FWIW, this neighbor is batshitcrazy. That shouldn't matter, but I just wanted to throw that out there. We have watering restrictions in Vegas that start on May 1st and end on October 1st. May 1st and October 1st she is out with a pen and pad writing down the names of people who aren't watering at the correct time. I witnessed her doing it this past October. I wish she had something better to do.
What will animal control do? Come to your house and take the dog out of the yard?
ETA: I would personally try to head her off. Call animal control yourself. 10 minutes/week is NOTHING. Is there an association you can report her to? She is harassing you. The dog is not barking excessively and I presume animals are allowed.
The first step is for the person to complain to animal control. Then animal control sends a letter. If the problem isn't resolved, they come out and survey the scene. Then they write a letter to the homeowner with info on what they saw. If that doesn't work, they schedule a mediation between the complaining homeowner and the dog owner. Then the dog owner can be fined if there's no resolution and the animal control board disagrees with the dog owner's position.
Part of me thinks the animal control board would think we are being reasonable and she's nuts, but that's why I'm asking here to get opinions.
Just ignore her. There's nothing she can do about it.
We have dog barking/nuisance laws in place so I guess technically we could be convicted of disturbing the peace. The way to get us convicted/fined is to start with a complaint to the animal control board. I know this because I've dealt with HOAs as an attorney, she knows this because she seems to have done a ton of research with all of the time she apparently has on her hands.
An adult potty trained dog shouldn't need to go in and out all day. Can you remove access to the doggy door and have a mid-day walker if necessary?
A rescue dog could have anxiety--and could be acting totally differently outside when you're not home.
I would have thought this too, but even she admits that it's only 10 minutes a day once a week. And that's the same thing I witnessed when I was home on leave. It's literally only when the landscapers are here, which is 10 minutes max.
I could remove access to the doggy door, but I feel like that would just add to his anxiety. I guess I could try it.
The first step is for the person to complain to animal control. Then animal control sends a letter. If the problem isn't resolved, they come out and survey the scene. Then they write a letter to the homeowner with info on what they saw. If that doesn't work, they schedule a mediation between the complaining homeowner and the dog owner. Then the dog owner can be fined if there's no resolution and the animal control board disagrees with the dog owner's position.
Part of me thinks the animal control board would think we are being reasonable and she's nuts, but that's why I'm asking here to get opinions.
Omg. Let her do it! By the time they get through protocol, you'll be moving out. That process sounds like it takes months, and they could come down on your side.
Get it in writing now that it's only 10 minutes/week and only when the landscaper comes.
The first step is for the person to complain to animal control. Then animal control sends a letter. If the +-problem isn't resolved, they come out and survey the scene. Then they write a letter to the homeowner with info on what they saw. If that doesn't work, they schedule a mediation between the complaining homeowner and the dog owner. Then the dog owner can be fined if there's no resolution and the animal control board disagrees with the dog owner's position.
Part of me thinks the animal control board would think we are being reasonable and she's nuts, but that's why I'm asking here to get opinions.
Omg. Let her do it! By the time they get through protocol, you'll be moving out. That process sounds like it takes months, and they could come down on your side.
Get it in writing now that it's only 10 minutes/week and only when the landscaper comes.
That's what DH said. If we don't find our dream house by July (which is entirely possible since we are super picky), we are going to build. So it's not like we'll be living here forever.
That's ridiculous. It would be one thing if your dog is snapping at her every time she walks outside but he's only doing what dogs do...bark when there are strange people on your property. Plus it's only 10 min a week!
I'd still do nothing...maybe just take away the doggie door so he can't go in and out all day anymore like y4m suggests.
My dog is potty trained and has a doggie door to go out during the day. If the landscapers come on the same day every week (mine do), just lock the dog in on that day. We had to do this when we were getting our yard redone and were afraid the dog would get out of the yard.
Honestly, I think my dog only goes outside to see if she can find sticks to eat in the house and doesn't go potty by herself.
I'm with y4m on this. There's no need for the dog to have unlimited outdoor access all day when he's home alone. My dog can hold it for up to 12 hours. Though that length of time is too long and I try to avoid leaving him for more than 8 hours.
Not to mention, if she's really crazy, you don't want her to be able to get to the dog while you're not home. People do crazy things, my parents are pretty sure a neighbor poisoned my childhood dog for similar reasons.
So your dog is outside during the day when no one is home? That's not really safe. Disabling the doggy door to keep him inside while you're at work would keep him safe and solve your neighbor problem.
This is your landscaper? Why can't he lock the dog up when he comes? Or have something he can use on the outside of the house to block the doggie door while he's there?
I would also call animal control and see if they would find in your favor or hers. I also think this is not excessive and she is harassing you. Have you tried to talk to the rental agency so they can give you more notice and you could keep her in/schedule a walker for that? I think that's above and beyond buy might be the easy way out since you're looking to move anyway.
The landscaper comes different days every week but is never here more than 10 minutes. On the days the landscaper isn't here, the dog literally goes outside just to go to the bathroom and come back in. He was potty trained when we got him and this is how it worked for him. Because of his anxiety we tried to change as little as possible.
My yard is fenced and not very large. I've never considered it unsafe to give him free access to exit/enter, it's pretty standard around here. But I've never considered the crazy neighbor doing something to the dog, that's definitely something I need to be worried about. It may be a regional thing, but I'd say at least 75% of dog owners around here have a doggy door and allow the dog to go in and out as needed.
I can definitely pay one of the other neighbors we are friendly with to come once a week and walk the dog and lock him in during that time. I just won't know when the landscaper is coming until the day of his visit.
What a fool. A dog barking for 10 minutes during the day is not a big deal. Unless it's after 10pm or before 8am or something.
Do you really think she'll call animal control? It would suck to deal with that hassle, but it doesn't sound like limiting access to the outside is a good option either.
What a fool. A dog barking for 10 minutes during the day is not a big deal. Unless it's after 10pm or before 8am or something.
Do you really think she'll call animal control? It would suck to deal with that hassle, but it doesn't sound like limiting access to the outside is a good option either.
Yes, I do. She seriously has nothing better to do. If you read my first f/u, she goes around trolling the neighborhood looking for water use violators to report to the county. I'm sure she'll report us I'm just not sure she's right. And fwiw I don't care about keeping the peace. Many of our other neighbors love us and are like family, I don't really care if I have one crazy neighbor who hates us. I don't want her to harm my dog though, I never thought of that until you all brought it up.
The landscaper comes different days every week but is never here more than 10 minutes. On the days the landscaper isn't here, the dog literally goes outside just to go to the bathroom and come back in. He was potty trained when we got him and this is how it worked for him. Because of his anxiety we tried to change as little as possible.
My yard is fenced and not very large. I've never considered it unsafe to give him free access to exit/enter, it's pretty standard around here. But I've never considered the crazy neighbor doing something to the dog, that's definitely something I need to be worried about. It may be a regional thing, but I'd say at least 75% of dog owners around here have a doggy door and allow the dog to go in and out as needed.
I can definitely pay one of the other neighbors we are friendly with to come once a week and walk the dog and lock him in during that time. I just won't know when the landscaper is coming until the day of his visit.
Does your landscaper have a house key? Could you block the doggy door the morning the landscaper is coming and have him come inside the house and unblock the door when he leaves? Then the door wouldn't be blocked all day, at least.
The landscaper comes different days every week but is never here more than 10 minutes. On the days the landscaper isn't here, the dog literally goes outside just to go to the bathroom and come back in. He was potty trained when we got him and this is how it worked for him. Because of his anxiety we tried to change as little as possible.
My yard is fenced and not very large. I've never considered it unsafe to give him free access to exit/enter, it's pretty standard around here. But I've never considered the crazy neighbor doing something to the dog, that's definitely something I need to be worried about. It may be a regional thing, but I'd say at least 75% of dog owners around here have a doggy door and allow the dog to go in and out as needed.
I can definitely pay one of the other neighbors we are friendly with to come once a week and walk the dog and lock him in during that time. I just won't know when the landscaper is coming until the day of his visit.
Does your landscaper have a house key? Could you block the doggy door the morning the landscaper is coming and have him come inside the house and unblock the door when he leaves? Then the door wouldn't be blocked all day, at least.
You know, that's actually not a bad idea. he doesn't have a house key but he could put something in front of the doggy door to prevent the dog from coming out, like a potted plant. Thank you!
I would personally try to dissolve the problem before it gets to animal control. EVen if they come down in your favor, it's still a hassle. I agree with blocking access to the doggy door and see if that helps at all. If it does and no more complaints, great.
If he still barks when the landscaper comes to the point she can hear him and still complains, I'd just ask her, 'And what do you suggest I do? Most dogs bark when strangers come around." At that point if she wanted to call animal control, I'd say screw her and contact them with your side of the story right away.
Post by emilyinchile on Dec 6, 2012 20:18:12 GMT -5
Team "you'll move before the process is completed anyway".
I was talking about this with a friend the other day saying I'd only ever seen this opinion on here - why is it not safe to leave a dog in a yard alone? I understand accidents can happen, but accidents can happen in the house too. Assuming plenty of water and an appropriate climate, why is outside more dangerous? FWIW, I have a dog but no yard, so she only goes outside with us.
Emily--not sure. Maybe it's a regional thing, but everyone I know here (and many people I don't know) have doggy doors. I'd say it's more common than crate training or keeping the dog inside. I'd crate train if my dog wasn't freaked out by the crate.
For anyone interested, here's a picture of the uncontrollable offender.
Post by emilyinchile on Dec 6, 2012 20:26:34 GMT -5
But like what, Jenny? Honestly the things I'm thinking of are pretty ridiculous scenarios like a hawk carrying him away or an evil neighbor poisoning him. Assuming you've got a good fence and that you don't have a freak accident, it doesn't seem like outside is inherently more dangerous.
Team "you'll move before the process is completed anyway".
I was talking about this with a friend the other day saying I'd only ever seen this opinion on here - why is it not safe to leave a dog in a yard alone? I understand accidents can happen, but accidents can happen in the house too. Assuming plenty of water and an appropriate climate, why is outside more dangerous? FWIW, I have a dog but no yard, so she only goes outside with us.
I am admittedly paranoid about my dog, but I have a lot of concerns with my dog being outside if I'm not home.
First, I don't like the idea of someone feeding my dog anything. I think you'd be surprised by how many people, neighbors or mail persons, for example, that would think nothing of giving the dog a treat.
Second, some people are nuts and dogs have been poisoned before. Or stolen from the yard.
Third, there are other animals that can get into the yard. If something attacked my dog, or he attacked another animal, I wouldn't be there to stop it or hear any cries of pain. And there would probably be some sort of bloody mess waiting for me when I got home.
Lastly, I would be nervous about something blocking the door and him not being able to get back inside when he is ready. If the weather is bad, this would suck.
I don't think you should be letting your dog use a doggie door when you're not home, especially if there is an issue with barking. Sure, your neighbor sounds unreasonable, but you really have no idea what could happen to your dog when you're not home (or what he could be barking at).
If there are anxiety issues then it sounds like a dog walker or doggy daycare may be a good solution.