Monday
19Oct2009
Rest In Peace, Blondie
Mon, October 19, 2009 at 8:08
Or, Just Go Away
A neighbor's stray dog broke into my fenced-in yard yesterday and went on a mad killing spree, killing my little bantam hen, Blondie and severely wounding several others. Of course my neighbors are denying responsibility but I rescued my Leghorn hen, Snowy, from the dog's mouth and there were no other loose dogs anywhere to be seen.
I held the killer chiwawa in custody until police and animal control arrived and was threatened with physical violence that was witnessed by the police officer. Because the dog had only attacked my chickens and had not attacked me it was returned to its owners. The man who threatened me was also not charged.
I partially blame myself-- the dog has been loose outdoors for months and I never called animal control until yesterday when he attacked my hens. The neighbors complained that some of my chickens had gotten out in the past but I cured that problem over 6 months ago by clipping the wings of the birds who flew over the fence. The birds the dog managed to attack were those with wings clipped and could no longer fly.
I spent hours walking around the neighborhood looking for fleeing birds and enduring taunting from "neighbors" whose dog had suffered no injuries. All I wanted was to be left alone to find my birds.
Previously, I lost a chicken to a neighbor's cat. I tried to catch the cat but never could. Thankfully, someone ran over the cat with their car. If I see the dog again I'll call animal control. If I'm lucky someone will run over the dog but if I find it in my yard again I'll quietly load it up and take it to the Guilford County Animal Shelter without saying a word to anyone. The dog wears no collar and has no tags and I can't help but wonder if he's ever been vaccinated.
What amazed me was the fact that while my "neighbors" claim to love their dog they don't understand that I love my pets too. I can buy a new hen on Craigslist for $5.oo but it won't be hand fed and willing to sit on my finger while I stroke its feathers. It won't run to greet me at the gate like my birds do. It took a lot of time spent bonding with Blondie to get her to trust me and it's very hard to do. And while the City of Greensboro holds my neighbors responsible for the replacement value of my hens the City can't heal my broken heart.
When I was a kid I had a dog that got out and killed a neighbor's chicken. My neighbor stopped the attacks with a single shot from a .22 rifle. I was very mad that my dog had been shot but my Daddy explained to me it was my own fault for letting my dog out of the gate. The dog healed-up just fine and I kept him in the yard or by my side from then on. I was forced to accept responsibility for my dog's actions, the dog learned to stay away from chickens and the man who wounded my dog remained good friends with my family until his death 40 years later.
But I cannot be friends with a man who threatens me when his dog kills my chickens within the confines of my own back yard.
A neighbor's stray dog broke into my fenced-in yard yesterday and went on a mad killing spree, killing my little bantam hen, Blondie and severely wounding several others. Of course my neighbors are denying responsibility but I rescued my Leghorn hen, Snowy, from the dog's mouth and there were no other loose dogs anywhere to be seen.
I held the killer chiwawa in custody until police and animal control arrived and was threatened with physical violence that was witnessed by the police officer. Because the dog had only attacked my chickens and had not attacked me it was returned to its owners. The man who threatened me was also not charged.
I partially blame myself-- the dog has been loose outdoors for months and I never called animal control until yesterday when he attacked my hens. The neighbors complained that some of my chickens had gotten out in the past but I cured that problem over 6 months ago by clipping the wings of the birds who flew over the fence. The birds the dog managed to attack were those with wings clipped and could no longer fly.
I spent hours walking around the neighborhood looking for fleeing birds and enduring taunting from "neighbors" whose dog had suffered no injuries. All I wanted was to be left alone to find my birds.
Previously, I lost a chicken to a neighbor's cat. I tried to catch the cat but never could. Thankfully, someone ran over the cat with their car. If I see the dog again I'll call animal control. If I'm lucky someone will run over the dog but if I find it in my yard again I'll quietly load it up and take it to the Guilford County Animal Shelter without saying a word to anyone. The dog wears no collar and has no tags and I can't help but wonder if he's ever been vaccinated.
What amazed me was the fact that while my "neighbors" claim to love their dog they don't understand that I love my pets too. I can buy a new hen on Craigslist for $5.oo but it won't be hand fed and willing to sit on my finger while I stroke its feathers. It won't run to greet me at the gate like my birds do. It took a lot of time spent bonding with Blondie to get her to trust me and it's very hard to do. And while the City of Greensboro holds my neighbors responsible for the replacement value of my hens the City can't heal my broken heart.
When I was a kid I had a dog that got out and killed a neighbor's chicken. My neighbor stopped the attacks with a single shot from a .22 rifle. I was very mad that my dog had been shot but my Daddy explained to me it was my own fault for letting my dog out of the gate. The dog healed-up just fine and I kept him in the yard or by my side from then on. I was forced to accept responsibility for my dog's actions, the dog learned to stay away from chickens and the man who wounded my dog remained good friends with my family until his death 40 years later.
But I cannot be friends with a man who threatens me when his dog kills my chickens within the confines of my own back yard.
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Reader Comments (3)
Sounds like you handled this a lot better than your local police did. Your neighbor sounds like a real prize. My condolences on the loss of your pet.
Thank you, D.
I have lots of great neighbors but the handful of bad neighbors living here make life really hard. Were it not for family obligations I would buy a piece of land somewhere far away from everyone.
Just saw this Billy, the dog owner should have been given a fine for allowing his animal to run at large, another for no rabies vacination and also quarantined for ten days to see if it may be rabid - as it killed your live stock- and deemed a dangerous/vicious animal by the animal or Police officer or in court being that it killed one of your hens. Those are NC laws my friend
After an animal is declared a dangerous animal it has to be kept on a leash when walking and/or muzzled. It also has to be kept in an enclosed , top, bottom and sides, area so as not to be able to run loose.
Communcating threats is NC 14-277.1. is a class 1 misdemeanor and it was done in front of officers who did not do their sworn oath.This is a cya situation and this conduct should have been put in a report and a citation issued on the spot. Oh yes, and you could take this guy to court if you wish for the cost of the animal if you like.
If the dog gets out again call animal control and let them pick it up, not you. File a complaint with the Police department by phone as well. The law stinks sometimes but if you take the dog this neighbor could file charges against you that you willfully stole fido right out from their yard. Of course their dog NEVER EVER gets out like that. Let animal control do it instead with records and keep bugging them everytime you see it out and mark down the date and times of the offenses. It could get very expensive for the dog owner.