We have had a Family of red foxes on the property for 20+ years. They or their offspring come in each Spring, occupy one of two dens, have their kits, then by Summer gone. I enjoy seeing them hunt mice , we watch the kits play by the den, etc.

Today my neighbors black lab somehow caught the male , broke it's back and left it in the field 80 yds from my desk. I just went out and shot it with a .22 to put it out of it's suffering.

I'm half sick to my stomach. Partly from rage. As this dog issue is never ending. Dog at large all day long. Comes up here, pisses on tires, craps in the yard, etc. It does play with my dog who seldom leaves the property. I like to see them play, it socializes my dog and just good fun for her.

Talking to the owner is a waste of time. Don't want to call the sheriffs office and start a feud.

I hate killing an animal like that. Really bothers me. In all the years they have been here we have NEVER had an issue with the barn cats and the foxes. They harm nothing.

Guess I just want to vent.

Sorry you had to deal with an uncomfortable situation, and the ongoing stuff with neighbors dog. Just go to sleep knowing you helped the fox and was doing God's work to end it's suffering.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Skins2881,

Sorry you had to deal with that, FN I had to assist an LEO in a similar situation, once. It was heartbreaking.

We had a problem with a neighbour that claimed she couldn't keep her dogs contained, no matter what she tried.

Then, one day, one of them, in our yard, caught one of our cats. Our cats at the time were indoor cats that were allowed outdoors on a very limited basis and never left the property.

Thankfully, my wife saw this as it happened and got the dog to let it go, unharmed.

I told the woman what had happened and explained to her if I'm home and see that happen I will shoot the dog to save my cat.

Somehow she found a way to keep her dogs contained. Imagine that.

I am sorry to read that. There was really no need for it to happen if the neighbor did not let his dog run free.

That is a tough situation, if talking to the neighbor does not accomplish anything. I suppose that there is no way to get animal control or LE involved without the neighbor knowing that it was you.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:

As this dog issue is never ending. Dog at large all day long. Comes up here, pisses on tires, craps in the yard, etc.

Nothing worse than stepping in shit from someone else's dog on your property.

I have been told if you pour ammonia around your property line, they won't cross it.
Don't know if it'll work or not.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:

Nothing worse than stepping in shit from someone else's dog on your property.

That doesn't even scratch the surface! My next door neighbor lives above me. There's a side street, then the hill, then his house maybe 40' up. I talk to him from time to time, only because he's too high up for me to climb. Some days he comes down to mow his grass, so we talk.

One day he was telling me about weed eating along his retaining wall. Someone let their dog shit there. He was/is stupid and his weed eater hit the fresh pile and it threw the semi-liquid material (the nicest way to describe it) everywhere. Including on his face! If you knew Ron, you'd smile too.

If & when you ramp up, no more play buddy for your dog. Also, then you don’t have a lot to stand on if your dog goes on his property.

Our neighbor had a pit that came over a few to many times, caused problems, for the other neighbor too. With an ultimatum they kept it on their property, leashed always. It eventually bit a 2nd person & they put it down.

I’d look into ammonia spray(homemade) and/or some type of bearspray. Most dogs would be smart enough to want to avoid your yard after a good facefull.

This assumes talking to him doesn’t help, then the law is on your side with unleashed dogs. I’d try to resolve it short of gunfire.

It was the kindest thing to do for the fox.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:


I have been told if you pour ammonia around your property line, they won't cross it.
Don't know if it'll work or not.

Cayenne pepper works too

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
It was the kindest thing to do for the fox.

I agree. Don't beat yourself up, you did the right thing.

I dont think he beating himself up too much. If it were me, it would the bad neighbor I'd be upset with.

I’m right there with you. I even try to relocate the occasional spider or water bug outside when I can. I had to dispatch a coyote last year and it really bothered me. It had been getting closer and closer to our house and had lost its fear of humans. I have two small dogs (shi tzus) and a brand new baby at the time so I just couldn’t take the chance of letting the coyote mix it up with one of my dogs doing it’s business or if we were outside with my daughter. Thankfully it was a clean shot and a nearly instantaneous kill so the coyote didn’t suffer but I still felt bad.

We like having wildlife on our property and enjoy looking out to see all kinds of deer, turkeys, the occasional fox, hawks, etc. Having to dispatch part of the “neighborhood” sucks. It’s also why I don’t allow hunting on my property. As a result I’ve seen more and bigger bucks over the years, some not even 50 feet from my rear deck. I’m not opposed to hunting and used to hunt myself but I’m glad to have a property with active wildlife that my wife and daughter and I can enjoy.

Sounds like you need to find a new, good, home for your neighbors dog.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Sorry you had to deal with an uncomfortable situation, and the ongoing is with neighbors dog. Just go to sleep knowing you helped the fox and was doing God's work to end it's suffering.

I agree. The right choice is not often the easy one.

I am sorry. Hopefully one of the kits will return to den there with it’s mate, or your female will find a new male.
I understand to an extent. Have a similar problem with the neighbor dog roaming free and pissing/barking all over the neighborhood while the rest of us try to keep our pets contained.

Apparently no one wants to complain, and so we all suffer in silence (I fenced, but it’s not a perfect solution). The owners yell ineffectually at the dog all the time, then walk it up and down the block unleashed. We tried bringing it up, then fenced as 1 of our own dogs would’ve eaten it if it got in her face. That girl has since passed, but the fence stayed for a host of reasons.
I’m curious to see what the new neighbors on our block will do (they have a VERY well behaved boxer).
Perhaps you can mention it to the neighbor when you next chat. He/she might really care if their dog is randomly killing wildlife?

You did the right thing ending the fox's agony. Its not easy, but right.

SSS the dangerous dog. Problem solved.

I hear you, FN. Killed a raccoon that had invaded our outdoor cat's turf and stole her bed and food a few weeks ago. Didn't want to one bit.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:
I hear you, FN. Killed a raccoon that had invaded our outdoor cat's turf and stole her bed and food a few weeks ago. Didn't want to one bit.

I use a live trap and take them to a forest on my way to work. Just a option.

My neighbor used a live trap too but he would throw it in the lake, 'coon and all. If there's a hell I hope he's first in line.

I had a 3pt, small 6point, large 6 point skull burried in the ground for the bugs to eat the crap off.

We have a fox den that popped up just behind my gun range (backside of the hill).

They have come up to the yard, dug out the smallest to the largest skull and carried it off their den.

Heh, they are getting more use out of the skulls than I would. So I let them be.

My normal rule is live and let live unless they invade the yard space. I am letting this pass, simply because I don't see a reason to go after them. Now, my wild rabbit population has take a huge hit in the last month.

quote:

Originally posted by DSgrouse:

Heh, they are getting more use out of the skulls than I would. So I let them be.

.

"The Ghost and the Darkness, Part II"


Here is some interesting info about foxes,
From: https://www.wildlifeonline.me....territory-home-range


"Italian mountain meadows = 400-1,300 ha


North America parks & mountains = typically 600-900 ha
Barren cereal plains of North Dakota = up to 2,000 ha
Arctic = 3,400 ha"