Calling Animal Control - UGH!

[MandiesMom]

So, I've been living in this house since last June and have never had an issue. However, within the past week (a little less), there is a neighbor on the road behind my house that has a new dog/puppy. It looks like a yellow lab...maybe about 8 or 9 months old.

They have always had a couple of dogs but they use that invisible fence system. The two dogs they had when we moved here, never left their yard. I just assumed they had that invisible fence.

But there is a new one now and it doesn't care about the invisible fence. It keeps coming over here (and all up and down the road). I see it's collar and it has a little box on the collar so I know that is what it is. However, that box hangs down and doesn't even touch the dog's neck - duh people.

Their road isn't a big deal EXCEPT for the dog going in everyone's yards and peeing and pooping. But my house is on friggin MAIN ST. And this dog stays at my back fence and in my yard because I take my dogs out. He pees at Shelby, Shelby pees at him. They run the fence line, which I am sure Shelby loves - he has a little friend. HOWEVER, Mandie is not keen on this dog and she goes batty barking. Last night at 11PM, this happened. And, just now again.

I can't have this dog constantly in my yard, pooping, and getting dangerously close to the main road. It's annoying me AND scaring me that he's gonna get run over.

So, I have never had to call Animal Control before. I shouldn't have had to today. After last night, when the owner lady came out at 11PM and called her dang dog back home, I figured she would get a better handle on him. Guess not.

I'm now waiting on Animal Control to call me back because the lady wasn't there. I left a message. If she doesn't call me back, I may have to be that neighbor everyone hates and go talk to those people in person tonight. Grrrr

[Maximo]

I'm sorry that you are in this tough position. Going and talking to the person is risky because obviously the person isn't concerned about her/his dog being in danger. I'm a pessimist when it comes to talking directly to people in these situations because I've never had a good outcome. My personal policy now is to take it to the authorities. Once the person receives a warning from animal control, maybe they will do something to secure their dog.

[MandiesMom]

I'm not a fan of those invisible fences. So, it might not be a good idea for me to go talk to them now that I think about it. I might say something I shouldn't lol

It has obviously worked well for their other 2 dogs. I still haven't heard back from Animal Control. I live in a very small town - I'm not really optimistic that this lady is going to call me back - Animal Control is apparently a lady at a desk in the police dept lol

[Britster]

I'm sorry - that always sucks. We had a similar situation at my dads house. We're kind of out in the country, so pretty much everyone but us lets their dog roam around. But we're still in a small neighborhood surrounded by farmland. None of the other dogs have ever caused a problem - all are friendly, come over for a pet and say hi, then go along their way.

Well, this one neighbor gets this huge Lab named Titan. As a pup, he was little, but used to always run away. Once he got big, he got a little scary! He used to run right up to our fence and terrorize our dogs. He knocked my brother over once and gave him a black eye. I was walking Jackson once and he came and tried to attack (thankfully, I picked him up by his harness, my stepmom and her friend were there to get the other dog away).

But after sooo many issues, we called AC. They got cited, I believe, and ever since they've been pretty good about keeping him contained. I still see him loose occasionally. But no major issues.

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

I'm not a fan of those invisible fences. So, it might not be a good idea for me to go talk to them now that I think about it. I might say something I shouldn't lol

It has obviously worked well for their other 2 dogs. I still haven't heard back from Animal Control. I live in a very small town - I'm not really optimistic that this lady is going to call me back - Animal Control is apparently a lady at a desk in the police dept lol

We had a neighbor with an invisible fence years ago when we had our lab. Our lab was old and stayed in the yard/driveway with no fence, but the neighbor's dog always wanted to visit and play, so she would get a running start and we would hear the YELP as she made it through! When she was done visiting, she would go sit on their driveway at the edge of the electric fence until they realized and let her back in. It was funny. Thank goodness she never wandered far, just visited her friends on the street, and everyone knew who's she was.

[chachi]

Ive had to call animaL control a couple times on neighbors. I dont like to do it because they usually figure out who did it and then you have to worry about them doing something to your house or spreading gossip about you or something but in one case a dog was emanciated and had to be called on. The other was a yorkie that was running loose all the time and I worried he would get hit. Just keep trying to call you are possibly saving that dogs life

[bobohyde]

Is the dog friendly? I guess I would take the dog back to his house and knock on the door. Let them know you are worried about it's safety. The neighbors obviously care enough about the dog and it's safety to put the invisible fence collar on it. When it is outside the boundaries, it is running the risk of being lost or being hit by a car on your busy road. I'm guessing they wouldn't want that to happen. I would catch the dog and walk it back home. Don't mention the part about how the dog is bothering your dog. Instead, tell them how concerned you are about the dog's safety. Is the battery dead on the collar? Do the settings on that collar need adjusting? I am concerned with my own dog's safety, but I am also concerned for any other dog's safety. Maybe these folks don't realize the dog is outside it's boundaries. And if they do, they are more likely to do something about it if you are on friendly terms with them. I have lived by neighbors that we didn't get along with and it isn't pleasant. I would try to avoid a situation like that if possible. Having your first encounter with them be a complaint or calling animal control won't foster good feelings. I would also be concerned about animal control. In my town we have a wonderful SPCA where all strays end up. But where I lived before that, the dogs went to the pound and if their owner didn't find them within 7 days, they were euthanized. I wouldn't send a dog to that place.

[AngelFae]

I would get a hold of that dog and bring it home. Tighten the collar right in front of the owner while gushing about how you would hate to see something bad happen to this sweet little baby because he somehow managed to get his collar loose and get out of the yard. I wouldn't be opposed to telling the owner that you found the pup in the street. Some people need to hear that before they fix their issue. If it keeps happening put the pup in your garage and call AC or the non-emergency police line.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by bobohyde

Is the dog friendly? I guess I would take the dog back to his house and knock on the door. Let them know you are worried about it's safety. The neighbors obviously care enough about the dog and it's safety to put the invisible fence collar on it. When it is outside the boundaries, it is running the risk of being lost or being hit by a car on your busy road. I'm guessing they wouldn't want that to happen. I would catch the dog and walk it back home. Don't mention the part about how the dog is bothering your dog. Instead, tell them how concerned you are about the dog's safety. Is the battery dead on the collar? Do the settings on that collar need adjusting? I am concerned with my own dog's safety, but I am also concerned for any other dog's safety. Maybe these folks don't realize the dog is outside it's boundaries. And if they do, they are more likely to do something about it if you are on friendly terms with them. I have lived by neighbors that we didn't get along with and it isn't pleasant. I would try to avoid a situation like that if possible. Having your first encounter with them be a complaint or calling animal control won't foster good feelings. I would also be concerned about animal control. In my town we have a wonderful SPCA where all strays end up. But where I lived before that, the dogs went to the pound and if their owner didn't find them within 7 days, they were euthanized. I wouldn't send a dog to that place.

Great suggestion to bring the dog to the house and tell the family that you are concerned for his safety because he was in the road.

[MandiesMom]

If I can catch it, I might try what you all have suggested. It aggravates me because they had to call him home from my yard last night so they know. And yet, here he was..back in my yard today.

He is friendly though. Seems that way - doesn't bark or anything.

[AngelFae]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

If I can catch it, I might try what you all have suggested. It aggravates me because they had to call him home from my yard last night so they know. And yet, here he was..back in my yard today.

He is friendly though. Seems that way - doesn't bark or anything.

This what happened with us and the St Bernard down the street from us. The owners knew that she wandered around and I was sick of it- she was a new puppy they had gotten because their previous dog was killed by a car. I got Piper on a leash and brought her home, hooked her on her tie out and when the owners came out to see what was going on I made a fuss about her and told them how scared I was that something was going to happen to her since she has to cross the street and go down a ways to my house where I found her. I also mentioned how beautiful Piper is and how easy it would be for someone to steal her because she is so friendly. I haven't seen that dog loose since then and it has been about 4 years now. =)

[hucker]

I always talk to the person first. Calling animal control is asking for your neighbour to hate you forever. Politely telling them they've done something wrong is the best way.

[MandiesMom]

Well, I don't know what happened, but I haven't seen that dog since that day. So, I think all is well now

[hucker]

I hope they haven't taken the dog away, or if it has, it's been found a new home.

[dawn27]

I've been in the same situation for the past 5 yrs. until this past fall that is. People just have no consideration for their neighbors and the filth that their dogs leaves in our yards. Mine seems to be a big source of interested for this dogs. It was disgusting. No one could ever catch it to return her to her home. No one ever came looking for her, she was just left four hour and hours to run free.

I would run over her crap in my yard with the riding mower and than have to wash it off or the kids would step in it while out side playing. My pups would just go ballistic every time they saw her in our yard or running down the street. I heard that the owners had received numerous citations from the dog warden. But still continued to allow her to run free. It went on for 5 yrs until this past fall when another one of my neighbors told me that they found her dead on their doorstep. They suspect that she had been poisoned. What a shame that the people didn't care enough about her to see to it that she was safe. My guess is that one of the other neighbors who's house she frequented and left her mess wanted to put an end to it.

What a very very sad and disturbing outcome. I understand the frustration but I just dont see how anyone could do that do another on of gods creatures.

Terri, I would just call animal control and let them handle it.