Hawaii Newbie 2020
Songster
- Apr 5, 2020
- 55
- 112
- 106
Sadly, our neighbor adopted a dog and after it killed her chickens, got out and killed a feral chicken on our property, she allowed it to get out again, and it broke into our run and killed nearly all our chickens. These were beloved pets. My teenager in particular was completely devastated. YOU all get it.
The neighbor was so apologetic and wanting to help until I asked for money. I asked not for money for the hens but rather for the new enclosure I felt I needed in order to protect against this dog, which lives like thirty feet from our yard. To me this was the greatest urgency because two hens survived (eight were killed, and one rooster). I needed to keep them safe.
She told me what I was asking was too much and that I should have checked with her first to see what she could afford. I literally bought the smallest walk-in dog kennel I could find. It was $700, all done. I can only assume she looked at some of those $100 plywood specials online and assumed I was being ridiculous and trying to fleece her. But something like that would have been worse than what we had, which worked fine…until she got that dog and failed to be a responsible dog owner.
Anyway, I now see the thing I should have asked for was the value of the hens, which didn’t even occur to me because sure we love the eggs but primarily they were pets and not really replaceable. Laying hens here go for $50 each (I’m in Hawaii). So…she owes $400? The one rooster Pi was a beloved pet too, nothing for him?
This just doesn’t sit well with me. For her to be out such a relatively small amount considering the huge impact this had financially and otherwise. In Hawaii, $400 doesn’t even cover a very basic trip to Costco.
To build back up we were very fortunate to have had remaining fertile eggs from my daughter’s most beloved hen, Gigi, to incubate and build the flock back up. Having the babies gives her a feeling of connection to her Gigi, more importantly.
ANYWAY, my question. Given the situation, do you think I have a chance of being awarded something for the cost of the enclosure in addition to the chickens? I just am so upset by this whole thing and can’t believe how easily the neighbor is getting off! She’s refusing to even discuss it now. I can take her to small claims, I just want to be clearer first.
Thank you for any input! Pic of my daughter with Gigi.
The neighbor was so apologetic and wanting to help until I asked for money. I asked not for money for the hens but rather for the new enclosure I felt I needed in order to protect against this dog, which lives like thirty feet from our yard. To me this was the greatest urgency because two hens survived (eight were killed, and one rooster). I needed to keep them safe.
She told me what I was asking was too much and that I should have checked with her first to see what she could afford. I literally bought the smallest walk-in dog kennel I could find. It was $700, all done. I can only assume she looked at some of those $100 plywood specials online and assumed I was being ridiculous and trying to fleece her. But something like that would have been worse than what we had, which worked fine…until she got that dog and failed to be a responsible dog owner.
Anyway, I now see the thing I should have asked for was the value of the hens, which didn’t even occur to me because sure we love the eggs but primarily they were pets and not really replaceable. Laying hens here go for $50 each (I’m in Hawaii). So…she owes $400? The one rooster Pi was a beloved pet too, nothing for him?
This just doesn’t sit well with me. For her to be out such a relatively small amount considering the huge impact this had financially and otherwise. In Hawaii, $400 doesn’t even cover a very basic trip to Costco.
To build back up we were very fortunate to have had remaining fertile eggs from my daughter’s most beloved hen, Gigi, to incubate and build the flock back up. Having the babies gives her a feeling of connection to her Gigi, more importantly.
ANYWAY, my question. Given the situation, do you think I have a chance of being awarded something for the cost of the enclosure in addition to the chickens? I just am so upset by this whole thing and can’t believe how easily the neighbor is getting off! She’s refusing to even discuss it now. I can take her to small claims, I just want to be clearer first.
Thank you for any input! Pic of my daughter with Gigi.
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