Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Neighbor's dogs killed all my chickens.

... I'm devastated and I don't know what to do. My girls were doing so well, everything was going so great with them. Now, just like that, they're gone. My poor babies, what a terrible way to die.

10 comments:

ayla said...

Oh my god, Mara. That's terrible. I'm so sad for you. :(

Unknown said...

OH No!!! What the heck happened? Does your neighbor know what happened??? Have they at least apologized or offered to buy you new ones?
(Jordan asked if you can press charges)

I'm so sorry Mara...

Bex said...

oh wow. That is really sad. What indeed happened? wtf were those dogs doing in your yard? I'm both sad and angry for you. I don't blame the dogs, I blame the people behind them.

Mara said...

Becca, I don't blame the dogs either, they're actually nice dogs, but they are allowed to run through the neighborhood, which isn't right.

I didn't talk directly to whomever owns them, I called Animal Control and the police officers who came out managed to trace the dogs back to a house but the person there wasn't the owner. Or something. A report has been filed, they said that an officer would be sent out later to talk directly to the owner. They gave me the option to do... something, I don't remember, that's like pressing charges, but I think I turned them down, at the moment I was only concerned about getting the dogs off the street and thinking that it wouldn't bring my chickens back, I wasn't thinking about starting over yet.

The yard is not as secure as it should be-- we were using something temporary instead of a real gate, because we hadn't had time to actually build the gate and dig the post holes and everything. The dogs got through it. Before we get any more birds, we will build a dog-proof gate, make some changes to the coop itself, and(possibly)run electric around the fence, something that will shock any dog into not wanting to come back. (I'm looking into the legality of this move, although Don says that putting the wire 6" off the ground, nobody would ever know but the dogs.)

I just feel so guilty and so angry with myself. It was my job to protect the girls and keep them from harm, and I did about the worst job possible. Don is blaming himself for the gate and the coop not being strong enough, but it was my responsibility in the end. My poor babies.

Unknown said...

I'm sorry Mara. It's not your fault. It's just nature. :(

Bex said...

It's definitely not your fault. I can't think of anywhere where it is safe or legal for dogs to have the run of the neighborhood. They are lucky you are a nice animal lover. I remember in Maine a friends dog got loose. He came back a while later but not until he hit a neighboring farm. Although the guy didn't mean to let the dog loose the farmer was trying to have the dog put down for attacking his livestock. I think in the end our friend was able to convince him that they would not let it happen again and killing the dog was unnecessary.

Benjamin said...

I'm so sorry, Mara. That's terrible news. People really should be more responsible with their dogs. It's not your fault. Nor Don's.

Danielle said...

I am so sorry, momma. Can you ask the neighbor to replace the cost of the chickens?

Polly Gamwich said...

I'm so sorry - how traumatic!!

Jody said...

Oh no!!! I am so so sorry

I know how you feel. I had chickens many years ago, and a racoon got them (recurring theme in my life). I felt so horrible.

I felt so sad recently when a racoon got my baby turtles! My babies!

Hugs!