Dog Problem

[nina]

Feb 23, 2018 10:15:04 GMT -5 brenda said:

Did you ever get those dogs?

I thought they were gone and somebody finally got them but they showed up last night while I was in the chicken house collecting eggs.  I walked to the other side of the people house where I had just fed the cat bringing up the eggs and there they were.  Thinking to save the cat, instead of quietly getting a gun, which I now can use, I ran screaming at them and they scrambled under the fence and ran away in the woods.  A few minutes later the cat reappeared with a fluffy tail and I sat down to comfort her.  After a minute or two, she started growling and I looked up to see the biggest one was creeping back up in the woods.  I went to the truck and was trying to dig out the rifle but the dog left again before I could shoot.   I've seen wolf hybrids stalk squirrels it was rather disturbing to see a large dog stalking me.  I thought my neighbor who said they were threatening him was afraid of dogs and they sensed it so I wasn't too worried about them attacking me.  So far I have not been scared of them but hate the thought of them catching me out in the open without a weapon now.  Today was depressing, I simply had to move my big cows and their calves to the biggest field where the dogs have been most successful attacking as the smaller safer pen is becoming a quagmire.   I had to carry a heavy bayonet around all day sorting cows and wound up putting my cow with lung damage in my small front pen.    She got half way to the barn and just was pathetic trying to catch her breath so I let her stay with her old herd mates in a road front smaller pasture that the big cows turned into a quagmire.    My ponies have been locked up in the barn what seems like forever and I may have to sell them, something I thought I'd never do.  The one cow may or may not survive and my working mouser cat might have to become a house cat.  This time I saw a collar on the white one.  I hope Animal Control will let me try using their trap again.  If we can catch these dogs I want to take the owners to court and hope my other neighbors will join in.  I don't know what one cow, a small flock of sheep, 3 cats and a flock of chickens are worth, but I hope a judge adds punitive damages as well.   This has really lowered my enjoyment of my farm.  I had just started to relax.  What's really frustrating is not knowing when or if they will return.  This last "visit" was near dusk.   

[joanneb]

I suspect that the owner got suspect on their dogs and tried to keep them contained - hence the collar you saw.
If you can get onto the animal control again I would. Maybe make a formal report to the local police.
Is there a local paper you could put an article or something in with a description of the dogs and when they have come round. Also that the dog threatened you in addition to killing livestock. Someone knows something.

I am so so sorry this is happening. Not much comfort I know.

[corrae]

Oh NO! nina...I would call the sheriff out and say you were at risk/felt threatened--they were stalking YOU. The squeaky wheel and all that. If you call, and keep calling, and saying the dogs are stalking YOU, in YOUR yard, now there is a record of human threat, to go along with all the animal loss and damage they have caused. Please, please please, call them right now. Hugs. I'm so so sorry. And take a video, up close, of your poor cow, keep the vet records. Everything.

[nina]

Feb 24, 2018 9:35:26 GMT -5 corrae said:

Oh NO! nina ...I would call the sheriff out and say you were at risk/felt threatened--they were stalking YOU. The squeaky wheel and all that. If you call, and keep calling, and saying the dogs are stalking YOU, in YOUR yard, now there is a record of human threat, to go along with all the animal loss and damage they have caused. Please, please please, call them right now. Hugs. I'm so so sorry. And take a video, up close, of your poor cow, keep the vet records. Everything.

I live in a overly dog friendly community.  Right now, an 84 year old lady who ran a dog rescue was found guilty of dog neglect.  (" Former Lawrence County Animal Shelter Director Bobbie Taylor has been found guilty on 6 of 15 animal cruelty charges.") You'd think common sense would kick in and  people wouldn't be out for blood trying to take down an old dotty lady that actually loves dogs.   Animal control did check the houses I suggested, but they don't get back with you and let you know what's going on.    My neighbors dog got badly hurt and nothing came of that.  My only hope is to catch them with a live trap or carry a loaded gun for weeks waiting for them to show.  The bleep bleep raccoons and opossums kept getting themselves caught in the dog trap, so I need to find a bait that attracts dogs and not  wildlife.    I also need to learn to control myself.  My first reaction has been to rage and run them off.  This last time I thought they may have got the cat and instincts kicked instead of brains.     I had thought since I had not seen them for a long time they someone finally got them and let my guard down.   

[corrae]

nina. Call the sheriff and tell them the dogs were stalking YOU. Make a fuss and a formal complaint. Create a paper trail. This will hold you in good stead down the road. Really. Make a FORMAL COMPLAINT. You need to say those words.

[bigredcow]

I think you need to invest in a dog proof perimeter fence at this point. At the bare minimum 6 strands of high tensile wire, every other one hot. Really really hot. If you've got five miles of wire then use of 30 mile fencer. If they get in, they won't get out. And then they're fish in a barrel.

[nina]

Feb 24, 2018 11:38:11 GMT -5 bigredcow said:

I think you need to invest in a dog proof perimeter fence at this point. At the bare minimum 6 strands of high tensile wire, every other one hot. Really really hot. If you've got five miles of wire then use of 30 mile fencer. If they get in, they won't get out. And then they're fish in a barrel.

My dad died recently and I've been going back and forth to the DC area the last few weeks and have to go next weekend for the funeral.  In the meantime every chance we get my DH and I are trying to get 58 acres we bought in proper shape for cows.  Just clearing a path around the perimeter to be able to fix the fence has been very time consuming as well as putting a gravel road in.  This has been the wettest squishy  winter ever, between the  mud, rain, and bringing my mom to Alabama to house shop I'm ready to just take an entire 24 hours off just to wait for those stupid dogs to appear.  I have avoided electric fencing because I'm the clumsiest  person on the planet and will shock my self sillier than I already am.  If I can get most of my herd moved to the other pasture the dog problem will be solved.  The 58 eight acres has a big Angus farm surrounding one side and the other has a zillion Holstein steers packed in their fields. At least any would be attackers would have to wade through some pretty big tough herds.  My cows are pet-like and babied, they wouldn't even break thin ice to get a drink this winter.  They have an innocent dumbness about them  and are not very resourceful.    

Where I have my cows currently has suburbia creeping with a much larger population near my cows.   Imagine farms interspersed with cookie cutter subdivisions.  One of those dummies is letting their dogs out before and after work I imagine and they are using the woods behind my farm as their staging grounds.  I found where the dogs were getting under the fence the last time I saw them. The bigger one left fur on the wires and dented them upwards to get in.  I patched that hole.  My fencing overall is pretty good, where the dogs were chasing cows is where I"m renting acreage.  They have old page fencing and new plastic rail on the outside.  I can't put hot wire there.  We are leasing for a very cheap $30 a month so I don't want to ask for favors.   That said, the neighbors I'm leasing from had their dog severely attack by those dogs.  I may suggest to them to use electric wire along the wood line and I could do the same.  I think that would work very well, thanks for the suggestion.  That's probably the best deterrent if I can get the neighbors on board.  Along the wood line is far from where I'm working daily so I wouldn't be shocking myself.  

[3cows]

If Alabama allows open or concealed carry, a good pistol that fits your hand comfortably and provides plenty of knockdown and a decent clip size is something to consider.

Since the meth head incident last year, it is rare that I work outside when here alone without either my small derringer in my jean's pocket or a holstered 9mm under my shirt at my side. It is awkward or impossible to effectively carry and shoot a rifle when fixing fence or feeding cows, but with practice, you can drop what is in your hands and get a handgun up and ready very quickly.

I worry that if you don't take steps to deal with these dogs now, your cows are going to be at real risk when they are calving this year. Dogs will attack a cow that is down and straining to calve and it is a gruesome outcome for the cow and her calf.

We have shot dogs for chasing our stock and we always give permission to our neighbors to do the same to ours, should they misbehave. Part of life on a farm. Hope you can get something done about your dog problem soon.

[Natalia]

Had you considered good working standard donkey or Llama, what you can keep with your herd at all times.Farmers do this around here for Coyotes protection.
But they really hate all canines. This picture was on a net recently. I am sorry this is happening.

[northstar]

I love this picture!

[bigredcow]

That'll do Donkey, that'll do.

[farmel]

I have very good aim but find a rifle hard to deal with quickly when I'm in a hurry. I carry a small pistol when I'm far away from the house - couldn't even tell you what it is but it's very easy to handle. I can whip that sucker out and squeeze off a shot pretty quick. Maybe that's an option for you?
We have two smallish dogs that come around - our dogs always run them off but I hate them with a passion. Once, I chased them through the woods, wielding a baseball bat, full of blood lust. I'd have smashed those little bastards into a pulp if I'd caught them.

Hope those dogs are dealt with. Your poor cow just makes me heartsick.

[elnini]

As an Aussie, I'd probably be the last person to say this situation calls for the safe carrying of a lightweight handgun... but it does. It's the most sensible option in the circumstances. You don't have to nail them with the perfect headshot from a mile, you just have to stop the attack and hopefully make them easier to deal with.

[nina]

@natalia The guy that lost his sheep to the dogs got a donkey. They are slowly getting him used to his new home and have not introduced new sheep. That donkey really makes a racket so I think I'd prefer a jenny. I've been watching out for a smaller jenny, but don't think a standard or mammoth would work since I have 2 miniature horses. elnini farmel What do I ask for at the gun store? I will go tomorrow and buy something. Small light weight and cheap would be ideal. farmel You expressed so well what I feel towards those dogs. It's like a primal rage. I've blown a few opportunities not using my head and taking off after them on foot bellowing like that's going to do something. I swore to myself the next time they appeared I would quietly take pictures and arm myself, but when I thought they got my cat I did the same thing I always do and go after them raging. They bolt very fast, but it might have something to do with a pickup truck roaring after them and a crazy lady yelling. When they came last time I was on foot and after running one came back, so maybe they are figuring out I'm a paper tiger. That donkey is simply majestic holding that coyote, what a glorious sight.  Actually wild animals don't make me mad like these dogs do as they are only trying to make a living.  These stupid dogs are just doing this for sport and they know they are being bad.   They could show up tomorrow or two weeks from now.  It's so frustrating.  I kept thinking my better armed and equally mad neighbors were going to be able to shoot them.  

[elnini]

Just about anyone on here is probably much better qualified to tell you what to buy than me :-) But easy to get the safety on and off would be a high priority for me, so no fumbling and no temptation to leave it armed. Small and light so it's easy to keep with you, and something that can take a bit of wet or dirt since you're on a farm and nothing stays clean for long.

[farmel]

No clue. Mine is of the vintage persuasion, lol, from a looong time ago so I can't offer any suggestions.

[3cows]

Go to a gun store you trust, tell them what you want the gun for, so they can help you choose the best models to get you enough range and knockdown power. If you have small hands, like I do, you will want a smaller grip that will feel secure and comfortable in your hand. A good gun shop sales pro will take the time to help you try out how several models feel in your hand, so you get one that you are comfortable using. Once you get it, practice with targets and live bullets, but also practice drawing the gun from the holster while you wear it until you get that down pat, too.

A gun is only useful if know what it will do and are comfortable using it. As far as price, see if they have some used ones that are not longer showroom perfect but still perfect good for as a gun for protection when working on the farm. Guns are like jeans, you need comfortable, beat up ones for work and less worn ones for off the farm.

[bigredcow]

Dad says get a J-frame Smith and Wesson revolver. Its small and easy. He carries a 709 Taurus.

[bigredcow]

Always on him when he's farming. Has a safety on the slide so it can't even chamber a around with the safety on.

[3cows]

Feb 25, 2018 12:41:43 GMT -5 Natalia said:

Had you considered good working standard donkey or Llama, what you can keep with your herd at all times.Farmers do this around here for Coyotes protection.
But they really hate all canines. This picture was on a net recently. I am sorry this is happening.

That's an amazing photo, My donkey looks exactly like that one and I know he can toss his head with something in his teeth, cause he does it with his stainless steel feed dish when he wants his dinner delivered. I have yet to see him do that with a coyote, but I know for a fact that he runs off whitetail deer and strange dogs, but is perfectly happy to let wild turkeys scratch in the hay at his feet.

I highly recommend adding a donkey to the herd. They have personality and stay quite busy patrolling, but that may be because he has no equine friends and has to live with lowly dairy cows. If you get one, be sure to watch him carefully around new calves, we had to formally introduce him to the first few born after his arrival so he knew they belonged.