Dogs and Neighbor Problems

[HendricksHearth]

I am having a bit of a dog problem with the neighbors and am hoping someone has some information or advice to help fix it.

So, we have lived here for several years with the same dogs, same neighbors, same neighbors' dogs- no problem. Or rather, there were problems, but we didn't make a big deal out of it. The immediate neighbor lets their dogs run loose and they bark and growl at people, animals, each other, etc. They also go to the bathroom on other people's lawns, "herd" cars, make general nuisances of themselves. The immediate neighbors barely care for them- sometimes they do not have food or water and they have told me up front that they have never been to a vet. Another set of neighbors has asked us twice to call animal control on them, but we are sure the dogs will be put down immediately if they are taken in and the family has children that would be devastated- we feel it isn't the kids or the dogs fault that the adults are not responsible.

Anyway, a few months ago, a new neighbor moved in. They apparently marched right over to our current neighbors and yelled at them to keep the dogs off their property because they were chasing their child or they would handle "the problem" themselves. My current neighbor came over and complained to us that the new neighbors never even said hello and their dogs wouldn't hurt a fly, how dare they, blah blah. I listened and then went my own way, because I really didn't have anything to say about it- I feel they are both being jerks. If they have a problem, they need to figure it out like adults, which goes back to the whole responsibility issue.

So, I became involved in their heated issues tonight when I went outside to take care of the rabbits. They didn't know I was there and they started yelling at each other like usual about the current neighbor's dogs. Next thing I know, they are semi-flirting, laughing, having the whole uncomfortable "what were we fighting about again?" kind of thing. Then the current neighbor starts blaming MY dogs on THEIR dogs problems to the new neighbor. How did my dogs get involved in this soap opera, you ask?

Well, she said that my dogs run and bark along the fence sometimes, which just makes her dogs crazy, so they act up, bark back, and generally run amuck. Then I have girl dogs and she has a boy dog that wants to breed with my dogs, so then he is also wild with sexual interest (both my girl dogs are fixed...) apparently and that makes him chase the kids. Also, I have a boy dog, and that upsets her boy dog apparently so he feels very territorial. Finally, because my dogs are out a lot, apparently her dogs can't run loose as much as she likes AND to top it all off, she says that all the barking the new neighbor hears is MY dogs and not HER dogs at all! Next thing I know the new neighbor is agreeing with her and HE starts saying things like, "If those dogs keep that up, I am going to go over there and take care of it!"

Just for the record, ALL THREE of my dogs are inside dogs- as in they sleep inside, they eat inside, they live inside. I had to fence in my yard because of their dogs, but I still have to let them out to relieve themselves and it would be nice if they could get some exercise on occasion. In the morning I let them out at 6:15 and they are inside by 6:30, sometimes they bark during those minutes, but only because their dogs are running along the fence or their kid is standing at the fence antagonizing the dogs while waiting for the bus, or one of their chained dogs is doing crazy because she is hungry or wanting attention. When it is is calm and quiet out, my dogs never bark- there has to be something going on with the neighbors to make my dogs bark. If I hear them barking excessively, I bring them in or poke my head out and tell them to stop and they do. When I get home at night around 5:30, I let them out again and this time I leave them out for MAYBE 30 minutes to run and get all of their energy out. Again, they will only bark if my neighbors are messing with them via kids, dogs, whatever. I CAUGHT their son taunting my dogs with a friend of his yesterday when they started barking wildly and some relative pulled in the driveway and told them that they were never to do that again. Right before bed, I let them out to pee. That's pretty much it. I play with them in the yard more on the weekends during the day and they usually get to run around while I am gardening and such, but they are supervised then and not barking or bothering anyone. They are in my OWN FENCED IN YARD for crying out loud!

So, I have no idea how this turned into what it did, but I am very concerned. My husband and I tend to think they were just talking big, but it is still scary to think that someone might try to hurt your dogs or call the authorities to blame you for something that isn't happening or if it is, is only happening BECAUSE of the people that are complaining. Quite frankly, I find it appalling that someone that doesen't take care of their dogs, lets them run loose, chase kids and cars, bark all the time could even point the finger!

By the way, her dogs have been barking THE ENTIRE time I have been typing this.

So, what do I do? Anything? Go talk to both neighbors? Call and file a report with animal control about what happened just in case? Go with my other neighbors that have been begging and report their dogs in a preemptive strike? Change my chain link fencing to privacy?

Just for the record, I feel like I can never have a moments peace in my own yard these days. As soon as the housing market picks back up, I am GONE.

Thank you,

Lauren

[james dilley]

Possible solution, do uou have anybody that can dig sit??? Your dogs at their place for say A week??????????? That way next time the mutts go off call the other party over ,And say can't be my dogs. And show them yous are visiting friends out of town..

[Joshie]

Call the county and ask what the law is about barking. Then the next time you hear the dogs barking write down the time they started barking and call the police. If the dogs are still barking at that time the police will give them a ticket. If they are not still barking then you need to be willing to sign the ticket yourself.

If you don't sign up for yourself these neighbors will trample you.

[Michgranny]

Wow! That is difficult to understand. To much going on.

I would not cause any trouble or call any authority. I would keep my dogs inside as much as possible for now. When they need to go out to potty go with them.

I would ignore those type of people and spend the time working with my own dogs.

You are in a very tough situation, I wish you luck!

[Pearl B]

Sounds like the new neighbor is a big talker, & the other neighbor is a backstabber.

I might be inclined to stay out of it,let them call who ever they want.

Once animal control or LEO's figure out your dogs are not the problem & are in their own fenced yard, they will think the other 2 neighbors are kooks.

After that, the next time the neighbors dogs bark endlessly & start going crazy, I would call animal control every-time.

If new neighbor comes over & asks, I would explain the situation to him,once, & then have nothing to do with him.

Let the 2 of them fight it out.

If your dogs are inside that much, I wouldn't worry about them getting hurt. Big Talker would have to breach the fence & break-in to the house to get to them.

Which would garner him some rather seriuos charges that he is probably well aware of, hence,the big talk & bluff.

[james dilley]

How can I say this, I had something like this 12 years ago, I sent my dogs to ms. from ohio. And the next sunday at church my sil was told my dogs were raising A fuss ALL nite long. My dogs had been gone 4 days by then(coon hounds) My sister in law told the lady yapping about them she must have the hearing of Supergirl. As the dogs were about 800 miles away.... Thats why I mentioned about A dogs vacation..

[farmmom]

The barking and lack of care can definitely be a problem, but my biggest concern would be the fact that they have, as you stated, never been to a vet. What is the status of Rabies vaccinations!? Should you or anybody else be bit by the dogs the ramifications are huge!! Also, they could, and probably are carrying parasites that can be picked up by other animals and humans. I would be sure to keep anyone and any animal I cared about away from them!

[wintrrwolf]

Originally Posted by farmmom

Also, they could, and probably are carrying parasites that can be picked up by other animals and humans. I would be sure to keep anyone and any animal I cared about away from them!

These are your most common parasites that once they are in your yard you may never get them out, not excluding Parvo and Distemper! Even a vaccinated animal can get these diseases the vaccine is not 100%. A child can easily pickup roundworms from playing outside in an infected area and since humans are not a natural host for these parasites the worms get lost, a child lost an eye from this kind of worm. This is very serious. I would defiantly find out what the county law and go from there.

I had a similar problem, neighbor lived 1 mile away though so didn't deal with barking and such but their dog found its way to my home every day, had breakfast hung out, covered in ticks and flea ridden, very nice dog, noticed one day he was limping right front leg, next day left rear leg, so I took him into work and we did the 3 in one test good news he didn't have heartworms but he did have lyme disease from the ticks..I treated him at my expense, I think it was when he showed up with 2 puppies from the border collie the same ppl owned, I found him and those 2 puppies a new home. These ppl lived off a busy country road and 1 of the puppies had already been hit. Apollo is now growing old and being well cared for. Your neighbors wont learn unless you can do something that will effect them, and right now their children are learning from them how not to properly care for their pets. The sad part is the dogs, they are not being cared for now like they should be but the dogs are the ones that will pay the ultimate price. I wish you luck

[Cindy in NY]

I'm not quite sure why you have put up with this for so long. If I see a neighbor's dog running loose, I let them know that the dog can't be running loose. The next time it happens, I call dog control. If I see someone leaving a gift behind on my lawn, I ask them if they need a bag. If these dogs have not been to a vet, you have a serious situation. I don't think I could sleep at night if I was worried that one of their dog's could bite someone and I hadn't done anything.

[cowcreekgeeks]

You missed your chance when you didn't step up and call out your old neighbor for the liar she is and tell your new neighbor that nothing better happen to your fenced dogs by his hand. I would not allow myself to be bullied into feeling like a prisoner on my own land!