The neighbors dogs just..

busted through the lattice work on our deck and into our backyard where MewMew and Boo stay.

I heard a lower sounding bark outside and the other neighbors shelties going crazy in their backyard. They were after MewMew (I don't think they meant her harm, but lots of dogs chase things that run) - she ran up the tree in the backyard to get away from them.

I went right over to tell the woman what her dogs did (her husband wasn't home yet) and she was rather embarrassed. They seem like good people, so I'm not as mad as I was when I chased the dogs out of the fence.
They're covering the cost of replacing the lattice.


But here's the thing.. When we moved in October '08 those dogs would get out and run. You'd think that in 15+ months time they'd have found a better method to keep their dogs in their fence.

In this area there are luckily only 4 dogs that ever run loose. Those two, and the two that belong to the neighbors behind us - and that only happens when they run away from their owners. (a westie and a rot pup who's currently in an e-collar ) Everyone else keeps track of their dogs.

One thing's for certain, it gave me a good scare to look out the kitchen window and see a dog butt sticking out our lattice. I got my shoes and coat on in about 30 secs.

I'm glad she's doing the responsible thing when it comes to covering the cost of the repair, but yeah, they need to keep their dogs in check. Annoying, no doubt.

I agree they need to train their dogs to behave. In my area, sometimes there are dogs loose but they go immediately inside their homes once their owners call them.

These two dogs aren't behaved. The owners will call them and the dogs just look at them and continue acting goofy. I have no idea how old the dogs are.. but they act like a couple of puppies. Training really isn't the problem. When you put a dog out in the same fence day after day they get bored and will try to get out (note, the dogs are indoor/outdoor dogs). They just need to sit down and come up with a good plan to properly secure their fence.
If I can keep two cats in my backyard, it shouldn't be hard to keep two dogs in - dogs can't jump, climb, or squeeze through incredibly small holes.

I am so glad that your cats weren't harmed! That is scary!

Im glad your cats werent harmed in any way..Just scared. I live in the country so I dont use a leash for Franklin and granted he has his moments when he goes off at night to chase the bunnies that roam our yard we always know where he goes (he is pretty habitual) so we just stand there and wait for him to come racing back inside so he doesnt get in trouble. He has never roamed down to the neighbors or ran into the road either. I wonder sometimes if we got lucky even though hes never outside unsupervised I think we probably could just let him out to do his business and let him back in whens hes ready. I just dont trust the little stinker that much!

They're out again this morning, and the neighbors aren't home.


I don't believe that any pet, dog, cat, or other, should be let run loose. Just because you don't have human neighbors doesn't mean that skunks, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, etc aren't around to tear up a dog. (I've seen a dog torn up by an encounter with a raccoon, it wasn't pretty and would have meant death for a smaller dog.) But that's just an opinion I've formed after seeing too many animals harmed or killed.

In this immediate area the worst wild predator is the family of foxes. But worse than that is the somewhat busy road behind my house that gets traffic from some larger trucks.

Eeek!

Even if a dog means no harm, they are boisterous and can injure a cat easily without meaning to.

I hope they figure out a way to keep them in!

I'm glad no one was hurt. At least they're paying for the lattice.

I know how scary that can be. I let my cats out occasionally, but on a leash and only when I can watch them. My neighbor across the street has 3 monstrous dogs (a great dane, an akita mix, and a huge black lab) and one day they got out. So I see these 3 dogs running toward my kitties. I ran to get my shoes on and expected to see a big fight when I got out there, but instead I came out to Marie and Meezers grooming the akita and Eric playing with the dane and lab . I was so relieved.

^How odd! You're lucky that your cats like dogs, it probably saved their lives.

MewMew, on the other hand, does not like dogs or any other cat than Boo. Poor Boo was hiding in his shelter so I don't know if they even noticed him. I'll have to go pull him out of it later as there's a chance that he's traumatized to the point of holing up in there (Boo's a bit.. sensitive).
Had they cornered MewMew I have no doubt something bad would have happened as I know she would have attacked.

I had no idea how they would react to those dogs. They've only been introduced to 3 smaller dogs before (a shih tzu, a beagle, and an australian terrier) so I knew they were ok with small dogs, but I assumed those giants would be a different story. I'm glad I was wrong.

I would have called animal control! It sounds like those dogs have a dangerous streak in them and it doesn't help that their owners haven't established their alpha role over their dogs. One day those dogs are going to get out and do some serious harm to a child or another animal.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

I would have called animal control! It sounds like those dogs have a dangerous streak in them and it doesn't help that their owners haven't established their alpha role over their dogs. One day those dogs are going to get out and do some serious harm to a child or another animal.

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Oh, no no. These dogs are not aggressive at all. Both are very submissive in the fact that anyone approaches them and they're rolling over for them. Where they to show any sign of that I'd have done more. They are dog friendly - I do not know if they are spay, though...
The biggest risk they pose to people in the neighborhood is them running into traffic (they were honked at yesterday) and getting mud on you.

Animal control in rural towns is not like where you live. Unless the animal is a threat - growling, charging, or shows signs of disease (rabies) they do not want to deal with it. They will not pick up cats, and generally ignore dogs running lose. You can't get anyone out (I think there's only one guy) after 5pm or on weekends.

No sign of the dogs today. I hope the neighbor got their gate fixed. I really don't want to cause any trouble with them. They used to come in the movie store I worked at and were always polite and friendly so they are decent people.