Here is a photo of the late, great Rhode Island Red, Ginger. She and her flockmate Cricket were killed yesterday (Friday) at about 9.00 a.m. in my upper Wallingford backyard by two dogs. They injured a third chicken, Lacey, so severely that I had to kill her, and Rita is sitting in a cardboard box in my kitchen. We’ll see if she will manage to pull through. Why am I hoping that Wallyhood will write about this? Because the carnage in my backyard came about as the result of two dogs being allowed to run loose in the neighborhood, and I want my neighbors with dogs to know what can results from this practice, and to stop it. The dogs were apparently a small white terrier-like dog with spots, and a medium-sized brown dog, according to my neighbors who intervened to save the remaining chickens.
Our house, between the Keystone Church and Tangletown, is known as the Chicken House. I garden with my chickens in the front of the house, and they are visible in their enclosure at the side of the house. Lots of neighborhood children over the last 5 years have stopped by to say hello to the girls and feed them dandelion leaves and sunflower seeds. Having chickens has been a lovely way to meet and get to know people in the neighborhood, including the very conscientious dog walkers in the area.
I have never seen dogs running loose in the area before, but it only takes once. These were not strays — they are someone’s pets, and someone needs to know the result of letting their dogs run. The dogs squeezed through a small opening in the back fence that my neighbors carefully built around a giant cherry tree. Dogs do what it is their nature to do, which is why people need to be responsible dog owners. In the interest of neighborhood peace and civility, please DO NOT let your dogs run.
Thank you,Alison
Discover more from Wallyhood
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I am sorry to hear this and hope the owner of the two dogs is notified and held accountable. Animals that are not under control don’t add to the pleasure of a neighborhood.
So sorry for your loss, Alison. A friend of mine lost her geriatric cat this way (not in Wallingford) and it was heartbreaking.
Check those fences, neighbors. It’s in the dogs’ best interests too.
I’ve enjoyed seeing your chickens in your yard, Alison. Thank you for your generosity with neighbors who enjoy taking a peek now & then. And I’m so very sorry for your loss.
I am sorry to read this. Please call animal control and report itso there is a trail of reports in the event this happens again, the owners can be held accountable.
Nothing will bring back the pleasure you have provided many with the chickens however.
A lower Wallingford home had chickens in their yard for years and ultimately had to stop as animals continued to dig under fences and come after the chickens, very regrettable.
Alison this breaks my heart; the picture looks exactly like my girl ‘Brandy.’ I have 8 chickens and live in lower Wallingford. People often walk by with dogs and the dogs (on leashes) are always chomping at the bit to go after the birds. It freaks the girls out. One guy recently asked if he should let his dog free, and although it was in jest, I was quite mortified I didn’t have a rooster 4x as large as his dog and ask him if I should uncage my bird to say hello to his dog;). I know Seattle is big on dogs: but there are many more urban animals now—goats, chickens, cats/dogs, rabbits—so ‘sharing’ the space respectfully is key. Again so sorry about your girls. If you need some eggs to carry you over, swing by. I would be happy to share. Best, Janelle
So sorry to hear about the chickens. I will tell you of a sad tale in my neighborhood. We have neighbors with chickens that let them run in their yard and in the street. My elderly (89) neighbor that has a little terrier dog broke his hip and was on crutches. One day, while he was trying to get his mail, the dog accidentally got out and the elderly man couldn’t catch him. He went straight to the chickens and the chicken neighbor was in the house and saw him and shooed him away before any harm was done and called animal control. Meanwhile, the poor guy waddled down the street on crutches and there was an all out shouting match unfit for human ears. Animal control fined my elderly neighbor almost $500 and the chicken owner about $500 also for not having a fenced area for the chickens. The chicken owner eventually made a partial fence but still lets the chickens run. Even without the dogs – the chickens are still in danger from raptors, raccoons and other animals we see around the neighborhood. Who is responsible for what? Seems the chickens are always the ones that get hurt.
Yes not so good at fending for themselves. We have a pretty good sized coop, built to keep out racoons, rats and birds—all predators. We only let the chickens have a little ‘outing’ in our front yard when we are outside working in the yard with them. When we go inside our house—we tuck them back in theirs.
I am so sorry for your chickens. Mimi
So saddened to read of your loss. We have 2 dogs who we walk on leashes (why would we do otherwise in a city?); running into off-leash dogs is always unpleasant, an experience made moreso by the humans who seem to be oblivious to the effect of their actions, or that their dogs really don’t come when they’re called, or that those same dogs will and do cross the street to get to their objective.) The thinking that animals need to feel free and that the way to accomplish that is letting them off leash misses the obvious: that “freedom” is illusory, more the idea of the human, than the pup, who equates being able to run willy-nilly as actual freedom. Well, no. What comes with having 4 footed companions is responsibiltity, which includes the hard part of saying “no” sometimes.
Sorry. I’, climbing down from the soap-box to come back to the original sentiment: i’m so sorry for their deaths and your loss.
That is a terrible story. Terriers are know for their high prey drive.
There is someone who “walks” 2 brown standard poodles without a leash near the south side of Hamilton middle school. Twice I have come across these 2 energetic dogs with my dogs on leash, they rushed my dogs in an effort to play, twice I have shouted at him to please control his dogs (he was half a block away), which he was unable to do as they ignored his calls, twice he has said “gee, I forgot my leash, they’re friendly”. Really?
Leashed dogs who react to loose dogs while they are on leash are not agressive, they are cornered and taunted, and do not experience invitations to play as friendly. I now carry citronella spray to keep my dogs safe in the event an off leash dog (or two) wants to “play”. Your dog may be friendly, but you are an irresponsible dog owner and this situation is dangerous.
Alison, I’m so sorry to hear this heartbreaking news, and impressed at your graciousness in the light of such a brutal scenario. May you have many more years of raising chickens in safety. A few weeks ago on a morning walk I took some photos of chickens at the side of a house that I imagine are your girls, by your description. I’d be happy to email them to you if you leave a note.
So sorry for your loss. We had a near miss last week when, yet another, off leash dog stormed our coop. He didn’t get through the fence but the hens were terrified and tried to fly out over the netting. Luckily, our neighbors ran out even faster than I could and helped grab the golden retriever by the collar and pull it back to the sidewalk where the owner stood idly by, saying, “He wouldn’t hurt your chickens…” Hum, not because he didn’t TRY. Also had a recent visit by two ENORMOUS racoons that I subsequently learned one of the neighbors is feeding. Luckily we got the girls back into “lockdown” so no carnage.
ummm, feeding raccoons is danger- generating for the neighborhood.
when will people ever learn NOT to let either cats or dogs run free in neighborhoods!! they are not to blame for their instinctive behavior, but we adults who do not supervise them are!
not only do they kill other animals, but they themselves can be killed by larger animals or cars, etc.!
These same dogs attacked and killed a cat on Friday, March 16 in the backyard of a home across frm the old Bastyr school. The owners will be held responsible for the death and subsequent cost of the vet.