Any options, dog attack?

[awfarmington]

I hope this is the correct category. We have neighbors from hell, will not get into it the past ten years of living next to them, but they are very bad people. The husband shot his beagle out hunting because it was a bad hunter. Shot their cat because it had cancer, and they didnt want to pay to put it down, did call the dog pound when their dog ran away (she was in heat and allowed to roam), because it didnt have tags and she didnt want to get a fine for it. So they just wrote her off. They now have two intact male labs, that are aggresive. EVERYDAY they are in our yard, peeing on my plants over and over till they are brown and dead. Peeing on our tires, and whatever else. We have called the dog warden, all they do is send letters which get ignored. Most recently, one of them bit our EM ON OUR PROPERTY, right by the front porch. Sadie is a baby, and not an outside kid of gal lol. She will go just off the porch, do her business and come right back into the house. Although recently, their dogs were right by our house, surprised Sadie, and in seconds she was bit and bleeding. The husband called his dogs, and put them in the garage. No Im sorry, is the dog okay, nothing. I took pics, called the dog warden, and had the vet check her out. It turned out to be a small puncture, but still drew blood, so I assumed the dog warden would take the dog to keep it for ten days in case it has rabies, since ut has no shots. He said no, he will tell the owner to keep the dog put away for a while and watch it for signs. They had the dog running outside the very next day. He said the most he can do is give them a fine for the dogs not having tags. But nothing else since he has no proof it was their dog, my word and past calls abouyt their dogs is not enough! Since then, nothing has changed. The dogs are still allowed to roam. My husband has very good insurance, which including free attorney services. Before I take it that far, does anyone have any advice on what I can do legally on my own? Talking to the neighbors is not an option, they are the definition of evil

 

[chuckorlando]

Put up a fence. Maybe even look into some deer repelents like a motion detected sprinkler or sound.

 

[mia]

Can you put up a fence? Even a cheap one???

 

[awfarmington]

BTW, I now look out the side n front windows before bringing the dogs out, and if their dogs are out, I wait until they are not. One of the dogs has no fear and will growl at me or my husband when we try and shoo it away.

 

[awfarmington]

We fenced in the back yard. The called and reported us to zoning for that one. Due to some work being done on the back porch, the dogs have to use the front. Right now a lot of our money has been going into sadie with vet bills, meds, and a ton of meat and we are a one income family. So there is really no extra for a fence since the yard is so large. We keep our dogs in our yard and they arent even aggressive. All I want is for them to do the same and the dog warden to enforce it. Is there a point that the dog warden can confiscate a dog if the owners refuse to obey the leash law? I cant even let my kids walk passed their house anymore to go to their friends house, since the dogs will charge them. Due to them harassing us, we thought about a cease and desist letter from an attorney but I dont know if that would include dogs

---------- Post added at 11:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:51 PM ----------

BTW, I now look out the side n front windows before bringing the dogs out, and if their dogs are out, I wait until they are not. One of the dogs has no fear and will growl at me or my husband when we try and shoo it away.

 

[NeoBull]

Could you catch the dogs every time they come on your property and take them to animal control? At least they'd have to go get them and pay big fines... Maybe they wouldn't even go get them like the last dog? Have you tried calling the police? If you feel like the dogs are a danger to you children I'd think the police would come out?

 

[chuckorlando]

They would have been taken the dogs here, let alone one that bites. Ay a min that dog would have been quarantined. Short of getting a lawyar involved the cheapest option might be a 50ft rool of chicken wire, Then just rope of a small section by the ateps for your dog

 

[dsaw247]

I would also consider calling the police, as suggested by NeoBull. We have a lot of issues with our neighbors and their dogs as well. Animal control in my county has few workers and they never answer the phone. We started calling in non-emergency calls to the police. They were much more helpful and they were able to contact animal control immediately.

 

[Bentley]

I would call the police saying you are concerned about your family's safety and wellbeing. I would also write to the dog warden formally stating your concerns and requesting a response explaining their position on the situation and what steps they have taken to protect your family and pet. Formal letters can induce a fear of legal fees in some beaurocrats and maybe this might stir the dog warden into doing something useful.

 

[awfarmington]

We did call the police the first time the dogs charged. They said there had been so many cuts that they dont have enough man power for 'minor' complaints and to call the dog warden since that is who handles those kinds of things. We are in a small town without our own police, the sherrif is supposed to patrol out here, but rarely see them. I'll try the letter route, and see if that gets me anywhere. They are trying to give me the impression that they can't really do much, beyond sending letters and fining them for no tags. I have the feeling they are trying to feed me a line of bull, but really have no idea. I'm not exactly a wordsmith, and me talking to them has done so good thus far. So having an attorney write a letter on my behalf would probably be taken more serious.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Call the police and AC EVERY TIME you see those dogs on your property. Get pictures or better yet videos, pretty soon they will get tired of your and get off their bums and do something.

And authority wonders why citizens take matters into their own hands..........

 

[awfarmington]

I really want one of those security camereras that you hook up to your dvr. That way I would have proof everytime they came over, even when we are sleeping or not home. Unfortunately budget doesn't allow it, currently. Hopefully in a month or two, though. I guess I have to be the squeaky wheel till they take it more serious.

---------- Post added at 02:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:04 PM ----------

Ive been trying to think of ways to make it unpleasant for the owners without harming the dogs. Like those sticky rat traps. But the chances of their dogs actually stepping on them is prolly slim.

 

[awfarmington]

Ive been trying to think of ways to make it unpleasant for the owners without harming the dogs. Like those sticky rat traps. But the chances of their dogs actually stepping on them is prolly slim.

 

[Tunride]

Get pictures of the neighbor letting dogs in or out, feeding, petting, dogs on their porch, etc to prove ownership. After all the complaints and some type of proof of ownership they ought to do something. See about borrowing traps, like a cat trap or set a crate up with food so you can pull rope and catch the darn thing, then haul it off to the pound! Check local laws by calling local court house? If the law is on the books you can get the lazy, no accounts to do something by going over their heads to their boss (mayor, town council, state police?) These dogs are a danger to other people and animals too! Check with neighbors to see if anyone else is having problems with the dogs and ban together. Get an air horn, when you see the dogs on your property blow the horn at them to chase them off. I would put up a cheap tempory fence to let your dog out. Keep a record of every time you have trouble with the dogs in your yard, growling, etc. and any action you take, if you make a call to AC. Sorry you are having so many problems with neighbors, been there, done that. Most important is check laws, get proof and protect yourselves!

 

[OdeMX]

Throw some red dried pepper powder around your plants or by the areas they usually trespass to your house my mom does that in her front yard with excellent results.

My friend uses this http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000071NUS/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1332701243&sr=8-3.

I, just shot my neighbor doves and pitbull with a small .177 rifle, gave the dead doves to Thor and the pitbull doesn't even get close to my door now.

 

[Ghostsword]

I am from Portugal so the rules are a bit different there.

We had an issue with nuisance dogs, it mauled one of my moms cocker spaniel. Did not kill the cocker but it was on a bad mess, large vet bill.

The owners of the three mongrels did't care, told us to get a proper dog.

We put a fence, chicken wire, and set up a trap, the ones for foxes. The dogs were caught and hauled to the dog pound.

Thee days on the dog pound the dogs will be put down if they do not have an owner to claim them.

These morons just ignored the dogs on the pound, and got two more puppies. Same issue, but this time we told them that the traps would stay allways up.

They never came to our property again.

Sadly for them they messed up with the other neighbor, killed their jack russell. The guy was a hunter and came out with a hunting shotgun and shot the dogs and their car.


___________________________
Luis
@ghostsword

 

[awfarmington]

Thank you for all the ideas! Its just so frustrating that we take care of our dogs, our yard, and WE have to go through all this because THEY have no respect for anyone.

 

[Ghostsword]

I would say get a trap and involve the police. Also keep a diary of what happens, video it if possible and get the police involved. Call them, and even if they do not come there will be a record.

Play the game and stay cool, no need for confrontations.


___________________________
Luis
@ghostsword

 

[Jeri]

Wow! And I thought I had it bad as the people across the street from me don't bother containing their little dog! It isn't mean or anything,,it just wants to play with my dogs,,but it causes my dogs to bark their heads off & then the other neighbor calls AC on me for nuisance barking!

But I'll take my neighbor issues over yours any day! Nothing like being terrorized in your own yard! Best of luck to you!!

 

[Marrowshard]

Out where I live, any dog - tags or not - that's not either in its owner's control or fenced is considered "at large". "At large" dogs are subject to being picked up by whoever, whenever, and the owners fined. That being said, we're also outside city limits so firearms are usable. We have a neighbor kitty-corner behind us whose DA black Lab was forever tromping through our yard like he owned the place. Caught him 10 feet from the house at the bird feeders, digging in our fire pit for burnt bones, pooping in the front yard, etc. Hubby had enough, took the .22 out and fired two warning shots. That Lab took off like a bat out of Hell and the closest he's come since then is the far ditch along the pasture.
The way the laws work here, if you're threatened by a dog at large you can more or less defend yourself as you see fit. There are coyotes out here and anything dog-shaped that harasses people or pets or livestock is a dead animal. I would hope it doesn't come to that in your case, but it may pay to be up on the rules in your area. As backwater as our town is (pop. 1100), there's still a rickety website that lays out the basic ordinances and gives numbers who to contact.
Of course, the old customer-service procedure might work too. If the cops brush you off, go a level up. And another. Someone, somewhere, has a boss who's going to come down like a ton of bricks if they're caught not doing their job. Budget cuts are all over the place, but that doesn't mean you have to suffer a dangerous animal attacking you in your yard.

~Marrow