9/15/2025

Last week we had an unfortunate incident where one of our livestock guardian dogs, Diamond, attacked a German Shepherd from the Auberge community who was out on a walk with her owner. We are very thankful the owner is okay, and that the dog is healing. 

When we got the call we responded immediately and showed up to do the best we could to provide assistance and offer remedy. We talked with some of the residents and the woman, and made sure she got a ride home from a neighbor. The owner had gotten knocked down and bumped her head as a result. She went to the hospital that evening to get checked out and was cleared after a number of tests. The dog went to the vet the next day and got stitches on two lacerations. We have been in on-going conversation with and support of the owner and the dog. We are covering all related costs.

Please know we do not take this lightly. We have permanently removed Diamond from the area near the residents and are relocating her to a dairy in central California. She’s been a great guardian dog the past several years that she has been with us, however, she has recently taken to dominate other female dogs. This incident was an extreme expression of that. 

Our livestock guardian dogs are typically not a threat outside of their fenced in area, where they have domain. They are there to keep the herd safe from predation, and while in their fenced areas see all dogs outside as a potential predator. This is the first time we have had an incident with one of them attacking another dog and having any injuries.

For the last three+ years we have put tremendous time and energy into servicing over 500 acres in the area to provide fire hazard reduction around the Del Sur and Santaluz communities. This year we decided to cover the gap between our Del Sur scope of work and the access road behind Auberge at no additional cost as an offering to those neighbors, as many of the individuals in the 55+ community expressed concern about this area and their desires to reduce the fire hazard abutting their homes.When this incident occurred all perimeter fencing was up and charged. Unfortunately though in that new expanded area there was an unknown culvert with a pipe under the road that led outside of the fences that our guardian dogs found before we could, as it was covered in years of brush.

We are here to be of service, and are one of the few groups of modern day shepherds that have taken on the risk, challenge and stress that comes with tending to the wild urban interface. When there has been property damage as a result of our actions we have done our best to reasonably rectify the situation. We continue to learn and refine as we steward the land and provide a critical service for the health of the community. We are committed to preventing harm and proactively addressing issues as they arise. 

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

In Peace,
Matthew
a good shepherd