Man shoots neighbor's dogs after they killed chickens

In an escalating neighborhood imbroglio in Crownsville, the head count so far is six dead chickens, two dead dogs and one threat of a lawsuit.

Kathleen Dugan of Rolling Hills said the morning of June 25 began with the blasts of a shotgun. Her neighbors called county police, and at 11 a.m. an officer arrived on her doorstep.

They delivered the news. Gigi, her 4-year-old beagle, and Bubba, her Lhasa Apso-basset mix pup were dead.

The dogs, both wearing electric fence collars, had run through the fence in Ms. Dugan's yard along Corbin Parkway.

The 26-pound beagle, a breed known for its hunting instincts, went after...