Post Falls man charged after dogs kill chickens

COEUR d’ALENE — John R. Harris, 61, is facing a criminal charge after prosecutors said his dogs killed his neighbors’ chickens.

The Post Falls man is accused of keeping a dog that injures domestic animals or livestock, which is a misdemeanor violation of Kootenai County code. 

According to court records, the charge stems from an Aug. 1 incident, when Harris’ neighbor reported to police that his dogs, which had previously killed her chickens, were back on her property, inside her chicken coop. 

The woman told police that two collarless dogs, later determined to belong to Harris, had entered her coop in late July, killing three chickens and injuring another. When the dogs returned Aug. 1, they allegedly killed two chickens and maimed three more. 

Another neighbor also told police Harris’s dogs had killed his chickens. The incident was previously reported to Animal Control at the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, according to court records. 

Police trailed one of the dogs to Harris’ residence, where they found “numerous” unsecured dogs, as well as “approximately seven to 10 additional large breed dogs” in pens. 

When questioned by police, Harris said he wasn’t responsible for the chickens that were killed in July because his dogs were tied up at the time of the incident. He said he believed his dogs were properly contained Aug. 1 and “did not know how they would be able to get out.” 

According to a police report, Harris admitted that one of his dogs had previously left the property and was shot by a neighbor.

Police later cited Harris for keeping a dog that injures domestic animals or livestock. 

In early November, Harris failed to appear in court for a hearing, and a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest, according to court records. This week, police arrested Harris. He was released after posting a $300 bail bond.