UGH! Neighbors! (long)

We have lived next door to the most rude, unappealing family for the last 15 years. They are quiet, though, for the most part and we have just learned to tolerate them.

When my daughter was an infant, they got a Labrador puppy and did not train him and he ran the neighborhood (we are out of the city limits so leash laws don't apply) and got into mischief, and then barked non-stop when they put him in a pen. Fortunately for the dog, they realized they were in over their heads and rehomed him a year later.

All these years, they have been petless, and not really a bother. Their children graduated from high school and moved on to college. Then their son gets a puppy....

Yep, the couple now own "Rascal." He is an Australian Shepherd/Rottweiler cross. They made him a large run in the backyard and they exercise him a couple of times a day and he seems to have house privileges as well (as much as I can tell by spying on them from my bedroom window!) He barks a fair amount and always barks when I go into the backyard. We have a privacy fence, so I can't really see him.

A few weeks ago, he ran at us aggressively as we were walking on the street. We cautiously let him "say hi" to our dogs and then the female owner became her usual snotty self and claimed that he was not "running toward us" and led him away. O....K....then how'd he get into the street? We determined then that the dog has ZERO social skills.

On Thursday I had my dishwasher repaired. I let the guys out the front door when they were finished and as I walked back into the kitchen I heard barking, then yelling, and rushed out to see Rascal running at them VERY aggressively. I called his name, hoping to snap him out of it, but then the "female" came again and said to the repair guy, "Stop harrassing my dog!"

HUH? He ran from his yard, into mine, tried to bite the repair guys and they were harrassing him??? One of the guys even pulled out a gun, the other grabbed a stick and she finally led him away. HOLY MOLY!!!!

Today I was in my garden, and heard the mail carrier's truck. He stopped and got out as he was bringing a large package to my porch and again I heard barking heading across my front lawn, followed by the "female" calling him. OH CRAP! Nothing happened this time, but a few minutes later, I could hear him really worked up in his pen as he watched some neighbors walking in the street.

I'm at the point now that I don't want my daughter to go into the front yard, and she LOVES to get the mail every day as part of her afternoon routine. I don't know what to do, as this couple has a reputation for being really difficult and I've yet to meet a single person who actually likes them. Animal control has no jurisdiction out here and I don't think the sheriff's dept will do anything unless someone is bitten. My dh is "Switzerland" and never wants to get involved (I think I've mentioned this one before).

What to do????

C

since obviously the owners are no help what so ever I would try to get a video or 2 of the dog acting like this and then go to animal control. Even though you are out of limits I think an aggressive dog would get their attention. And if you have proof its not she says vs you say. And maybe get some doggy mace... they sell it at most pet stores.

Wow....that is lousy.

Ok, you say you are outside the town? Well what about the county? Is there a dog warden for the county? Is there a county spca? Maybe you could run this past them and see what your options are.

We had neighbors like that down the road. Years ago, I was riding my bike on the road and their doberman came at me. I had to jump off the bike and keep it between him and me. All the while the girl is on the porch yelling at me to "leave our dog alone". There were issues in that house and we all knew just to let it alone.

But you can't live like that. I would say carry the mace or whatever they make to stop a dog. I feel bad your daughter cannot get the mail now. I would be very concerned.

You can't be a prisoner in your own home. I asked my dh and he said to call the cops and get on record that there is a vicious dog in the area. They might pay her a visit as a warning. There may not be leash laws, but I think there would be a heap of trouble if the dog hurt someone.

Thanks.

Yes, we are .2 of a mile outside the city limits. The humane society is county wide but they won't accept pets out of the city limits and animal control will not help either, so that is pretty useless. However, I know the mgr of the shelter fairly well, and I do believe if I had video, she would make sure something is done.

We have tons of little kids here in the 'hood and with the spring weather, they are out and riding bikes and playing. I'm pretty concerned, especially since there have been 2 incidents in 3 days. I also wonder if Rascal is neutered, since he's a little over a year old now, and could be feeling really hormonal on top of everything else.

I'll keep a camera by my door and try and catch something.

Thanks again.

C

Get a video of what can't be interpreted as anything but aggressive behavior when the dog is running loose and talk to the sheriff.

My cousin is a county sheriff (his "retirement" job after being a big-city assistant police chief for many years), and based on some tales he's told, I'll bet you could get someone from the county to (at the very least) come out and discuss the situation with those people. Perhaps point out to them the liability involved in having such an aggressive dog and failing to keep it safely confined.

Maybe the sheriff's department would also encourage that woman to give some thought to what could have happened when her dog's aggression caused someone to panic and draw a gun!

I would get on the phone to whoever I possibly could, EVEN if you think they won't do anything, call EVERYTIME this dog does something, even if you have to call 2-3 times a day. Get the video if you can but I would stay on the phone.

Eventually SOMEBODY will do something.

Film the dog acting like this for sure.

Sadly I have never lived in a neighborhood where people didn't let dog(s) roam, this includes college where I was pretty much on campus even. I always make sure I have a good secure fence which helps but but that doesn't matter when the dog is running at large all over and your own dogs need to be walked, etc.
Most loose dogs who are pets are harmless or will respond to verbal commands. But not always of course.
I wish you could talk to the dog owner because her dog almost got shot and died. This is serious and she needs to know this.

Arm yourself, carry some spray or at worst a cattle prod if the dog comes after you and you are seriously worried, you can even get a taser. Or you can carry an air horn. All of these options will not make the neighbors happy, but sounds like nothing will anyway.
On a different note you can go over to their house and "meet" the dog with the owners. You can carry delicious treats like turkey hot dog, bacon, cold cuts, and feed to the dog when the dog sees you. I know it isn't ideal because the dog will come to you (and the owners will probably not like you feeding their dog), but at least you can be more confident the dog has honest and happy intentions for you when he sees you.
Just some ideas, nothing is really ideal as the ideal thing would be the neighbors being responsible with their own dog. I don't know why some owners do this. It is such a PITA and really is so thoughtless and rude to others and dangerous.