oldschoolvdub wrote:I've always felt the same way, but we can't put our dogs food out there without them being around it and pooping all over in it. And I don't want a chance at him getting sick because of it.
Also those darn birds dive bomb anyone in the back yard... Literally swooping at us and the dog... Kinda funny but sometimes, but it makes the little ones scared...
Are you sure those are swallows? Swallows eat exclusively on the wing while flying, they do not land. In my experience they do not come very near houses or people.
There are birds that behave as you describe, starlings and grackles are famous for liking dry dog and cat food and being both messy and bold.
Here's a picture of a swallow, but you will likely never see one this close up, usually you only see them fairly high up silhouetted against the sky:
https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/swallow-info.htm