Free-roaming dogs

Just to play devil's advocate, there are times when it is really NOT a problem. My dog has protected neighbors (as in more then one) properties from both predators and thieves. This was because he was welcome there and knew who belonged. When two strays got into the neighbor's cows, Thunder (who was welcome on their property partly because he never chased cows and was friendly with their dog) saw them off before any harm was done. The same dogs were shot down the road for mauling a calf. Now if this neighbor, when I moved there and introduced myself and told them Thunder had been encouraged and welcome at the old neighbor's place had told me to shove off, any animal there would be greeted with antifreeze, well,they'd have missed out on a good neighbor and maybe be missing a couple of valuable animal. I don't let him roam everywhere, but no matter where we live he has become welcome across the road and next door.

Now when the above neighbor's young dog got onto our property and killed a couple of chickens, it was very upsetting. BUT, we decided to be friendly and talk to them about it. They thought he was behind their invisible fence (I hate those things) We gave them time to train him, they paid for the chickens in milk and we were all good neighbors. Always talk to the neighbors first and not "Look what your *@@#$# dog did!!" I have lived next to some awful neighbors and next to some great ones, most of them are nice if I am.

Currently I recently ----ed off a neighbor who ended up with my beagle puppy on her porch. She came over very irate, I apologized profusely and we discovered that my golden had chewed off the beagles collar, leaving collar and chain laying there in the yard. I'm sure I looked very irresponsible with a collarless puppy running around, but then you get the whole story. They were both tied out because my fence isn't finished. Accidents happen. I'm sure glad she didn't shoot him or dose him with antifreeze. Now if I can only get my cat back from my other neighbor who really wants to adopt her. She is a great mouser and we would both lose her services if I kept her inside all the time. If the neighbor who wants to keep her moved and a new neighbor came who started putting out antifreeze, there would be war. So talk to the neighbors. If there's really an irresolvable problem, getting a livetrap and dropping the nuisance at the pound at least gives them a chance to get owners who can be reasoned with.

We live "out in the country" on a farm and are surrounded by farms or small ag properties and also state land. Pretty much EVERYONE has loose dogs here. We have two ourselves. Used to have three, but one didn't come home April 2007, and yes I WAS heartbroken for months over losing him.

Farm dogs many times, HAVE to be loose to protect the homestead. Lots of dogs just don't roam, some need to be trained as pups to stay on the farm, and some just stay.

You are allowed to shoot a loose dog that is harassing your stock, and your neighbor can shoot your's if it is harassing their livestock. ***MANY PEOPLE SHOOT THEIR OWN DOGS*** if they start killing their own chickens and such. One particular neighbor of ours has had trouble getting a good farm dog to replace their geriatric one, and has gone thru a few different pups over the last year, most she shot and a couple were given away (when someone heard they were to be shot and asked if they could take them home instead).

I am sorry for the loss of the OP's animals, that would be AWFUL if it happened to me. I would have shot the dogs if they were on my property after this happened.

This is the best post in this thread.

And I can't believe anyone would intentionally leave their dogs roam. I have one dog, and I would never even consider allowing her to leave my property. Not because of any mischief she would get into, but because she is a good friend and I'd be crushed if anything would happen to her.