by
Mama Butterfly 
A few months ago new neighbors moved into the house next door. They have three children ranging in age from 6-13ish, I would guess. They're really nice, although we haven't gotten to know them too well yet. The neighbors themselves aren't the problem, though - their pets are. When they moved in, they brought two cats (which are cute enough in their own right) and a medium sized dog. A few weeks ago they inherited a Rottweiler as well. Again, no problem with any of the animals, except for this -- they let them run free all of the time.
The cats have been using our flower beds as litter boxes. I've found them in our garage. They come onto our deck and up to our back door which is right at our dining room -- they cry to be let in, etc. That all was kind irritating, but I just let it go thinking it wasn't a big deal.
About 3 days ago my husband was out mowing when the Rottweiler came running over and started jumping up all over him in a playful manner. The dog didn't have a collar on, so there wasn't much he could do to get him down. He went over and mentioned something to the 13-year-old boy, who was out with the dog, and later said something to the parents. Essentially, he explained that we have two small children who enjoy playing outside, and we're concerned that the dog will knock over the kids. I doubt they'd purposely hurt them, but a Rottweiler knocking my son over on a sidewalk could be damaging enough, even if it was just trying to play. The neighbors were super kind and gracious about it, and said they were working on getting a leash for him.
This morning it was beautiful outside and R asked to play in the backyard. I was in the middle of doing something in the house, so I told him he could play with his cars on the deck until I was able to come out with him; we could go down to the yard together then. Our backyard is fenced in and there is a gate on either side of our house. I was in the dining room and R kept talking about "my friend, the doggie". I thought he was just playing until I glanced outside and saw that the other dog was standing in our backyard. Apparently he had jumped up against the gate and it had swung open.
I told R to come inside just as the dog ran up the stairs and onto our deck. It stood there looking into my house for about 30 minutes. The neighbors never came outside. I am assuming they were at home, but I don't know. I finally decided to go and tell them that the dog was in our yard. I went out the front door and the dog came running around the house and started jumping all over me and the kids. I picked up both kids and just went back into my house. The dog eventually went back home and I think he's tied up now.
I don't want to be the annoying neighbor that keeps complaining about their animals, but it's starting to get really frustrating. In our town, it's illegal to let your animals run free when they're not on your property, but I don't want to just call the police on them... it's not really the best way to foster the neighborly relationship! I also don't want my kids getting hurt by their dogs, which I don't think would actually happen, but might, even if non-intentionally. So what do I do? Talk to them again? Call the police? Let it go for a bit longer and see if they eventually figure it out?
Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors? Have you ever had to talk to a neighbor about an annoying habit?
Comments (45)
Wow, that's a tough position. It is definitely no fun to be the one that's constantly harping on keeping your neighbor's property in line, but honestly, it IS their responsibility. If they need reminders, then so be it. It is your children's safety at hand here, not your relationship with your neighbors.
They don't figure it out. I'm sorry to say, once an inconsiderate @$$hat of a neighbor, always inconsiderate. We had a similar problem at the house that my ex-husband owned...if not slightly worse; the dogs would jump over the chainlink fence and had a history of biting. After months upon months of trying to talk to the lady that owned them, her shrugging and saying they just kept breaking the chains she had them tied out to. We even tried explaining to her that we had sprayed pesticides (after I was bitten by a necrotizing spider) in the backyard and were concerned about her dogs getting on to our grass before it dried; as per the labels directions. Notta. We finally caved and started calling A/S everytime. It still took 6 months for her to get a grasp on the fact that she needed to do something and bought a stronger chain.
Another neighbor at that same house had an outside cat that thought my bird feeder was a buffet and my car it's own personal door mat.
I took down my feeders and gave up on washing my car...it's a cat, there's not much else you can do so long as they're roaming outside. And it was just annoying; not dangerous like the dogs at least. The neighbors that moved in after us didn't feel the same; they out-right threatened to poison the cat if it wouldn't stay off of their cars. Only then did other neighbor start keeping the cat indoors.
Thankfully, here we've just had one neighbor's pomerian wonder into our yard once. They came and collected him shortly after and I haven't see him out since...that was weeks ago. Another neighbor keeps an outdoor avary of parakeets, but they're always caged and our parakeet likes to "talk" to them.
Even if the dogs don't knock your children over, their paws are dirty and scratches could easily get infected. Not to mention, I just don't want someone else's smelly dog jumping on me or mine. I'd be adding animal services to speed dial. It's not worth risking your children's health just so that they don't get offended when they're in the wrong to start with.
I have many animals but we keep them contained! Part of being a pet owner is being responsible, if they are not then you should take it to the proper authorities.
I really hate to say that. We've had really awful neighbors that have left passive aggressive notes and called our landlord, etc. We keep them in our backyard, only let two out at a time, and keep them indoors as much as possible.
Thus it makes it so hard for me to say "Call the authorities!" However, sometimes, that may be what you need to do. :(
I would talk to them one more time and let them know that you will call the police/pound on their dogs if they are running around again. It is definitely a tough call. Sadly our county is NOT big on our leash laws, even though we have them.
We just moved into this rental back in June and we had no intentions on being horrible neighbors and I even walked over there once to ask for some help moving our stuff in. My husband needed help moving our tv in (all 400 pounds of it) and needless to say me and my friend couldn't help him much. Well our neighbors were hitting on me more than trying to help. They were young guys (around 25 or so) and looked like they could have helped. When I finally said that MY husband needed help, they just kind of pushed it off saying they would send someone over. Needless to say, our neighbors were not very friendly. They have a ton of animals that run loose as well -- and they are NOT friendly. I have called the police on them once and they said they gave them a warning and the next time I would have to press charges and take them to court. What? I was so flabbergasted by that. I was like, so if I don't want to do that, you guys won't do anything until these dogs HURT my son? And their answer was basically yes. I am so glad that this is a rental... and I do not let my son play out in the yard unless I have my FULL attention on him. It is just sad how our animal control force works. I had called them again a few weeks back and asked them about new dogs I have seen running around and they said they would come out with a trap -- and I have yet to see them come out here. I am going to have to call them again on Monday and if they decide to joke around with me again... I'll catch the dogs myself and take them to the pound -- and there is at least five dogs -- and five cats that get into our trash. It is annoying/frustrating.
Now that I've written a novel, haha, I think I'll go. I hope it all works out for you!
Our neighbors have at least one cat and dog who roam out of their yard into ours. On one occasion I found the cat killing birds in my back yard - don't really want my children encountering that while playing outside! The dog uses our yard to use the restroom - we don't have animals - I shouldn't have to tell my children to watch where they step in our yard! It's really frustrating..........
I've never met my neighbors. If they had animals running around like that, I would call animal control.
Last winter, my daughter and I were out enjoying the first real snowfall of the year. My jerk neighbor's dog came over, as usual and started jumping. This dog nipped my daughter in the face. We called the dog warden--there was no question. In the 2 years he has lived next to us, he has had a total of 5 dogs. He has let them all run lose. The first, and sweetest was a golden lab. She disappeared when the wife left him, along with the St. Bernard which used to park itself on my deck. Then came DD, or d*&n dog. Then, there was this little annoying dog that came back when the wife returned. I had to remove that dog from my presence with my foot because it was jumping up in my daughter's face and scared her. And a few weeks ago, there was a puppy but he has since disappeared. I think he ran away because my neighbor lets them run loose. As for your neighbor, tell them they have to keep their animal contained because it's a law. And, if you see them in your yard, call the dog warden. It only takes a time or two to retrieve your dog from the pound and pay the fine. Then you start getting smart.
@lilwetduckie - I think you should complain to your alderman or city council. That is a major problem that animal control must address.
Call Animal Control. It's anonymous, and it should scare them into taking better care of their pets. Any animal without proper identification (let alone a dog not wearing a license, rabies tag, etc.) can be taken. They should learn the lesson then, and it's a bad way to learn it, but it's a good way for them to learn it without making them hate you.
You've complained, you've been nice, now call Animal Control, the SPCA, or whoever you have to call to report these critters loose and unattended. You have every right to be concerned, because you are a parent protecting your children. It may be the only thing that forces these folks to snap to it and rein in their animals.Â
I would tell them that it's illegal to let their animals run loose, and that you'd hate to see them taken by animal control (in the most concerned, caring manner possible). If that doesn't get through to them, call animal control yourself. It's not worth it to have your kids hurt by an animal on the loose.
Personally, I don't get along with our neighbors. They're loud and inconsiderate. I can't wait to move and get away from them. I have no patience or respect for neighbors who can't be courteous of others.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no matter how many times you tell them, your neighbors will never get it under control. When our newest neighbors moved in they swore that their half wolf half malamute would never jump the fence and it did and was in my friends' yard staring them down when they got out of their car. The neighbor also informed us, after my friend's cat went missing, that the dog did not like small children or animals. We both have small children and my friend had two outside cats. We've had to call animal control on them at least twice because of Kelly (the dog) being out of her yard. We were nice the first couple of times and knocked on their door and told them, but I can't always guarantee that she won't jump the fence and get into my yard before I have a chance to get inside with my son, so I had to start calling the police. My point is this, you never know when a dog will bite. I was bitten in the face by a dog I knew without any warning at all. Dogs are unpredictable and it may just take you calling animal control a few times for your neighbors to either get it or lose their dogs.
This is tough, but you'll have to do what's best for your children. I am a mature adult male in his late 30's and was a victim of a dog bite from a neighbor's German Shepherd who was let run outside of dog's lawn. Â Man, that was painful for even an adult. Dogs are unpredictable, so even if its not building neighborly relationships, you maybe forced for the safety of your family to call the dog enforcement officer for a visit before your children are bitten. Â Also your children should be taught not to approach a dog unless its owners are around and say its safe, and the dog is properly restrained.
You may want to look and see if your state has a dangerous dog law on its books too. You may also want to retain an attorney and just turn this over to him or her to research and make an legal recommendation on what can be done for the safety of your children. Â Hope this helps your family.
Where I live you can call animal control. I would call first of all to find out all the laws regarding dogs and cats. In some areas, it is also illegal to let cats run loose. If you don't want to call, maybe they have a website where you can look up and print the info. Then in a neighborly fashion, give them the information. If that doesn't work then I would report it. We have a neighbor who has let his dog pee on our dogwood tree. My husband talked to him and it didn't happen again. He does let his dog outside without a leash, but the dog does not roam. It is still a danger, but he has been reported, fined by the city and our home owners association because of other people complaining, but he still does what he wants.
You may have to call animal control to report them, EVERY TIME, so that it hits their pocketbook hard, for them to get the message.
I hope you get it worked out. It is miserable to live next door to "bad" neighbors.
Well we only have one annoying neighbor. But not cause of pets. Its cause you can hear screaming and yelling in the middle of night and day. Also they're the type of neighbors that ask to borrow a ladder and don't return it for a year and a half even tho we ask for it (true story)
Well what I would do (and this only from watching a lot of court shows) is making sure all your fences are good and secure. You cant have anything that can be opened easily.
After that you cant really do anything but repeat to your neighbors that the dogs can not go into your yard.
Obviously the neighbors are trying. They did tie up their dog. But really, I have no idea what else you can do. It is kinda silly to call the cops on the dog entering your yard (they have kids so obviously the dog is friendly)
They are trying, so just bear it for a little while.
The reason I talked about the fence part was because if anything did ever happen to your kids it could be dismissed in court because your fence was messed up or something.
everyone here is talking about what assholes and how inconsiderate the neighbors are... but honestly I dont see them that way.They tied up the dog and from what I see you havent really complained to them about the cats.....
I would tell them again one more time and warn them that next time you will call Animal Control. It's not your responsibility to babysit your neighbor's animals. They shouldn't be on your property.
My first apartment was a house turned apartment building. My boyfriend and I lived there for about a year and loved it. The next year a bunch of boys moved into the downstairs apartments. They would use the fire escape to walk between the two downstairs apartments which went right through our apartment. They would get drunk and bust into our livingroom, and even walked in on me once while I was in the shower. My boyfriend and I asked them several times to stay out of the fire escape and out of our apartment, but they told us to "F*ck off!" We complained to the landlord, and she didn't do anything. They got wind of us complaining and stepped it up, shouting harrasing things at me, throwing things at us (one even threw his crutch at me!) and stealing and vandalizing our property. We called the police, and all they did was issue them warnings. We basically HAD to move out. I was terrified that they were going to get really pissed off and drunk and rape or beat me while my boyfriend was gone like they had threatened. I used to lock myself in the bedroom with my cell phone ready to dial 911 the entire time he was gone. The best part is that our landlord still made us pay the fine to get out of the lease AND find new tennants to replace us. The whole situation was really horrible, and I think we're really lucky that we got out of there without getting seriously injured.
i would definitely recommend calling animal control. they obviously haven't learned to control their animals by now, they won't learn unless they're forced to. and it's not your responsibility to try to teach them. if they ask you if you were the one that called, you should be honest & tell them exactly why you did it. some people just don't have any common sense or any common courtesy. don't risk you kids health on this. call animal control.
I would explain the situation to them one more time and even go so far to say that you WILL call Animal Control or the Police if it is not taken care of. I agree that it is a potentially dangerous situation, but I also agree that calling the authorities can cause tension that you may not want with neighbors. That's why I would warn them that you're going to call the authorities.
you don't want your kids to get hurt, something they know is a possibility, however have not changed their neglectful habits.
you say the dog is really friendly, right?
well, the next time the dog, or cats for that matter, show up at your house, let them in, then call animal control.
i only say to let them in because where i live animal control doesn't come out if the animal is not contained, & i don't know if it's the same where you are.
you told your neighbors you don't want the dog hurting your kids or the cats your plants, & from what i understand they haven't changed.
you say it's illegal for them to be doing this.
not only do you utterly have the option of calling control, but it doesn't seem you have any options left.
They are being irresponsible pet owners - they need to get a secure fence or keep them inside and take them for walks on a leash. Â It's not humane to keep dogs tied up all the time and it's ridiculous to let them go into other people's yards! Â If you don't call animal control probably someone else will - especially if a Rottie is roaming around, they are sweet dogs but huge and intimidating and would scare a lot of people. Â I think it's normal if you live in the country on a lot of acreage to let your pets roam free but that's crazy in a neighborhood. Â But I hate confrontation so I don't know how much it would take before I would actually do something about it - but anyway, good luck, I hope it works out for everyone. Â Neighbor problems are so awkward.
Well, the people should have already had a leash and a collar on it. And if it doesn't, you should call animal control and they will enforce the law.
well, i guess all u have to do is tell them. better tell them earlier! =D
@Punk_Rock_Mommy@xanga - Yes I know it is a problem, but our county is just not all that big on it. I have talked to several people who have complained to many big people in our town, but supposedly our animal control have more important things to do and do not consider a dog running loose a problem unless he attacks another animal or person.
I think after awhile, if your neighbors don't get the message about keeping their pets fenced in, take the pets to the pound. It's harsh but they really need to get in line.