What to do if Your Goats are Killed by Dogs

What to do if Your Goats are Killed by Dogs

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If your livestock is killed by dogs, it’s up to the owners to pay for the herd losses. Learn what do when confronted by this tragic situation.

Yvette lives in the open country as do Skip and Jill. Their small herds of goats generally live a peaceful existence with the occasional predator of the wild variety being the usual threat. However, early one morning their goats were attacked and killed by a much more domestic predator.

Hearing the goats screaming, Yvette hurried outside but was still too late to see the predator, only the horrific aftermath. With calls to the sheriff and vet, Yvette struggled in vain to save her beloved pets. Fairly soon, close neighbors informed Yvette that they had also heard the goats’ frantic cries. Shortly after hearing the goats they also reported seeing a locally well-known white German Shepherd running past with distinct blood on his chest and around his mouth.

The same day, Yvette learned that her friends Skip and Jill’s goats were also attacked with eleven more casualties. Documenting as much as they could, it was time to confront the owners of the unique white German Shepherd that lived just two miles away. While the owners tried to deny their dog’s involvement, there were too many witnesses to the dog constantly escaping the yard and several who saw blood on the dog’s hair that day. Unable to argue, the owners apologized and had the dog euthanized immediately.

There’s more to it when livestock is killed by dogs.

Most dog owners would assume that losing their pet would be punishment enough, but damage to property such as livestock is still a criminal offense and must be repaid. Yvette calculated the monetary loss of losing several breeding does. Included were also veterinary bills regarding the injuries and a fee for carcass disposal. Skip and Jill did the same with their larger herd and delivered the bill to the dog’s owners so they could finish righting the wrong committed by their dog. But the bill went unanswered.

Pixie the goat at her fence.

When livestock is killed by dogs, the dogs’ owner needs to pay for herd losses.

Eventually, the matter went to small claims court where the judge sided with the goat owners. The case should have ended there, but the dog’s owners appealed, sending the case to regular court. On the court date, Yvette was ready with documentation of the goats’ deaths, their worth, and witness statements while Skip did the same. However, they received a message that the defendants were not ready for court and had to postpone.

One postponement led to another, each one setting the court appearance date back by months for nearly a year. Yvette suspected that the dog’s owners were intentionally causing frustration with the hope of getting the case dropped. At this point with lawyer fees, it was unlikely that Skip would be awarded enough back in damages to equal the loss of his goats. However, this was now a matter of principle, holding irresponsible dog owners accountable and setting a precedent for future cases of livestock loss.

Even though this court case should have been easily proven, Yvette feels like they lost in the end. The day before the final court date the defendant’s attorney called with an offer to pay $3500, less than half of what the damages actually were. If Skip did not accept the offer, the defendants would declare bankruptcy which would negate any legal fees ordered by the court. It was the option of taking what he could and dropping the case or winning the case but with no restitution. Skip decided to accept the offer and drop the case. It was better than nothing, but the dog owners still wouldn’t admit fault after everything.

Even though Yvette, Skip, and Jill didn’t “win” in this court case doesn’t mean that other similar cases would also be fruitless. Small claims court sided with them, but it was the appeals process and legal runaround that got them in the end. There are some lessons for you in this as well. Don’t be blindsided when you experience a similar situation.

If you’re livestock is harassed or killed by dogs, make sure to document it.

Document everything, and I do mean literally everything if your goats are killed by dogs. If a dog harasses your goats, document it even if no harm was done. It may not be the same story next time, and proof that the dog has been there before will stand in your favor. Time-stamped pictures are your best friend. If possible, be on friendly terms with your neighbors so they may be willing to provide witness statements in such an event. Keep veterinary receipts and anything else pertaining to your animals’ health.

killed-by-dogs
Dixie peeking around a tree.

If it goes to small claims court.

While an appeals court will have lawyers representing the different parties, in small claims court you represent yourself. You can get advice from lawyers, but the judge will ask you all the questions directly. When calculating the cost of damages and loss of livestock if they were killed by dogs, follow your local Food and Agriculture code. Farm Bureau also has excellent resources, and your county may have specific councils and codes for restitution. For example, in the state of California, you can ask for double your out-of-pocket cost when going to court for damages. Having farm/ranch insurance is also highly recommended. They may cover some costs while you wait for small claims court.

Losing your goats or other animals is devastating. You may be grieving, in shock, and confused about what to do. Knowing beforehand how to prepare and what documentation is needed immediately after an incident will help you recover at least costs and some peace of mind.


Originally published in the January/February 2023 issue of Goat Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.

One thought on “What to do if Your Goats are Killed by Dogs”
  1. Thank you for this article. My goat was attacked by neighbor dogs six weeks ago. The goat survived, but now I don’t go outside without my gun. The owners skipped the court date and now their are warrants for their arrests. I now have to wait til they get caught doing something wrong or they decide to show up. We are the victims! A LGD or 2 are in my future.

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