First post here, long-time follower.
I shot a dog that was trying to get into my chicken pen. I live in Texas so I was entirely justified, legally and morally speaking. This wasn't a stray, it was a beautiful Husky that belonged to some very well-off people on the next street.
A little background here. Back in March, I had two copper Marans and two Muscovies in square pen made of field fencing. I first saw this dog a week or so before, trying to get in the pen, and I was able to run it off. Came home from work, all the birds are dead. No obvious trauma, but slobber and feathers everywhere, obviously a dog attack. Didn't catch it in the act, but I reasonably believed that dog to have been the culprit.
Fast forward to August, and a few more sightings of the dog running loose in-between. I have a large, beautiful Delaware rooster, a barred rock hen, and a Lohman hen in a chicken tractor. Okra was just starting to sprout and the Delaware was just the right size for a good gumbo. One day I go to feed them, and I find the same dog looking up at me from inside the pen, covered in blood and all three birds dead. Started to go inside to get the .22, but I knew someone loved the dog, so I held off. Besides killing the chickens, the dog had ripped the (already rusted) sheet metal on the tractor to gain entrance. Animal Control came and got it, I filed dog-at-large charges, owner paid the fine. He offered to pay for the chickens but I refused, and we agreed that if he kept the dog penned up, all would be well. However, for weeks afterward, I see the dog running loose in the neighborhood. The owner even came to my house at one point to let me know it was loose. I let him know that my patience was running out, and next time I would do what was necessary to protect my animals and property.
A few days ago, I'm going to feed the chickens, and I see the dog come running like a flash straight to the tractors. Starts running circles around the pens, chickens are terrified, then it stops running and starts digging. That was enough. I went inside and got the .22.
Little do I know the owners are on foot not far behind, chasing the dog. The woman begins screaming, the son begins cursing, telling me that my animals and property are nothing compared to the value of that dog. I call the cops, they explain the laws and ordinances to them (in Texas you're entirely immune from criminal and civil liability in these cases), but they're too upset to care.
For six months, seven dead birds, a damaged chicken tractor, and loss in feed, city water, eggs, and meat, I had been patient with these folks. The dog's death is entirely their fault, same as if it had been run over by a car. None of this was the dog's fault, and is entirely theirs. I defended my property and livestock, and they failed to protect the dog by keeping it on their property.
Notwithstanding, my heart is very heavy. Though I shoot raccoons and possums regularly that I catch trying enter the tractors and coop, I almost wish I hadn't shot the animal. Now I'm worried that even though they can't file suit, they'll smear my name or stage some sort of demonstration (as I said, they're very well-off), especially since I'm a police officer.
Has anyone been in this situation?
Thanks,
Matt
I shot a dog that was trying to get into my chicken pen. I live in Texas so I was entirely justified, legally and morally speaking. This wasn't a stray, it was a beautiful Husky that belonged to some very well-off people on the next street.
A little background here. Back in March, I had two copper Marans and two Muscovies in square pen made of field fencing. I first saw this dog a week or so before, trying to get in the pen, and I was able to run it off. Came home from work, all the birds are dead. No obvious trauma, but slobber and feathers everywhere, obviously a dog attack. Didn't catch it in the act, but I reasonably believed that dog to have been the culprit.
Fast forward to August, and a few more sightings of the dog running loose in-between. I have a large, beautiful Delaware rooster, a barred rock hen, and a Lohman hen in a chicken tractor. Okra was just starting to sprout and the Delaware was just the right size for a good gumbo. One day I go to feed them, and I find the same dog looking up at me from inside the pen, covered in blood and all three birds dead. Started to go inside to get the .22, but I knew someone loved the dog, so I held off. Besides killing the chickens, the dog had ripped the (already rusted) sheet metal on the tractor to gain entrance. Animal Control came and got it, I filed dog-at-large charges, owner paid the fine. He offered to pay for the chickens but I refused, and we agreed that if he kept the dog penned up, all would be well. However, for weeks afterward, I see the dog running loose in the neighborhood. The owner even came to my house at one point to let me know it was loose. I let him know that my patience was running out, and next time I would do what was necessary to protect my animals and property.
A few days ago, I'm going to feed the chickens, and I see the dog come running like a flash straight to the tractors. Starts running circles around the pens, chickens are terrified, then it stops running and starts digging. That was enough. I went inside and got the .22.
Little do I know the owners are on foot not far behind, chasing the dog. The woman begins screaming, the son begins cursing, telling me that my animals and property are nothing compared to the value of that dog. I call the cops, they explain the laws and ordinances to them (in Texas you're entirely immune from criminal and civil liability in these cases), but they're too upset to care.
For six months, seven dead birds, a damaged chicken tractor, and loss in feed, city water, eggs, and meat, I had been patient with these folks. The dog's death is entirely their fault, same as if it had been run over by a car. None of this was the dog's fault, and is entirely theirs. I defended my property and livestock, and they failed to protect the dog by keeping it on their property.
Notwithstanding, my heart is very heavy. Though I shoot raccoons and possums regularly that I catch trying enter the tractors and coop, I almost wish I hadn't shot the animal. Now I'm worried that even though they can't file suit, they'll smear my name or stage some sort of demonstration (as I said, they're very well-off), especially since I'm a police officer.
Has anyone been in this situation?
Thanks,
Matt
