Dogs blamed for deaths of 17 chickens
Saturday 3rd January 2009, 9:30AM GMT.
Francis Russell holds some of his pet silkies which were killed, possibly by a dog, after he fed them on New Year’s Eve. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0696906)
A COUPLE awoke on New Year’s Day to find their pet birds had been massacred.
This came a day after the death of their pet spaniel.
Francis and Sue Russell, who live at Le Gouffre, Forest, keep silkies, a breed of chicken named for its plumage which feels like silk.
Mr Russell fed them at 3pm on New Year’s Eve. When he went to see to them the following morning, half of the flock of 35 was dead.
‘I thought: “My god”. There were birds everywhere,’ he said.
‘I felt horrible. Most of these were young ones. I went back and woke the wife up.
‘It was dogs. We think there were two terriers. Sometimes people come through the fields with their dogs but these two were loose. Most people who come through the fields know there are chickens and keep their dogs on the leads.
‘People think it’s just chickens, but they don’t realise they are our pets.’
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
ANOTHER CASE OF SELFISH DOG OWNERS!
ABOUT TIME THAT DOGS SHOULD BE KEPT ON A LEAD
EVERYWHERE EXCEPT IN OWNERS PRIVATE LAND.
THEY PROFESS TO BE ANIMAL LOVERS – BUT WHAT DO
THEY FEED THEM ON? OTHER ANIMALS!!! HYPOCRITES
Report abuse
andrew walker
It is most definately not a case of selfish dog owners. Just like it is human nature to go out on the town, on the lash, and also on the pull if one is single.
It is also in a dogs genes to go out with other ideas in mind. Most dogs get a buzz from killing things. They are bred for this very reason. Unless they are a handbag dog treated like mummies special baby that is!
Animals have not always been fed by humans. They had to make their own meals actualy!
Dogs go awol for a number of reasons. Young children leaving a garden gate open is one. Their are thousands of others. To simply blame the owner is a simple view.
Until one knows the facts it is best to remain silent!
Report abuse
I disagree with you Paul. I do believe that owners should take responsibility for their dogs. If their dog has caused damage to another property, attacked a child/adult or killed other animals then the owner must pay for those damages.
Report abuse
Will
I never even touched upon responsibility. Dogs are animals. You can’t keep them on a lead through out their lives.
I used to have a dog and when he was on heat he would vanish for a day or so and come back as happy as any dog ever could be. Puffing and panting and then having an extra long lie in as compensation for his fine efforts!
You can’t program them they tend to have a mind of their own. However I know Sony produce a dog that can be hooked up to a PC and will obey every command.
Maybe this is exactly the kind of creature that the biggots need to quench their egos.
For the record who is to say that it wasn’t ferrets that caused the deaths? Why always blame dogs?
Report abuse
“When ‘HE’ was on heat he would vanish for a day or so……….lie in as compensation for his fine efforts”
Thats funny! but i dont know whether to laugh or shake my head.
At the end of the day if you are really interested in protecting others, if you’re yard isnt big enough and/or you’re not fit enough to exercise the dog whilst its on a leash then dont get one.
Report abuse
I’m very curious as to know what breed of dog you have Paul? As far as I am aware it is only female dogs who have a heat cycle but hey maybe if we’re lucky this phenonemon will spread to the human race!!!
Report abuse
If I had land with livestock on it & something attacked them, then I would shoot it – regardless as to whether it was a family pet or not.
Everyman has the right to protect his possessions…
If I went for a walk & went on someones property to kill a dog & then walked off, then I would be public enemy number 1 & would be charged by the police. The fact is that just because it is chickens that got killed its suddenly not the dogs fault… what a load of cobblers…
To say its not the owners fault because it is in the dogs nature to kill for fun is a complete nonsense – what are you thinking Paul?! If a dog savaged a relative of yours then I bet you would soon change your views.
On 1 hand you say dogs shouldnt be kept on a lead & on the other you admit that dogs are bred to kill for a buzz… Where is your common sense here?! Dogs are a menace & some kids cant go to play on public places for fear of a big dog coming up to them that isnt on a lead – how is that right?!
YOu can get leads that stretch – I am in full agreement that dogs should be kept on a leash at all times unless on private land…
Report abuse
Nice to see Paul getting a bit of stick but nobody has yet picked up on his 4/1/09 final line….. ‘Until one knows the facts it is best to remain silent !
Paul READ THAT LINE AGAIN A FEW TIMES and then comment again !!!!
Report abuse
Answers to the critics.
The breed of the dog is not at all relevant. However I can confirm that he most definately appealed to the bitches and they appreciated him. A bit of a K9 Hugh Heffner I would say!
An animal is just that. There are some that are good and also some that are bad and some inbetween at times.
There is no evidence to suggest that it was in actual fact a dog that caused the deaths of these chickens. It is shooting season and it could easily be a couple of escaped ferrets.
In my opinion a dog would do more than just kill the chickens it would also have made a meal of a few.
Any dog owner that is honest with themselves would confirm that their pet has gone awol at some stage or another. Those that say otherwise are fooling themselves and the people they are talking to.
Some dogs do one in search of a buzz. This can include killing chickens or just plainly chasing cats. It is these dogs that tend to have been castrated so have nothing better to occupy themselves with.
My dog would would go awol in search of a bit of passion. Whats wrong with that then?
Some human beings say its a dogs life aye! If my dogs life was anyhing go by then I would say what a fantastic life.
Fed twice a day. Out for daily walks and if he was lucky he would see something that caught his well sharp and keen eye.
No messing around spending good money on wine, small talk and fine dining.
Just stroll up as bold as brass …. afterwards simply strut away without a care in the world. The only worry being doing his best not to drag his tongue along the ground on the way home!
Whats bad about that then. No expensive lawyers, maintenance and all the other costs we humans have to suffer.
A dogs life is a good one. As for the chicken owner. If they were valued that much and the owner himself acknowledged it is a dog walking area then it may have been prudent to have fenced in his property. Simple as that really.
Fact is dogs are animals and morals is what us humans rely on.
Report abuse
It’s the owners responsibility to make sure that their dogs are kept under control. I don’t keep my dog on the lead all the time as she loves a good run across the beach, but through a field with chickens in? I’d be stupid if I didn’t put her on a lead and just let her go and do her own thing.
Report abuse
Paul, I had a dog which did exactly the same thing as yours. I didnt see a problem in it. He even attacked a small dog once and i thought it was funny because i too had the attitude that small dogs arent real dogs just “mummys babies” like you said.
The problem here is that when i thought this i was 8 years old. Are you 8 years old Paul?
I am an adult now who has learnt that dogs CAN be very dangerous animals. Many children are savagely attacked and die each year due to dog attacks. All dogs have instincts no matter what the breed but what differs is the amount of damage each breed is capable of. For example, a maltese terrier may attack but will cause no way near the damage of say a Rottwieller. Do you agree? So the breed of dog is completely relevant. The more your dog has the capability of causing damage, the more vigilant that the owner must be. That being said, all dog owners are equally responsible for their dogs. Responsibility means keeping your property fenced to ensure your dog does not escape and when out walking/running keeping your dog on a leash. If you have a well trained sensible companion dog (low risk) then perhaps they can go off the leash for a little while say on the beach when theres no other people around just like Rachel does- but stay watchful and vigilant at all times.
Also, If you read the article the owner of the chicken says that “It was dogs” not it might have been dogs. The owners of the dogs should pay for the cost of the chickens themselves, their removal and any vet fees as well. In addition, any stray dogs found wandering the island should be impounded and the owners fined.
To put it in terms that you may understand – even if you are out on the town “on the pull” you cant do anything you want even if you would “get a buzz”. Its called being responsible, its what you learn when you become an adult.
Report abuse
Wil
I am older than 8 for your information. The dog that I am talking about has no interest in biting or killing just taking care of his sex drive is all he desires.
Are you trying to say that an unsupervised horny teenager that is left to leave the home without his or her parents will go on to become a murderer then?
Just because when you were eight and your dog bit a handbag dog, which you found funny, does not mean all other dogs will act in the same manner.
You have very simplistic views which link a single case scenario with all others.
For the record when a dog is picked up by the animal shelter it does cost money to get the pet back and it is not cheap. I don’t know exactly what price it is now but it was pretty expensive at the time.
My message to you is not all dogs are dangerous. A few are, just like human beings. It tends to reflect on the way the animal was treated by its owner/carer!
We meat eaters like chicken. So do dogs. However the latter don’t simply stroll into M&S and proceed to checkout.
I maintain my stance with regards to the owner of the chickens erecting proper fencing around the perimiter of his property or at least around the chicken run to prevent further killings!
Report abuse
“Are you trying to say that an unsupervised horny teenager that is left to leave the home without his or her parents will go on to become a murderer then?” Erm, let’s see, first name from off the top of my head…. Ted Bundy??
Psychosocial conditioning applies equally to humans, dogs and anything capable of rational thought. It’s how you, or your dog is brought up.
Report abuse
Yes Paul i agree that fencing should be erected around the chickens to protect them but you also have to erect fencing around your property if you have a dog and keep it on a leash under control when it is off your property.
This is by no means a single case scenario as i stated that many animals and children are attacked by dogs every year. Many of these occurances could have easily been prevented.
Letting a dog roam the streets to do whatever it likes, whether to kill chickens, attack children or in search of ‘female’ dogs on heat, is not acceptable behaviour and is definitely not responsible dog ownership.
Report abuse
Dogs should be supervised while off the owners property. If you do not have enough control over your dog KEEP IT ON A LEAD! For the animals safety as well as others.
Taking my horse for a ride on the beach, there were a few dog walkers so i stayed well out there way, next thing a dog comes sprinting up behind us trying to attack my horse! luckily i am an experienced rider, so managed to hit the dog with my whip while trying to get my horse back under control.
The owners response when she had managed to get hold of her dog ‘oh he thought they were sheep’
a child could have easily gotten hurt if they were in that situation. a bit of courtesy is all thats needed, i was staying well away from everyone else on the beach as i know some people are scared of horses. yet we still got attacked.
Report abuse
I totally agree with both will and anon dogs CAN be dangerous and must be controlled at ALL times please dog owners have some common sense for all our sakes.
Report abuse
Loose dogs and their stupid owners are a menace on beaches, cliff paths and parks. The amount of times I’ve been out and some lumox of a dog has come bounding up to my kids is stagering.
Usually some owner shouting ‘it’s ok, it’s ok, he won’t bite’.
Idiots.
Report abuse
I am only 17, and whenever i am walking my dog, which comes to call, i keep him on his lead unless we are on an empty beach, where he is aloud off the lead but i keep a close eye on him to be able to put him back on the lead should i see anyone else approaching. He is scared of other dogs, and can snap at them if they start trying to play with him, he is not vicious, he is scared.I do shout at the other owners he doesnt like other dogs, but they just stand there shouting at there dog which has no effect.
A little courtesy is all thats needed.
Report abuse
With owning a rescue dog the unknown history of him is hard for us to know what happened to him when he was younger, but nowhaving him over eight years we’ve learnt to read him. and when on walks he is not allowed to go off his lead unless its on a clear beach, never a field or even a path, he doesn’t like being on a lead and seeing other dogs but he is worse when he s off the lead, he is quite a strong dog (lab) and with me and my mum only being small his strength is hard for us to control sometimes making him look worse, but when he is at home he is like a ragdoll, you could poke him all day and the only thing he would do is look at you. Dogs can’t talk and they came from a wild animal (wolfs) as many people know. So lets give all dogs a chance. and this counts for people as well, I know many people who change their attitude when out with differen’t people, people they don’t know, so its they same for dogs.
but i am sorry for Mr and Mrs Russell and the loss of their chickens
Report abuse
My thought is, and only thought, if the land is private keep off it!
There is no need for land owners to fence their land.
People should respect what is open access and what is private.
Whilst in this case there is the unknown factor of whether the damage was caused by dog(s) and/or whether they were loose and/or being walked.
The fact remains, if it is not public access land then no one should feel free to go on it.
Report abuse