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  Independent Cuss
Posts: 3977
    
Location: Dearing, GA | This is mostly a vent but thoughts are appreciated.
We live in a nice neighborhood (subdivision, not in the country), and we have a nice sized fenced-in backyard. Yesterday, my dogs started going crazy from inside, and I look in the backyard and three of the neighbor's four dogs are running around my backyard. I go outside, and the neighbor is pulling two of the dogs back through a now busted fence. She didn't see the third dog, and so I put it on a leash and walked it over. I said, "Hi is this your dog?" and she just opened the door and let the dog walk in. Didn't say a word. I said, "Can I have my leash back please?" right before she shut the door, and she mumbled something and handed it to me. This was 7 am, so I went back home, changed out of my pajamas, and walked back over. I introduced myself (we just moved in in September, hadn't met these neighbors yet) and asked if she would fix the fence since her dogs busted through it. I explained one of my dogs could be aggressive, and that I have two cats that go in my backyard and I didn't know how her dogs would react to a cat, and that I didn't want anyone getting hurt. She said yes she'd fix the fence, and shut the door. No 'sorry' or 'thanks for bringing my dog back.'
I figured I would give her two or three days to fix the fence, as it was just two boards that they squeezed through. So this morning I let one of my cats out as usual. He stays outside for a large part of the day, no big deal. My dogs go crazy again, and I look out just in time to see two of her dogs treeing my cat. I walked one back over and said "Three of your dogs are in my backyard again." She just groaned, and I opened the side gate so we could easily get the other two out. One of them runs back under the fence where I see another two boards are busted. I grabbed the third and handed it to her. This time she said sorry, but I think that this needs to be the last time this happens.
I'm thinking I'll give her 24 hours, and if I see her animals in my backyard again, I'll just call animal control and tell them that dogs that aren't mine are in my backyard terrorizing my animals. I've been very lucky that my cats are still clawed and can climb trees, and that my dogs haven't been outside during one of these incidents, but this is my backyard and I shouldn't have to worry about her animals busting through the fence! I shouldn't have to supervise my animals outside in my own backyard. Is calling animal control too extreme? What would you do? |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | It's a tough situation because you don't want to have your neighbor hate you, but she's being a bad neighbor and dog owner. It is possible that she's going through something right now and fixing a fence isn't her priority. Not that it should be an excuse, but you never really know what people are going through.
If this is a shared fence, do you know how you deal with repairs as far as who is responsible for what? If you call animal control, I'm willing to bet that they would just go next door and tell your neighbor to contain her dogs and then she would continue to ignore the fence.
If you want to have a good relationship with her, you could go over and offer to help with the fence. I would refrain from any kind of threats. Since you're new neighbors, I would try to keep the peace. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | you pay your mortgage to have the luxury of having your backyard. unfortunately she is your neighbor and arguing with a neighbor nothing good ever comes from... I would say something like "this is becoming a problem, please control your dogs, I don't want to have to call animal control to keep my animals safe." If she doesn't want to control her dogs then she can worry about animal control controlling her dogs.
I would probably feel differently about the situation if she at least acted appreciative that you brought her dog back, or apologetic that her animals are terrorizing yours! I don't get why people don't control their dogs! ERG! SO FRUSTRATING! |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i would just fix the fence...............seeing as how you want to keep it neighbourly...................
m |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | sorry but if a neighbors dog is running my cat up a tree......no way in heck would I stand for that. Not to mention she can't keep her own animals in her own yard. Animal control would have already been called.
Especially since she doesn't even have the decency to be nice to you, or even apologize for that matter.....NOPE! |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | That really stinks! What a headache!
I don't think calling animal control is extreme, but I don't think it will help. She will just get mad, and likely not move any faster at getting the fence fixed.
Sounds like she needs to run a strand of hotwire along her side. I know it's above and beyond, and definitely NOT your responsibility, but I wonder what would happen if you offered to help her do it? Maybe say you could meet her on Saturday if she will have the supplies ready, you can help. Shouldn't be too hard to put up one low strand...
Again, I know that's not your job, not something you should have to do, but just an idea to actually have some resolution...
Sorry again!  |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Just fix the fence and move on. Depending on what state you are in - it's your responsibility to fence out animals that you don't want in. Run a hot fence wire, it's cheap and quick. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3977
Location: Dearing, GA | Thanks guys. I'm trying really hard not to lose my cool over this, but there are only three things I will not tolerate being abused, and my animals is one of them. I don't want to stir up trouble, but she is drowning in dogs. This portion of the fence is her responsibility to maintain anyway, and I think me spending my money on her side of the fence AND a repair that I didn't cause is just ridiculous. However, if it doesn't get repaired in a timely manner then of course I'll take care of it.
The whole situation just stinks. They are the only people in the neighborhood that didn't come by to introduce themselves when we moved in, and I didn't even know what she looked like until yesterday morning. I don't want to be un-neighborly, but she hasn't exactly extended an olive branch. |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | do you have a home owners association? |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | If it were me I would get a box of nails and a hammer and nail every board of my fence down. We live in a neighborhood and have a wood privacy fence, it needs to be fixed here and there a few times a year due to weather and temperature change.Maybe the fence was weak when you moved in and needs some work.I am sure the dogs will stop as soon as they try to push the boards and can't get in. Keep in mind you have to live next to this person so I wouldn,t create a mountain out of a mole hill, its a simple fix that a few nail can solve. If they start digging under your fence thats a different story. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3977
Location: Dearing, GA | angelica - 2014-12-04 9:30 AM If it were me I would get a box of nails and a hammer and nail every board of my fence down. We live in a neighborhood and have a wood privacy fence, it needs to be fixed here and there a few times a year due to weather and temperature change.Maybe the fence was weak when you moved in and needs some work.I am sure the dogs will stop as soon as they try to push the boards and can't get in. Keep in mind you have to live next to this person so I wouldn,t create a mountain out of a mole hill, its a simple fix that a few nail can solve. If they start digging under your fence thats a different story.
They have already started digging under the fence, which wasn't a big deal because it wasn't anywhere close to ANYTHING being able to get through, but when they busted the boards down, it was not cool. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3977
Location: Dearing, GA | hoofs_in_motion - 2014-12-04 9:30 AM do you have a home owners association?
No, and for once I wish we did because it seems as though it would be easier to handle it through an HOA. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? |
I had this happen years ago in Texas. I had a sweet little Llhasa Apso and a nice watergarden etc. the neighbors had a big Dalmation and weeds. Their dog tore boards off of the fence to get into my yard. I had to have them come get him most times as he was just completely untrained and spaztic. Luckily he never got in when my dog was out but like you they were aloof and unappreciative when I'd either bring him home or ask them to get him. He tore up landscaping and ate my dog's bed that was on my porch one day. They NEVER offered to replace anything.
I asked them to please fix the damaged fence. Several times. They said they would and never did. I started just letting their dog out my front gate into the neighborhood. I was sick of it. I got 3 quotes for fence repair showed them and they agreed to pay half. I had the fence done and no surprise they NEVER paid their half.
Point being. Your neighbors clearly don't care either. They will say they will do something and likely won't. I'd just repair the fence and make it sturdy enough to protect your animals...and until that time if the dogs get in just let the suckers out into the neighborhood. Then maybe animal control can pick them up without you being involved. It's sad as it's the owners fault not the dogs' but that will be no consolation when one of your cats is hurt or killed. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3977
Location: Dearing, GA | TrailGirl - 2014-12-04 9:34 AM I had this happen years ago in Texas. I had a sweet little Llhasa Apso and a nice watergarden etc. the neighbors had a big Dalmation and weeds. Their dog tore boards off of the fence to get into my yard. I had to have them come get him most times as he was just completely untrained and spaztic. Luckily he never got in when my dog was out but like you they were aloof and unappreciative when I'd either bring him home or ask them to get him. He tore up landscaping and ate my dog's bed that was on my porch one day. They NEVER offered to replace anything. I asked them to please fix the damaged fence. Several times. They said they would and never did. I started just letting their dog out my front gate into the neighborhood. I was sick of it. I got 3 quotes for fence repair showed them and they agreed to pay half. I had the fence done and no surprise they NEVER paid their half. Point being. Your neighbors clearly don't care either. They will say they will do something and likely won't. I'd just repair the fence and make it sturdy enough to protect your animals...and until that time if the dogs get in just let the suckers out into the neighborhood. Then maybe animal control can pick them up without you being involved. It's sad as it's the owners fault not the dogs' but that will be no consolation when one of your cats is hurt or killed.
Thanks. I think that might be my best option after thinking about it a little more.
The one thing I hate is that one of her four dogs is a tiny little pitbull puppy. I just don't have the heart to kick him out into the cove.
The other dogs that come over are a Great Dane, black Lab and some kind of blue heeler x hound mix. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| My situation was a little different, I would ride my horses by my neighbors house on a public dirt road and their dogs would crawl under fence and would chase horses and bite at their hind legs. Several warnings, animal control etc. I was told if my livestock was in danger I had a right to shoot. SInce I am a good shot, but I don't like to shoot in a neighborhood I invited a Sheriff friend of mine on a trail ride one day. He was a lot better shot than I was and took care of business. You do have a right to defend your property , especially if the cat was in danger. But I would check with local law enforcement first. That is something I refuse to tolerate. I used own a mule and he would just kill them if if they tried that type of stuff. |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | FLITASTIC - 2014-12-04 9:44 AM
My situation was a little different, I would ride my horses by my neighbors house on a public dirt road and their dogs would crawl under fence and would chase horses and bite at their hind legs. Several warnings, animal control etc. I was told if my livestock was in danger I had a right to shoot. SInce I am a good shot, but I don't like to shoot in a neighborhood I invited a Sheriff friend of mine on a trail ride one day. He was a lot better shot than I was and took care of business. You do have a right to defend your property , especially if the cat was in danger. But I would check with local law enforcement first. That is something I refuse to tolerate. I used own a mule and he would just kill them if if they tried that type of stuff.
So you went on a ride, knowing you were going to bait the dogs to shoot them? Nice.  |
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Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | I know it sucks and it's sure not fair.....but do you want to pick a fight with people you're going to be living next door to? People are crazy, there's no telling what they will escalate it into. Doesn't sound like their house is for sale..so I'd do what I could to get along. That's why I'd just fix the fence to protect my animals and move on. |
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I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Just Let Me Run - 2014-12-04 10:36 AM TrailGirl - 2014-12-04 9:34 AM I had this happen years ago in Texas. I had a sweet little Llhasa Apso and a nice watergarden etc. the neighbors had a big Dalmation and weeds. Their dog tore boards off of the fence to get into my yard. I had to have them come get him most times as he was just completely untrained and spaztic. Luckily he never got in when my dog was out but like you they were aloof and unappreciative when I'd either bring him home or ask them to get him. He tore up landscaping and ate my dog's bed that was on my porch one day. They NEVER offered to replace anything. I asked them to please fix the damaged fence. Several times. They said they would and never did. I started just letting their dog out my front gate into the neighborhood. I was sick of it. I got 3 quotes for fence repair showed them and they agreed to pay half. I had the fence done and no surprise they NEVER paid their half. Point being. Your neighbors clearly don't care either. They will say they will do something and likely won't. I'd just repair the fence and make it sturdy enough to protect your animals...and until that time if the dogs get in just let the suckers out into the neighborhood. Then maybe animal control can pick them up without you being involved. It's sad as it's the owners fault not the dogs' but that will be no consolation when one of your cats is hurt or killed. Thanks. I think that might be my best option after thinking about it a little more.
The one thing I hate is that one of her four dogs is a tiny little pitbull puppy. I just don't have the heart to kick him out into the cove.
The other dogs that come over are a Great Dane, black Lab and some kind of blue heeler x hound mix.
I expect in 1.5 years this will be a near full sized darn near wild pitbull that will just add to the typical view of pitts, "he's a mean, aggressive, unsocialized dog." which it could have been totally prevented. And he and all of his doggy brothers and sisters will be sitting in a shelter because their owner was too careless. DON'T GET DOGS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CARE FOR THEM. Why did she get a puppy when she doesn't even care enough about the current ones she has to keep them under control?
This stuff drives me nuts. I am kind of agreeing with others here, pour some concrete under the spot they've loosened up, fix the fence up tight. It might not be pretty but it will keep them out for awhile. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Gunner11 - 2014-12-04 9:48 AM
FLITASTIC - 2014-12-04 9:44 AM
My situation was a little different, I would ride my horses by my neighbors house on a public dirt road and their dogs would crawl under fence and would chase horses and bite at their hind legs. Several warnings, animal control etc. I was told if my livestock was in danger I had a right to shoot. SInce I am a good shot, but I don't like to shoot in a neighborhood I invited a Sheriff friend of mine on a trail ride one day. He was a lot better shot than I was and took care of business. You do have a right to defend your property , especially if the cat was in danger. But I would check with local law enforcement first. That is something I refuse to tolerate. I used own a mule and he would just kill them if if they tried that type of stuff.
So you went on a ride, knowing you were going to bait the dogs to shoot them? Nice.
Maybe the dogs should have been contained in the first place, especially after getting animal control involved and giving the owners several warnings. |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | barrelracr131 - 2014-12-04 9:55 AM
Gunner11 - 2014-12-04 9:48 AM
FLITASTIC - 2014-12-04 9:44 AM
My situation was a little different, I would ride my horses by my neighbors house on a public dirt road and their dogs would crawl under fence and would chase horses and bite at their hind legs. Several warnings, animal control etc. I was told if my livestock was in danger I had a right to shoot. SInce I am a good shot, but I don't like to shoot in a neighborhood I invited a Sheriff friend of mine on a trail ride one day. He was a lot better shot than I was and took care of business. You do have a right to defend your property , especially if the cat was in danger. But I would check with local law enforcement first. That is something I refuse to tolerate. I used own a mule and he would just kill them if if they tried that type of stuff.
So you went on a ride, knowing you were going to bait the dogs to shoot them? Nice.
Maybe the dogs should have been contained in the first place, especially after getting animal control involved and giving the owners several warnings.
If a dog isn't on my property, I'm not going to shoot it. I'd rather find a different place to ride. |
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