I'd put up a sign. "It is within my legal right to shoot any aggressive dog on my property, harassing or harming my family or livestock."

An aggressive dog shouldn't be a kids' pet anyways. If you are in the public view, shoot 'em anyways. That's what I would do. The dog is on your property. Perhaps a barn cam might be in your best interest. And housing your goats indoors at night to keep them protected - from 2 leg or 4 leg problems.

 

That sign sounds like a good idea. We've got some stencils and paint, so maybe I can get the dh to make them tonight.

 

Ditto what Mygoat said

 

Do not put up a sign! That's a violation of SSS. Start shooting the shotgun at random times to accustom the neighbor to gunshots. If you're not proficient with a .22, start practicing.

When you get the opportunity, SSS at a time when the neighbors can't see. Don't tell anyone, especially your kids or friends about your plan.

 

SSS is not the law. IT's just the best way to avoid issues with neighbors. I suggested the sign if you cannot avoid the neighbors seeing the dog get shot. there is still no legal issues with doing so - it is within your rights.

 

I suggested the sign if you cannot avoid the neighbors seeing the dog get shot. there is still no legal issues with doing so - it is within your rights.

It's better to just shoot the dog LEGALLY and NOT put up any signs.
It's not a requirement under the law, and serves no real purpose other than to make it look like you're PLANNING to shoot the dog.

Just have a copy of YOUR state's statutes on the matter in hand to show what you did was legal

 

just don't leave your property .If the dog leaves let it go and you don't know a thing.don't budge on that.one shot one kill.

 

Hopefully animal control handles it. I wish dealing with animal control wasn't such a big part of my life, though.

 

Lemme understand this a second....

Your neighbors dog is loose on your property.. It is chasing your animals... Then you get stern with it, and it starts towards you growling and barking and pushes you back onto your porch...

You are completely within your legal rights to shoot a dog that is threatening your safety on your property....

I wouldn't have thought twice about shooting it... I can pretty much promise you the problem won't end until it comes to that, and if it happens again, it might even be more aggressive knowing once it has already backed you down.

If nothing else, a shot into the ground by it's head might be enough to change it's attitude..

If that would have been my dog, I would have expected my neighbor to have shot it...

 

Hopefully animal control handles it.

Unless they WITNESS the event, all they can do is warn the owners.
You are the only one that can "handle it".
You've made your report, and have it on record that the dog is a problem.

Maybe take a picture of the dog ON YOUR PROPERTY as further evidence, but don't hesitate to kill it the next time it's there, and acting agressively

 

Personally I would go over and talk to the neighbors. I would say something to the effect of
" hi I'm kris your neighbor across the way. We're having some issues with your dogs harassing our livestock on our property and chasing my brother. We don't want any problems we would just like to know if there is a way to keep your dogs home." Listen to their answer and then end with something along the lines of "unfortunately we have been advised that if the dogs harass our livestock we are allowed to shoot them. We don't want to resort to that as we are dog lovers also so we'd like your help resolving this problem."

Remember you catch more flies with sugar. The mom might just be a bit overwhelmed with things and it never hurts to be nice. Honestly if someone just shot my dog I would get even with them. No question about it! We all think "our' animals are angels that do no wrong.

You have the right to defend your livestock and your property but you will get farther in life if you do nicely.

 

I have a question. This is terrible. My son ran over a dog that was chasing our goats and had tore up a bunch of our chickens. We weren't close to a gun but he was close to his jeep. This dog was in a killing frenzy and didn't even hear my son coming. We never told the owners.

So... Do you have to actually shoot it or was my son within his rights? We've been worried about the legality of his actions.

 

Sadly, you just said what happened to that dog... I would have forgotten that even happened... No one knew until now right?

 

andabigmac, that never happened. You are speaking completely hypothetically.

And to answer your exceptional hypothetical question, "It depends". In SOME areas, the hypothetical driver would be within his rights...however, in MOST areas, purposefully hitting an animal that is considered a "pet" type animal with a vehicle is considered animal abuse....and can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending upon local and state laws.

 

I have found that most people who allow their dogs to run loose are not willing to change their behavior, regardless of the consequences. It is best, unfortunately, not to give them any warning that you may dispatch their dog. It is not the dog's fault that they have a crummy owner, and it really is awful to have to shoot a dog. However, it will work out best for you and your animals if you just SSS. Doing otherwise opens you AND THE LIVESTOCK YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT to revenge, litigation, and just a lot of trouble with your neighbors.

 

andabigmac, sounds like a suicide to me.

 

Letting a dog run loose is irresponsible. Expecting the owners to do anything differently may be wishful thinking.

 

I live where there are no leash laws. Owners do not HAVE to contain their dogs.

I also do not have to tolerate their dogs.

We started off nice, talking and even tried to help with fencing.... But our neighbors kept BREEDING more dogs and turning them loose.

We trapped and hauled 4 to the animal shelter... ....I'm a dog lover, I don't WANT to kill dogs.

But, that became too expensive and there were too many dogs.

3 were shot and dealt with in the SSS fashion....

We talked to the neighbors again.

Then their rottie pinned me on my fence, and their Shar pei mix went after my children.

Started picking them off in broad daylight after that, the bigger the audience, the better. They called the sheriff, the sheriff laughed, then I laughed when I filed a complaint against them which resulted in the dog who went after me being siezed....

Took 2 years, but they got with the program, reduced their numbers and now have a pack of small annoying dogs.... They aren't aggressive and after picking a few of them off, they tend to avoid my property lines

I love dogs, but I love MY dogs, children & stock more. I won't be harassed on my property. If my dog were out, causing trouble, I would not hold a grudge against someone who shot him..... It would break my heart but it would be my fault.... So my dogs are ALWAYS contained and supervised, no exceptions.

 

Did I forget to mention this was all hypothetical? My bad. My son would never risk denting his precious Jeep to save the lives of some stinking, stupid goats.

Now, Voyager- Suicide. That's funny. BTW- Welcome!

 

Well if your animal control is like mine it is next to useless.

I would talk to her about the dog being in your driveway and acting agressive and that you are scared someone is going to get bit.
If nothing comes of it, buy a paint ball gun with red dye painballs, shoot the dog a few times, let them freak out that their dog is bleeding. If they come over and say somethng to you about it tell them that you figured it was a more humane way of keeping their dog off your property then literally shooting it which will happen if it attacks a goat or person.

The only other thing I can think of if you do not want to shoot it is to trap it on the far side away from them where they can't see and take it to a shelter far far away.

Don't put up a sign they can take pictures of it and if anything happens to their dog you will be the first person they blame even if you had nothing to do with it.

 

The issue with talking to the owners is that if the dog comes up missing/shot/dead, they know who to suspect. In some situations, you can expect talking to the owners has a good result - they realize you can shoot their dog so they keep it contained. But, it could have a bad result - the dog is not contained, gets shot, and now the dog owners are out for vengeance .

 

My grandfather used to always say that you have to be smarter than a dog to pen a dog. I am thinking that your neighbors may have a smart dog... Why not make friends with the dog and teach it to behave. grin.

 

So... Do you have to actually shoot it or was my son within his rights? We've been worried about the legality of his actions.

That poor dog was accidentally hit as it was running loose. Dogs that run loose get accidentally hit everyday. It is not against the law for the car driver. It is the dog's owners that were at fault for not keeping the dog safely constrained.
It's too bad your son didn't know exactly who the owner was, or he could have told then so that may have been able to get help. But I know it was an ACCIDENT. Those things happen, especially when a poor dog is running loose against the leash law.

 

Unless they WITNESS the event, all they can do is warn the owners.
You are the only one that can "handle it".
You've made your report, and have it on record that the dog is a problem.

Maybe take a picture of the dog ON YOUR PROPERTY as further evidence, but don't hesitate to kill it the next time it's there, and acting agressively

We have video of it towards the end of our driveway barking.

And I don't feel comfortable walking over there because as much as I hate to admit it, I am scared of this dog. I can yell in a firm voice all I want, but from what I hear, German Shepherds can bite hard, and I'm not a fan of dog bites. I shouldn't be scared to walk in my own driveway.

I'm not too big on the shovel and shut up idea, because if I am within my rights, and I want to keep this from happening again, it should be known, right?

 

That depends on your neighbors. I take it you haven't read about the farmer who recently shot a labrador retriever that was "playing" with his pregnant ewes. He was within his rights when shot the dog too. Now the dog owner is threatening a lawsuit and the internet story has attracted the attention of the "Oh no, the poor dog" people all over the country, There's a reason it's SSS and not SS.

They don't warn you when they let the dog out. You don't owe them anything in return. They obviously don't care if the dog is out in the road.