[Intory]

With neighbors like that I'd be calling AC or shooting the dogs. You can always start with rock salt loads in a shotgun and see if that deters them. Being as they've shown aggression I wouldn't have ANY problems taking care of them myself. Yes, I'd have to live with shooting the dog but if it was protecting my family and property so be it.

[downtowndude]

The neighbor said he didn't shoot at the dogs, but shot the gun to scare them. He has a glock that he carries on him and said he will shoot to kill not scare them next time.

No my property is not fenced. I never had a need to fence it. We are hoping to one day fence part of it in for more livestock, not for our dogs, but several acres for cattle.

[downtowndude]

Really getting fed up!!! I have neighbors that let their pit mixes run loose. They have killed several of our chickens. Now we have to keep them locked in their run 24?7.
I keep my dogs on leashes and they are only outside with me. Anytime I come inside, even for a second, they must come in. I wouldn't dream of having them tied outside... the neighbors dogs would attack mine and they wouldn't be able to get away. I have another neighbor with 5 pit mixes and they have an electric fence. They still dig under the fence and escape now and then. One bit my husband on the belly (pit/mastiff). Broke the skin, but could have been worse if the dog really wanted to attack.

I really hate how my neighbors do not care for their dogs. It is not fair to me or my family. We now keep the shotgun loaded, carry pepper spray and check our yard before we go outside.

I live in the redneck, country area in South West Florida. We have told the neighbors, we will call them if we see their dogs loose. We also told them, if we feel threatened, our children or any of our animals injured or killed, we will use our Florida given right to shoot their dogs. You think this would get them to tie their dogs, or find a more secure way of taking care of them, but no... just last night the dogs, 7 in total were in our yard. What if I would have been outside with my pups, or my daughter would have been walking her puppy...

Some people shouldn't own dogs!!!

Sorry, I just need to rant. Calling AC is not the answer. Uhm, ya really don't want to mess with people down here. We called the police once when about 5 chickens were killed. Didn't press charges, but the officer told us we can shoot the dogs if any of our property is being threatened (chickens are considered property). Sad thing is that I would have to live with killing a dog, and then neighbors that are not the most honest of people...

[downtowndude]

Yes I know it is something (shooting the dogs) that will most likely be done. Just something I really wish wouldn't, something that shouldn't have to happen.

We have tried working with them. The one guy that always has his dogs loose didn't take our threat to shoot to well. He is a drug using, drunk redneck. He threatened us. We tried working with him and call as soon as we see his dogs. He didn't even apologize for our chickens, just said it is what the breed does. Okay, then chain them. I know Florida does not allow chaining of dogs, but it has got to be better than a dead dog. His land is not fenced in. He just opens his front door and lets the dogs out all day without supervision.

The other neighbor with the electric fence is a nice guy. As soon as he finds out his dogs have dug, he will fill the holes. He tries to check daily for new digging spots. we live on huge acreage so this is no easy task. I asked him about chain spot for the dogs, he was like, no freaken way. They roam his land and protect it from coyotes and other wild life.

While walking my pups today, I saw my new neighbor with the doberman. I asked why I barely see him anymore. He would always guard the fence and gate. The guy said a bunch of loose pits tried jumping his fence one evening. He had buck shot and used it. (I must not have been home, cause I would have heard him shoot). He keeps his dog inside now. He brings him out to play and exercise only when he is outside. He said he won't use the shotgun next time. Instead his glock and will shoot to kill.

This whole situation is just sad...

[Buincchotourbss]

No my property is not fenced. I never had a need to fence it. We are hoping to one day fence part of it in for more livestock, not for our dogs, but several acres for cattle.

Maybe it's just me, but I find it hard to sympathize with someone who hasn't taken the measures to secure their own animals first. I live in the middle of nowhere on acreage, too... but I still have roughly an acre around the housing fenced in for everyday use for the dogs.

[Boveosteors]

Fuck it. Shoot the loose bastards. Or invest in a cattle prod, or put up some electrified livestock fencing. Or an assload of rock salt will teach them not to come on your property.

[Intory]

personally, if I had kids and dogs and livestock, I would shoot those dogs if they came on my property. A pack of untrained pit bulls is nothing to mess with. Yeah, they're usually not human aggressive but I'd shoot first and ask questions later.

Especially since they have TRIED to work with the neighbors who seem to not care at all. At that point there are very few options and none of them are particularly "good" ones.

[Desflahd]

Something's fishy with that guy's story. Even one small piece buckshot, like 000 is a lot bigger that a .22 bullet and likely would have killed a dog. It would have put out eight or nine balls about the size of an asprin, which is way more effective than any glock. It would have crippled him for sure. I'll call internet BS and say you never heard the shot because it didn't happen. I would say disregard his story and go with what you know.

[downtowndude]

No, I am not the argumentative type. We just never fenced the yard. I grew up in the country and never had a fenced yard. No reason, just haven't. I see all your points and have discussed it with my husband and daughter's boyfriend. He said he will help us install one. I would rather it stay in the backyard since we have a rather large U shaped driveway and would need to gates for both entrances. Thank you all for your responses.

[riverakathy]

a fence will stop more wildlife than you think plus it will keep the other dogs on the other side. of course there will be a "good reason" to not have a fence.

[Desflahd]

It sucks but.....yeah I agree. Short of fortifying your property to an insanely expensive degree there's not much else you can do. Salt rock has worked on dogs before though. I know of a guy that taught his dog to stop chasing pickups that way.

[downtowndude]

I keep my dogs under control. They have never run loose. I have had dogs my entire life and have never left any of them off lead. It is just how I was raised. I have a 50 foot lead to play catch, and for running. Of course, where I live it is not safe to leave them outside alone. The wild life is my second biggest issue. Coyotes, snakes, gators... they are just here naturally. I walk my dogs 5 miles every day. They are always under my families control. I feel that is safer than a dog running loose on a fenced acreage... like I said, just how I was raised.
My husband and I have been talking about fencing in the acre right behind the house. But no fence will prevent wildlife from entering, or being a responsible owner.

[Buincchotourbss]

I keep my dogs under control. They have never run loose. I have had dogs my entire life and have never left any of them off lead. It is just how I was raised. I have a 50 foot lead to play catch, and for running. Of course, where I live it is not safe to leave them outside alone. The wild life is my second biggest issue. Coyotes, snakes, gators... they are just here naturally. I walk my dogs 5 miles every day. They are always under my families control. I feel that is safer than a dog running loose on a fenced acreage... like I said, just how I was raised.
My husband and I have been talking about fencing in the acre right behind the house. But no fence will prevent wildlife from entering, or being a responsible owner.

My dogs aren't loose unsupervised in the yard... I'm always out there with them.

And like Mark said - Fences keep out more than you think. The coyote pack that lives on the rest of the property has never breached the fence. We don't have gators here, but I don't imagine they'd take the time to tear through a fence either. Snakes... we have those, but it's rare to find one in the dog yard because there is such constant foot traffic and no prey.

But the biggest thing, also like Mark said - Is it keeps the majority of other dogs OUT. We have a lot of strays here, and I've yet to have one get into the front yard (there have been a few on the rest of the property, which is livestock fenced).

[QualityReachOut]

Your livestock (chickens) have been killed and your husband bitten. You've warned the owners. Just shoot to kill.

[StampNews]

personally, if I had kids and dogs and livestock, I would shoot those dogs if they came on my property. A pack of untrained pit bulls is nothing to mess with. Yeah, they're usually not human aggressive but I'd shoot first and ask questions later.

[Buincchotourbss]

Is YOUR yard not fenced either?

People are idiots, and sometimes animals have to take the brunt of the punishment because of that.

[QualityReachOut]

If the cost of fencing or the install is prohibitive you can build something like

http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthre...-Dog-Kennels-)


That way your dog(s) can be safely outside to enjoy the weather, go potty, whatever.