Free-roaming dogs

[mike692]

I hate people who don't properly restrain their animals. This is the second time I've lost all of my rabbits to some neighbors free roaming mongrels. To say that it's disgusting is an understatement. The dog officer was out and took pics, etc. But I have very little hope that the owners will be found. By the way, I saw the dogs. They had frayed baler twine hanging from their collars. Who would try to restrain dogs with baler twine? I probably could have killed them both, but it was after the fact and not on my property. People are sue happy these days, so I restrained myself.

[jen74145]

I bet that survivor is one freaked out little bunny. I've come home to that a time or two myself and it is so depressing on so many levels.

I'm sorry, and I hope your loss is made up for one way or another.

[mike692]

Originally Posted by jen74145

I bet that survivor is one freaked out little bunny. I've come home to that a time or two myself and it is so depressing on so many levels.

I'm sorry, and I hope your loss is made up for one way or another.

Thank you Jen. The state will pay me 'market value' if the owners aren't found. But I'm not really worried about the money. I had had some of those rabbits for quite a few years and they just can't be replaced. It really is a shame when you have to build Fort Knox pens on your own property.

The lone survivor now resides with the ducks. Which I also lost two of because the dogs chased them back and forth from outside of their enclosure until they were crippled and had to be put down.

[MedicalUser]

I'd set a trap for the dogs, and then shoot them!


pEaCe

[Minelson]

I am so sorry this happened to you how terrible!

[mike692]

Originally Posted by MedicalUser

I'd set a trap for the dogs, and then shoot them!


pEaCe

The dog officer had a trap for a couple of days. It held a red fox the first morning. I of course knew it wasn't the culprit. Because of the season, he was released.

[fantasymaker]

I know it sounds like a broken record but the first thing I would do if I moved to the country planning to raise stock would be to build a fence.
6 feet of woven horse or ostrich wire topped with Electric wire and another hot wire a foot up and out on the OUTSIDE.
People here wonder why some would kill roaming dogs but after a few thousand dollars of losses like yours its hard to have a live and let live attitude.
So build the fence and have better neighbors.


At least it sounds like the dogs owners TRIED to restrain them.

[mike692]

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

I know it sounds like a broken record but the first thing I would do if I moved to the country planning to raise stock would be to build a fence.
6 feet of woven horse or ostrich wire topped with Electric wire and another hot wire a foot up and out on the OUTSIDE.
People here wonder why some would kill roaming dogs but after a few thousand dollars of losses like yours its hard to have a live and let live attitude.
So build the fence and have better neighbors.


At least it sounds like the dogs owners TRIED to restrain them.

Yeah I know what you're sayin'. But I shouldn't have to do that in my own yard. Maybe I'll start putting some funds away and just get it done.

And I think that before you even get a dog you should have a better way to keep them at home than baler twine.

[Shirley]

That is a horrible sight! Years ago we had ONE bunny, had him for a long time, a real nice pet. Got up one morning, went out to tend to him and his cage was tore up and he was gone. Something wanted him pretty bad, poor bunny. Never did know what got him.
Sorry for your loss. That lone surviving rabbit, boy if it could talk, the story it could tell you.

[Beeman]

I have no idea where you are or what the laws are there. I do know the laws here and basically it's all up to me. We have no animal control and if no one claims ownership/responsibility there is nothing that can be done. If they claim ownership they can be cited but that's about it. It's my responsibility to keep my animals in and their animals out. I do have the right to protect my place from loose animals but it's also my problem to dispose of them. Not a problem with a dog but when you get loose horses and such destroying your garden it gets a little complicated.

[watcher]

I have to say I'd be tempted to leave some pails of antifreeze sitting under my rabbit cages. Just tempted mind you.

[Maura]

A friend of mine once lost 3/4 of her bunnies to a neighbors loose GSDs. They were prize winning angora rabbits, each worth in the hundreds. It was quite devistating and she didn't have rabbits, other than the few survivors she put on her back porch, for years.

Some electric poultry netting around the perimeter of the rabbits. We have used the shorter, 3 foot netting, but one morning found a GSD in with a lamb and ewe. He jumped in, looked around, then jumped out again, but the poor lamb tried to run through the netting and got caught. The poultry netting is tall with closer strands.

[THETOOLMAN]

Originally Posted by watcher

I have to say I'd be tempted to leave some pails of antifreeze sitting under my rabbit cages. Just tempted mind you.

antifreeze works with yotes also!
In Ga. if a loose dog has NO collar it is fair game(remember collars come off). shoot to kill & bury deep. And keep quiet about it.

[texican]

*saying this in my kindest voice possible*

You can fret over this happening again. Or you can do something about it. Killing those dogs will solve the immediate problem, but do nothing about the root problem. Your animals are unsecured. Yes, they're in cages. And, yes, you shouldn't have to deal with stray dogs. But they do exist, as well as coyotes, and other varmints. You're going to always be at risk, till you build something that varmints can't penetrate. Once you do that, you can sleep at night, or go off to work, secure in the knowledge your critters are safe...

I'd recommend a varmint proof enclosure, with a lockable gate, that you go into, to access your rabbit hutches. Also, get yourself a badddabbs dog... a good ol fashioned guard dog.

I've had losses to dogs, coyotes, bobcats, coons, possums, skunks, hawks, owls, snakes, and even humans. The only problem I haven't rectified is owls. My guard dogs take care of everything but the humans. I've put the Angel of Death on the shoulders of the hoo mans... and so far, they realize the AOD will visit them, if they visit me again.

Good luck...

[THETOOLMAN]

Texican is correct. I shoot & bury, also I put up 4 strands of electric femce
It is like wearing suspenders & a belt also

[mike692]

Probably what I will end up doing is surrounding all of my livestock buildings with 6feet of wire fence. That will at least keep dogs out. I've had more problems with them than anything.

What I would really love is a large pole building with a dirt floor. I could keep EVERYTHING in there with no worries.

[Wolf mom]

I am so sorry for your loss...

Let me tell ya - if you've ever watched a dog die by drinking anitfreeze - you'd NEVER do it. It's a long drawn out dreadful sight. Especially if you can't get to a vet. First time I've ever shot an animal. Even though it was necessary, it sure was painful.

Get fencing! fence your perimeter (or as far out as you can) then fence close to where your animals/growing things are.

Everything here is double fenced! Including my fruit trees which have electric fencing around my small "orchard" due to the elk.

If I, an ol' lady can put up fencing, anyone can.

[mike692]

As angry as I was that day, I'm not sure I could poison anything. 'cept maybe rats. Besides, you can't blame a dog for it's owners stupidity.

[CarolynRenee]

I'm against the antifreeze "fix". You cannot tell what other animals may drink out of it, and it is a slow, painful death. I would S.S.S. if the dogs come back. I am an insane animal lover, but problem animals have to be dealth with (or their ignorant / uncaring owners!) one way or another.

I also second the idea of electric fencing, if only directly around your livestock housing. And if you can, get the "weed burners". We had the pulsing charger for the fence & it doesn't get it's "point" across all the time. One of them 100 mile weed burners will scare the beejezes out of anything trying to get near your bunnies & sure not to return! And, it may give you some satisfaction to hear the "YELP YELP YELP" from the unwanted dogs as they run like banshees with tails between their legs!

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by mike692

Yeah I know what you're sayin'. But I shouldn't have to do that in my own yard. Maybe I'll start putting some funds away and just get it done.

And I think that before you even get a dog you should have a better way to keep them at home than baler twine.

The "Fair play" in me says you are right , the "Realest" says build the fence, I didnt , I wish I had.

I once worked in a lumber yard that had a BIG rotweiler ,HUGE even for the breed , that when secured was usually chaind with the lightest twisted dogchain and a bit of baleing wire to a 16 penny nail in the ground. He was so well trained that it actually worked!