To shoot the dog or not?
By AnnieOakley1
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
Canada
May 7, 2008 9:53am CST
I have a farm with a substantial number of sheep on it as it is my main business. Dogs, coyotes & wolves love to chase sheep. Dogs just chase, but coyotes and wolves eat them for food. Therefore, they are enemy number 1 to my sheep operation and I will defend it in any way I am legally and morally able. I am allowed to do this by law, with my gun, also. Which I have a permit for, for this very reason.
So I have a neighbour, who has 2 dogs, down the street from me. We live very rurally, of course. So this neighbour, Peter, apparently goes to work and leaves his dogs loose in his unfenced yard. But when nobody is home, they tend to wander around the neighbourhood.
My problem is that they have come down to my place and walked into my driveway. Now, I have 2 options available to me.....1. Shoot the dog as I have every legal right to do if he is on my property...or 2. Call the dogcatcher. I chose number 2 as I do love animals and I believe him to be a loveable pet for his owners. I assumed that the owner would appreciate the fact I did not kill his dog. Instead, since he got a letter from the township notifying him that if his dog was caught off his property again ("running at large"), he would be taken to the pound and it would cost him $150 to bail him out. So Peter comes to visit me, since he was told who complained and why. He basically tells me that he would rather I shoot the dog instead of costing him money at the pound. WTF? I told him I would really rather not have to shoot his dog. I suggested that he either tie him up when he is away or build a fenced area to put him in or to give the dog to someone else as I knew a few people that would take him. This is a beautiful Burmese Mountain Dog whom the owner (passed away recently) paid $1400 for as a pup and has a wonderful nature.
Also, the fact that his dog is wandering the roads is tempting my farm dog to want to go, too. I have an intact female registered Border Collie. His Burmese is an intact male. My dog is 9 yrs old, and knows to stay on the property, but an intact male wandering and visiting will not help me keep my dog home as is the law. If she has ever left the property and I found out she was punished and tied for a time and that seemed to have cured her in the past. I would appreciate my neighbours letting me know first, so I could take steps to remain within the law prior to incurring any charges or her doing any damage.
How do you think I should deal with this situation? What would you do?
4 people like this
7 responses
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
7 May 08
How about you just keep the dog? If you want it, that is. He clearly doesn't give a damn one way or the other, since he'd rather you shoot it than keep it fenced in. That just mystifies me, AnnieO. I'd say, if you don't want to take it in, then go ahead and call the dogcatcher again if you see him out. Maybe that way, the guy will be forced to build a fence. But I'm rather concerned that he might just shoot the dog himself, frankly, which would be such a huge shame, I mean, come on! I dunno, I think I'd keep calling the dogcatcher and tell Peter that if it continues, you're going to keep the dog. Will a Burmese try to harm your sheep? Would it be at all possible for you to take the dog? What do you think he'd say if you proposed that? It sounds like a wonderful dog, except for the owner.
3 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
7 May 08
I only need or want 1 dog as stated in the response above.
I feel the same way....that he doesn't really care enough about the dog to keep it fenced, that someone else should own it that does care.
He says it only roams when they are not home because it loves people so much, it goes looking for someone to pet it.
Still, I have spent a lot of energy and time training my dog to stay home and not wander or taken steps to make sure she does not. He should do the same to comply with the law as everybody else has to.
This guy thinks he is special and the rules do not apply to him in general, about everything.
He was shocked when he came here and visited and I gave him the 5 cent tour of my operation. He said, "Oh, I thought you were only screwing around with a few sheep up here for a hobby, but I realize now that it is actually a business for you. Very organized and very large."
He is a chauvenist, and very self-righteous.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
7 May 08
Shoot the neighbour and keep the dog. LOL
Sorry - saw this in my inbox and couldn't resist. Gotta go.............
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
8 May 08
Get the neighbour on all fours and then tell the cops "But Officer, without my glasses, I thought he was just another dog!" LOL
2 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
9 May 08
Cute, sparks, cute. lol.
Golly, thanks for the response here, too. I agree with you, it is the owner who is neglectful, but the dog will suffer for his neglect. That's the part that irritates me.
So I will keep and eye out for someone that wants him, and if I find someone, and he comes down here again, I will definitely call the dogcatcher and tell them where to go to adopt him.
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
9 May 08
I would continue to call the dog catcher and have the neighbor get it drilled into his head by the dog catcher that this is his responsibility as an owner to keep his dog tied. You have done everything you could to make sure the dog has not been harmed and you have even talked to the owner you went above and beyond the call of duty. He now needs to grow up and be an adult on the subject if not he shouldn't own the animals he has.
2 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
9 May 08
I agree, bella. You are right on the money there.
He is a poor owner and I feel sorry for the dog being stuck with someone who cares so little for him.
But guess what? I'm going to the auction tomorrow where the old fella that used to own the dog originally lived. This older fella has passed away and his family gave the dog to Peter since he was a friend of the family and had 50 acres. 50 acres and he cannot be bothered to build something to keep the dog safe while he is away. It just boggles the mind really. It wouldn't be that difficult.
Anyway, I may just let something slip about the dog wandering and wanting a more attentive owner to them while I am there. Maybe they will also try to take the dog back and / or give it to someone else. Oops, did I let that slip out.
I don't think he deserves a nice dog like that if he isn't willing to do ANYTHING but feed it.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
9 May 08
This guy needs his other dog taking in too if he is so uncaring as to be prepared to have dog shot because it costs him to retrieve it at the pound. He needs to build a good secure fenced area and put himself in it. If he escapes call the people catcher and have him put down humanely. You have a business to run, your own dog doesn't need the attention and your livestock sure as heck don't. The dogcatcher was the right thing to do. I would be tempted to call the RSPCA (or the Canadian equivalent) for both dogs if they are outside and can get loose whilst he's at work. I don't think that this guy sounds like a fit keeper.
1 person likes this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
11 May 08
Right on P1ke!! Right on!
His past dogs were German Shepherds and used to chase me and my neighbour whenever we went for a ride together. She is still a novice rider (I used to barrel race and break and train horses) and spooking her horse or making it flat out run isn't the safest thing for her. And his dogs were always loose and would chase us down the road.
I however, have cut and herded cattle with my Pinto mare, competitively even, and I would turn the tables on the dogs pretty quickly. You should see the look in the dogs eyes when something they thought they were chasing, suddenly turns on them and chases them. Just priceless! Horses can definitely run faster than dogs!! Ha!
YEEEEE HAWWWWW!
It was even fun teaching them a lesson.
1 person likes this
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
7 May 08
Did you notify your neighbor before you called the dog catcher? If so you did the right things in my opinion. If not I believe you should have showed him the same respect you yourself had asked for. Your neighbor has made it clear that he doesn't want to spend the money on the dog. If you really don't want to shoot the dog your only other choice is to call the pound. If he don't want to pick up the dog won't they just adopt it out? If you do shoot the dog just remember that if your dog decides to roam then the neighbor my return the favor. Best of luck to you cause it is a sticky situation.
1 person likes this
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
7 May 08
Well it sounds like you have tried everything to be fair to your neighbor. I think you have taken the right steps in resolving the matter. When I said the dog might be adopted I meant by someone that wanted the dog. Where we live we don't have a dog catcher so I wasn't sure if they picked up the dog next time if the guy didn't pay the fine or pick up the dog what would happen. Where we live we are told if the dog is a nusiance to shoot it.
He doesn't sound like he is a very good dog owner and from reading your other responses like a good neighbor.
1 person likes this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
7 May 08
Travi....that is sort of what he said, that if he is a nuisance, to shoot him. But I feel for the dog, not the stupid owner. I don't think that he should own the dog. I think someone more responsible that cares more should own it and love it properly....for the dog's sake...to save it's life.
So I am tempted, if it contiues to come down my way to my place, to kidnap him and relocate him to a new home. But unfortunately, I am too honest for my own good most of the time and I know the illegality would cause me so much guilt that I would no longer sleep.
I have thought to call the Humane Society, but don't think they would regard a conversation as evidence of neglect anyway.
1 person likes this
@Breath (1297)
• United States
7 May 08
From the way it sounds this is hard for you to deal with...I know you do not want to hurt the dog and you have warned the owner...Could you just try to get the police to talk to this person and tell him to keep the dog on his property or they will remove the dog...I hope this might scare the owner...Good luck..
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
7 May 08
The dogcatcher, who is employed by the township is responsible for this matter, not the police. He has already been warned by them in the letter, that is why he came down and spoke to me personally.
But thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
8 May 08
Defeniatly don't shoot the dog; he doesn't deserve it, he's done nothing wrong. Bernese Mountain Dogs are normally not the aggressive type, and my guess is he'll never touch your sheep, who you obviously want to protect. And as for your female dog, can't you keep her in the house when you are not home or inside? I don't see how it can be such a big deal if she is trained and you are outside where you can watch her.
Sounds to me like your neighbors don't really care for their dogs. Any way you can take the dog off their hands? If it keeps coming to your property you should just take it in everytime and not tell your neighbors (if you can afford to do this).
You said he is a sweet dog, and I would hate for him to be shot by you or anyone who doesn't have the patience you have. And I would really hate to see him end up in a shelter for good, that would crush him since he is normally a family dog.
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
9 May 08
My farm dog is an exclusively outdoor dog. Part of her job is to be outside and protect the property when we are away. She is crate trained, but I wouldn't want to make her stay locked up there for too long when she is happy and used to being outside.
She is well behaved, very obedient, but I shouldn't have to modify her due to another neighbour's negligence. HE is the one not abiding by the law here and it will be to his Burmese's detriment.
Yes, and until I do know someone that would take him, I am reluctant to call the dogcatcher again as when they are in the pound, I think they only have around 10 days to be adopted or the are put down. And I wouldn't want that to happen to him.
I do not want to encourage the behaviour by petting him or feeding him or keeping him here for any reason. And I think that may be construed as theft, too, so not the way to go. At least for me.
But thanks for responding to my discussion and telling us your opinion here. It is valued.
1 person likes this
