Help pls! (dog killed chickens)

[chris]

Hi folks,

A dog that's usually left outside has dug its way in my garden and killed 5 of my chickens (one managed to escape - which I later caught on the road by my house).

I'm extremely mad - we've told the police but they won't do anything unless there's damage to my property.

I've caught the dog and tied it up outside (alsatian). Dog warden is on its way.

I know this has happened to a few folk here - is there anything legally I can do? My kids could have been in my garden with them (as they usually are) which is my main concern.

I know its in a dogs nature to do this, I'm fine with THAT part of things - not after sympathies or whatever just wondering if there's anything I can do?

The owners are out at the mo (we know where the dogs is from - neighbours have helped us).

To 'safe guard' myself I've given it a bucket of water as it's in full sun - in all honesty when I caught the dog I did feel like doing something horrible to it.

FFS !\

ETA - dog warden on way within the hr

[veggiechicken]

Chris, I'm heartbroken for you. I've no advice to offer but I am so sorry that this has happened.

[rustylady]

Surely there is damage to your property. The chooks were your property!

[chris]

Have just seen the massive hole it's dug - not sure if this counts as damage, we'll see.

[VirginVegGrower]

Oh Chris, how dreadful. It is criminal damage to your property though isn't it? Surely that should matter. I would call the RSPCA for help with a prosecution for an on the loose dog. Is it tagged/collared? By law it has to have a dog tag with contact details. Is it in a poor state? Put your energies into securing your garden where the dog got in. Were these hens your new ones? I am assuming so. I would be asking the owner for the cost of replacement.
So they have gone out and left the dog outside in their garden whilst they are out?

[veggiechicken]

Does this help, Chris? The Poultry Keeper • View topic - Advice Re Dog Attacks
Seems to say you need an incident number from the dog warden and/or police when you report what happened and the owner of the dog is liable for the damage and compensation. Its a civil matter.

[Nicos]

Oh dear chris- I'm really sorry.

My gut feeling would be to take photos of the dead birds and of the damage to the fence.
Repair of fence and replacement birds should be the minimum he should fork out for you...and a gift for your gals as a way of an apology.

I wonder if he has an insurance covering his dog? I know if my horse gets out and does damage/causes an accident we are covered.

Is the dog left roaming during the day or left out in the garden?

Your chooks are are family pets. You would feel exactly the same as if your cat/bunny/puppy had been killed in the same way.
Hopefully the dog warden can advise you what to do to initiate the prevention of anything similar happening again in the future to you- or a neighbour's pet/young child.

When we first got our chooks the neighbours dog chased ours about the field and on of the two cockerels distracted it whilst the others made a get-away. Next day we ordered an electric fence.
I know a garden is different- but I can understand your shock. It took our gals a couple of days to get over the shock.
What are you going to do with the remaining gal?...get some companions asap???? Poor thing.

[binley100]

Thats awful.......absolutely heartbreaking. You need a crime number , maybe you can recover any expenses off the owner? As you said your kiddies could've been in the garden ......

[The Large One]

sorry to hear your news
a bloke across the road from us was looking after his daughters dog as it was "a bit of a handful at home"
he kept it in his back garden which did not have a gate so he used a wheelie bin to block it in but he got out
it chased our cat and must have just caught it and took a chunk of fur out his side
he was scared to death and we eventually got him inside and took him to the vet
that night he had a massive stroke and we had to have him put to sleep
after all that there was still nothing i could do legally
lets just say i had words..

youv'e done the right thing, although being the size of dog it is you were very brave but let the dog warden take it away and the owners will then have to explain why it was loose

[Bren In Pots]

Really sorry to read your post Chris

[kathyd]

So sorry Chris - I know you're not looking for sympathy, but I'm sure you know that you have everyone's support on here.

[chris]

He has compensated me for the costs of replacing the birds, and has apologised.

He was shocked at the replacement cost, but I offered to take him to where I bought them from and get a receipt for past purchase if he didn't believe me.

My daughter is quite upset by it all.

I'm off to clean up the mess and run out, put some bolts on it and concrete in any soft parts where anything else could dig under.

[chris]

Thanks all by the way.

[Leeds_lad]

You're a lot more forgiving for me. I would have no where let him, or his dog get away as easy as that.

[VirginVegGrower]

Oh dear chris- I'm really sorry.

My gut feeling would be to take photos of the dead birds and of the damage to the fence.
Repair of fence and replacement birds should be the minimum he should fork out for you...and a gift for your gals as a way of an apology.

I wonder if he has an insurance covering his dog? I know if my horse gets out and does damage/causes an accident we are covered.

Is the dog left roaming during the day or left out in the garden?

Your chooks are are family pets. You would feel exactly the same as if your cat/bunny/puppy had been killed in the same way.
Hopefully the dog warden can advise you what to do to initiate the prevention of anything similar happening again in the future to you- or a neighbour's pet/young child.

When we first got our chooks the neighbours dog chased ours about the field and on of the two cockerels distracted it whilst the others made a get-away. Next day we ordered an electric fence.
I know a garden is different- but I can understand your shock. It took our gals a couple of days to get over the shock.
What are you going to do with the remaining gal?...get some companions asap???? Poor thing.

I have insurance for my two dogs too, which covers this kind of thing, but in reality if they are the type to leave their dog in a garden whilst they are out, I would guess they are also not covered. I would be asking the RSPCA to pursue the angle of them being neglectful towards the dog, as I assume it doesn't have a pen/run?