The neighbor's dog killed them yesterday. They were dying when I came home from work. All I could do was pet them and hope they died quickly. When the Sheriff got here, they were dead.
I went to feed the chickens this morning and heard them bouncing about their shed and heard the "maa." Except I didn't. It wasn't there.
I am without words.
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Oh, Jordan. I am so, so sorry. My heart literally hurts as I type this and tears are streaming down my face. I can't imagine how you must feel.
ReplyDeleteYour neighbor's dog should be put down before another tragedy happens.
I am so so sorry.
ReplyDeletei can't think of anything to say...
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss. And I'm sorry that someone stepped on your dream. Is this the drunken, singing neighbor?? And the sheriff is on this??
Me too. So sorry.
ReplyDeleteWhaaaaat?! Your GOATS?! I'm just . . . speechless! I am SO, SO sorry! I'm just . . . stunned! Are you sure it was a dog . . . not a cougar or something? I've just never heard of a DOG killing a goat! Especially TWO goats!!! Oh, my god. Please keep us posted and know that we are ALL sending our love and support to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks folks.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm pretty sure it was Atticus, who I found behind the shed with the dying goats and blood on his face and chest when I got home. My two guard dogs wouldn't let any other potential attackers anywhere near - but Atticus they knew and liked. My neighbor has let her dogs run loose in the almost 2 years I've been here. She comes to her house from her father's, drops the dogs off, and then goes out. Then the dogs come to my house, uninvited.
{{{hug}}}
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for you. I've truly enjoyed watching them munch their way into your (and my)heart.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing I can say but that I am so sorry for your loss. Our hearts go out to you.
ReplyDeleteYou know what's stressing me out the most right now? My neighbor. She's pissed off because I called the cops and didn't try to settle it with her first. I'm worrying more about frontier justice than grieving the goats.
ReplyDeleteFirst: I am very very sorry. I can't imagine how it feels - the loss, the invasion, the grief. The goats were not only special pets, but a key part of your dreams for your own future.
ReplyDeleteSecond: "Frontier justice?" I think the neighbor needs to put her actions in perspective. She's very lucky you didn't immediately shoot the dog. Which I think you are well within your 'frontier' rights to do the next time you see that dog anywhere within your property lines. THAT is "settling it" first.
Oh Jordan - I am so, so sorry! I think you had every right to call the cops!
ReplyDeleteJordan,
ReplyDelete"I am so very sorry for your loss." Even my Mother and kids send their heartfelt sympathy. I know no words, especially those from a long time reader who had not yet commented, can soothe your wounds but I hope Penny and Coco went quickly. And I am glad their final moments were spent safe in the arms of someone they knew loved them. That matters.
Melanie
((who keeps her kids close, her horse and sheep LOCKED UP TIGHT and no longer owns chickens because of her own neighbors dogs....sigh...))
I'm sorry too. Frontier justice would be her showing up with 2 new goats and never letting her dogs roam again.
ReplyDeleteDon't let the miserable old bat get to you. She is the one who did not control her dogs and allowed this to happen. She is the one who must pay. You are not going for vengence, you are being repaid for your loss. She will get her dogs back and hopefully will keep them under control. If not, she will lose them.
ReplyDeleteYou owe it to Penny and Coco to sue her ignorant butt back to the Stone Age. Use whatever means necessary to keep your farm dreams and livestock safe.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear this! I would be furious. Unfortunately, there are far too many people who don't understand that dogs do kill goats. I hear of two or three attacks a year. A few years ago, there was a whole herd of Nigerian dwarf goats wiped out by the neighbor's dogs. Whenever someone calls me and wants goats and asks how goats and dogs get along, I give them a lecture that hopefully scares them enough to never leave their dog alone with their goats. It really takes a special dog to be a farm dog. They're not all cut out for it. We have a new neighbor with three dobermans, and they refuse to believe that their dogs would hurt a fly. We bought a new fence charger for our electric fence. Good luck with the neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. This breaks my heart. Even though we've never met, this makes me want to get on a plane and just be there with you. Hope you've got face-to-face support.
ReplyDeleteI too, have never "met" you but I wanted to say how very sorry I am for you. Please accept my ((hugs)). Thinking of you...........
ReplyDeleteMiss Eff
Yeah, exactly: "Frontier Justice" would have been you shooting that dog . . . or, better yet, its owner! It's not his/her fault (the dog's) that s/he's attracted to meat-on-the-hoof.
ReplyDeleteAt the very least, the "neighbor" (ha!) needs to reimburse you the financial loss of the goats. At best, she should pay for you to have a lovely fence (with gate) put up around your property if she's not willing to keep her dogs tied up, etc. What's the law around there for unattended dogs?
I know it would be a bummer to have to go to the trouble of hiring a lawyer, but if you don't think she's gonna do what needs to be done (keep her dogs in hand), it AIN'T gonna get better and you NEED some assurance that future animals are not going to suffer the same fate. So, if you can at all afford it: hire an attorney, I say! (And the only reason she's pissed off that you called the cops first instead of dealing with her is because she KNOWS she was in the wrong!!!)
I sure hope this doesn't put you off continuing to homestead with animals, though, friend!
Sending another hug, Chicken Mama
So very sorry Jordan:( I am praying for you, because like me, I know you saw them as family.
ReplyDeleteBe strong with the ignorant neighbor issue...Like Chicken Mama said, she knows she was in the wrong. You have a right to enjoy your own property, and your animals, without her dog causing harm.
Hugs!
Oh my how horrible, my heart certainly goes out to you, and I sure will pray for you, that you will get peace and can forgive this family who owns the dogs, they need to be put down, if they are running wild and killing others animals they have no business to let out, I will pray for you dear, and hope you can get past this horrible scene soon, God bless you, Barbara
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss.It is always difficult to lose our four legged friends, especially when it could have been prevented. I hope your neighbor now understands that she needs to become a more responsible dog owner...or not own them at all. ((hugs)).
ReplyDeleteHaving animals puts in us in the "high risk" category -- high risk for broken hearts! Every time I lose one, it hurts so much I think it can't possibly be worth it. But of course it is; which is why I still have horses, sheep, chickens, dogs and a cat. I haven't ever lost one to outside dogs, but that risk is there, too. If I caught one on our property, though, I'd be shooting to kill, and I basically told that to the "city folks" who built next door to us and didn't think the "old family pet" was capable of catching its own food. But if it had to happen, I'd practice SSS -- "shoot, shovel and shut up."
ReplyDeleteNone of this helps your heart, I know, except to know that many of us feel your pain and wish we could undo it. I'm so sorry....
Oh, so sorry to hear. How sad. What a jerk your neighbor is. My neighbor let their dog run loose until it came after me one day and bit me. I didn't speak to them I called the police and they had to go to court and pay a fine. The dog doesn't run loose anymore. I'm mad at your neighbor for putting you through this. She needs to know her actions were irresponsible and she should reimburse you for your loss.
ReplyDeleteoh dear... this is tragic news.... :( they were such an enjoyable part of your farm, and your blog! my heart goes out to you..... unfortunately, i know exactly how it feels to lose a goat like this. i'm so very sad for you... :(
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I came home to the neighbor's huskie in my paddock. It had attacked both angora goats and both sheep. One of my sheep, my sweet Baa-sil was ripped open. It took three attempts to get a vet out here...so frustrating. The goats survived but I lost both of my dear sheep. The neighbors agreed to pay for the vet bill and the loss of the sheep but I received one $20 payment. Folks encouraged me to contact the township officials. The township paid me with the fees paid for dog licenses and they went after the neighbors. It certainly didn't ease the pain of losing my dear ones (as you full-well know) but we did use the money to put up electric fences. We also adhere (now) to the SSS shoot-shovel-shut up.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you.
I'm shocked and devastated over this. I'm so sorry and can only say that time heals all wounds. Do go after the dog owner and I agree with Barb, "SSS". I wish you all the best in your time of grieving, my thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteOh Jordan, how terrible. Your goats were beautiful with an abundance of personality. I can hardly imagine it. How sad.
ReplyDeleteI also want to say I think you were right to call the police first, because you can always work it out with your neighbor but police need to see the problem first hand to file a report. You did the right thing, in the right order.
Think about what you want from your neighbor over the next couple days. It's best to be as clear as you can be, but I know it's got to be hard.
Jordan, I'm so sorry about Penny and Coco. They were wonderful, and I really enjoyed reading about your experiences with them. I guess I'm going to be the stick in the mud here. I don't believe in killing animals. Atticus doesn't sound like he's vicious or rabid or kills everything he comes into contact with. He was just doing what dogs do. His owner is the one who is responsible for the deaths of your beloved goats, and they're the ones who need to be held accountable. I'm so very sorry.
ReplyDeleteGenny, I totally agree. Thanks for pointing it out, because I hadn't written that. New York law agrees. There will be a hearing next week in front of a judge where the dog will likely be declared a "dangerous dog." All that means is that the owner will have to keep it confined and maybe a few other things, depending on what the judge says. Those thing do not realistically include euthanasia, but might include having the dog evaluated. I doubt the judge would order an evaluation since the dog didn't bite a human. If the owner allows the dog, uncontrolled on my property after being declared a dangerous dog (or even if he's not declared a dangerous dog but I fear for my or my animals' safety), then I have the right to dispatch it, and I might do that (with my new gun - hah, not likely!). I would probably call the animal control officer to take it again. Then there would be another hearing and I doubt the owner would get it back after that. The upshot is that the owner will have more chances to show that she can keep her dog under control. I don't care how she does it, but I don't want to see that dog ever again. Thanks for making the point. It's a good one.
ReplyDelete