I would be happy with no neighbors. Or, at least, none that have dogs. We no longer get along very well because I'm a jerk. They seem to think that dogs ought to be able to run the country side. When I had livestock, their dogs enjoyed chasing my cows and horses. After all, a dog doesn't know what a fence means or that they shouldn't chase a colt into a fence. Last deer season my game cams caught pics of 7 different dogs around my feeders. Hunting ranged from poor to lousy. Two of the dogs are beautiful, almost snow white, Shepherds with bright red collars. I am told that they are pretty viscous attack dogs. So, I generally carry a sawed off shotgun on my 4 wheeler. Why should I have to do that?
When a dog doesn't come home they call the Sheriffs Dept and report that someone must have shot their dog and that they need to check on me as the likely culprit. Actually, it is very rarely me because I don't live there and don't get a chance to shoot their damn dogs. BTW, I donate to the Sheriffs re-election campaign.
I have, in the past, set leg hold traps prior to deer season and notified neighbors that they need to keep their dogs at home. I hate that and also hate catching wildlife that I'm not going to eat. To date, nothing has worked to my satisfaction.
Some are good neighbors and some are rude. And some of us are jerks.
It is pretty clear in Virginia and West Virginia what can be done about dogs chasing or killing livestock. I've never shot anybody's dog, but I've sure been tempted. In general, we don't have much an issue around here.
§ 3.2-6552. Dogs killing, injuring or chasing livestock or poultry.
It shall be the duty of any animal control officer or other officer who may find a dog in the act of killing or injuring livestock or poultry to seize or kill such dog forthwith whether such dog bears a tag or not. Any person finding a dog committing any of the depredations mentioned in this section shall have the right to kill such dog on sight as shall any owner of livestock or his agent finding a dog chasing livestock on land utilized by the livestock when the circumstances show that such chasing is harmful to the livestock. Any court shall have the power to order the animal control officer or other officer to kill any dog known to be a confirmed livestock or poultry killer, and any dog killing poultry for the third time shall be considered a confirmed poultry killer. The court, through its contempt powers, may compel the owner, custodian, or harborer of the dog to produce the dog.
