Morning massacre

About 6am my DH looked out the window, commented that something was chasing the sheep and then ran out gun in hand. When I went out a few minutes later it was to our pasture littered with dead lambs and ewes, bloody necks and legs, and one dead bloody dog (the neighbours). Our dogs standing back with guilty, upset looks on their faces but no blood on their white coats.

We lost 2 ewes and 4 lambs today, most of our flock. The two remaining lambs (3 months) lost their mom. I could not believe it

My DH said he saw the dog taking down a lamb. Not sure why the dog did it, he has seemed fine around all the animals all year as I was watching him closely expecting problems. My chickens have walked by him 100's of times. He is around as much as our dogs. But normally there is a couple gates between him and the sheep. Somehow he got in and then...6 dead!?! I am wondering if a coyote was also involved and the dog got the sent of blood and then...

So now this year we have lost a lamb (dog or coyote), a ram (dead in the centre of his pen), a duck just a few days ago and now 6 more sheep. I am quite scared as to who will be next. I am not confident with the dog gone the problem is solved.

I am so sorry Poplar girl that is a terrible thing to happen. I am glad your hubby got the dog and it is a shame so many were lost in the attack. Some dogs are good until things start to run then look out. It is unfortunate that your dogs were used to this other dog or they might have stepped in and saved some sheep for you.
It is sad that you are only left with the 2 lambs and no mom for them, hopefully they are old enough to care for themselves.
I always feel so bad for myself in all my issues but then I come here and see so many are dealing with different issues and I realize it is not just me. I hope we all start having better luck with our animals and start seeing the sun before the clouds.

Oh no Pg!! I'm so sorry! That is a devastating thing to have happen. Glad he got the dog. Hope the neighbors compensate you- not that it will make it any easier. Hugs to you, keep your babies close for the next while.

Sorry to hear sbout your loss. It is horrible feeling to lose stock. I doubt a coyote was involved. Dogs sometimes start out just chasing and once the blood starts everything goes bad.

We had this happen to our flock once and understand how you feel. Sorry.

So very sorry to hear, our neighbours dogs killed so many birds a couple years ago, I understand what you are going through, hope it is over.

Sorry about the loss

Thanks. It does help to share, especially knowing others do truely understand how horrible it is. And how bad you, as the owner feel when it happens.

I will do my best to protect what we have left.

You also should send the owners of the dog a bill

We won't be seeking anything from the owner. He is an old man, just went through cancer treatment last year and his health is not very good. The dog was terrified of him, the owner could not even catch him, so I think he was abused. That's the only reason we didn't do something about the dog earlier, felt sorry for him.

I just hope deep deep down that this was all the dog's doing and our problems will not continue. Time will tell.

poplar girl wrote:We won't be seeking anything from the owner. He is an old man, just went through cancer treatment last year and his health is not very good. The dog was terrified of him, the owner could not even catch him, so I think he was abused. That's the only reason we didn't do something about the dog earlier, felt sorry for him.

I just hope deep deep down that this was all the dog's doing and our problems will not continue. Time will tell.

This is horrible, I feel so bad for you. Hope things get better really soon.

Oh Poplargirl I had no idea. I am so sorry. That is beyond awful. It doesn't sound like you could have done anything differently either though I am sure you have gone over it and over it in your mind. Hope that is the last of the bad luck, sorry about the other critters lost in the last while. Hope all is well now, though I know you will be extra vigilant for a while. Hugs Claire

That is a sad story. I guess let sleeping dogs lie. Poor dog. Maybe he was hungry too. I get so angry with people who don't care for their animals properly. Bad situation all around. I know what you mean feeling sorry for the dog.

Honestly...you guys are making me cry But healing tears I hope.

That dog liked me. He followed me everywhere. I fed him hoping it would help prevent him from being hungry and then attacking one of our animals. He would lick my hand every time. It took him six months hanging around to even let us pet him, he was so scared of people. I am just in shock it was like dr jeckle and mr Hyde.

And I will be extra careful. My lavender d'uccles were so sad today wondering why they did not get to free range (only when I am home working outside from now on). But I do feel so badly still, those animals rely on their humans for protection.

Here's hoping for things to improve!

PG, how awful. I can't imagine how hard that must have been.

Have you thought about having a llama in with the sheep? For the future. Sometimes it doesn't make much difference. We had a neighbours dog castrate one our llamas.

For now, cry and then cry some more; it does help.

I don't know what else to say as the others have pretty much said it all, but I wanted to add my words of sympathy too. I just feel so sad for you and for those poor animals.

I would say get a alpaca! It will chase the Dog away if it gets to close to the lambs. Sorry about your lost.

I had a nasty dog attack in Last year in may... I let my Chicks out and In a playpen [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]One of these. And my Landlords cousins dog went 3 kms to my house. Hung around there. and We were walking the horses up the driveway (A long Driveway it was) and When we got back. The dog was getting closer to my chicks and MY mom was ahead and then suddenly this dog pushed the side up and Went after them one by one... My mom ran to the dog with horse following. And Mom yelled, My dad and brother and I yelled... Than suddenly, My moms horse realized the dog was going after The horses chicks and Lifted its hoof and The dog ran away.... We chased it away. Caught all the Loose alive chicks. put all the dead in the back of the truck and was headed to the Cousins house... Got told that their dog wounldn't do that and got laughted at. I never free ranged after that again.

How many times have I heard that! "my dog would never do that" Of course it would dogs have a chase instinct . It's usually the people's dogs/kids that say my dog/kid would never do that, that do.
I'm sorry for your loss.

Oh this is dreadful news, don't beat yourself up though, but do cry, and lean on others, as you are doing for pain relief, it does help. Yes, nice dogs can turn bad. Moreso, if there is more than one, the pack instinct, and if something starts to run, well, then the chase begins. My Sister lost one of her foals to her two most wonderful dogs, the foal ran, the dogs chased, the blood began, the dogs died. It was a sad story, even nice dogs can turn bad. Keep that chin up, and still find something to have a great day, CynthiaM.

Very sorry to hear about this terrible event. I hope getting the dog has solved your problems.

Oh, Poplar Girl! I am so sorry to hear about this. It would be a hard thing to go through, for sure. Hugs to you!

Oh no, how devastating! I’m so sorry that happened poplar girl.

so sorry to hear of this too, it must seem like it just couldn't get any worse at the time...
We feel so responsible for our livestock but sometimes there is just nothing you could have done to prevent stuff that happens, very discouraging for sure.

I'm so sorry to hear this. It comes right after me coming in from feeding and finding that one of our chickens had found it's way into the backyard - a death sentence. One more is missing so I think a couple of them got in the yard. Our dog will not touch them in their space, but his space is another ball game.

I hope that it is the end of the problems though..,.

Duke our beautiful ram is dead in his pasture this morning. Obviously my worst fears were correct, it has to be coyotes. I found him when I went out to let the chickens out. We still need to remove the body.

We were planning to sell the remainder of our sheep. We had decided we are just not able to care for them properly with the loses we have had. Looks like we will not have any left to sell at this rate.

I feel sick. We have good fence but obviously not coyote proof. Our LGD are obviously useless. Again, out there after the fact looking guilty wondering what happened (no blood on them, not touching the dead animal). Electric net fence is the ONLY way to go to protect sheep around here I think.

Oh I am so so sorry Poplar girl. That is awful, worse than you thought. I imagine you need a big hug, here's one ((((Hug))))