Suffering the ijits.........

[zivagirl]

Our acreage is in the county although our back property line butts up to city land. Despite the fact that there aren't any leash laws here, it has always been understood that we are responsible for our pets and respect the property of others.

Neighbors across the street, also county property, don't appear to live by the same rules. Twice now, their dog has gotten into our trash and drug it around several yards.

Today, as we were coming home from a walk in the park, there's that dog again, sniffing around our pond, chewing on trash in our ditch that clearly came from their driveway.

I put the Jeep in reverse until I was directly between their house and their dog (who was still on my property). THIS is when the owner came out with his chin jutted out. When I kindly let him know how things sort of work around these parts, he kindly told me that since he lives on county property, he is free to let their dog out their front door to do her business. "And don't worry, it's a girl so your dog won't get pregnant or anything".

Their bird dog, on the other hand, is on a chain when it's out.

So, I tried a more straight forward approach. "We don't want your dog on our property."

"So, call animal control."

I am spitting nails.

[Nigel]

Oh man you got one of those kind of neighbors. I'm guessing they are new? Or the dog is?

[Mary Beth]

Well, so much for "good neighbors". That is nerve. Hope they move.

[RowdyDogs]

I feel your pain. I always assume that the first time, it is an honest mistake...I know my dogs have gotten out before. The second time, I'll tell people--again, I've been in the position of not knowing my dog was jumping a fence. (young and dumb then LOL) So I always give the benefit of the doubt.

But that is ridiculous. Honestly, I'd call their bluff and call AC. It's unfortunate that the dogs are often the ones in a bad position, but those kind of jerks usually need some direct personal consequences before they'll react.

One humorous response I heard of was coating the dog in nontoxic wet paint and then sending it home. A few neon green or hot pink splotches on the porch changes some peoples' minds pretty quick. No personal experience there, though!

[doggiedad]

video and call animal control.

[zivagirl]

That's just it - living out in the county, we don't have AC.

[middleofnowhere]

Boy, I can relate! There are a couple of people in my neighborhood that I used to have shouting matches with at night over loose dogs. It's just flat out annoying.

Consider this: Call his bluff. Talk with animal control, see if you need to have possession of the dog before they will come get him so you know what you need to do.
For your trash, try to find a way to secure it because other animals might get into it and be a bigger problem.

[zivagirl]

Originally Posted by RowdyDogs

I feel your pain. I always assume that the first time, it is an honest mistake...I know my dogs have gotten out before. The second time, I'll tell people--again, I've been in the position of not knowing my dog was jumping a fence. (young and dumb then LOL) So I always give the benefit of the doubt.

But that is ridiculous. Honestly, I'd call their bluff and call AC. It's unfortunate that the dogs are often the ones in a bad position, but those kind of jerks usually need some direct personal consequences before they'll react.

One humorous response I heard of was coating the dog in nontoxic wet paint and then sending it home. A few neon green or hot pink splotches on the porch changes some peoples' minds pretty quick. No personal experience there, though!

Hubby wants to spray or with skunk smell or something equally vile.

[zivagirl]

Originally Posted by Nigel

Oh man you got one of those kind of neighbors. I'm guessing they are new? Or the dog is?

The whole lot of them are new! Already don't like them

[RowdyDogs]

Originally Posted by zivagirl

That's just it - living out in the county, we don't have AC.

Sorry, I just assumed you did from what you posted. I've also BTDT.

Since you don't have AC, I'd go ahead and call your local sheriff and figure out what your options are. When I lived in areas without AC, the sheriff basically acted as such, and could and would cite owners with troublesome dogs. A $500 ticket might change their mind. Unlikely maybe but worth a try.

But that's also not always the case. I figure if dogs are wandering all the time and there's no animal control and no authorities regulating them, well, they're fair game. It takes a lot to push me over the edge but if a dog is a constant nuisance (and if it is a nuisance, its life is literally in danger), and the owners don't care, well...if the dog "disappears" and winds up in a good home in the next city over, well, who is going to complain?

edit: LOL skunk smell...if the number of times I have seen the same dogs skunked is any indication, I think that will be more unpleasant for you than for the dog.