Troubled By Pack Dogs or Wolves(?)

[orionengnr]

I would think the best option would be to try and get them off your property humanely? Is there something you can do to scare them?

Yep, make it someone else's problem. Your neighbor will do likewise, and his neighbor likewise. Sounds like a plan...a plan made up by someone who never heard of "what goes around, comes around". And by the time it comes back around, the pack has grown from 5-10 to 25-30.

As far as saying "there are no wolves"...unfortunately, there are are a growing number of idiots who think that breeding wolves with domestic dogs (and then selling the pups to everyone who will buy one) is a great idea. If you are not familiar with the phenomenon, you aren't paying attention. I know someone (idiot sister of a friend) who has been doing it since the mid 90s at least. "Really cool". She lives four states away, and I haven't visited since.

Upon further review...Vern may have the perfect counter-strategy.

 

[PabloJ]

I live in a semi-rural area that is on the outskirts of a small town. Most houses in our "development" are on at least 5 acres and many are in excess of that. Our house is on 18 acres that is mostly wooded and there is considerable wildlife. Last week there were 7 deer scavaging under our bird feeders.

Three years ago the neighborhood trash cans were being knocked over and rummaged through by pack dogs. One day back then I saw 4 large mangy dogs, none with collars, rummaging through our trash and I yelled at them to frighten them off. They turned toward me and proceeded to stalk me -- I was unarmed. I hauled ass and because of my new-found weight it took me two trips to get back into the house.

After that I never went into my yard without a gun and subsequently over the next three months I killed 5 dogs, none with collars and all were in packs of 3 or more. Two of my neighbors advised they had done the same thing -- problem solved... until now.

Tonight at 12:30AM I saw 8 canines frantically searching in my backyard. I say canines because I'm not sure what they were. At first I thought they were wolves because they were all the same size, large and stocky, and the same shape -- like wolves. They were all gray except for one that was all black... and that one gave me doubt that they were wolves. They were way to big to be coyotes.

Bottom line: Unless I was carrying my 12 gauge loaded with 6 rounds of #4 buck and my Colt Combat Commander I would have felt under gunned. Now I'm worried for the safety of my wife and myself should the pack show up again.

I was thinking about setting up my alerting motion detector (Harbor Freight Driveway Alert) and baiting them, then shooting them as I did the pack dogs.

How would you resolve this situation?

Perhaps the landed gentry should pool some funds and hire professional dog catcher? If state or government officials say something tell them it's for the KIDS.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Yep, make it someone else's problem. Your neighbor will do likewise, and his neighbor likewise. Sounds like a plan...a plan made up by someone who never heard of "what goes around, comes around". And by the time it comes back around, the pack has grown from 5-10 to 25-30.

Not everybody is interested in killing an animal just because they can and perceive it as being a inconvenience.

 

[silicosys4]

Not everybody is interested in killing an animal just because they can and perceive it as being a inconvenience.

Take off your rose colored glasses for a moment and google "feral dog attacks child"


"Inconvenience"?

 

[Ivy Mike]

Take off your rose colored glasses for a moment and google "feral dog attacks child"


"Inconvenience"?

Probably the same kinds of hysterical sites that promote bans on pit bulls.

I will play for a minute though. Lets both google for all sorts of scary statistics.

Lets google the number of fatal dog attacks first and then google the number of fatal gunshot wounds and see which is more "inconvenient." Or we can be a little more enlightened in our approach to these things and look at what kinds of risks actually exist. I think you'd find that most dog bites happen to someone who actually knows the dog.

 

[silicosys4]

Yea, but we aren't talking about cute pets, or even bad dogs.
We are talking about wild animals that have no fear of humans. An "inconvenience" is the BEST case scenario.

At the risk of going off topic, I will say if you don't fear for your children or your neighbors children while they playing in the yard when there are known packs of feral dogs wandering the area, that's your mistake.

When your neighbors pets start disappearing, or they get attacked, being able to say you lived and let live wont be so satisfying.
some things just need to be done.

Don't confuse a feral dog pack with either a domesticated pitbull or gun accidents, both of which can be controlled by their owners.

 

[Mike1234567]

Probably the same kinds of hysterical sites that promote bans on pit bulls.

I will play for a minute though. Lets both google for all sorts of scary statistics.

Lets google the number of fatal dog attacks first and then google the number of fatal gunshot wounds and see which is more "inconvenient." Or we can be a little more enlightened in our approach to these things and look at what kinds of risks actually exist. I think you'd find that most dog bites happen to someone who actually knows the dog.

I've posted many times that I don't like to hunt... I like animals too much and I'm a coward when it comes to such things. However, after a near attack by three pit bulls one day and being unarmed there later came a day. I called the police and they never found those dogs. I was worried sick for days that they would attack a child. About a week after that near incident I heard what sounded like a woman screaming at about 3AM. It was very dark so I had to get all the way across the street in my neighbor's yard before I could see what was happening... yes, I was armed that time. I saw the leader of those three pit bulls killing the neighbors dog. I knew it was the same pit bull because of the markings and the same old battered rope it was dragging around. I won't say what happened to that pit bull but I can tell you with absolute certainty that animal will never again be a threat to anyone in that neighborhood.

 

[orionengnr]

since you quoted me...

I will return the favor.

Not everybody is interested in killing an animal just because they can and perceive it as being a inconvenience.

Where did I say that I was "interested in killing an animal just because they can and perceive it as being a inconvenience" (your words, exactly).

Please pull your head out of whichever orifice it is stuck in, go back and read the OP...and then the successive posts. Especially mine.

And then respond, intelligently, to the above.

If you can.

 

[grter]

I am getting the impression that some people here are actually suggesting that others allow these animals to hurt or kill their loved ones and pets by not taking any action at all because they feel it is cruel to the animal or may be illegal.

Proctection of animals has it's place but not at the expense of allowing one to maim or kill one of your family members or anyone else for that matter.

I would hope that the ton of laws already on the books address these issues because they MUST BE ADDRESSED.

Get real no one should have to be forced to give wild animals the opportunity they need to attack people.

If you want to complain, complain about these huge urbanization projects that displace these creatures from their natural habitat forcing them to live near humans that they would rather be far from.

Feral dogs if no action is being taken to address people who dump their animals as well as tracking them and ridding the area of the problem for whatever reason, be it lack of funds and resources, stupidity, or just plain lazyness don't ask people to wait until a child is killed before what every one knows should have been done is done.

Don't blame the average guy who has to protect his own when these animals swarm his/her property and body space.

Furthermore anyone who does so derserves NOTHING LESS THAN YOUR FULL SUPPORT on the matter and should not have to be forced to deal with someone's psycological unwillingness to accecpt the situation and unwillingness to part with their ideals in an often unideal world.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I will return the favor.


Where did I say that I was "interested in killing an animal just because they can and perceive it as being a inconvenience" (your words, exactly).

Please pull your head out of whichever orifice it is stuck in, go back and read the OP...and then the successive posts. Especially mine.

And then respond, intelligently, to the above.

If you can.

After reading, you certainly make a pack of dogs sound like an inconvenience and then describe the pack growing dramatically. Then it becomes a danger and you must do something about it.

Sounds to me like you have a nice justification for shooting strays.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Yea, but we aren't talking about cute pets, or even bad dogs.
We are talking about wild animals that have no fear of humans. An "inconvenience" is the BEST case scenario.

At the risk of going off topic, I will say if you don't fear for your children or your neighbors children while they playing in the yard when there are known packs of feral dogs wandering the area, that's your mistake.

When your neighbors pets start disappearing, or they get attacked, being able to say you lived and let live wont be so satisfying.
some things just need to be done.

Don't confuse a feral dog pack with either a domesticated pitbull or gun accidents.

I'm not confusing anything. Feral dog attacks are so low on my list of concerns as to be non-existent. The chances of being attacked by a pack of feral dogs are ridiculously low.
Your chances of being shot are higher although not as high as the chances of you being bitten by your own dog.

Just trying to get the point across that feral dogs aren't really a problem for most. Certainly not a problem that warrants drawing a bead on some stray that wanders through an invisible property line.

 

[orionengnr]

Sounds to me like you have a nice justification for shooting strays.

Sounds to me like you skipped the OP, all the interceding posts, and summarized my post in the way you wanted to...
Try again.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Sounds to me like you skipped the OP, all the interceding posts, and summarized my post in the way you wanted to...
Try again.

Read the OP again. He had a couple dogs digging through the trash. OH THE HUMANITY! He yelled at a couple more who took an interest in him. He then saw some random dogs in the dead of night on his rural property. He decided to begin killing feral dogs.

Read a couple of your posts.

My summary stands.

 

[silicosys4]

God help your child if they try to play with a couple of those "strays".

I'm willing to bet good money you'd change your mind about killing feral dogs if you actually had ANY experience with them.

 

[orionengnr]

Feral dog attacks are so low on my list of concerns as to be non-existent.

Because it is not high on your list, it should not be a concern for anyone else, either, right?

The chances of being attacked by a pack of feral dogs are ridiculously low. Your chances of being shot are higher although not as high as the chances of you being bitten by your own dog.

That smells suspiciously like Mr. Kellerman's position on gun ownership...

Just trying to get the point across that feral dogs aren't really a problem for most.

Again...it's not a problem for you, or for "most"...so why would anyone have a valid argument? An open mind is not your forte, my friend.

 

[Ivy Mike]

"Draw a bead on some stray"

........

That is not what is being discussed here.

Move along now.

Did the OP admittedly shoot stray dogs?

Yes or No? It's in the second paragraph.

I think you're done here.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Because it is not high on your list, it should not be a concern for anyone else, either, right?

That smells suspiciously like Mr. Kellerman's position on gun ownership...

Again...it's not a problem for you, or for "most"...so why would anyone have a valid argument? An open mind is not your forte, my friend.

According to the agency that actually tracks how people are injured and killed in this country, feral dog attacks are a very minor issue.

Open your mind to facts.
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/dog-bites/index.html

 

[Ivy Mike]

God help your child if they try to play with a couple of those "strays".

I'm willing to bet good money you'd change your mind about killing feral dogs if you actually had ANY experience with them.

I keep better track of my children than to let them play with stray dogs. Same reason I don't take my pit bull to dog parks.

 

[grter]

Clean97GTI wrote

"Just trying to get the point across that feral dogs aren't really a problem for most. Certainly not a problem that warrants drawing a bead on some stray that wanders through an invisible property line."

Feral Dogs are dangerous you don't seem to get that and I get the impression that you are accusing everyone here of being ignorant trigger happy criminals.

You do not want to be or have your kids in the middle of a pack of wild strays. Their actions are unpredictable.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

"They turned toward me and proceeded to stalk me"

The OP isn't talking about some kind of harmless "stray dogs" here with a statement like that.

Dogs who have gone feral aren't "stray" and they aren't "tame". And feral dogs that have formed a pack are rather more dangerous, even.

Conversely, "stray" dogs aren't "feral".

There's a difference...and it's a rather large and dangerous difference.

 

[Robert]

Oh for the love. OP, if I were in your shoes and ot were safe to do so I'd shoot them on the spot with out hesitation. But then I tend to drag my knuckles when I walk...

For everyone else, do as you see fit on your land and let the OP do the same.