Dog Attack.

[polo]

Having a really crap week although not as crap as my hens! I let them out for some grass today when a staffy appeared from over the fence and went for them like a bullet. I couldn't catch the damn thing and it got Hilda my black rock type hen in its mouth. Its owner shot over the fence and managed to catch the dog but the damage was done by then. I'm so glad I was there or else it might have had more hens.

When I picked Hilda up she had a huge hole in her back and was bleeding heavily. I was just about to wring her neck when she died so at least it was very quick. My neighbour is mortified but it was one of those things. we have come to an agreement that she will let me know when the dog is here so I can keep them in and it's only going to be the weekend so the hens can get out all week.

Annoying it had to be Hilda that got it, she was one of my best layers and was a good hen with no problems. I found myself wishing the dog had got the one with crop problems and then started feeling guilty for thinking that.

It took another 2 hours to find the rest of the hens, the only one close by was the broody one whom I had just chucked out the nest. She was going crackers to get back to her eggs.

Watching them all like hawks now for egg peritonitis after that shock.

Polo

[jackie j]

How awful for you, can you raise the height of the fence or not, you are allowed to have it 6ft from your side of the fence.
I hope the rest are ok and you of course.

[Flummery]

Horrid. You must have been nearly as shocked as the hens.

[chris]

eep. I'd have wanted to wring the dogs neck! at least your neighbour is 'ok' about it mind.

[Feather]

I hope the neighbour is at least going to buy you another hen, and pay any vets bills if any of the others do succomb to shock. (You'd better say it's not a good idea to buy just one hen as it's too hard to integrate a singleton.) Why should you have to keep your hens in when her bloody Staffy is about? It's up to her to control her horrible dog. Once it has attacked and killed once it'll do it again and it might be a cat, a pet rabbit or even a little dog like mine next time.

[Glutton4...]

Sorry to hear your news, that's awful. Glad that your neighbour was upset, to. We all like to think our Dogs are well behaved, but it's not always the case.

I hope (you and) your Hens get over the shock soon.

[polo]

Thanks all, The adrenaline has subsided now and I'm tired. My throat is also killing after screaming at the dog!

Feather - you make a good point about vets bills if any have problems in the next couple of days. I will see the lady tomorrow and we can have a chat. Luckily I know them and the neighbours reasonably well so I'm sure we can sort this out. This dog will be around for most of the summer that's what's worrying me. The run is secure enough to stop a dog and its got a roof but I WILL be keeping a close eye on whether it comes over the fence again - if so then we will need to stop its access or they don't bring it because I'm not having the hens being stared at from the outside of the pen.

Its just so pointless. I didn't expect to lose anything to a dog - fox maybe but not a dog.

[chris]

Can you alter the fence a bit, or string a couple of wires up over the top of it? Or suggest one of those long leads and a stake for them to tie the dog up, but still give it room to move around the garden.

[Suechooks]

Could you put some carpet gripper on top of the fence? (The sort made of wood with little nails going in all dorections) That should give it cause for thought if it gets on the fence again. Maybe the neighbour should be building a secure run for the dog if it's in the habit of "getting out" it could cause road accident or all manner of damage.
I'm really sad for your poor hens and for you too - let's hope the s*1t fairy will move away from you very soon. {{{{{Hugs}}}}

[polo]

I could maybe alter the fence slightly. The problem is typically Yorkshire - stone walls everywhere, very pretty but a bit difficult to run good fences over. It's possible with a bit of tweaking.

Will check it out tomorrow..

Sue - If I make the fence high all along and it still gets over then carpet gripper it will be!! Good suggestion

[tamsin]

I don't think you're allowed to use carpet gripper on fences, as it causes injuries to people/animals. Perhaps a line of electric fencing along the top of the wall would be easier/safer.

It's the owners legal responsibility to fence her dog in, not yours to fence it out - perhaps you could share costs to keep it friendly?

[rana]

It's the owners legal responsibility to fence her dog in, not yours to fence it out

What legal responsibility is that then ? When I was concerned about 2 vicious dogs persistently getting into my garden the old bill were completely uninterested unless and until an attack and injury to a person had occurred.

[Hilary B]

It IS illegal to have an uncontrolled dog, but it's well down the priority list for the enforcers of the law. There are so many other things they are trying to keep up with, it's hardly surprising if they only bother with wandering dogs when damage to humans has occurred.
The theory that once a dog has attacked it is more likely to do it again, is a fallacy. Once a dog has attacked, you know it is liable to do so, but even after one successful attack it CAN be taught not to do it again (although no dog, however well behaved, or even if it has never done it before, is entirely reliable about such things).
If the dog can get out of its 'own' garden (whether into yours or onto the road) then it should not be allowed in the garden without proper control. Our garden is not dog-proof, that is why our dogs never go out unsupervised, and if they started ignoring recall, they would be on a lead when outside as well.

[Feather]

The theory that once a dog has attacked it is more likely to do it again, is a fallacy. Once a dog has attacked, you know it is liable to do so, but even after one successful attack it CAN be taught not to do it again (although no dog, however well behaved, or even if it has never done it before, is entirely reliable about such things).
.

So whose hens, rabbits, cats etc are going to be used as 'bait' for when the dog is being 'trained?'
When you discuss this with your neighbour, you should assume that she has insurance for her dog, which as a minimum will be third party and will cover whatever claim you want to make. If she doesn't have insurance then the money she'll have saved on premiums will go towards your costs.
The dog won't change, Staffies are powerful dogs and although usually gentle with humans if well socialised, the prey drive is strong and their jaws are designed to kill. Yes, the law won't be very interested unless the attack took place on a human. However, my daughter used to live near to a dog that ran out of the owners garden and attacked her dog very badly. she was on her own, with a baby in the pram at the time and it was a terrible shock for her, and her elderly dog. The owner refused to discuss the matter so Sara just paid for the vet. When it happened a second time, she reported it to the police and the dog warden. They said that, as the houses were on a country drive and thus not 'adopted' by the Council,they could only take action if the dog had been reported for two or more attacks and that as she hadn't reported the first attack it didn't count. They moved house before there was another attack as she didn't feel safe wheeling her baby past the dog's house. So you would be doing everyone a good turn by reporting the incident to your local Dog Warden. If it doesn't happen again, no harm done, and if he attacks anyone else, or your hens, he'll have a record of aggression. Hard as it may be, stay calm and friendly but be assertive with your neighbour when you meet her to talk.
Remember also that if a dog can get in to your garden, so can a fox, so it might be a good idea to improve your fencing if you want to let the hens out.

[chris]

I think the leccy fence / wire is a good suggestion. I'm sure the neighbour would (should!!) be willing to help meet costs of it. How are you feeling today polo?