[Greenerlife]

Really upset as my four newly arrived Berkshire weaners got attacked yesterday afternoon by my next door neighbour's Alsatian dog.  He's managed to bite 3 out of the 4 and one of them has lots and lots of tears in the skin over his "shoulders" and one has his tage torn.  Have applied antisceptic and informed the vet, who has given advice and I just have to keep an eye on any infection - but what would you people do about the neighbour and her dog?  She is very apologetic and almost as distraught as me - the dog is usually docile.  Anybody out there with any experience?  I might have to post this on the dog part of the forum too.

[jameslindsay]

That's awful. Why was the dog anywhere near the pigs and why was it not on its lead and is there any likliehood of it happening again if it is a neighbour? I hope they all recover soon.

[Greenerlife]

It escaped from it's newly fenced garden and onto my plot.  Went straight through the electric fence (and out again) with no feeling whatsoever, I presume it's because it has particularly thick fur.  Caught it in the act and took it back to its owner. 

[jameslindsay]

Well the owner has a responsibility to ensure that her animals are secure and unable to cause damage I believe?

[dixie]

Thats horrible, I do sympathise, my own gsd dog attacked my sheep (out of character and unprovoked obviously) after spending years happily side by side with them, we had her pts, as she seemed to have snapped. (she also went for a person the same week).
trouble is once they've done it once they re-offend, unless you have fantastic fencing, it could well come back.
The dog I have now wants to chase everything, pigs sheep, chickens, ducks. We have run a tape of electric fencing about 20" high all around all our fields, dog touched it once, never again! its the only thing thats worked for us.
As for the piglet, they can heal incredibly well, purple spray is amazing, but just keep an eye they dont get infected in which case get them anti-biotics asap.
Legally you could have shot the dog, maybe next time eh!

[Jackie]

Warn the dog owner that if it happens again you will insist on the dog being pts.
It is legally down to the owner to keep his dog enclosed not for YOU to keep it off your land.

This time the neighbour has to fork out for any vets bills from the attack.

[HappyHippy]

Your neigbour sounds like a reasonable human being, given she was almost as upset as you - and if the dog is normally docile is it possible that it's gone through the fence got a fright and just freaked out a bit ? My GSD loves our pigs and friends visit with their dogs regularly without incident, so I think it's possible for them to be friends - if you and your neigbour are on good terms I'd be tempted to suggest a wee socialisation exercise. Get both of you in the field with the pigs and the dog on a lead, sit down and let the pigs come to the dog (watch it's not getting stressed though) spend maybe 30 minutes just chilling and letting the dog and pigs get used to each other and see how it goes from there. Personally I'd want to try and live in peace and harmony not just the animals, but you and your neigbour too (nothing like a wee dispute to ruin good relationships ) that way you don't have to worry about fencing and fort knox style security, but you'll know after 30 minutes if that's ever likely to happen. Just my thoughts, but surely worth a try ?

[banbh]

Now that is upsetting. But it would be worse if your neighbour was ignorant. What I would do is tell the neighbour that you have been advised that she is responsible and should pay the vet bills, but you're not really interested in that.

All you want is not for it to happen again, and maybe she would look into leashing her dog, or fencing it in, to stop a repeat performance which would be more than you could bear.

In the meantime, your weaners will grow, and I have found that dogs are not as confident when the 'pick on someone your own size' argument is put to them.

Good Luck!

[Hilarysmum]

For now, a secondary electric fence at various heights, you need the alsation to put its nose on the electric .  (If you find it on your property make sure its nose goes on the fence).  I doubt it will ever come back again. 

(ps my own poor dog once accidentally touched the fence with her nose.  It hurt, she got over it she gives it a lot of respect, and I always turn it off when she is around).

[valr]

What a shame!

Your neighbour sounds responsible and reasonable and I am sure you will sort it out so it doesn't happen again. And yes I would ask her to pay the vets bills. Sounds like she would be happy to do that. As others have said best to sort it out amicably as it is a nightmare falling out with neighbours.

Authority for the proposition that she is liable is to be found at section 3 of the Animals Act

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1971/cukpga_19710022_en_1#pb1-l1g3

if anyone is interested!

[doganjo]

To save trawling through all that -
Animals Act 1971
1971 CHAPTER 22
Contents

3 Liability for injury done by dogs to livestock

Where a dog causes damage by killing or injuring livestock, any person who is a keeper of the dog is liable for the damage, except as otherwise provided by this Act.

[Greenerlife]

Sadly it has just happened again!    Heard the dog - saw it from the window barking at my pigs from inside the electric fence.

Pigs are too scared to come out of their arc - so I have left them to it for the moment - will check in an hour or so to see if there is any damage.  Stuck my head in the arc and they look undamaged - so fingers crossed!

Have informed the dog owner and at least I have got them to agree to having the dog castrated so hopefully that will calm him down and stop him "doing a runner" all the time.

[Jackie]

An uncontrolled german shepherd is a danger to everything, animals and humans alike. I would report this dog to your local dog warden.

[HappyHippy]

Oh dear Greenerlife, I do hope your piggies are ok.
Lets hope getting the dog 'fixed' will cure his love of roaming (especially to your field) I know I was keen to give him the benefit of the doubt (probably because I just couldn't imagine my german shepherd going for anything !) but obviously it's not going to be as simple as that Hope it works out ok 

[doganjo]

Castr

Sadly it has just happened again!    Heard the dog - saw it from the window barking at my pigs from inside the electric fence.

Pigs are too scared to come out of their arc - so I have left them to it for the moment - will check in an hour or so to see if there is any damage.  Stuck my head in the arc and they look undamaged - so fingers crossed!

Have informed the dog owner and at least I have got them to agree to having the dog castrated so hopefully that will calm him down and stop him "doing a runner" all the time.

Castration won't do anything at all.  He needs to be kept under strict control at all times.  Have you copied and printed the clause from the Act?  Give her that.