We have 3 dogs that we have rescued from the animal shelter. They are like family to us. The biggest is about 40lbs. All of our dogs are smaller than the other 10-15 that roam around all the time. We live in a non-confinement area (no leash law, etc) and we're out in the country. Most people slow way down for animals but our roads aren't busy. However, to keep our dogs from getting to the road or mingling with other dogs who may not be well taken care of, we tend to keep ours on a leash in our backyard, which is fenced in. However, we sometimes let our 10 yr old, 25lb dog out without a leash, and when we stay out with them we always let her out without a leash b/c she doesn't leave our yard if we're there, usually also if we're not there, but she will come to the front yard, getting out of a hole a neighbor girl put in our fence. Friday I let 2 dogs out and ran inside for just a bit. Not more than 5 minutes later I brought both dogs back in. They were on the porch and ready. (They can't get out from on the porch.) A bit later, an animal control guy shows up at my house asking if I have a big black dog. One of my neighbors complained that *MY* big black dog was barking viciously at him. The animal control guy showed up at my door with the metal rod with the slip cord leash they have for vicious animals. I was polite and answered his questions. I was also terrified. I explained that there are much bigger dogs and that I have two young kids and babysit and my dogs are wonderful with all the kids and adults, but actually that dog in particular will get very defensive if she's antagonized (someone yelling, throwing stuff at her, etc) but she'll just bark. She doesn't actually do anything. I've had her for 10 years and she's an angel. The animal control guy said that he advised the neighbor that if a dog is on your property and seems vicious, you can just shoot it and then you don't have to worry about it. Well, I know my dog isn't vicious, but of course I'll never let her out of my sight again! But I got to thinking what if it really was someone else's dog? Well, who knows? I didn't see any pictures, there's no proof as much as I can tell. And I'm pretty sure I know exactly who it was who complained, and he just doesn't like us. I don't know if it's the dogs or the kids playing loudly outside, or that we're not racist, or what, but he's also anti-animals. I'm pretty sure he killed the cat that came with the house and her kitten. She hasn't been seen for about 3 weeks now, and when I get her food out, she never comes anymore. He actually yells at the cat and my dogs when they're in my yard, either in the fence or behind it, but we own quite a bit of land behind our fence as well. So I'm wondering--are there any protections for my animals? I mean, what's to keep this guy from getting mad at my kids yelling or something and saying my dog was being vicious again? All she did was bark, but he got animal control to come to my house with the leash to take her away for that! What can I do to protect her? Honestly she won't be living much longer, and I want her last few months to be really good ones. I don't even know where to start looking to see what protections we have. And shooting a 25lb dog b/c of barking? That's really okay? And I'm not anti-gun or anti-protection or anything, but shooting a dog for barking? Is that really all that has to happen? And what proof do I get? If it's the guy who I think it is, he seems to think some of our property is his...can he shoot her on our property? But then I'm afraid to get the line drawn b/c if she takes one little paw over it, then what? He can just shoot her and it's okay b/c she barked at him?
I would be so scared. I would be afraid he would set poison out for them. It is sad that there are people like this in the world, I am with you...my animals are like my children and as such you should just be very cautious.
Either keep her on leash when she is outside, or keep her fenced in on your property. Simple as that. There may be no leash law, but that doesn't mean it is a good idea to let dogs roam free and come and go as they please.
You're not going to like this, but you asked.
We too live in a non-leash law area. But moved here from an area that had leash laws. I often have neighbors ask why my dogs are never off leash unless they are in their fenced back yard. Because it's a safety issue. If MY dogs are on a leash I somewhat have control. Off leash, I don't care how well trained they are, they are animals. And nothing irritates me any more than to be walking with or without my dogs and to have a dog rush us and bark at us, friendly or not.
I am NOT one of those people to call for every little thing. But YOU may think your dog is an angel but not everyone will see her that way. Heck, I'm the house that the dogs (and kids) come to just to say hi! But we have a dog in our neighborhood that IF that dog comes near us one more time, I will call animal control. That dog has come at us at a full run when we were NOT even near it's house. I don't care how much his family loves him and thinks he's well behaved, he has charged us and is aggressive.
So bottom line, is you protect your dogs by keeping them on a leash and in a fenced yard.
Updated and a PS. I'm not sure why I didn't catch it before but the fact that all 3 are rescues also is a reason why YOU need to be proactive. My last 5 dogs have all been rescues. You really don't know their background or how they were treated. One of my dogs is a golden retriever/lab mix. 2 of the kindest - gentlest breeds there are. But he does not trust men he doesn't know! Our other dog is a lab/husky mix that we've had 2 years is JUST NOW getting to where he will let my husband approach him. Of course I know the the daughter of the owner that we got Tucker from and I can't ask if her dad abused his dogs! But by Tucker's actions he was clearly abused.
Bottom line, I am a FIRM believer in adopting dogs from shelters and rescues whenever possible. I also firmly believe that those animals know they are getting another chance at life and will do anything possible to make us, their owners, happy. But I also understand that since I really don't know their backgrounds, it's just another reason for me to protect them by keeping them in our fenced yard and on leash.
Fix the hole in your fence.
protect your dogs by being a good owner. fix your fence and keep your dogs out of your neighbor's yard.
i HATE it when other people's dogs come barking and snarling at me, and the owners casually toss it off with 'my poopsie would never hurt anyone' and get indignant that i don't enjoy being barked at, chased, slobbered on or menaced.
other people dont know your poopsie. keep your dog contained.
your neighbor has no rights as long as your dog is really on your property. but you weren't out there so you can't say for sure. i would definitely have the property surveyed and markers of some sort put up so everyone knows where the line is. then make sure your dog is well within your boundaries.
of course he can't legally shoot her if she's not on his property. but i wouldn't take any chances.
khairete
S.
Just do not let the dog out without being on a leash or fence in your
entire yard so no one could get out.
You've gotten some great suggestions.
I would add that you should call animal control and find out if it's policy to recommend shooting an animal! I think you'll find that it's not. Then you can report what the animal control officer said to you and request that someone different go talk to your neighbor to clarify he can't shoot a dog for barking.
Even though there are no laws that require leashes on dogs when they are off your property, they only way to be sure your animals will be safe is to patch up any holes, securing your fence, and always always keep them on a leash when you go out. As soon as you let a dog out to roam off leash, they could end up on an unsavory neighbor's lawn and he's well within his rights, in your area, to shoot it. Don't give him the opportunity.
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry this happened to you! I would not leave my dogs out unsupervised after this. It's not fair but it's the only thing you truly know will protect your dogs.
Frankly, I'd keep her on a very long lead or in a run. If you have a dispute with the neighbor about his land vs your land, get a survey done and the line marked by an expert, but make sure your pets/kids stay on your side.
a fenced in yard is a godsend for dog owners,wish we could all be so lucky! i don't really see the problem....fix the fence and relax. especially if you barely let them out of your sight. of course this guy isn't in the right. but if your dog is in YOUR fenced in yard...he's got nothing. fix the fence! put some cinder blocks in front of the hole. do whatever you have to. problem solved. (fix the fence!)
put her on a leash and walk her then take her back inside. They have a leash law here and you can't let your dogs run free anyway. Fix that hole in your fence if you don't want to walk her. put a lock on your fence too just in case. you can fix that hole with chicken wire or just board it up. otherwise, move, that guy sounds trashy.
Your dog.is sweet with you but it senses that this neighbor doesn't like her and could act aggressively towards him. I would, too if I was a dog. :)
I think your best solution will be to build a dog run. I know what it is to live in the country with free-range dogs, but if this crazy dude is posing a threat to your animals, I would either fence in my entire property and make it escape-proof, or build a nice big run for the dogs to be in without worry. It sucks, but I would rather have him cooped up and safe than dead.
Ooor... maybe you could put up some security cameras and monitor the boundary line. That way, if he calls animal control again, you will have documented proof of the situation. You could even make a big fuss about putting them up, and make them OBVIOUS so that he thinks twice about pulling any stunts.
Good luck!!
