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The original was posted on /r/homestead by /u/stormsvala_ on 2025-10-25 23:25:30+00:00.

Feel like this is an appropriate sub for this though I’m not really a homesteader. We live on 15 acres in rural Texas. We have a neighbor about 1/2 mile away whose dogs keep escaping their fence and ending up on our property. The first time I was sitting on the back porch with my newborn and look up to see the dogs about 20 yards away in the treeline motionless watching us. It was very unnerving. As soon as my husband stepped outside they ran. The second time they ran out of the woods when my husband was sighting in a rifle shooting in that direction. We politely warned the neighbor about that incident, hoping they would get the hint to keep their dogs contained for their own safety.

Just now the dogs appeared again. They chased off a large buck I was watching through a window in the back (it’s archery season here) and started running circles around the chicken coop upsetting the birds. By the time I got my shoes on they were gone back into the woods. There have been several other occasions and they come right up to the back door of the house.

We just moved into this house and don’t want to create problems with neighbors but these dogs are becoming a problem. Besides the newborn, we have other young children who I want to be able to play outside safely. I’m getting tempted to set some traps for the nuisance coyotes and raccoons and i might just accidentally get a dog. Legally I think I am only allowed to shoot at it if it is actively attacking a person or livestock, but if this isn’t resolved I don’t know, I can’t have them sneaking up on my kids or me with my baby in my own yard… I feel bad because I love animals, and at least one of the dogs I think could friendly when alone since it followed me down the road one day and seemed okay when not with the others, but when they get together in a pack their attitude and behavior make me nervous.