Is there not a local, independently run rescue who could help you trap them? I know a few weeks ago there was a feral pack running around on a reservation around here. It looked like they were just dogs left behind when their owners lost their house, jobs, etc. Anyways, a local rescue recieved permission from the reservation to trap the dogs and see what could be done with them. All I know is that they were trapped and were going to be evulated. I have no idea if the dogs were put down or found new homes or what.
Air soft guns seem to work pretty well. We've been known to pop a couple of coyotes trying to get into our trash can inside our yard. And we live in the middle of town!
I hope you can get something worked out. Good luck!
Post by Master Yarak on Mar 27, 2009 7:01:50 GMT -5
I thought about trapping. A few these dogs are B I G. My close friend thought about habanero peppers. Steep them crush them and pour the liquid around the perimeter. He also felt a few rounds over there heads would scare them enough not to return. I have not seen them again in a few days. If they return I think I will try a shot across there bow. I do enjoy shooting. I have zero problem with them being rounded up and euthanized. I doubt at this point they would be reliable enough to be safely placed. We shall see. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
It seems as distasteful as it may be the consensus so far involves firearms. I have two a side by side 12 gauge and a 20 gauge. A few of the dogs are as large or larger by weight than mine. I am very reluctant to blast them. I would like to think of that as last resort. I also hate to think of them injuring someone else or there animals if I could have done something about it first. So if I go that route what size shot? I have 00 buck for the 12. I doubt they would survive that. Since they are grouped together I don't want to wound any of them. This will not make me happy. How about scattering moth balls or some other deterrent. I have NEVER shot an animal. I have shot at things and am fairly accurate. I love dogs. Killing them...well that's a hard thing to get my mind around. Its the stupid people responsible for them that incur my wrath. Keep the ideas coming maybe they will move on. Thanks everyone. Yarak
Dog sized have a heart.
Trap them and take them to the 'shelter'. The turned in dog will be evaluated and the appropriate action will be taken.
I have a problem with cats and raccoons. When they show up crossing into my yard, I trap them. Cats go to the shelter, our county has a very good placement record. Coons go into the woods about 30 miles away where there is a creek and fewer houses.
I leave my trap out wired open and unbaited. Then when I need to set it I have minimal touching.
Oh and a feral dog, cat or wild coon or fox inches away from your hawk in the weathering or digging under your chambers will change your mind pretty fast.
... Since they are grouped together I don't want to wound any of them. This will not make me happy...
I couldn't agree more. A maimed animal suffers, and a frightened animal in pain can become a real safety concern.
So, IF one chooses fire arms, one must shoot to kill - cleanly and quickly. And they better be a crack shot - if shooting at night in the dark.
I usually take Dirt's tactic if a lone dog shows up ("if the dog comes to me when I whistle then they live..."). Pets do get loose occasionally, and their owners may indeed be looking for them (note all the lost dog signs taped up in shops, diners, etc.). However, I've never had any dog leave a pack and come to me when I whistled or called. They adopt that pack mentality quickly, unfortunately.
I strongly recommend a dog run or fenced yard to keep your dog away from all critters -- pack dogs, coyotes, rabid skunks, distempered coons ... and fertile females/amorous males (please, no more unwanted puppies!).
Besides, as dog owners, we know collars and tie-outs do fail sometimes. We never know when that'll happen, and our own dog will disappear into the night. IMO, fencing is a better and more permanent solution all the way around.
Oh and a feral dog, cat or wild coon or fox inches away from your hawk in the weathering or digging under your chambers will change your mind pretty fast.
Or a possum or weasel! Amen! Here, they'll meet their Maker fast.
have you ever thought about using a paintball gun? They shoot so fast that you could probably hit most of them. That might get your point across to them.
Once caught, you can call your local ACO and/or a rescue group to pick up the animal.
That's if there is an ACO, or rescue group, or a shelter to take them to yourself. None of the above exist in my county. That's why folks in my rural area have to handle their own animal problems.
One needs to keep in mind that a trapped animal will be frightened and very defensive. Handling a big feral dog after it's been trapped can be extremely dangerous for the inexperienced, and without assistance. There's real risk of being bitten/mauled, and contracting diseases from unvaxed dogs. Just saying... be very careful.
My neighbors dogs run my property, running off all the deer, rabbits etc. frequently. Usually a few shots from a shotgun send them back to thier own property. With a pack though, I would make sure to have a shell left in the chamber just in case they dont run, and decide to get mean. I would just be carefull, you never know what they will do.
I agree with what Migisi has said in this thread. Plus, chaining dogs causes behavioral issues with them, as well as make them look like bait. Get a good dog run, and follow the Three "s" rule with the feral pack if you can't get assistance in trapping them. This from yet another dog lover. Sorry you have to deal with that, Yarak.
Aside from the rising animal abandonment issue, more and more people are adopting the "dogs in the country are supposed to run free" mentality. Drives me nuts; I have land where the neighbor's dog used to run through. Funny, after it ran into my portable high-power electric bear fence surrounding my bees, they haven't been back. (Made them yowl all the way home....)
Post by HawkingRage on Mar 29, 2009 12:10:05 GMT -5
Personally Keith, Id shoot to kill. I have tried the trapping methood and have caught 3 skunks. That sucks bigtime. Fortunatly i have a guy that will come and pick them up. Coyote or wild dog, a 12 or even a 20guage will work. I have thought about my 8 mouser once. lol If i wanted to be quiet about it id use my longbow, that for sure would stop the issue. Trapping and going to the shelter is a classic example of our system. We do it with people all the time except we call it jail and a good portion of the time the offender gets out to predate again. Fortunatly killing a dog will not get you the same consequences as killing a human, id take that in to conciteration. You have the power to stop the problem at the source and like Chad said, you might just be saving someones kid in the process. Is there a difference between a feral dog or a bear in your yard? If the bear kept coming back they would shoot it. Protect yours and those around you
Post by pioneersnt on Mar 29, 2009 19:57:44 GMT -5
BB gun is completely usless. Yah it might scare it away for a short time but that just puts the problem on someone elses property.
Paint ball gun is a great idea if the dog belongs to a neighbor who denies the problem is his dog. Kinda hard to deny when your dog has a big chartruse spot. But like the bb gun, just passes the problem on to someone else.
Trapping is less humane. The dog suffers the stress of being trapped, caged, evaluated and eventually euthanized. So all that was accomplished was adding stress to the animal and put the deed on someone else.
The best option is to shoot to kill and get it over with. If there is a pack of 6 now, it won't be long before there are 12, then 25... Take care of your business and not put it off on someone else.
Just my .02
Last Edit: Mar 29, 2009 20:00:14 GMT -5 by pioneersnt
Edd/ Rural SoCal "Question with boldness even the very existence of God; For if there be a God, he must surely rather honest questioning, than that of blind-folded fear." Thomas Jefferson
Post by Master Yarak on Mar 30, 2009 7:08:43 GMT -5
Well, they have not come back...yet. I now have the 12ga. out of its case and near the door. Animal control in my county is useless. It would take them days to come out and pick up a trapped dog. How many could possibly be trapped at time surely not all of them. I have resigned myself to shooting them. I feel certain I could take out at least two. After that something tells me those that survived would not return.
I would like to offer up a bit more detail. I live on 3 acres. I have put up an electric dog fence. I put up two strands after the dog commando crawled beneath one strand. He charged the wires after a CT and broke both of them. The shock did little to nothing to deter him or slow him down. I am considering and invisible fence. We do not want to fence the yard for aesthetic reasons. I feel a dog run is a bit too confining. The chain is 20 ft and located beneath a big pine. It sits along the side of the house back in the woods a bit very near the mew. He prefers to take of business in the woods. Which makes clean-up nice. I perhaps could have done a better job with this dog. A 4 year old could walk him. He works like a champ on the lead. His only real problem is recall off the lead. He just looses it and heads for the 520 acre woods. He remains gone for about 15-20 minutes. Often times I can see him and ALWAYS I can hear him. He simply ignores me until he is ready to return. I have trained a previous dog also a stray to a CDX title. The chain has caused no behavior issues. He is an inside dog and provides a strong deterrent. My home is very remote. I often do not even lock the doors. This dog frightens everyone. He appears very aggressive when anyone approaches. If they do return that will probably be the last time. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
I have put up an electric dog fence. I put up two strands after the dog commando crawled beneath one strand. He charged the wires after a CT and broke both of them. The shock did little to nothing to deter him or slow him down. I am considering and invisible fence.
The invisible fence likely won't deter him either. I'm not a fan of invisible fences. Power failures make electric fences totally useless - unless you've got a back-up generator ready all the time. The money you'd spend on the invisible fence is far more than what a sizable chainlink dog run would cost. The collar's batteries die without warning. And most dogs bent on running will find a way. My daughter installed an invisible fence. The dog figured out that after the initial pain of charging through it, the dog could happily run free, and that apparently was worth the momentary pain. And finally, unless all strays are wearing an electric collar, an invisible fence does absolutely nothing to solve your problem -- strays can visit you and your dog in the yard whenever they want.
We do not want to fence the yard for aesthetic reasons. I feel a dog run is a bit too confining.