What would you do about this situation?

[Wasatch Rebel]

There are some people who live sort of across the street from me who can't seem to control their dog. Oh they've thrown up some metal sheeting and some bricks around the bottom of their chain link fence to keep him in, but it's not working. This dog is always coming over to my house (and all the houses on my street) scaring my cat up onto the roof, and barking. I've had to get the ladder out several times to get my cat down off the roof. Last night, I had gone to sleep at around 10:15 and I woke up an hour later to loud barking. I knew the dog was out there, so I grabbed a long stick to scare it with, or hit it with if it turned on me, and ran outside. It heard me coming and took off, but then I was wide awake again and it took me a long time to fall back asleep.
So, should I call animal control or what? Suggestions, advice, comments?

[TreeHugger]

First, you should talk to the owners, that's fair. Then, if the situation doesnt improve make a formal complaint with animal control.

[Sombeech]

Just make sure you have some way to prove it if it ever gets into a disagreement.

Take your camcorder out each time he's barking, note the time, and just keep a log of the instances.

[derstuka]

Talking to people who let their pet behave like that (I bet they know it, but just don't care) are not going to give a rat's ass if you talk to them. I'm generalizing, but a similar thing has happened to me more than once, and talking did not one bit of good besides show me what an a-hole my neighbors were. Go for it, but don't expect much I guess. I say to call the pound, or police. Like was mentioned, trying video-taping as well.

[derstuka]

Pepperspray works wonders as well! :naughty: :2thumbs:

[savanna3313]

Just curious, are the people who own the dog at home when this happens? The reason I ask is because my sister and her husband own 2 dogs that are very sweet natured and lovable, but whenever they left to go out to dinner or wherever for a few hours at a time, the dogs would bark and howl (one is a giant blood hound who really can howl) just about the entire time they were gone. Of course, when they arrived home, the dogs were just fine and quiet. Until a neighbor approached and let them know that this was happening, they had no clue. They purchased a new form of bark collar which is more humane than the ones that shock the dog when it barks. This type emits some sort of herbal spray that isn't harmful to the animal, but the dogs don't like the smell or taste. Therefore, it has stopped the barking and howling.

As stated in earlier comments, you won't know until you approach your neighbor. Don't wait until you're totally po'd one night either. It's usually best to discuss something like this when you're calm. :nod:

[Glockguy]

Antifreeze

[icthys]

I'd first talk with the neighbor's if you haven't. Make sure they know what your plans are if the dog continue's to run rampant.

If I started seeing the dog again I'd get a live trap and call the pound once the dog was in the trap. Let the owners pay to get the dog out. I believe if they have to pick the dog up so many times from the pound the pound won't release the dog back to the owner.

[accadacca]

I HATE loud dogs!!! I have this problem at my place. I really think that if the owner cares they will do something before someone has to TELL them. I mean it is common sense and common courtesy. If they are home and know that the dog is barking, then chances are they could care less that it may be bothering people. I have called before and am planning to call again. Talking to the owners first just lets them know that it was you that called on them later. :lol8:

[rockgremlin]

Talking to the owners first just lets them know that it was you that called on them later. :lol8:

EXACTLY!!

I tend to go for the more direct and fool-proof method:

Keep some treats ready for when the dog is out on the prowl in your neighborhood. When the wandering fleabag enters your yard discreetly toss a few treats out to him to enjoy. Don't let anybody see you do this. Which treats are most effective? Usually bacon dipped in rat poison or gopher poison, but other meat/poison combos work just as well. :2thumbs:

[price1869]

Sling shot.

[TreeHugger]

Keep some treats ready for when the dog is out on the prowl in your neighborhood. When the wandering fleabag enters your yard discreetly toss a few treats out to him to enjoy. Don't let anybody see you do this. Which treats are most effective? Usually bacon dipped in rat poison or gopher poison, but other meat/poison combos work just as well. :2thumbs:[/quote]

It's not the dog's fault he has a crappy owner. Sure, just kill the dog. geez. And yes, you should talk to the owner first, dont assume that they dont care, you never know. My friend had a really hard time with her neighbor's dog barking all the time, was getting frustrated and was trying to decide what to do.... finally she decided to go talk with the owner, turns out the owner is deaf (true story) and couldnt hear the dog. Then she started training the dog herself not to bark and all is fine now.

After you talk to the dog owner and it still doesnt change, then do something about it (besides harm the dog) that way the owner cant plead ignorance or turn it around or whatever, they've been warned.[/quote]

[savanna3313]

It's not the dog's fault he has a crappy owner. Sure, just kill the dog. geez. And yes, you should talk to the owner first, dont assume that they dont care, you never know. My friend had a really hard time with her neighbor's dog barking all the time, was getting frustrated and was trying to decide what to do.... finally she decided to go talk with the owner, turns out the owner is deaf (true story) and couldnt hear the dog. Then she started training the dog herself not to bark and all is fine now.

After you talk to the dog owner and it still doesnt change, then do something about it (besides harm the dog) that way the owner cant plead ignorance or turn it around or whatever, they've been warned.

Agreed. Poisoning the animal is not the answer and it's a very cruel way of killing it as well. They suffer horribly. It would be much more humane just to have it picked up by the SPCA if the aggravation doesn't stop. At least it would have a chance.

[rockgremlin]

BTW, my advice of poisoning the dog was in jest.

Murder is not the answer... :nono:

I thought you guys knew me better than that. :ne_nau:

[DickHead]

Antifreeze

Besides being Illegal, cruel, and ill-intentioned, that's a bad idea. Its not the dog's fault, its the owners that can't control it.
During normal hours, call animal control. During off hours, call the police non-emergency line. Keep a log of every instance. Call animal control the next morning and report the incident.
How big is the dog? You can 'rent' live animal traps from animal controls for a refundable deposit. Catch the damn thing and have animal control pick it up the next day.

[Wasatch Rebel]

Oh, they already know about the problem and they're home when it happens. They've seen me out there with a stick chasing their dog, and they've seen me climb the ladder to get the cat. They make half-hearted attempts at times to get their dog, but sometimes I see two of them (there seems to be at least five teens to adults living there) making out in the driveway as the dog rampages through the neighborhood. I've seen at least one of the people socializing with suspected gang members down the street, people who have graffiti inside their garage that looks like gang tags. For this reason I'm hesitant to do much, not because I can't take care of myself--but because my wife is at home alone a lot and I have other family that could be injured if the gang members decide to get involved. If it was just me--I'd march right up to the house, tell them to keep their dog confined or else I'd be calling Animal Control.

Well, at least they have it confined for now. I'm hoping that they've gotten the message through me glaring over at them yesterday.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

[Sombeech]

Antifreeze

Besides being Illegal, cruel, and ill-intentioned, that's a bad idea. Its not the dog's fault, its the owners that can't control it.


Give the owners antifreeze.

[savanna3313]

BTW, my advice of poisoning the dog was in jest.

Murder is not the answer... :nono:

I thought you guys knew me better than that. :ne_nau:

I'm glad to know this. :nod: I will throw away the voodoo "familiar" I made of you earlier today. :twisted: btw......hope you didn't feel any unfamiliar pain twinges or spasms..... :lol8:

That's a JOKE now....ok? :haha:

[savanna3313]

Give the owners antifreeze.


:2thumbs:

[live2ride]

I would just call and complain every time that the dog keeps you up, sooner or later they will get a visit by the fuzz or animal controll. It might be best to stay anonymous becuase I would think that other neighbors are being bothered in the same way. Then you aren't putting yourself out there being that "guy" who always calls the cops or what not.

[price1869]

or really, just us a sling shot or a paint ball gun. the dog won't come in your yard anymore. It hurts, but he'll learn after a couple rounds, and it's certainly not going to be fatal. (don't shoot him with steel, or in the head) You'd be surprised what a paintball will motivate.

[Wasatch Rebel]

or really, just us a sling shot or a paint ball gun. the dog won't come in your yard anymore. It hurts, but he'll learn after a couple rounds, and it's certainly not going to be fatal. (don't shoot him with steel, or in the head) You'd be surprised what a paintball will motivate.

I like that idea. I'll have to stop at the store for that today!


Give the owners antifreeze.

Now that's a thought!! :2thumbs:

[DickHead]

Another question:
Does your cat leave your property?

[Wasatch Rebel]

Not very often, and when she does, she rarely trees dogs. The only time I've seen her off my property is when I've been across the street getting the mail and she runs out to meet me (stupid cat).

[accadacca]

Usually bacon dipped in rat poison or gopher poison, but other meat/poison combos work just as well. :2thumbs:
:roflol:

[DirkHammergate]

Antifreeze

Wasn't this Ben's solution to illegal immigration too?

[rockgremlin]

Antifreeze

Wasn't this Ben's solution to illegal immigration too?

:roflol:

BTW, I like the paintball gun idea, but I'm pretty sure there's some law against firing those inside city limits too.

And even if there isn't a law against it, how do you think your gangsta neighbors are gonna take to you shooting at their dog?

An alternate solution may come in a product called the "Scarecrow."

The "Scarecrow" is an ingenious little device that repels all kinds of animals from your yard. Your cat might not care much for it though.More info here: http://contech-inc.com/Contech/products/

....and Savanna -- I didn't feel any pains, but I kept feeling these "tickling" sensations all throughout the day. :lol8:

[Wasatch Rebel]

an alternate solution may come in a product called the "Scarecrow."

Those are pretty cool tools and once our cat is no longer with us, I'm going to invest in something like that to keep unwanted animals out of my yard. I think there's also some kind of ultrasonic "fence" that you can get and border your yard. That might be worth me looking into.

And Jamis Jockey's point is well-taken--I definitely need to look in the mirror now and then, as do most cat owners whose cats roam into other yards, bothering dogs and fighting with other cats, and other sundry things. I believe Utah law is that cats are exempt from keeping them confined, but they must be up to date on shots and licensed. Cats can climb any fence and get out of any yard, unless they're confined to the house. Notwithstanding Utah law though, that shouldn't and doesn't have any bearing on common courtesy--and all animal owners should have that.

[James_B_Wads2000]

An alternate solution may come in a product called the "Scarecrow."

The "Scarecrow" is an ingenious little device that repels all kinds of animals from your yard. Your cat might not care much for it though.More info here: http://contech-inc.com/Contech/products/

I am thinking the mailman wouldn't like it either. Come to think of it neither would the neighborhood kids or the Mormon missionaries.

Hum... how much did you say that thing cost again?

James

[Shan]

Intentionally harming/killing the dog by poisoning it is not the right answer. Whether anyone was joking or not, there are sickos who do this and I don't find it funny.


Firstly, put your cat indoors or else you might find it mauled to death by someone or something.

Secondly, I would call my local animal control office. You can be anonymous also. That is what they are there for. You don't have to take matters into your own hands. Report what you see, give them their address.



I have also caught a dog that I know gets loose often, had AC come pick it up, the AC calls the owners, and the owners have to pay a fee to get him out. Those people didn't want to pay any more fees so they keep their dog inside now. Hopefully your neighbors want their dog!

[moabfool]

BB gun, one pump. My dog trainer told me that. Shoot them in the butt and make sure they're looking away from you or you'll blind them, guaranteed. It won't break the skin, but it'll hurt like a bee sting (ask me how I know :bootyshake: :rifle: ) Make sure they (the dog or the owner) don't know you're the one that shot them either. The pain has to be associated with the act (barking, being in your yard, etc...), not the person.

Oh, it's very illegal so don't let the cops find out either.

[Scott Card]

Children Children, in my younger days I used to ping the poodles from my neighbor's house with my pellet gun on a regular basis. Hated cleaning up after the yapping wretches before I had to mow the lawn. Nothing quite like hitting dogie doo-doo with the mower to turn your stomach. But I digress. Shooting a dog constitutes at least two crimes. Firing a gun in city limits and cruelty to animals. Probably class B misdemeanors punishable by a fine of around $300-500 buck per crime. However, if you intentionally poison an animal, ouch, a Class A misdemeanor. Possible maximum penalty is up to a year in jail and about $4,500.00 max in fines and fees. Likely fine of about 500-1000 and probably commuinty service in lieu of jail time. If the dog ever comes after you???? take it out with confidence. In this situation, best to call the cops. Two reactions from them are they will get sick of you calling and they will cite the owners or you will get chewed out. If the latter happens, just remind the boys in blue that they have a duty to serve and protect and to please contact the neighbors. That usually gets us back to them issuing a citation. Too many citations and the dog goes involuntarily to the clink. :haha: BTW, I have a dog, I like dogs, but if my dog is bothering you, please let me know and I will take care of it. If the problem continues, the dog goes. I sent two dogs off with new owners for misbehavin'. Some people are not like me and better to just call the cops.

[Scott Card]

And oh ya, paint gun bad... easy to track, limited range and kind of like the ink packets in bank bags. If the cops or neighbors really start looking and there is any paint on you or your yard, you are going down.

[Reedus]

X the BB gun idea. I had a 3 month old puppy when I was 7 that got shot in the neck by our neighbor because it was eating their cat food off their porch. The dog died after 4 hours of labored breathing. Tore me up at that age. If your neighbors have kids and you hose their dog, it will tear them up too. Go talk to them peaceably and then go to the authorities.

[Wasatch Rebel]

Firstly, put your cat indoors or else you might find it mauled to death by someone or something.

Shan I agree with everything you said except this. This is also what the Humane Society has wrong and I'll tell you why. Protecting an animal should almost never take precedence over letting it be its natural self. Cats love to hunt and they love being outside to do it. I think it's cruel to keep them from doing that. I've owned several cats in my life, in fact, my family has owned cats my entire life and I'm now 46. Not once has once been killed by another animal, although I'll admit, a few of them have been in fights with other cats, chased by dogs etc. One cat (not mine) that I saw killed had crawled up into the engine compartment of a car unknown to the owners of the cat or car. I think that yes, there are dangers to letting a cat spend some time outdoors (our cat mostly stays indoors), but it's cruel to never let them out. It's like outlawing snowboarding because some people have been killed by avalanches.

[DickHead]

You're wrong. Cats that are allowed to prowl the neighborhood are pests, and feral species. Keep your :frustrated: ing cat on your own :frustrated: ing property. Your cat on my property is no different than your dog. I don't want to smell your cats poop and pee. I don't want your domesticated cat attacking and killing wild animals on my property. I don't want your cat walking on my cars.
Don't give me that shit about the cat being in its natural state. Cats have been domesticated since the time of Pharohs in egypt. Unless you live on a freaking farm and need cats for mice control, I don't want to hear it.
At least tell me the cat's fixed. That will almost make me feel better.







KEEP YOUR ANIMALS ON YOUR OWN DAMN PROPERTY!

[savanna3313]

Cats, dogs, gerbils - whatever. Just be a responsible pet owner. My cat is strictly indoors because I never want to drive home, look over at the curb, and see my cat smashed flat in the road. I see such way too often.
As a kid, I remember people in the neighborhood who put out poison meat to kill roaming cats. The poor things died a very cruel death.

Personally, I don't think it's cruel to keep her indoors. I have an enclosed veranda upstairs that she can go outside to investigate and still be confined. I put out feeders for birds/hummingbirds and that's her real entertainment. She's imagining a festive hunt, but she's safe and the birds are too. :nod: I grow a little pot of "kitty greens" I refer to as her salad bar (they're legal!) :haha: so she gets fresh greens in her diet. I've had this cat for about 3 years now (adopted from the pound) and my last 2 lived to be 15 and 17 respectively.

btw......I love dogs too. But I don't have a fenced yard and I am gone a lot, so I just don't have the time a dog would need for proper care. My sister has 4, so she makes up for me. :2thumbs:

[Shan]

Jim, sorry I will clarify - I didn't mean to say to NEVER let your cat outside. If you're outdoors with the cat doing yardwork whatever, that is fine. BUT unsupervised (this is the key word) cats/dogs left outdoors are just sitting ducks for bad things (either accidental or intentional). Do you need to start hearing what happens to unsupervised pets because no one was watching? Do you think it just won't happen to you? It's just not worth it if you value your pet's life, IMO. City, country, it happens anywhere and everyday. You are lucky then if nothing bad has happened so far to your cats. I hope nothing bad will happen to your pets.

I agree with Jason, your cat is a domestic cat and it's natural state is a domesticated one. No, I am not saying they are devoid of any and all prey drive either. Feral cats are a whole different ball of wax however - their natural state is outdoors, they are wild, but no one owns them either.

Please say the cat is at least fixed. Then you won't be contributing to any pet overpopulation statistics.

(If not, here's a traveling low-cost clinic that tours Utah. Cats are only $20-30. If you live in West Valley City it's free.
http://www.utahpets.org/bigfix.html)

I hope the neighbor/dog situation is resolved soon and legally!

[rockgremlin]

Hey Jamis -

If you have a problem with cats in your yard, you should hire my good friend "Accadacca" to come over to your place and drive over them with his car. :lol8:

Little private joke there...

When we were just punk teenagers he accidentally killed one of our cats by backing over it in his car. He was labeled as a "cat killer" forever after - as if he did it on purpose. :roll:

[James_B_Wads2000]

Personally, I don't think it's cruel to keep her indoors. I have an enclosed veranda upstairs that she can go outside to investigate and still be confined. I put out feeders for birds/hummingbirds and that's her real entertainment. She's imagining a festive hunt, but she's safe and the birds are too. :nod: I grow a little pot of "kitty greens" I refer to as her salad bar (they're legal!) :haha: so she gets fresh greens in her diet. I've had this cat for about 3 years now (adopted from the pound) and my last 2 lived to be 15 and 17 respectively.



Let me guess, you don't have any kids right? :roll:

My wife and I got two kittens from a guy I worked with when we moved into our house six years ago. The first 2-4 months we never let the little buggers outside. But with the case of most indoor cats they start to go crazy after awhile being trapped inside. We soon let them go out about half the time and they were much happier. A few years ago the orange cat didn't return home and hasn't since. We never found a body but he is presumed dead. But what are you going to do, sh*t happens. I still think he had a happier life than if I kept him locked up in my house. That

[DickHead]

[quote=savanna3313]
Personally, I don't think it's cruel to keep her indoors. I have an enclosed veranda upstairs that she can go outside to investigate and still be confined. I put out feeders for birds/hummingbirds and that's her real entertainment. She's imagining a festive hunt, but she's safe and the birds are too. :nod: I grow a little pot of "kitty greens" I refer to as her salad bar (they're legal!) :haha: so she gets fresh greens in her diet. I've had this cat for about 3 years now (adopted from the pound) and my last 2 lived to be 15 and 17 respectively.



Let me guess, you don't have any kids right? :roll:

My wife and I got two kittens from a guy I worked with when we moved into our house six years ago. The first 2-4 months we never let the little buggers outside. But with the case of most indoor cats they start to go crazy after awhile being trapped inside. We soon let them go out about half the time and they were much happier. A few years ago the orange cat didn't return home and hasn't since. We never found a body but he is presumed dead. But what are you going to do, sh*t happens. I still think he had a happier life than if I kept him locked up in my house. That

[James_B_Wads2000]

For a bleeding hearter you're awfully unenlightened. Your domestic animal is upsetting the natural balance. I just hope he doesn't kill any spotted owls....
:roflol:

My dear Jamis, what makes you think I am a bleeding hearter? In my opinion it would be very hypocritical of me to try and save the 'natural balance' by keeping my cat indoors wile things I do as a person cause way more damage to the environment then kitty ever could. Like drive a car, use electricity, kill all native vegetation in my yard to grow Kentucky Blue Grass, ect.

That reminds me, are humans native to this valley?

James :cool2:

PS Accadacca you can't come over to my house ever, you dirty cat killer. :haha:

[Wasatch Rebel]

You're wrong. Cats that are allowed to prowl the neighborhood are pests, and feral species. Keep your :frustrated: ing cat on your own :frustrated: ing property. Your cat on my property is no different than your dog. I don't want to smell your cats poop and pee. I don't want your domesticated cat attacking and killing wild animals on my property. I don't want your cat walking on my cars.
Don't give me that shit about the cat being in its natural state. Cats have been domesticated since the time of Pharohs in egypt. Unless you live on a freaking farm and need cats for mice control, I don't want to hear it.
At least tell me the cat's fixed. That will almost make me feel better.

You're right--if that were the case, I'd take full responsibility for it. I live next to a field. We were overrun with mice before I got a cat, and yes, it's fixed--and was right when we got it. Domesticated is a relative term. And I think I already told you that I've never known my cat to leave my property except to follow me. It's a people cat and wants to be around its owners.

[DickHead]

For a bleeding hearter you're awfully unenlightened. Your domestic animal is upsetting the natural balance. I just hope he doesn't kill any spotted owls....
:roflol:

My dear Jamis, what makes you think I am a bleeding hearter? In my opinion it would be very hypocritical of me to try and save the 'natural balance' by keeping my cat indoors wile things I do as a person cause way more damage to the environment then kitty ever could. Like drive a car, use electricity, kill all native vegetation in my yard to grow Kentucky Blue Grass, ect.

That reminds me, are humans native to this valley?

James :cool2:

PS Accadacca you can't come over to my house ever, you dirty cat killer. :haha:

Just stereotyping you off your pattern of previous comments
:bootyshake:

[James_B_Wads2000]

Just stereotyping you off your pattern of previous comments
:bootyshake:

That hurts man, that hurts. :cry1:

James