Dogs killed over unpaid fines

[Plucketeer]

25. OK

so, for years now we've put up with a neighbor who refuses to keep his "family members" in check. Even though we HAVE leash laws here, they (the neighbors) don't try to keep their dogs in check. And it's NOT just a matter of having their dogshit in my yard. It's a matter of one of their dogs challenging and attempting to bite ME/US on our property as well as trying to bite folks that innocently stroll down the street. Recently, the eldest kid watched and laughed as their dog tried to bite my ankles in MY front yard.
The other of their "family members" barks - INCESSANTLY - at me whenever it sees me or even senses I'm outside. Is it just being a good watchdog or is it cause I've had to chase it away from our chicken coops repeatedly. I shouldn't have had to do that, but now that I've established myself as it's antagonist, it refuses to shut up - and we're not just talking about a few barks and it goes back to it's porch. We're talking incessant deep woofing even for ten minutes or more after I come back into the house. And this mutt only barks at ME - no other neighbors.
These neighbors are really belligerent ass hats. We haven't spoken in years. But the last time I warned them I was going to take action (a written note in their mail box), they wrote back that I should go F myself. So school me about the compassion I should ooze for their family members. Hell, I watched one day and the "man" of that household tried repeatedly to run down his teenage sun with a pickup truck! So just how will I adroitly effect relief from a jerk like that???
We've got ONE Animal Control officer for this whole, huge, environment-diverse county. The guy only shows if someone's been bitten or there's a large animal (cow - horse) on the loose.
I agree that folks should not be squeezed financially. But here, they usually get a warning the first time - after that, they're gonna get fined or maybe even lose the pet. Consider the cost of running their truck(s), housing the animal for whatever amount of time - AND feeding it. Factor in someone to tend it and clean up the facilities after it's gone home or wherever, the folks in the front office that do all the very necessary paperwork and legal mumbo-jumbo - and why should they work for minimum wages because some jerk's let his animals run free? You take on pets - YOU take on the responsibility for their actions. At least, that's the way it ought to be. It's not just a matter of "Awwww - poor doggie." It's serious business. We're pet owners ourselves (parrots) and we take full responsibility for our charges.