Need some advice about a nosey neighbor (1 Viewer)

[Pipes]

I’m really shocked by the number of people who think it’s not ok to leave a dog out on a hot day. What do you think people did 60 years ago before air conditioning became standard?  Animals and people do just fine in a little heat. We’ve become a society of special snowflakes. 

My issue isn't the dog itself but consideration of the neighbors.  If you live in the country or have a ton of land. Great let your dogs out.  If you live in surburbia where you have 1/3 or 1/4 acre lots with people stacked on top of each other that's the issue.  If your dog is mellow and not a barker then cool but many people don't realize how obnoxious some dogs can be.  Like Furley mentioned earlier some dogs seem chill then bark at every person or car that goes by.  That's the issue imo.

 

[parasaurolophus]

What chain? 

I wasnt taking a shot at you. I didnt think your farm dog was on a chain. You were relating a story from your past to this situation. I was merely trying to point out what I figured was the biggest difference between your scenario and msudaisy's.  

 

[Buckychudd]

My issue isn't the dog itself but consideration of the neighbors.  If you live in the country or have a ton of land. Great let your dogs out.  If you live in surburbia where you have 1/3 or 1/4 acre lots with people stacked on top of each other that's the issue.  If your dog is mellow and not a barker then cool but many people don't realize how obnoxious some dogs can be.  Like Furley mentioned earlier some dogs seem chill then bark at every person or car that goes by.  That's the issue imo.

Totally agree.  That's the reason I don't leave my dogs out.  I didn't think that was the issue here though.

 

[General Malaise]

This is true, some cities will not allow fences. Some HOA's won't allow them. We don't have this problem here at our current house, but as I said before we aren't building a fence.

That's bizarre.  Why wouldn't you want a fence for privacy?  

 

[Weebs210]

Is your husband @Jayrod he knows all about leaving dogs outside all day.

 

[Ron Swanson]

She used to for sure. We had Animal control called on us at our old houses several times. Had to show the cops or the Animal control person the doggie door and show them that the dog wanted to be outside. It was the worst, because we would call the dog inside to show the cop that everything is okay and the doggie door worked.  So the dog would come running through the door and see a new person and of course the new person was only here to play with her. So at 11 pm at night the dog would get all fired up and then we would have to calm her down or she would be outside barking all night because she was ready to play.

This dog would lose her mind if she was in the house for more than an hour at a time when she was younger, start barking and whining or scratching at doors. Now she wants to be inside all the time, no matter what. When you have someone allergic though it is hard to do, plus she is 14 and can't go but a couple of hours without doing her business.

This is new info that might be persuasive enough to bump you down a slot or two on the Swanson Scale toward the good dog owner side.

I mean, this clearly shows that your dog does like being outside, and as long as it had plenty of shade and water, I think it was fine.

Wait...you've had Animal Control called on you at another residence?  Multiple times? And multiple locations?  Down the scale you go.

1. Mike Vick

2. Cruella Deville

3. 

4. MSUDaisy

5. Pavlov

6.

7.

8.

10. ChemicalX

 

[culdeus]

I do think having the dog on a chain, rather than in a fenced yard is a trigger for dog owners.  I skimmed most of the posts after seeing that, but I'm going to guess this is the root cause of the issue.  The neighbor(s) don't think this is appropriate, and it may have little to do with having the dog outside.  A fenced dog in that situation may not get the call.  

 

[Chemical X]

Wait...you've had Animal Control called on you at another residence?  Multiple times? And multiple locations?  Down the scale you go.

1. Mike Vick

2. Cruella Deville

3. 

4. MSUDaisy

5. Pavlov

6.

7.

8.

10. ChemicalX

just a thought, many vets and boarders offer a doggy day care program.  not saying all the time, but maybe once a week, bring your dog in for a break?  my vet just renovated with water misters and astro turf.  for 360- i get 20 visits.  18- for a day of playing and me not worrying about some dope leaving me a nastygram is more than reasonable.  heck, dog walkers around here charge 25- for like a 20 minute mid day walk.

does this move me on the list?

 

[msudaisy26]

That's bizarre.  Why wouldn't you want a fence for privacy?  

We don't want one. There only a couple of people with fences in our neighborhood. All of our neighbors are great except for her. 

 

[msudaisy26]

Wait...you've had Animal Control called on you at another residence?  Multiple times?   Down the scale you go.

Yeah, the first house we bought had a fenced in back yard and a doggie door when we moved in. So the dog  would roam the back yard and come in when she pleased. A few different times the cops or animal control would show up and ask why our dog was outside with the wind chill in the negative degrees. We would then have to show the person the doggie door and explain it. It took 3 or 4 visits before the calls stopped or animal control figured out who we were and they just ignored the calls. 

 

[Kraft...]

heck, dog walkers around here charge 25- for like a 20 minute mid day walk.

My kids walk our neighbors dog for $10 and I thought that was a lot 

 

[msudaisy26]

I do think having the dog on a chain, rather than in a fenced yard is a trigger for dog owners.  I skimmed most of the posts after seeing that, but I'm going to guess this is the root cause of the issue.  The neighbor(s) don't think this is appropriate, and it may have little to do with having the dog outside.  A fenced dog in that situation may not get the call.  

You might be right here, but a fence just isn't feasible. 

1. I will just get the mean fact out of the way first. Fences aren't cheap, and she is 14 years old and will be 15 in November. Building a fence for a yearish isn't something we want to do. 
   
2. We live on a lake with a weird lot. We aren't going to fence in the back yard and cut off the yard from the lake. 
   
3. This dog still digs massive holes, like 2 feet deep. So you have to get the fence far enough down that she won't dig under and I am not sure that is possible without hitting water because of the lake. 
   
4. The dog doesn't see or hear very well at her age. When we do take her outside in the yard and she is off the chain she almost always wanders into the road. If she dug under the fence or our kid or a neighbor kid left the gate open she would wander off and may get hit by a car. 
   

 

[msudaisy26]

just a thought, many vets and boarders offer a doggy day care program.  not saying all the time, but maybe once a week, bring your dog in for a break?  my vet just renovated with water misters and astro turf.  for 360- i get 20 visits.  18- for a day of playing and me not worrying about some dope leaving me a nastygram is more than reasonable.  heck, dog walkers around here charge 25- for like a 20 minute mid day walk.

does this move me on the list?

The doggy day care could be an option, but the walking really isn't. She just won't do it anymore. We have tried taking her for a walk and she doesn't make it to the end of the street and she just sits there refusing to move. She will get 1 or 2 times around the outside of the house and she is done. 

 

[Chemical X]

The doggy day care could be an option, but the walking really isn't. She just won't do it anymore. We have tried taking her for a walk and she doesn't make it to the end of the street and she just sits there refusing to move. She will get 1 or 2 times around the outside of the house and she is done. 

the old dog blues......

 

[General Malaise]

We don't want one. There only a couple of people with fences in our neighborhood. All of our neighbors are great except for her. 

I get it.  I just think it's strange.  I also think it's strange that nobody I know in Michigan has one.  But if you don't grow up with them, then I suppose it's normal. 

I like my neighbors.  I don't want to see them when I'm in my backyard and I don't want them to see me either.  

 

[Ron Swanson]

just a thought, many vets and boarders offer a doggy day care program.  not saying all the time, but maybe once a week, bring your dog in for a break?  my vet just renovated with water misters and astro turf.  for 360- i get 20 visits.  18- for a day of playing and me not worrying about some dope leaving me a nastygram is more than reasonable.  heck, dog walkers around here charge 25- for like a 20 minute mid day walk.

does this move me on the list?

Sorry, GB but you have reached your maximum potential. I wish I was a dog in your house.

 

[Chemical X]

Sorry, GB but you have reached your maximum potential. I wish I was a dog in your house.

Not the first person who has said they'd like to be reborn as my dog.  Well, until we start spooning that is.

 

[Jayrod]

Is your husband @Jayrod he knows all about leaving dogs outside all day.

<_<   Since no one seems to remember this part of that whole ordeal.

And BTW, it has been 3 years since we got Moose.  He is a well integrated member of the family.

 

[Weebs210]

<_<   Since no one seems to remember this part of that whole ordeal.

And BTW, it has been 3 years since we got Moose.  He is a well integrated member of the family.

I know. For some reason I still like to bring it up. Hope moose is doing well.

 

[Vanilla Guerrilla]

Not the first person who has said they'd like to be reborn as my dog.  Well, until we start spooning that is.

I'd consider it when you get escalators or a doggy elevator installed.  No way, as a dog, am I walking up a flight of stairs.  It's inhumane.

 

[Chemical X]

I'd consider it when you get escalators or a doggy elevator installed.  No way, as a dog, am I walking up a flight of stairs.  It's inhumane.

you know, 50 years ago when we didn’t have stairs, i’m pretty sure dogs did fine.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

UPDATED:

1. Mike Vick

2. Cruella Deville

3. Jayrod

4. MSUDaisy

5. Pavlov

6.

7.

8.

10. ChemicalX

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

.

 

[nirad3]

I pulled two pit bulls' jaws off my black lab about 7 years ago in my backyard.  Does that get me on the list?  

 

[msudaisy26]

I was hoping I wouldn't have to update this thread, but here I am and animal control was called again today. It is a robust 67 degrees here today, the dog has been outside for most of the day with the exception of a 2 hour period this morning when I brought her in because it looked like it was going to rain. 

The person from animal control came out at about 5 pm and knocked on the door. Same person from the other day. She said "Hi, it is me again" she apologized and said they calls are getting belligerent, her words.  She walked out back looked at our dog and left in about 30 seconds. 

It is getting to point where we are debating on what to do with the dog. No one will adopt a 14 year old dog, we arent going to invest money in a fence we don't want and doesn't fit with the landscape of the house. We took her to the vet back in late June and the vet said she is old, but she is healthy and happy. Man this sucks. 

 

[nirad3]

I was hoping I wouldn't have to update this thread, but here I am and animal control was called again today. It is a robust 67 degrees here today, the dog has been outside for most of the day with the exception of a 2 hour period this morning when I brought her in because it looked like it was going to rain. 

The person from animal control came out at about 5 pm and knocked on the door. Same person from the other day. She said "Hi, it is me again" she apologized and said they calls are getting belligerent, her words.  She walked out back looked at our dog and left in about 30 seconds. 

It is getting to point where we are debating on what to do with the dog. No one will adopt a 14 year old dog, we arent going to invest money in a fence we don't want and doesn't fit with the landscape of the house. We took her to the vet back in late June and the vet said she is old, but she is healthy and happy. Man this sucks. 

At this point I would go over to the neighbor and read them the effin' riot act.  

 

[DocHolliday]

I was hoping I wouldn't have to update this thread, but here I am and animal control was called again today. It is a robust 67 degrees here today, the dog has been outside for most of the day with the exception of a 2 hour period this morning when I brought her in because it looked like it was going to rain. 

The person from animal control came out at about 5 pm and knocked on the door. Same person from the other day. She said "Hi, it is me again" she apologized and said they calls are getting belligerent, her words.  She walked out back looked at our dog and left in about 30 seconds. 

It is getting to point where we are debating on what to do with the dog. No one will adopt a 14 year old dog, we arent going to invest money in a fence we don't want and doesn't fit with the landscape of the house. We took her to the vet back in late June and the vet said she is old, but she is healthy and happy. Man this sucks. 

You don't do anything with the dog.  Animal control is going to eventually question the person making the calls.  

 

[ProstheticRGK]

Yeah, the first house we bought had a fenced in back yard and a doggie door when we moved in. So the dog  would roam the back yard and come in when she pleased. A few different times the cops or animal control would show up and ask why our dog was outside with the wind chill in the negative degrees. We would then have to show the person the doggie door and explain it. It took 3 or 4 visits before the calls stopped or animal control figured out who we were and they just ignored the calls. 

I'm not saying you're at fault, and I don't think you're a poor dog owner, but if you've had animal control called on you repeatedly at two different residences, maybe some introspection in how you deal with your neighbors is in order? This probably comes across as harsh, but is meant more practically. Look at what you have control over that you can change.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to update this thread, but here I am and animal control was called again today. It is a robust 67 degrees here today, the dog has been outside for most of the day with the exception of a 2 hour period this morning when I brought her in because it looked like it was going to rain. 

The person from animal control came out at about 5 pm and knocked on the door. Same person from the other day. She said "Hi, it is me again" she apologized and said they calls are getting belligerent, her words.  She walked out back looked at our dog and left in about 30 seconds. 

It is getting to point where we are debating on what to do with the dog. No one will adopt a 14 year old dog, we arent going to invest money in a fence we don't want and doesn't fit with the landscape of the house. We took her to the vet back in late June and the vet said she is old, but she is healthy and happy. Man this sucks. 

Ignore the Animal Control visits. You're not doing anything wrong, and they're already figuring out where the trouble is. Just be aware that this neighbor will eventually get to calling someone else about another issue, once they figure out Animal Control is a dead end for them. Not reacting to passive-aggressive behavior takes all the power out of it, and keeps your mental health sound.

 

[Mile High]

I was hoping I wouldn't have to update this thread, but here I am and animal control was called again today. It is a robust 67 degrees here today, the dog has been outside for most of the day with the exception of a 2 hour period this morning when I brought her in because it looked like it was going to rain. 

The person from animal control came out at about 5 pm and knocked on the door. Same person from the other day. She said "Hi, it is me again" she apologized and said they calls are getting belligerent, her words.  She walked out back looked at our dog and left in about 30 seconds. 

It is getting to point where we are debating on what to do with the dog. No one will adopt a 14 year old dog, we arent going to invest money in a fence we don't want and doesn't fit with the landscape of the house. We took her to the vet back in late June and the vet said she is old, but she is healthy and happy. Man this sucks. 

Was your dog on a chain if so there's the deal.

 

[msudaisy26]

Was your dog on a chain if so there's the deal.

Yes, we have no fence and she wouldn't just stay in the yard. 

 

[Cowboysfan8]

At this point I would go over to the neighbor and read them the effin' riot act.  

 

[parasaurolophus]

Yes, we have no fence and she wouldn't just stay in the yard. 

People tether their dogs for a variety of reasons. Most people who do this are unaware of the harm it can cause to their dogs. Social norms of pet-keeping have made tethering unpopular, so it is declining as a practice, but some reasons people do it include:

The dog is a repeat escapee and the owner has run out of ideas to safely confine the dog. Sometimes this is the reason dogs are kept on heavier chains—they have chewed through or otherwise escaped lighter tethers and the owner is trying to keep them from getting loose.

The owner is trying to protect his dog from something on the other side of their fence (kids, another dog, etc.) by keeping the dog in one area in the yard.

The owner's fence is damaged, or the owner doesn't have a fenced yard.

The dog's behavior makes keeping him indoors challenging, and the owner doesn't know how to correct the behavior.

The landlord may not allow the pet owner to keep the dog indoors or install a fence.

The pet owner comes from a family that always tethered dogs, and may never have realized there were better options.

This has been mentioned, but chaining a dog up all day is actually illegal in many places. It is a despised practice by pretty much every humane society in the country. I thought that your neighbor called just because it was hot one day and your dog happened to be outside for a while barking or something.

If this dog is outside 12 hours a day on a chain, you will keep getting animal control called on you and not just from her. If they are still coming and checking on the dog they may be checking each time to see if it is chained up. 

 

[msudaisy26]

This has been mentioned, but chaining a dog up all day is actually illegal in many places. It is a despised practice by pretty much every humane society in the country. I thought that your neighbor called just because it was hot one day and your dog happened to be outside for a while barking or something.

If this dog is outside 12 hours a day on a chain, you will keep getting animal control called on you and not just from her. If they are still coming and checking on the dog they may be checking each time to see if it is chained up. 

They were called on us when the dog had an entire 7000 square foot back yard to roam and a doggie door to come inside. 

The animal control person told us it is one person calling over and over. This isn't us being bad dog owners and the whole neighborhood hating us. It is one person that recently moved in. I am guessing she only believes dogs should be in the house and only let out to play and do their business. That is fine for her, but it doesn't work for us and our dog is healthy and happy.

 

[Johnny Rock]

It’s time to talk to her. 

“Hey what’s up? I was wondering why you keep calling Animal Control on us?”

Civil conversation ensues and it’s over. If it happened again, repeat the above. 

 

[mr. furley]

It’s time to talk to her. 

“Hey what’s up? I was wondering why you keep calling Animal Control on us?”\

bring a pistol just in case

 

[Hot Diggity Dog]

So it has been almost 4 years since we moved into out current house and we love it. For the first time ever we had great neighbors, we go on vacations with them, have parties with them, all our kids get along, we all take turns watching each others kids or pets when someone goes on vacation or for a night out. 

A little over a year ago the house across the street sold and we got new neighbors. We introduced ourselves, but didn't hit it off with them like the rest of the neighborhood and they just don't really hang out with the rest of the neighbors. 

At first they would let their dogs out to go to the bathroom and they would run into our yard and do their business. My husband went over and asked them to please clean it up. They came over and cleaned it up, but never cleaned it up again.  It got to the point my husband would go outside with a shovel and scoop it up and dump it into their yard. 

Now in the last 9 months they have called animal control on us at least 5 times.  We know it is them, because the calls never happened before they moved in, they are the only ones home during the day, other than myself, and one of the times the woman that lives there had company over and her sister and her kids were in our yard playing with our dog while the cops where there after they called animal control. 

Fast forward to today, it is 92 degrees here and our dog has been inside all day. Around noon I put her outside to do her business and clean the area she stays in because she sheds a lot. So in the 45 minutes to an hour she was outside animal control was called and showed up to ask why the dog was out in the heat.  The animal control person actually told me this was the second call on us today. They got a call at 6 am this morning and they came out and there was no dog to check on because the dog was in the house. 

I have no idea how to deal with this and not make a mess of the situation. My husband is ready to go over there and yell at this women. She is literally calling animal control to harass us. The 5 times is the number of times animal control has come out. How many more times has this person called and they came out early in the morning or late at night, like this morning when the dog wasn't outside or maybe we weren't home and nothing was wrong. Is there anything we can do? Is there a point where animal control has to tell them to leave us alone?

An unknown neighbor was doing this to us and the police and animal control stop taking their calls because they wouldn't leave their name.  Animal control officer came out twice and I think drove by a couple more, said from this point unless they get evidence, video or otherwise, of the alleged incessant barking they are not going to respond any more or bother us again.  We get anonymous notes every so often complaining about our dog, but no name.  ? Police said keep the notes and you might have a case for harassment since animal control has determined our dog is not an excessive barker.  

I would definitely talk to the animal control officer and then their boss if they don't respond by stopping coming out on obvious bs calls.  

 

[Jayded]

Time to talk to her, nicely.

If that doesn’t stop it, buy an attorney friend a beer and have him/her nudge the neighbor “nicely.”

 

[mr roboto]

That's bizarre.  Why wouldn't you want a fence for privacy?  

Here in Minnesota fenced yards are rare. 

 

[ILUVBEER99]

Time to talk to her, nicely.

If that doesn’t stop it, buy an attorney friend a beer and have him/her nudge the neighbor “nicely.”

Nope.  The neighbor obviously isn't rational.  Zero good can come from trying to talk to her nicely.

If the neighbor really had an issue with the dog they would have discussed it with Daisy before calling animal control.

If their first reaction to seeing a dog outside is to call animal control they aren't someone you can have a civil convo with.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

They were called on us when the dog had an entire 7000 square foot back yard to roam and a doggie door to come inside. 

The animal control person told us it is one person calling over and over. This isn't us being bad dog owners and the whole neighborhood hating us. It is one person that recently moved in. I am guessing she only believes dogs should be in the house and only let out to play and do their business. That is fine for her, but it doesn't work for us and our dog is healthy and happy.

At what point is the animal control board going to tell said person that they have looked into the matter and the dog is fine?  Hell, the police do that with people.  

 

[msudaisy26]

At what point is the animal control board going to tell said person that they have looked into the matter and the dog is fine?  Hell, the police do that with people.  

I don't know. I just put the dog out this morning and she will be out for a few hours at least. 

 

[nysfl2]

I don't know. I just put the dog out this morning and she will be out for a few hours at least. 

You monster!!!!

 

[msudaisy26]

I am fully expecting a visit from animal control today. 

 

[Johnny Rock]

I am fully expecting a visit from animal control today. 

Bring them with to talk sense to the neighbor, i.e., there is nothing wrong with how msudaisy26 is treating her dog. We will not be responding to future complaints from you. Please stop harassing her or we’ll need to get the authorities involved. 

 

[Cjw_55106]

Here in Minnesota fenced yards are rare. 

 

[D-Day]

The dog is old, and it is time to put her down.  It may be best to have your vet come do this at your home... in the front yard.  Make sure you send your neighbor and animal control a little invitation beforehand.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Have you considered putting a sandwich board on the Dog?  "I'm fine, no need to Call Animal Control".

 

[mr roboto]

 I live in the Chicago area for 10 years and everybody fenced their yards in.  It is a lot less prevalent in a majority of the Twin Cities than many other parts of the country.

 

[Osaurus]

Have you considered putting a sandwich board on the Dog?  "I'm fine, no need to Call Animal Control".

This would be awesome

 

[Chemical X]

restraining order