A Hobby Farmers Worst Nightmare

[patricimo54]

I came home from work one day last week to find all of my chickens, half my ducks and my ram killed by dogs. It broke my heart. I am not certain how they got in, but I will figure it out. My ewe is about to lamb, so I had her put up in a secure area, thank you Jesus, or I would have lost her too. None the less I had to haul a high dollar ram and a sack full of birds off to the happy hunting grounds.

[Admin]

Holy Crap!! sorry to hear this Pat. What a fricken suckpill that must have been. Any idea who's dogs did this? I can't imagine how pissed you must have been. My heart goes out to you man.

[mrchicken]

That totally sucks. I hope you find the owners and hold them responsible.

There is a standing shoot to kill order on most of the farms in our area. Our neighbor lost 12-15 cows last year to dogs running them, we lost a pregnant cow, a second top notch breeder cow, and a steer to roaming dogs, not to mention 9 chickens including a rare breed rooster.

With calves bringing $1000+ and a pregnant cow costing $2200-2800 letting Fluffy run your cattle through a couple barbwire fences just ain't Kosher.

Unfortunately its always the same song from the irresponsible owners. "oh its just what dogs do, roam and chase stuff." Followed by "he wouldn't HURT them, he was just playing". As soon as you mention them being financially responsible for the damage the song changes to "well it's not MY dog, it has just been hanging around here".

Burns me up that people can't be responsible for their pets and ugly responsibility of destroying the nuisance animals falls to others.

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[lilweasel]

I just hate when that happens. Had a dog kill a bunch of geese on me. Had a mink kill 23 pheasants one afternoon. Loosing bigger animals just sucks!

[Deleted]

I had to shoot two dogs in 25 years. One I almost shot but I was saved by a hefty log chain. It was common to run into dogs while you were approaching someone's property. That was part of the job. But when they attack you off their own property, it's game on. One of my co-workers was a little too slow on the draw and was severely bitten in the family jewels. I shot a shepherd as it was crossing a road to get me and I shot a doberman. Neither owner gave me any grief over it. I learned when knocking on a door, never let the owner open the door until he secured the dog. I always kept my foot up against the bottom of the door. In PA, any dog that is actively chasing wildlife or livestock can be shot, no questions asked. That's a shame what happened there.

[farmertrappe]

I feel your pain, I have had problems with four and two legged creatures. I had two dogs destroy my chicken flock a few years ago. I was reimbursed for the chickens, but was out of the egg business for six months. Cost me well over two grand in lost income. I blame the owners of pets and not the pets. Now when i witnessed and caught a neighbor kid shooting my chickens with a bb gun and the father choose to believe his obliviously lying kid over me I was pissed. So in front of the father, I made sure the boy and his little brother learned a valuable lesson from this incident. I said we all know what you did, and that you lied your way out of it. Since it worked this time you just keep lying every time you screw up, and I looked at the father and told him to think of me every time it happens. About two weeks ago I was easing home after work and saw two policemen in the front yard of the neighbors house. Mom, dad, the shooter were all out there also. I tapped the horn and gave them a big smile as i slowly cruised by, KARMA Baby GOT TO LOVE IT. Turns out he likes to break windows too.

[paddyg441]

Sure sorry to hear of your Livestock loss "PAT" !!!, load up your Old Defender and Blast any Dog like Critter which enters upon your Lands to Kingdom Come !!! , with absolutely no Regrets .

[mitrapline]

Really sorry to hear about this Pat. We've lost chickens before but, I couldn't imagine what you're going thru. Hope you're able to find out who the culprit is and get the owners to make it right with you. Stay after them bud.

[nytrapper23]

That really sucks. I hate to hear this, wild animals I don't blame they are just doing what they need to do to survive. Family critters is a different story, I put cats in this category. Also. We can't shoot dogs here even if we see them actively chasing wildlife,you have to call the dec

Trapper farmer ,that's hilarious,I love karma.

[nutriaratman]

I'm tired of dogs roaming free caught one in a dirt set this year knew the dog and where it belonged ,it was on the opposite side of the farm I was trapping from where it belonged (opposite side of 3000 acres) , turned it loose feet were all good very little swelling , the next day was confronted by the lady that owned it she was upset about me catching it delt with all her dogs all year was tired of it so while she was speaking her mind I never said a word , went to the back of my side by side pulled out a regulation book ( yes have one with me for reference ), a MB 550 , my trapping licenses , my permission paper to be on that farm , & then my phone she asked me what I was doing & politely told her according to the regulations in the book I'm legal to the letter as to what is required for me to trap someones land so I'm not gonna argue I'm gonna get a wildlife officer to come out and take care of this . She didn't want to here that she knew I was right haven't seen a dog down there since .

[trapperbud]

Sorry to hear about your losses Pat. Hope you get the varmits that did it and their owners .

[patricimo54]

I am not 100% certain that they are dogs, might be coyotes, but I know where they are getting in.



If you look close you can see I have a snare waiting on them.

[paddyg441]

Now that is what I call a Beautiful looking Necklace "PAT",

[nytrapper23]

Oh baby,bet it doesn't take long for that set to connect.

[patricimo54]

No action on the snare, but I do have a bit of good news Saturday the 15th my ewe gave birth to triplets.

[lilweasel]

That's the quick way to rebuild the herd Pat

[ninedeer]

so sorry to hear of your loses Pat I feel your pain my friend I also have had live stock killed by dogs.IT always a sinceless killing,too.They kill for fun.I hope you get the animal that done this I'm sure it will be back.

[nytrapper23]

That will ease the pain a little.

[mrchicken]

Congrats on the babies!

[counteryboy5]

Congratulations life continues