For Those Who Think a Fence Is Safe.
 

We live in a home with a huge yard that is entirely fenced in chain link. Our neighbors have 3 huge dogs of mixed breeds. Today I came out on the screened in porch and was just about to let the dogs out to potty when I noticed one of those dogs in my yard. :eek: I yelled at the dog to go home and watched stunned as it ran and cleared the fence by a good foot. I immediately went to the owners to tell them, and they inform me the dog is animal aggressive. I requested that it be supervised when out but they let it out again alone not long later. Now I am terrified to take mine out even on leash :(.

I would call animal control & see if there's anything that can be done about this situation.

I thought of making a complaint but my dh said he was afraid they might do something to our babies if they found out. Just talking with dh about it he said if nothing else he will put an extention up on the fence. I suggested constantine wire like in prisons lol.

That really stinks to think you have a fenced in yard and have to worry about the neighbors aggressive dog jumping your fence. Now you have to be on your guard when you take your dogs out in your yard! total BS!!! I would call animal control and make a stink....so sorry this is so unfair!

Omg how scary! I would be scared to take mine out too. :(. If they know he is aggressive they should do something about it. That's just terrible.

Thats what I said :(. Apparently they knew when we moved in according to what they told DH that this dog could jump the fence as it has in the past before we moved in. They have never told us this before. I am just thankful it hasn't happened before when we were out with the pups letting them run and play in the yard.

Try to get a photo of the dog in your yard if it happens again(video is better) and make a journal of when the dog gets in your yard if it happens again. Now that he's done it once(that you know), he may make a practice of it. I would call AC, report it and ask them how to keep your pets safe from this animal aggressive dog that his owners are not able to keep in their yard. He could easily get out and run the neighborhood, too. Animal Control will likely go meet with the people, educate them on their responsibility and explain what will happen should they have a second complaint, which will probably be an expensive ticket to start. I pray that you can keep your babies safe from that dog but be prepared to defend them should he come over that fence. It might be wiser to take them out one at a time for the time being so you can grab your dog up if he comes over the fence - which he probably won't do with your there.

I use a big huge black automatically opening umbrella to whoosh open when out walking my dog and it very quickly intimidates most dogs into keep quite clear of me and my dog. That big thing whooshing open before their eyes and making me a big target suddenly tends to really take the "attitude" out of most dogs and they quickly lose interest in approaching me and anything near it. In fact, most turn around and go the other way quite quickly. I would probably take one of those outside with me in the future when I took my dog out to potty, along with whatever other items I thought I'd need to keep my dog safe.

Scary! Is there a section of gate on the side of the house that would also allow the dog to jump over and into the front yard, and run free around the neighborhood? That is a very serious situation waiting to happen.

Thank you for the umbrella idea Jeanie I will do that. And for now yes I am taking them out one at a time until we can do something to make the fence unjumpable. It is so frustrating that the pups cannot have their outside playtime now as it is their favorite time of day.

That umbrella does work wonders out walking and should help in your yard but I'd have a back-up plan, too. Maybe AC will make them extend the fence or something to force them to keep your dogs safe from their jumper. Those people should be made to keep their dogs in their own yard and do whatever it takes to ensure they do that. A dog aggressive dog in someone else's yard can be a death warrant for pets in the neighborhood, especially those in the next yard! I'm sure AC will want to help and take some steps to help enforce the city code.

I like the umbrella idea!!

I will be chatting with animal control, my only concern about doing that is making them mad and them throwing something harmful in our yard for my pups to get. We have only lived here 8 months and don't know them very well.

I well understand that that can happen and you'll have to be very vigilant about checking your yard and such if you do call AC. Plus, they can damage your home or car, potentially. However, if you don't call AC now and think you can live this way, keep your little ones safe and create less problems, it might be the way you want to go for now. Why don't you call AC and see what they can suggest to do to keep those dogs off yours and out of your yard. Perhaps a loud, loud air horn or something like that and that umbrella if you see him start for the fence as if to jump? Most dogs hate very loud noises but it will probably scare yours as well. Some dogs are scared of the sonic sound of the Dazer II. You might get one of those and try it, too. Tasers will back most dogs off by just the sound and the crackle of energy they sense, if those are legal in your area or in a case like this where your animal's life could be at risk.

If it was me, I see two options....
1) Replace the fencing down that side of the yard between you and the neighbors, with a 6 foot chain link fence....(considerable expense)
2) Run a "hot wire" above the present chain link fencing, about 18 inches above the top of the fence....an electric fence, will keep their dogs from clearing the fence after they hit that once or twice.

I think I would just add a taller fence or chicken wire to the top,on your side of course. At some point big dog isnt going to be able to sail over the fence.

Two things -

1. I like the idea of the constatine like prisons. That is what I was going to suggest.
2. I love/adore Jeanie's umbrella idea. Ever since I first read of it (months ago), I've used that at dusk and night when worried about owls.

have any other neighbors had any problems with the dogs or the people?

Maybe when reporting to ac you won't have to give name, if the dog can jump into your yard I would think he would jump into the street. just a thought

do the people own or rent? If they rent the landlord would not be happy with the liability either

This is what I was thinking!

Ugh how scary!

You could try a hot wire but it did not work for my Aussie/ pointer. He was an escape artist. He would climb chain link and jump over when touching the wire would yelp and keep going. Our fence is now 8 ft tall originally 6ft when we first moved in. He couldn't get out of that plus we had to line the fence with cinder blocks to keep him from digging out. Ten years later now he hasn't escaped since.

We lived in suburban country so did not share fence.

We have stray dogs in our neighborhood at times. Our yard is totally fenced in with chain link, but we were afraid dogs might clear our fence so we had three rows of barbed wire (each level going outward) added to the top of the fence. That was 14 yrs. ago and a dog has yet to clear the fence. I also am out with the girls every time they are out.

Better check your city code before you consider installing a hot wire. They are illegal in many places and your neighbor might report you. My neighbor ran one unbeknownst to me along our fence to keep his dogs off it and my little 5 year old niece climbed up on the fencing into the 3rd row of cox fencing - about 8" up, wearing open sandals to look at the dogs before my sister could get to her, felt a shock on the skin of her foot, got scared and screamed like a Banshee, lost her hold and fell, ripping open her chin on the fencing, bit through her tongue as she fell, bled and bled and screamed and screamed and once we got her back from the ER and cleaning and stitches and tetanus and antibiotics and pain medicine, me, my sister and BIL went OFF on that man, called the police and it was the awfullest mess. I think if the long cut had been on her cheek or got her eye instead of her chin and tongue bite, they would have sued him they were so horrified and scared and worried. She probably still has that scar on her chin. The police ticketed him and got an order from a judge for him to remove it. They came and watched while he did! I think he forever held it against me but I was not sure he'd rigged it right and was scared our son, who was only 1 at the time, would get hurt by it, too.

How tall is the fence? I didn't see the ht? Not already 6ft?

Thank you all for the suggestions going to call the city hall Monday and check on fence ordinances. No it is a standard height not 6ft.

Call animal control and I would make sure when you take them out to take something to spray in the dogs eyes, some kind of stick or a tazer. I know this sounds probably really crazy but I think I would do it if I had the problem I would put razor wire on the fence. You should not have to be afraid in your own yard. If he does it again I would take picture also and maybe even a video. People who let dogs out who are dog aggressive must not care if there dog gets into fights and killed.

Well sense you have to go out there any way with them they wouldnt be out there alone so I doubt they could do anything to your dogs. Also what if there dog attacks some in your neighborhood or there dog and you could have made a difference by complaining?

Did you ask them about taking care if the fence problem? Raising it on there side? It's their responsibility; they should be paying for it and fixing it, not you. Maybe they'd be willing to work with you without needing to report it.

I agree, a friendly chat first with your neighbours is the way forward. Keep it calm and ask if they mind a taller fence going up and the possibility of sharing the cost. Explain that you are aware their dog can come into your yard and as you have little ones your concerned they may get hurt. If they care about their dog they surely wouldn't want to run the risk of getting their dog taken away for being aggressive etc. as it is their dog doing the jumping over they should be responsible for doing the fence.
In order to keep things friendly and for you not to worry about any comeback you may have to compromise (although you shouldn't have to) and pay for it yourself but if it gives you peace of mind and keeps things "nice" with the neighbours it may be the way forward. Hope you get it sorted x

Im sorry that happened. Our chain link fence is pretty high because we have a barrier wall then the fence so we dont have that happen