I’m sure this topic has been discussed, but I’m curious how many of you broach the topic of nuisance animal dispatch vs release when talking with your customers. In my area there definitely seems a distain for euthanizing nuisance animals that have been caught on the customers property. Most people assume they are released or even insist that you release them unharmed. For me that is not possible.

Obviously we all know that relocation and translocation of animals are not the same thing, and translocated animals have a relatively low survival rate due to a myriad of factors. What’s the best policy when talking with a customer? In my state you cannot release trapped animals on public land anywhere, only private land. I want to ease the customers concerns about dispatch without losing the job or gaining the reputation of “oh that guy kills them all”….

In business you can’t please everyone and I know that, just wondering what you all do. Thanks

I explain what the law says. In East Tennessee, raccoon, skunk, fox, and coyote must be euthanized because we are in a rabies vector area and they are potential carriers. I explain that is the law, not my choice.

This is my policy as well. I explain it as this is what the law requires under my license once the animal comes into my possession.

If asked......I explain the law and explain why relocation is not legal. I also explain why it is not a good alternative even if it was legal. It is an opportunity to educate and a lot are more accepting after a good explanation. If they insist that I violate the law, I just let them enjoy their problem critters.

I used to participate on the chicken forums, advising guys what to do about varmints wrecking havoc on their birds. I'd guess 9 out of 10 wanted the animal trapped (and willing to cage trap them themselves), but insisted on relocation vs. dispatch. About the only exception to that was when dealing with rats. Most had no qualms about dealing with rats.

But there is a soft spot in peoples heads when dealing with problem varmints. They would come closer to snuffing a neighbor's dog vs. a coon or fox. My advice was to either accept dispatch or simply leave them alone. Armor up the coop so that nothing gets in and leave the animals no choice but to move on. And for some reason, one of the more effective solutions.......and electric fence.......gets dismissed out of hand. Even in bear country. Some otherwise smart people can be awfully thick at times.

And for some reason, what some of the chicken people consider "secure" isn't. Far too many have tried to cobble together some crapola favoring cute over secure. Money comes into play.......they want to build on a budget.

I'd think you guys handy with tools could do as well helping armor up coops as trapping varmints.

I've had to explain to customers that I do relocate animals....they just don't live through the process. One gentlemen said, "Well, when my wife is around we'll just use the term relocate". I guess, in a manner of speaking, we can say that. :-)

It's a funny thing, some customers are worried about the animal's welfare when they are not really a problem, but if they become a problem, they could care less how or where they go. most of the time, you can tell right off.

Lol....I got a call one day for a raccoon in a garage that would not leave even with the doors open all day. Higher end neighborhood , nice house. Met the homeowner at the open garage door.

Inside the first bay was a Maybach ( top of the line Mercedes-Benz , $300k -$500k )
I was like whoa....nice car I tell the owner. He says , I thought you meant this one and pointed over to the third bay where there was a new bright red Ferrari 458 Italia.

The raccoon had been in the garage overnight and had climbed on both cars scratching them. Crazy money to fix the paint on both cars.
Found the raccoon behind some boxes , snare poled it and put it in a cage.
The homeowner told me he never wanted to see that raccoon again. I told him I totally agree after seeing the damage to his cars.
That raccoon was taken out of the gene pool.

thats a good story lol

As per state law, here if a nuisance animal is to be released after trapping it must be released on same property trapped on. Explain that to customer ask where their property line is and where they want it released? Often they change their mind real quick when also explain the animal could be back within couple weeks and that results in a additional fees.
I don't say what happens just that If they don't want the animal released on their property I will totally remove it from said property.
Oh darn forgot to loosen the catch pole that was around the neck while going down the road.

Then there is the customer that wants a certain species removed and doesn't care by what means short of explosives.

I tell them I relocate them to my private property outside of the county. I don't tell them that I dispatch them as soon as I get there. I've tried to tell people that relocation is not legal, but then the animal lovers come out and then I'm there arguing with a customer. So I just leave it at, "They get relocated onto my private property, not in this county." Keep the Karen's happy.

Tight chains and full freezers!