...................................

[goofyforlife]

What can these people do? Is there any way they can make her relinguish the dog?

They can't make her relinquish the dog unless there are unsafe living conditions. (the dog's not the neighborhood's) even then it is up to local animal control to enforce something like that.

They can talk pretty frankly to the women and explain that the dog would be much better off in a secure yard with more supervision and definately more training.

In the end most people decide that turning their dog over is the easier road to go down.

 

[Fairy Dust]

Can you not suggest your neighbour gets her dogs muzzled when they are outside?


Here's a picture, in case they are called something else in the States.

 

[olena]

I have an idea that no one else has mentioned yet.
Got any newspapers up in your neck of the woods? Hmmmmm...

agnes!

Maybe a smaller rural publication would take this up at this point, but if any drama blows up or, God forbid, an attack or biting incident happens, then there possibly would be more media interest. At this point, I wouldn't involve them yet. I'd give the authorities a chance to address this with the owner and give her a chance to remedy the situation.

I wonder about her homeowners insurance policy. If she has to make a claim regarding the dog, they'll drop her like a hot potato.

 

[C.Ann]

I have an idea that no one else has mentioned yet.
Got any newspapers up in your neck of the woods? Hmmmmm...

agnes!

------------------------------

The two "real" newspapers are from towns over 20 miles away.. The most we have here is a little monthly newsletter that tells you that:

"Bertha Gimrod celebrated her 90th birthday on the 1st of April.. In attendance were her 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.. Mildred Wigmeyer provided her fabulous red velvet cake for the occasion - a favorite with the locals at the yearly Resuce Squad Bake Sale and Chinese Auction.."

and...

"Mrs. Grainys 3rd grade class had the honor of spending an afternoon at Wilbur Creeches dairy/chicken farm on Tuesday. After learning about the workings of a dairy/chicken farm, each child was presented with a fresh egg to take home.........."

Not exactly a big-time "news" oriented publication - although it does make for great reading!!

 

[C.Ann]

Just make sure to leave the car in "drive" in case you need to bolt.

--------------------------------------------------

Are you suggesting that I do a "drive-by photo shoot"???

 

[laurie31]

--------------------------------------------------

Are you suggesting that I do a "drive-by photo shoot"???

My FIL is a professional photographer, and he refers to taking pictures as "shooting" but he now has to be careful. He does school photographs and if he slips and says something like "I shot 500 kids yesterday" he gets some weird looks!

 

[Pigeon]

Maybe I missed it, but have you called the woman and explained that this is totally unacceptable?

 

[C.Ann]

.........................

 

[becjlek]

If you decide to take pictures, take more than one so you can document that it is a daily thing and not just a one time thing. I would also keep a journal of any problems or any time you see the dogs out. Date and document everything so if the authorities decide to intervene you have something concrete to show them.

 

[java]

File a complaint with animal control right now. And if you see the dog out and about - call them they will come out and pick up the dog. If the dogs are outside without water- they will pick up the dog. A non-secured dog- they will take the dog. (I am in NJ)
We have a neighbor with an Akita. He got out and attacked a neighbor and his dog. It was considered first offense for the dog. So nothing happened to the dog!!!! The owners were sued. That is still going on now. (Makes for interesting HOA meetings) Irresponsible dog owners drive me crazy.
Good luck with those dogs.
I have only had funny experiences with great danes. Growing up the people down the block had 2 of them. And a 6 foot chain link fence.- that the dogs could jump right over no problem. So they got out all the time. And they would run into our backyard (where all the kids were playing hide and seek) And this giant dog would sit behind a tiny tiny bush and think nobody could see him. These were gentle dogs. All depends on the owner.

 

[Disney Doll]

The obedience school instructor we took our dog to when we first got him always used to say "There are no such things as bad dogs, only bad owners".

This person is a bad dog owner. She thnks she is being a good one, but she really isn't. I'd keep calling everyone you can C.Ann, until everyone in the county is notified, you have a paper trail a mile long, and I'd make sure that everyone knew that if something happened, you would be sure to let the media know that all the town and county officials knew of this threat and did nothing.

 

[dzorn]

The only advice I have is document everything.

The woman is nuts.

Densie in MI

 

[Pigeon]

I don't have her number - I don't even know her last name..

OK. What strikes me is that you need to get the ball back in her court. She thinks that because she left you with a note saying you should never leave your house again, her bases are covered. I'd want her to understand that her little plan of converting the neighborhood into a hermitage is a non-starter.

Property ownership is public record. You can find out what her name is from your town hall. If she's in the book, you could call.

 

[Daxx]

C. Ann -- you HAVE to do something. I wish I knew who to tell you to contact, but being cooped up in your house, being afraid to go out if the dogs *might* be out, etc. is not the way anyone should have to live. The "biter" should be kept in the heavy-duty pen that you described and only be in that pen when someone is home to be sure nothing happens.

This is an insane situation and you really need to do something about it!!! I wish I had some advice on where to go and who to turn to. Good luck to you!

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Okay, I'll admit it, I haven't read the entire thread. But.....has anyone tried actually "talking" to this woman? You know, neighbor to neighbor? Maybe you could get to know her and find out the situation...biter, mauler, barker. Then explain to her about the grandchildren and nicely let her know that the dog running around, even accidentally, is not an option and suggest (in a nice way) alternatives.
I just got hauled to court over a neighbor claiming my dogs were barking. She lives an entire street away. Not one single neighbor around me has complained and I've gone door to door asking if there was a problem and offering to make things right if there was....not one single complaint....even from the people I share fences with. But she, for whatever reason, has decided to target me. Has she ever said a single word to me face to face? Nope!
Be the better person here and check out the entire story before running to the law enforcement.

ETA: Okay, went back to page 6 and read some. Does sound crazy but I would still talk first. If you think this makes bad neighbors, just try getting the law involved instead of talking first. There's very little "going back" once you go there.

 

[LadyBears]

What about your local tv station - the major ones here all have a community segment.

Have you tried the state police?? Since you don't have a full time local department, perhaps "going over their heads" could help??

edited to add: I mean call & file a complaint with the staties now BEFORE an incident has a chance to happen. Maybe even next time they are in the wanna-be fence, call for noise disturbance & they can see for themselves when they get out there.

 

[LadyBears]

Okay, I'll admit it, I haven't read the entire thread. But.....has anyone tried actually "talking" to this woman? You know, neighbor to neighbor? Maybe you could get to know her and find out the situation...biter, mauler, barker. Then explain to her about the grandchildren and nicely let her know that the dog running around, even accidentally, is not an option and suggest (in a nice way) alternatives.
I just got hauled to court over a neighbor claiming my dogs were barking. She lives an entire street away. Not one single neighbor around me has complained and I've gone door to door asking if there was a problem and offering to make things right if there was....not one single complaint....even from the people I share fences with. But she, for whatever reason, has decided to target me. Has she ever said a single word to me face to face? Nope!
Be the better person here and check out the entire story before running to the law enforcement.

ETA: Okay, went back to page 6 and read some. Does sound crazy but I would still talk first. If you think this makes bad neighbors, just try getting the law involved instead of talking first. There's very little "going back" once you go there.

I know you said you did not read everything. C.Ann has posted further about this. I don't think that talking civilized to the neighbor will do any good!!

------------------------------

The dog already "got out" - one evening last week - thus her warning to my son-in-law when she saw him this weekend..

Then on Saturday, she was "walking" both dogs up the road further, saw a child playing out in his yard and screamed to the parents to "get him inside"..
I wasn't even aware of that situation until 5 minutes ago when I called my DD to see if she could remember this woman's last name (DD and her family had spent the weekend at a friends place up the road)..

So, no - we're not a "bunch of babies" - we're not "overreacting" - and we're not talking about a dog that "might" get out - he/she already has..

If she felt the need to approach my son-in-law, felt the need to tell parents to get their child inside, and felt the need to leave a note on my door, do you honestly think she did this because she has the dog totally under control and it's only a "remote" possibility that he'll get out or attack someone?

The dog is clearly a dangerous animal - one that she is not able to control or contain - and she is obviously aware of it, thus all the "warnings"..

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I know you said you did not read everything. C.Ann has posted further about this. I don't think that talking civilized to the neighbor will do any good!!

Gotcha....I rescind my earlier post.

 

[zippeedee]

I haven't read the whole thread, but it sounds like this dog could be a danger to the owner as well. If she can't control it, there's a chance it could turn on her too. Very scary! This whole mess is bad for both the people involved AND the dog.
Good luck C.Ann. I hope someone up there can do something before someone gets hurt.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

Libraries have special phonebooks that are organized by street and when you find the street, look down the list of house numbrers till you get your neighbor. That way you can try calling her.

Or maybe try this http://www.whitepages.com/10583/reverse_address link. It may help you get her phone number.