Need Help Pls -- Major problem

[nyj]

Dogs like anti freeze but it does not like them.

Yeah, because the owners are idiots, lets make the dogs suffer an agonizing and painful death. Just shoot them and be done with it. You are a tool if you would truly do that to an animal.

[Dragonfighter]

There is a dog next door to us that knows what a Daisy Red Ryder looks, sounds and feels like. Just sayin'....

Yup, I had a couple of dogs that were nuisance animals, getting in my yard and messing with my pets. One, two pops at the most and all I had to do was pick up the rifle and rattle the BBs and "poof"; there would be a cloud of dust where a dog was seconds before.

[mamabearCali]

First off document document document. Video tape. Nuisance calls. If/when you need to do something about it you will have the evidence that you tried to resolve the situation and it just got worse. Second off I recommend if possible the non-lethal yet painful alternatives. BB's will sting like the dickens but will likely not injure. Pepper spray if you need to up close and personal. I am not a great shot with a sling shot but hey, if you can that would be another good choice. Above all you are permitted especially in TX to defend yourself and your property from something or someone determined to destroy it. Heck here in VA, not nearly as great as TX on castle doctrine, you have the right to shoot a marauding dog, then you can go after the owners for the damages to your property.

Edited to say...if you are going to kill it, please do so cleanly (poison is really a nasty way to die for man or beast).

[rotor]

I had a similar problem once. Had a terrible fight with my next door neighbor and threatened to kill the dog if it attacked me on my property again, which it did every time I rolled the garbage to the curb. The neighbor couldn't care less about letting her dog out and I have three dogs myself, all on leashes when they go out of the yard and I am a dog lover. My wife was furious with me for fighting with the old lady and her husband ( a big guy ) threatened to kick my butt if I ever yelled at his wife again. A no win situation. I like the call 911 multiple times, use pepper spray, video but I think in the end the way the justice system is you will have a hard time no matter what. You may not have a criminal charge placed on you (self defense) but probably will have a civil charge if you injure their sweet pet dogs. I think I would check with a lawyer about actions that could be taken. In my case I lucked out, my neighbor moved. When I walk my dogs I carry pepper spray to use on other dogs that may attack. Killing a dog to me would be a last resort but I was sure close to doing it.

[PBR]

let me say i really dont want to do any harm to the dogs and would never poison them -- personally i rather harm the owners as it's more their fault -- but as last resort i would shoot if have too -- i talked to another officer and he told me to go to the court house and ask for dangerous dog forms fill them out and then the judge will look at the case and decide on what needs to be done -- one problem though is need the owners name on the paperwork and there is no way she is going to give me her info -- hopefully can get the info from an mvr that is if their vehicles are registered to them which is another question

[Right2Carry]

let me say i really dont want to do any harm to the dogs and would never poison them -- personally i rather harm the owners as it's more their fault -- but as last resort i would shoot if have too -- i talked to another officer and he told me to go to the court house and ask for dangerous dog forms fill them out and then the judge will look at the case and decide on what needs to be done -- one problem though is need the owners name on the paperwork and there is no way she is going to give me her info -- hopefully can get the info from an mvr that is if their vehicles are registered to them which is another question

Tax records are public record and most of the time are available on line. If not just go to the courthouse with the address and I am sure you can get the name of the owner.

[jbarn]

It is illegal to kill or injure someone else's dog. Penal code 9.22 makes a defense if 3 conditions are met.

Be careful shooting someone else's dog.

Texas Penal Code
Sec. 42.092. CRUELTY TO NONLIVESTOCK ANIMALS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Abandon" includes abandoning an animal in the person's custody without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person.
(2) "Animal" means a domesticated living creature, including any stray or feral cat or dog, and a wild living creature previously captured. The term does not include an uncaptured wild living creature or a livestock animal.
(3) "Cruel manner" includes a manner that causes or permits unjustified or unwarranted pain or suffering.
(4) "Custody" includes responsibility for the health, safety, and welfare of an animal subject to the person's care and control, regardless of ownership of the animal.
(5) "Depredation" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.001, Parks and Wildlife Code.
(6) "Livestock animal" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.09.
(7) "Necessary food, water, care, or shelter" includes food, water, care, or shelter provided to the extent required to maintain the animal in a state of good health.
(8) "Torture" includes any act that causes unjustifiable pain or suffering.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
(1) tortures an animal or in a cruel manner kills or causes serious bodily injury to an animal;
(2) without the owner's effective consent, kills, administers poison to, or causes serious bodily injury to an animal;
(3) fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;
(4) abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody;
(5) transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner;
(6) without the owner's effective consent, causes bodily injury to an animal;
(7) causes one animal to fight with another animal, if either animal is not a dog;
(8) uses a live animal as a lure in dog race training or in dog coursing on a racetrack; or
(9) seriously overworks an animal.
(c) An offense under Subsection (b)(3), (4), (5), (6), or (9) is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a state jail felony if the person has previously been convicted two times under this section, two times under Section 42.09, or one time under this section and one time under Section 42.09. An offense under Subsection (b)(1), (2), (7), or (8) is a state jail felony, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the person has previously been convicted two times under this section, two times under Section 42.09, or one time under this section and one time under Section 42.09.

[PBR]

let me say i really dont want to do any harm to the dogs and would never poison them -- personally i rather harm the owners as it's more their fault -- but as last resort i would shoot if have too -- i talked to another officer and he told me to go to the court house and ask for dangerous dog forms fill them out and then the judge will look at the case and decide on what needs to be done -- one problem though is need the owners name on the paperwork and there is no way she is going to give me her info -- hopefully can get the info from an mvr that is if their vehicles are registered to them which is another question

Tax records are public record and most of the time are available on line. If not just go to the courthouse with the address and I am sure you can get the name of the owner.

they are renters but maybe owner would give their info but again i doubt it -- seems they have tied them up with ropes now but guess they dont understand the ropes will probably be chewed through by the time tonight is over

[hillfighter]

I have called animal control couple of times and after couple days they might come out but can't catch the dogs and when questioned the people say they are not their dogs.

The law says "without the owner's effective consent" for pets and livestock, but what's the law for dispatching feral animals that are a danger to children and pets?

[CowboyEngineer]

The first time an aggressive dog endangered my grand daughter would be the last time it endangered anyone. If it is on your property and the threat is real, eliminate the threat. I would much rather explain to a court why I acted to protect my grand daughter than explain to my son why I didn't.

[mamabearCali]

The first time an aggressive dog endangered my grand daughter would be the last time it endangered anyone. If it is on your property and the threat is real, eliminate the threat. I would much rather explain to a court why I acted to protect my grand daughter than explain to my son why I didn't.

If you are defending your life or your property. I imagine it is 100% legal. It is here in VA and we are not nearly as good on castle doctrine as yall are.

[jbarn]

I have called animal control couple of times and after couple days they might come out but can't catch the dogs and when questioned the people say they are not their dogs.

The law says "without the owner's effective consent" for pets and livestock, but what's the law for dispatching feral animals that are a danger to children and pets?

It is in the law I quoted.

[pancho]

No hay problema. If they're strays you adopt them. Then you're the owner and can consent to whatever you want.

[Diesel42]

The neighborhood where I grew up has gone down hill. I can't get my parents (81 and 92) to leave because it's home and our whole family is fiercely independent. I've turned them on to pepper spray. If you use it, you throw it away because the plastic seal leaks after it's used. I bought a box of 'em and Mom has used three in the last two years on strays threatening her and her dogs.

No complaints from her neighbors, in fact they tell her she's smart to defend herself. Of course, the folks with problem dogs don't want official attention. Now, these same folks get huffy if Mom talks to them or tries to reason with them. So.... she doesn't try to influence bad people, and she will spray their dogs or them if they threaten her property.

In short, we choose not to live in fear. And there are lots of options before choosing deadly force.
My two cents,
Nick

[ddstuder]

Put a couple LIVE traps inside your yard.

When you notice the offenders running free, just drop some raw meat inside the traps.

Once you have them trapped, call Animal Control!