Why is it so hard to just say "Sorry"?

[pat fan]

So yesterday our neighbors dog and one of their in-laws dogs came in our yard and killed two of our chickens. A third is doing so-so. These dogs are always loose, no fenced yard or leashes. Yes, we were upset and my DH told the guy who came to get them they better not come in the yard again or he would shoot the dogs. Which is legal if they are killing livestock.

I called the neighbor, got the daughter who said parents weren't home (found out it was a lie) and she denied it was their dog (your uncle came and got them!) then said it was an accident. Never apologized. Told her to have mom or dad call. No call. I called today to get the uncles name and number, spoke to the dad, no apology, nothing. Called the uncle, he will pay to replace the birds. I said I didn't want him to be 100% responsible but it was up to him to work it as who was going to pay, but he said he would do it to make it right. BUT no I'm sorry. Is it so hard???

If we report them the dogs will be declared a nuisance (for killing livestock) and that makes a mess for them and I'd rather not do that, but it peeves me that they won't just say "I'm sorry that happened. We will do better keeping our dogs controlled". Is that too much to ask?

 

[kaytieeldr]

So you want them to potentially lie?

 

[Disneylover99]

Saying sorry admits fault. Clearly they don't want to admit fault. Some people are like that. Sad but true.

 

[anniemae]

Oh how awful. I agree a simple "I am so sorry" followed by a plan to reimburse you and a plan to keep the dogs under control would have been the proper thing to do. Unfortunately in this society, I think people are under the impression that if they say sorry it is admitting guilt and they will be taken to court.

 

[pat fan]

Well, paying for the dead birds, to me, is more an acknowledgment of guilt than just sorry is.

And kinda hard to deny it when the dead chicken has to be taken out of your dogs mouth.

I was also confounded when he refused to tell me where he lived. Like your check won't have your address?? And I did tell him I was asking do I could tell the dog officer, so no stalking or anything. I didn't say stalking bit, just clarifying why I asked.

 

[MrsDuck]

Very sorry this keeps happening to you! Your neighbors need to be held responsible and accountable. A simple "sorry" would most certainly help in addition to paying for the chickens. Hope you find a resolution...Please don't shoot the dogs though.

 

[Dentam]

Yeah, some people refuse to apologize for anything and it drives me crazy. It sounds like you're not going to be getting any of that from them so I'd just make sure they actually keep the dogs on their own property. I do hope you will not shoot the dogs though... it is not their fault, they are only following their instincts. It is the owners at fault here.

Are your chickens fenced or in a coop?

 

[pat fan]

We are not dog killers, have them ourselves. I'm just saying it would be perfectly legal IF we did. But we won't, because we're not like that.

We have a fenced area around the coop but we do free range them in our yard. We had just let them out 5 minutes before this happened. And it wasn't near their property or the road. They actually killed them pinned against our front door, which is on the opposite side of our house than the one that faces theirs. There is also a huge field between our houses.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Sorry your neighbors are like that. I would be mortified if my dogs ever injured or killed someone's pets. I always believe in having a fence when you have a dog, and to always be outside when they are outside.

Sorry about your chickens.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I am nivie so take this with a grain of salt but if someone killed my pet accident or other wise I would not accept payment to replace him you can't replace peta that die like phone chargers

 

[Dentam]

We are not dog killers, have them ourselves. I'm just saying it would be perfectly legal IF we did. But we won't, because we're not like that.

You said that your husband threatened to shoot the dogs if they came on your property again. Glad that it sounds like that was just an empty threat.

 

[CPanther95]

If the problem persists you have the option of getting the dogs to a rescue shelter if they keep showing up on your property. Just don't tell the neighbor you have any clue where they are.

Much more humane than having to shoot them.

 

[MIGrandma]

We have the opposite problem. Our neighbor's "free range" chickens come over to our yard. I'm surprised my outdoor barn cats haven't killed them. Our dog did kill one of their rabbits once, when it hopped over to our yard (from across the road). I felt bad, but our dog was in our own yard. It was their rabbit that had trespassed. Their chickens get hit in the road occasionally, it's a busy road. I don't understand why they don't fence them in.

 

[pat fan]

I am nivie so take this with a grain of salt but if someone killed my pet accident or other wise I would not accept payment to replace him you can't replace peta that die like phone chargers

They are my husbands babies, but we also eat the eggs. No chickens, no eggs. That is why they have to replace them. Are we guaranteed another sweet little broody girl? No. But what else can you do?

 

[pat fan]

We have the opposite problem. Our neighbor's "free range" chickens come over to our yard. I'm surprised my outdoor barn cats haven't killed them. Our dog did kill one of their rabbits once, when it hopped over to our yard (from across the road). I felt bad, but our dog was in our own yard. It was their rabbit that had trespassed. Their chickens get hit in the road occasionally, it's a busy road. I don't understand why they don't fence them in.

Almost everyone on our road has chickens. We have a fenced area and also let them in the open yard. If they got hit or killed be a "natural" predator, it would be upsetting but par for the course. The problem is to have a preventable thing happen to kill them. No reason, other than the neighbor refuses to abide by the leash law.

 

[momz]

What are the ordinances regarding containment of pets where you live? If you live where there are no such restrictions, then you may have to consider the dogs as predators and your chickens their prey. Protect your chickens because you cannot trust your neighbors to contain their dogs.

 

[pat fan]

What are the ordinances regarding containment of pets where you live? If you live where there are no such restrictions, then you may have to consider the dogs as predators and your chickens their prey. Protect your chickens because you cannot trust your neighbors to contain their dogs.

Dogs have to be on a leash or in a fended area or under your command (I think thats the term). He doesn't agree. We are going to look at fencing this week, but it's disheartening to think we have to put up a complete fence for someone else's idiocy.

 

[CPanther95]

We have the opposite problem. Our neighbor's "free range" chickens come over to our yard. I'm surprised my outdoor barn cats haven't killed them. Our dog did kill one of their rabbits once, when it hopped over to our yard (from across the road). I felt bad, but our dog was in our own yard. It was their rabbit that had trespassed. Their chickens get hit in the road occasionally, it's a busy road. I don't understand why they don't fence them in.

First thing I'd do is ask your neighbor why his chickens cross the road.

 

[cijay]

So yesterday our neighbors dog and one of their in-laws dogs came in our yard and killed two of our chickens. A third is doing so-so. These dogs are always loose, no fenced yard or leashes. Yes, we were upset and my DH told the guy who came to get them they better not come in the yard again or he would shoot the dogs. Which is legal if they are killing livestock.

I called the neighbor, got the daughter who said parents weren't home (found out it was a lie) and she denied it was their dog (your uncle came and got them!) then said it was an accident. Never apologized. Told her to have mom or dad call. No call. I called today to get the uncles name and number, spoke to the dad, no apology, nothing. Called the uncle, he will pay to replace the birds. I said I didn't want him to be 100% responsible but it was up to him to work it as who was going to pay, but he said he would do it to make it right. BUT no I'm sorry. Is it so hard???

If we report them the dogs will be declared a nuisance (for killing livestock) and that makes a mess for them and I'd rather not do that, but it peeves me that they won't just say "I'm sorry that happened. We will do better keeping our dogs controlled". Is that too much to ask?

"Sorry" would be nice but empty unless they make attempts for it to not happen again. Otherwise, it's just "sorry sorry sorry" every time it happens.

 

[okeydokey]

I would report them to the authorities every time I saw them running loose. Every time.