Ok let me give some back story here first.
I have a little over 8 acres 4 of which are fenced for Horse pasture.
I raise chickens (currently have 25).
I live in BFE
Some new people bought the house about a half mile down the road I have met them he is not the sharpest tool in the shed they have a young child and 2 dogs. (herein lies my problem)
When I was thinning my strawberry plants in my garden I had about 40 that would make good starters so being neighborly I brought them over to them when I saw them outside. (was last week sometime) I made the mistake of scratching the dogs head while I was BSing with them.
Fast forward to Monday of this week, I go out in the AM to feed and water the chickens and horses and here comes the dog, I yell at him to go home and he sits down and looks at me like I am dumb.
I finish my morning stuff go in the garage and find my old dog leash go and put it on him and walk him home. I knock on the door and explain where he was to the owner who also looks at me like I am dumb.
I explain to him how I have chickens and horses and if the dog gets in with the horses they will stomp him and if he attacks my chickens I will stomp him. I ask him to please keep the dog chained. He looks at me like I a dumb and says "sure no problem man, thanks for bringing him home."
Tuesday morning, guess who is outside waiting on me when i head out. Yep there is Fido.
Same deal bring him home yada yada yada.
I was at Wally world anyway that afternoon so I bought a long dog cable thingy with the ground anchor.
Wednesday morning, yep I am not gonna repeat myself. This time when i return him I offer the cable thingy. Owner says"WOW thanks man I have been meaning to get one of those."
I explain I do not want to call the Sheriff(we don't have animal control they take care of it) and that there is a leash law even out here in BFE. I tell him if I ever catch Fido in with my chickens I will not hesitate to protect my flock. Owner says"OK I swear we will keep him tied up."
This morning guess who is waiting on me? Yep!! I don't wanna kill this dog he seems like a great dog just has stupid owners. I pull my pistol and just discharge one into the ground in front of me. Fido runs home.
About 30 mins later the Sheriff shows up and says "Hey Mike good morning, your neighbors called and said you were shooting at their dog so I had to come out." I shoot with him and often have a cold tasty adult beverage together so he knows I wouldn't do anything stupid or dangerous.
We talk for awhile and he tells me he is going to go over there and explain the leash laws and that if I find the dog on my property I am within the law to handle matters as I see fit.
My problem is He seems like such a good dog he just has really stupid owners. How much more can I do HELL I bought them a dog tie thingy.
I will protect my flock and my horses but it really bothers me that I may have to kill this poor animal that just doesn't know any better.
What more can I do and what would you do???
I have a little over 8 acres 4 of which are fenced for Horse pasture.
I raise chickens (currently have 25).
I live in BFE
Some new people bought the house about a half mile down the road I have met them he is not the sharpest tool in the shed they have a young child and 2 dogs. (herein lies my problem)
When I was thinning my strawberry plants in my garden I had about 40 that would make good starters so being neighborly I brought them over to them when I saw them outside. (was last week sometime) I made the mistake of scratching the dogs head while I was BSing with them.
Fast forward to Monday of this week, I go out in the AM to feed and water the chickens and horses and here comes the dog, I yell at him to go home and he sits down and looks at me like I am dumb.
I finish my morning stuff go in the garage and find my old dog leash go and put it on him and walk him home. I knock on the door and explain where he was to the owner who also looks at me like I am dumb.
I explain to him how I have chickens and horses and if the dog gets in with the horses they will stomp him and if he attacks my chickens I will stomp him. I ask him to please keep the dog chained. He looks at me like I a dumb and says "sure no problem man, thanks for bringing him home."
Tuesday morning, guess who is outside waiting on me when i head out. Yep there is Fido.
Same deal bring him home yada yada yada.
I was at Wally world anyway that afternoon so I bought a long dog cable thingy with the ground anchor.
Wednesday morning, yep I am not gonna repeat myself. This time when i return him I offer the cable thingy. Owner says"WOW thanks man I have been meaning to get one of those."
I explain I do not want to call the Sheriff(we don't have animal control they take care of it) and that there is a leash law even out here in BFE. I tell him if I ever catch Fido in with my chickens I will not hesitate to protect my flock. Owner says"OK I swear we will keep him tied up."
This morning guess who is waiting on me? Yep!! I don't wanna kill this dog he seems like a great dog just has stupid owners. I pull my pistol and just discharge one into the ground in front of me. Fido runs home.
About 30 mins later the Sheriff shows up and says "Hey Mike good morning, your neighbors called and said you were shooting at their dog so I had to come out." I shoot with him and often have a cold tasty adult beverage together so he knows I wouldn't do anything stupid or dangerous.
We talk for awhile and he tells me he is going to go over there and explain the leash laws and that if I find the dog on my property I am within the law to handle matters as I see fit.
My problem is He seems like such a good dog he just has really stupid owners. How much more can I do HELL I bought them a dog tie thingy.
I will protect my flock and my horses but it really bothers me that I may have to kill this poor animal that just doesn't know any better.
What more can I do and what would you do???