Rescue dog kills neighbors fighting chickens our dog is now dead. They want to be reimbursed

Question

Rescued a dog from person on Facebook, stated the owner of the dog never came back for him. Seemed very sweet kind dog we own 4 cats + 2 other dogs everyone got along. In the middle of the night dogs got out went to the neighbor's house killed and maimed chickens and now they want an exorbitant amount of money for the maimed and killed chickens. At first they told the pound our dog killed 5 chickens, then it became 7 chickens and now they want to be reimbursed for 12 chickens. The local pound called husband at 1:43 p.m. stating our dog was lifeless and could be picked up at the pound. Before my husband could get there roughly 45 minutes our dog had died. We would like to reimburse the neighbor but how do we come about a more reasonable amount? What is the law of a dog killing fighting chickens? Would that be considered livestock?

Kristina M. Bergsten · Answer

I am not sure I understand the situation. Did your dog die from injuries from the chickens? Fighting chickens (I'm assuming you mean roosters - I've never heard of fighting chickens) are illegal, as far as I am aware, so I am not sure they would count as livestock, let alone be reimbursable. It would be like if your dog ate your neighbor's cocaine... I would double check the local laws on the legalities of owning fighting roosters. If your dog is dead from the injuries from the "chickens" it sounds like it's a wash because the neighbor could be liable to you for the value of your dog from being attacked by trained fighting roosters.

Q: Rescue dog kills neighbors fighting chickens our dog is now dead. They want to be reimbursed