This one happens to be the Pastor of the church. How do you tell him to get rid of a chicken killing dog or keep it locked up? That's why George hit it in the head with a heavy stick. He may have to do it again, although the dog doesn't deserve to be hit by doing something dogs have evolved in doing from their ancestry. But we must do something to keep it away. As for the ticks, there are lots of Cedar Trees around the yard and in the wooded area around my home. I hear ticks thrive on cedar trees.