Kudos to all of y'all for doing your best to keep your dogs in the yard.
Last Thursday evening, before my wife & I got home from work, a dog escaped his back yard several houses away and headed straight for my place, specifically for the chickens we keep in the back yard. Before our next door neighbors who saw the dog run into our yard (and who really enjoy our small flock, and even feed them treats) could get ahold of the dog, it had killed 3 of our 6 chickens and was working on the fourth. That one will probably survive, but it's poor butt is now bare as a cueball.
My wife, who treated those chickens more like pets than livestock, was devastated. They may have 'just been chickens', but they were HER chickens.
The dog's owners were obviously shocked that their dog was capable of such a thing, but the dog was simply reacting to it's instincts. They have offered to replace the chickens, buy feed, or whatever, and I do appreciate their gesture of goodwill, but I will NOT endure another attack with impunity, now that we all know what their dog will do once he gets out. There is no doubt in my mind that WHEN he gets out again, he will head straight back to the chickens.
This time around, I didn't call the Law, although we have very strict leash laws around here, and livestock will almost always prevail legally over roaming, unleashed dogs. I also didn't worry about having anyone replace the lost chickens or whatever. I'm chalking it up to a lesson learned all around, on my side from the risk I assume by letting my chickens roam the yard, and on the dog owner's side concerning the damage that a loose dog can do by 'just being a dog'.
I once took a Business Law course, and the instructor, a local lawyer, told us that one of the most libel-rich situations you can put yourself into is simple dog ownership. Whatever means you use to secure your dog, be it a strong high fence or electric perimeter, keep in mind that the ultimate purpose is not limited to the prevention of the loss of your dog, but also any legal action that could arise once he or she is out of your direct control.
. If money is the issue, the stake can be a temporary fix, but I must say it never worked for my dogs. They would wrap themselves around trees. If you got yourself some good amount of area without trees though, it could work pretty well. My male golden retriever has learned in the past to pull off his collar though, no matter how tight, so in either situation there is always a chance they'll find a way out. Again, if money is the issue, you could try having it indoors as well temporarily.
