Runaways

I have had quite a bit of trouble with dogs getting loose. We were pretty rushed at getting the fence up, so it still has not been tied all the way around. Dogs who know what they are doing can push underneath the fence and get out. The chains are another big source of weakness. I ordered all new hardware, but one crucial element - the cold shuts that fasten the chains to the snaps and to the rings/posts - was on backorder, and I am still waiting for my shipment. The hardware that we brought from our old place is seriously weak and worn out. Every day there are loose dogs who have busted some part of their chain.

Most of the dogs do not know that the fence is vulnerable, so they never test it. Nonetheless, I have two youngsters who figured out pretty quick how to push under the fence, and they decided to go visit the cow pasture. The cowboys spotted them and drove round in their pickup truck and horse trailer to let us know we had some dogs loose. They told us that they would shoot any dogs that got in with the cows. Our dogs are not actually interested in the cows as much as they are interested in the mud holes and the cow manure. Nevertheless, the threat is a serious one, so we will have to be extremely vigilant.