aggressive dogs

[coppertop]

My neighbours Shepherd pup used to be over here everyday. I called them daily and asked them to keep it at home but it returned day after day until one morning it happened to get into the pen with the two donkeys....I heard the dog yelping like crazy, next thing it was limping toward home and has never been back.

The lack of respect for others property and enjoyment of same is just getting worse. We have a rash of ATV users out cutting fences to trespass on public property, allowing livestock out etc. Whether it's dogs running at large or showing a lack of respect for private property, it all boils down to the common denominator of conflicting land uses in my book. All the farmers and ranchers that I know wouldn't think of cutting a neighbours fence or allowing their dog to run all over the country.

[per]

Ron, what did the RCMP have to say?

[cakadu]

We all know that dogs get out and go where they aren't supposed to - ours are no angels either. The difference being if ours are off the property, we go and get them home as soon as we notice they are gone.

More often than not, ours run after the neighbors dogs.

Apparently the neighborcalled over here one day to advise us that our livestock guardian was on their property, beating up their dog. My husband patiently tried to explain to her that the role of the guardian is to protect the sheep and our dog was likely getting after their dog because it was over here so often. The neighbor didn't want to hear anything about that, just that our dog was being mean to her dog.

Granted, our dog shouldn't have been on their property but he spends an awful lot of time just watching to keep their dogs out of our pasture.

Coppertop, you could very well be right - just no consideration for others and their property. Maybe what we should do is have acreage owners take some sort of "Acreage 101" course. I'm sure though it would end up being like leading a horse to water.

[coppertop]

Our weekly newspaper is doing a series of articles, the first one is about the problems encountered by landowners when ATV users cut fences, trespass etc., the second in the series is about dogs running at large,and the problems they cause.

[Ron]

I left a message for the rcmp last week explaining my side and he returned my call saturday, he had hoped not to bother me but somebody kept phoning him to check on the progress.
I explained again the dogs attacked my kid, my other (farmer) neighbors have had these dogs wandering at their place for months, and I feel I made the right choice.
It turns out that I would have been fine if the dogs were attacking livestock, attacking kids is a grey area.
If I shot the dogs while they were attacking my kid it would be reckless use of a firearm, if they were running away it would be revenge, not defense.
I was told by the county police (not rcmp) that the stray dog act would call for fine #1, no collar or tag would be fine #2, attacking a person would be fine #3 and if there is any civil action taken to immediately call them and they would charge the neighbor for the dogs actions (I think it would add up to around $600/dog) and hopefully settle things down.
The county mentioned they are having more and more problems with stray dogs/acreage owners and will have to put more attention on the stray dog act etc.
Hopefully this is over (except for my 4 year olds new nightmares)

[Bez]

Late reply.

Glad the kids are OK.

Next time - shoot the damned dog(s) and say nothing.

I am not one to enjoy killing - but am prepared to do so.

A small number of local mutts have gone missing because of their bad owners and their aggressive temperment when those same mutts "toured" our operation.

First time - many years ago some dogs cost cost me serious veterinarian bills - now they show up they die. Packed up dogs are the worst.

Shoot, shovel and shut up.

Explanations just create complications - especially with neighbours that will NEVER believe you about what their dogs did.

Take care of your family and your business - do what you must and tell no one.

Be happy

Best to you

Bez