote about ROAMING DOGS and the problems they create for farmers that own livestock. Just so you’ll clearly understand how strongly I feel about this, I’m bringing it up again.
Fred First, a local blogger and very good friend, posted an article this morning about his chickens and the problems he’s had with dogs attacking and killing them. If you open the link, you can read my response to his post.
When I respond with a comment to someone’s post, I try to be diplomatic and reserved. Lemme’ tell ya’ somethin’, sport. This is MY site an’ I’m not the least bit concerned with bein’ diplomatic when it comes to the subject at hand. I’m gonna’ call it like I see it. If ya’ don’t like that, don’t waste your time leavin’ a nasty comment. Comments are held in moderation for my approval and if I don’t like ‘em, I trash ‘em.
Fred and his wife, a lovely and very gracious lady, love their animals. They don’t keep chickens just to produce eggs. Those birds are their pets. Each bird has a name and a personality. Fred and his wife become very attached to their chickens and it pains them deeply when something happens to one of them.
After leaving my comment on Fred’s post about his chickens being killed by roaming dogs (dogs wearing collars, by the way), I sent him an email offering to help him ‘solve the problem’.
Fred is a very pacific and gentile man and is not inclined to violence. When it comes to roaming dogs attacking anything I own, I’m NOT pacific or gentile. Make no mistake, I WILL put a bullet through a dog’s head for attacking an animal that belongs to me on my property.
Like it or not, you are responsible for the animals you own. If your animals escape an enclosure and maims or kills livestock belonging to someone else, you can be held responsible for the damages. However, most farmers don’t waste the time and money it takes to haul some irresponsible dog owner into small claims court over a couple of chickens. They just put a bullet through the dog’s head and be done with it.
My wife and I are considering getting a few yard birds this coming spring. I’ll build a coop and enclosure to put them in. When they get accustomed to their new home and understand this is where they live, I’ll open the pen door and let them out.
Some might say “If you let them out, you run the risk of loosing one to a roaming dog.” 
Yup, you’re right. And my response will be “If your dog comes on my place and makes a move to attack my chickens, he’ll stop a load of buckshot.”
If you allow your dog to run loose and it doesn’t come home one day, don’t waste you time asking me if I’ve seen it. Sorry, I can’t help you.
