Sept2011_Dear Editor

Recently I arrived home to find a large number of my animals had been killed by a stray dog. I was very angry and called our wonderful useless council to see what they could do.

I was advised to keep the animal bodies where they were and an officer would be up asap to take photos and set traps. Well I waited till 9pm and no sign of the council.  In the weeks leading up to this attack we have sighted a large black dog running around in our yard attempting to chase our chooks and create havoc.  We advised the council of these sightings and they told us unless we located the dog’s actual address there was nothing they could do.  So after the massacre on our animals the Black dog returns again and began chasing the chooks again this time we were prepared and dashed outside in our pyjamas and chased the dog down the street back to its house where we confronted the owners who were not even aware the dog had been missing.  Yes, the lady at the time did apologise and asked to be issued with the total cost of the dead animals.  I left a letter in their letter box and 3 weeks later had no response.  So I followed up with a phone call only to be called a liar by the husband and informed it was my own fault as my chooks had been free ranging in my property.  He claims that under no circumstance would his dog be the culprit as it was “not like that” despite me telling him about the many appearance the dog has made to our premises.  The husband even states that it was most likely our dog who had killed the chickens and he had evidence which I would love to see considering we don’t own a dog.  What a joke.. At what point do animal owners take responsibility for their pet’s actions.  According to this local business owner his dog is allowed to run riot killing chickens, piglets and who knows what and it’s ok.  My children were devastated to come home and see all their loved animals dead but it’s our fault because we choose to let our chickens free range..  (The piglets were confined in their pen and the dog had dug under the fence)  If you choose to keep pets take responsibly for them and their actions.  If this is the lax attitude these people take on their animal’s actions I would hate to see how they run their business.
Name and Address withheld.