I'm sorry for your loss - it's like losing a human friend in many ways. Unfortunately , although you were trying to be tolerant and peace-loving, not saying anything to him, now your neighbor has no idea of your side of all these events. If it were me, I'd do two things. I'd go down to local sheriff office and get a "no trespass" on your neighbor - that means if he ever comes on your property again and you see him, they will arrest him. I'd also write your neighbor a letter, stating that you want to get along, but you are very upset about your dog, and list your side of the history, as factually and non-emotionaly as you can. The idea is to get him the facts in a way he will read and maybe try to understand , and also put in place a barrier to further problems. Again, I am so very sorry.

I'd check with the law just to see where things stand.And invest in some fencing.If he's crazy enough to kill your dog in front of you,anything could happen.Sorry about your dog.

Now that you know what your neighbor is capable of (and shooting someone's dog right in front of them and their child seems extremely mean), I would do as the others suggest (document everything and report it) and I would do what you can to protect yourself, your family and pets. And I think one of those things is a fence.

Make sure that you report what happened with your dog. A paper trail needs to be left just in case anything ever happens again. I'm so sorry for the loss of your dog. I know how they become a member of the family. Your neighbor did a very cruel and inhumane thing. I can only imagine how this has affected your children. There should be a law to protect you from this happening!

I have a half-chow half-whatever too, and if someone shot her I'd not be calm or forgiving at all. When he came on your property he was trespassing. When he shot your dog in front of you and your children he was dangerous and frightening. I'm guessing he doesn't bother to feed his dogs and thinks you're patsies for doing it for him. People like that---!! What I'm thinking I can't type in a public forum! Recently a local person and his son were arrested for the way they treated their dogs. All 64!!! had to be put down. He's facing 64 counts of cruelty to animals and I guess they're planning on running them consecutively so he'll have to do some real time, otherwise I suppose it'd be like six months. And no, you're not out of line for grieving for your dog, and anyone who says 'just a dog' hasn't had the blessing of the undiluted total love a dog gives us.

I'm sorry, but in ANY state, it's illegal for anyone to come onto your property and shoot your dog. And someone who would do it in front of your kids is a dangerous person. If this person has lived in the country for any time, he knows better than to put a dog in with a hog. You have dangerous neighbors, and I would move, or call the law, or do something to let them know that I wasn't going to put up with them.

When I lived in the country, my neighbor's little chihuahuas dug in under my chicken pen fence and killed all my baby chickens. I know, because I saw him running across the yard with one. I tried to talk to them, but they wouldn't listen, so I called animal control, and they made him fence the dog up.

The law states that your animal has to be kept on your property. Unfortunately, this applies to you too. If your animal goes onto someone else's property and causes damage, you are liable. But by the same token, if your neighbor comes and shoots your dog in front of your children, he can go to jail.

Don't back down to these people, or they'll see you as weak, and they'll make your life hell.

As for your goat, if you ever fed it wheat, or wheat bread, that's why it died. My neighbor hated me so much, he fed my goats scratch feed to kill them.

I now live three states away from those jerks, even sold them my house, termites and all. I hear the fat wife fell through the floor and broke her leg. Hate to sound mean, but what goes around, comes around.

I'd like to add that this man probably already has a criminal record if he would do something like this. Go to your local sheriff and have them look him up. If you're lucky, he's got warrants out on him, or he's on probation and you can have him locked up.

In the meantime, think of what he might do if your child harmed one of his animals and make plans to move.

Try posting this on the Farm Forum- I'll bet you get some very interesting replies. A similar post was on that forum not long ago.
When I read where the neighbor shot your dog in front of you I honestly dropped my jaw ! What a shock !
My deepest sympathies for your loss.

I am so sorry for your loss.

First, you MUST report this to law enforcement immediately. Even if they tell you that you cannot press charges against this person(which I cannot imagine as he was guilty of trespassing at the very least), the law enforcement officers should make an 'information report' about the incident.

Secondly, find out exactly what the law says where you live.
I live in a rural area with no leash law, so dogs can run free as they please. HOWEVER, once a dog steps off its own property, it can be shot if it is a threat to any person or animal. Thus, in our area, your neighbor could have legally shot the dog on his property or even if it was on county property like in a roadway, but could not come onto your property and legally shoot it as he did.

Third, in addition to reporting the incident to the police, report it to the humane society if your area has one.

Fourth, consult an attorney about how to proceed in protecting your property from this person and his animals. In some jurisdictions you must clearly post No Trespassing signs. In others, you must mark your perimeter with a certain color of paint. You may have to send a "cease and desist" letter informing this person that criminal charges will be filed if he trespasses onto your property. You obviously need a fence to keep your animals home, and his animals out, and I realize that is a major expense. Consulting an attorney is also an expense, but you have a very difficult situation on your hands and need to be careful every step of the way to ensure you understand the law and comply with it yourself. It also will help establish firmly for you just what your legal rights are.

Fifth, you need to inform this neighbor that the encroachment of his animals on to your property will no longer be tolerated. It is best to do this in writing. You will have to decide for yourself what steps to take if the animals come onto your property again. It is best to think about this and decide in advance what to do. That way you don't make a snap judgement in the heat of the moment that you might regret.

I would find it almost impossible to even attempt to maintain a friendly relationship with someone who came onto my property and behaved as your neighbor did. I suspect it is time to worry less about getting along & being a good neighbor and time to worry more about protecting yourself, your family, your animals and your property. You know, a person who would kill an animal in front of its family on its own property might do just about anything. Be careful.

Finally, if you want to forgive this person, fine. Do the Christian thing and forgive him if you can. BUT, do not forget! I suspect that a person like this, if he knows you have forgiven him, might do something similar in the future because he got away with it once.

Again, my condolences for the loss of your beloved pet, and especially because you had to witness such a heinous event.
I hope everything works out for you and your family.