Neighbors Dog - Page 1

This morning while letting my 3 gsd's out, I noticed the neighbors dog attacking something.  I thought it was a ground hog because I have caught them in the morning in my fence and had to seperate one from Falon on occassion.    I did not have my glasses or contacts in so couldn't figure out what it was, so I put my dogs into their corral and started calling for my neighbor to come out.  In the middle of all this Falon took a beautiful leap over the 4.5 foot fence in the coral and started running the fence line trying to either join in on the kill or go at it with the huskie.  I got her rounded up and put away and ran next door.  The husky had a young cat (maybe six months old in its mouth).  The owner finally came out and was able to get the dog to drop it and grab her dog.  The kitten couldn't walk.  I wrapped it in a towel and took it to my vet.  They suspect the back leg is broken and have put her on pain meds.  They have not done xrays yet - they want to wait until she stabilizes.  I came back to tell my neighbor about the broken leg.  She told me it is probably a stray and doesn't want to pay to fix the leg.  I am trying to find the owner so I can let them know what happened to their cat.  I was told since I brought her in she is now my responsibility - which is fine, but I am just frustrated that my neighbor does not think she has any responsibility toward this animal.  The vet told me it would be around $1,000 to repair her leg depending on what they find in the xray. 

In addition - they are the same neighbor who hooked their fence up to mine (and now have claimed 2 feet of my property).  Then they get a dog that they cannot control and to boot started baby sitting kids that are allowed outside alone with the huskey.  I never leave my dogs out unattended, but they leave the dog out almost all day.  Falon and the huskey have gone at it between the split picket fence and the neighbor never comes out - just lets me handle it.  I met with the fencing company today and they can run another length of fence (privacy) along that side - that will give a two fence buffer and no opening between the dogs.  Plus I am enclosing the corral which is currently a split rail fence with wiring - with privacy so that they can no longer visually see the neighbors dog.  My 75 year old mother is coming to live with me end of May - and I cannot expect her to handle my dogs if they are agitated by the neighbors dogs, so I have to fix this problem asap.

I am just so frustrated that I will now have to come up with another $1,100 to add a second fence to protect my dogs and am having a moral dilema about this poor kitten.  I don't think I have the heart to put an otherwise healthy animal to sleep just because of money.

Anyone have some good ideas on how to approach this neighbor? 

Cheryl

you carry on doing the right thing perhaps your local animal rescue could help with your vet bills? its so nice to hear somone who truly cares..i hope the cat gets better and good luck with your war

The neighbor sounds like the type that cannot be reasoned with...clearly an idiot if they let children run loose with a dog, especially one that attacks small animals.  You have my sympathy.

As far as the kitten, contact as many rescure groups/shelters as you can, explain your situation, maybe someone can help. Can you speak to anyone at the vet hospital who may be sympathetic to the situation, maybe lower the payment?

I just spoke with my vet.  The kitten died from damage to the lungs.  I feel for the owners as I cannot imagine not knowing where or what happened to one of my pets.  I am going to take Molly for a walk after school lets out to see if I can find the owner.  She was not microchipped, so not sure how easily it will be able to be to locate them.

I am just sorry I could not get to her in time.  My first instinct was to protect my dogs, but the time it took me to get mine safely locked up cost this poor thing its life.

Cheryl

That's a shame, poor little thing, shame on his owners for not keeping him safe indoors.

since you vent here, i think it is not 100% the neighbors fault, some are irresponsible, but most all of us have neighbors!this the problem with the population of cats and government gives free roam to cats, alltho i have sympathy for the cat, i can not control a stray coming into our yard and being devoured by my dogs! my dogs know the three cats we own but any others are free game...as for your fence line you are responsible for being up to the property line, so in reality you have invited encroachment...and IMO to make a privacy fence so your dogs can not see your pesky husky when they genetically have crap vision in the first place will not stop the fence fighting...it is the other senses they posess that leads them to go at it on the fence line, and since falon can hup a 4 foot fence you might wanna put a roof on or raise the heighth of falon's coral...just hate to see you spend monies on another fence, that may not fix your issues when you are peaved about a bill from the vet...i do send props for searching the owners to notify them of the fate of their kitten, BUT, if they cared about the cat it may not have been roaming, or worse yet> they get p.o'd at your neighbor, confront your neighbor and somehow you will be at the loosing end of a good samariten act.   however, i would take the existing fence down and take back your two feet and replace with a safe secure fence for your 3 dogs. concreted so they cant dig under, high enough so jumper Falon cant go over, cause you wont stop the fence fighting unless you disrupt your entire yard to accomadate your neighbor! good luck!

I feel very bad for the kitten,  but in fairness to the neighbor and the other dog,  the cat did not belong on the property,  and the dog did what comes natural.  Huskies have very high prey drive and will kill or go after smaller animals.  its just their nature.  Even my own dogs will do it.  they never killed our cats, because they grew up with them and saw them as part of the pack,  but they will kill a stray.  Plus,  who says the neighbor had the 1000 to spend on an animal that wasn't their's?  I have enough trouble paying for gas and groceries along with standard bills at the moment.  my dogs have been eating better than me since gas is over 3.30 a gallon and groceries just keep going up in price.

You had better claim the land you lost on the fence. This footage can be gained by the neighbors over time, Real Estate Law. "Adverse Possession". If you are not going to claim it thru a new fence, consult an attorney on how best to protect yourself. Another thing, you have given them use of your property, If something happens on it, you will be included in any litigation, as you own the land, unitl they take possession thru above.

Read your deed restrictions or local easements. There is an easement on all sides of property unless you have multiple lots. There is a 15 ft front and rear easement and a 10 ft side to side easement on my property. I cannot put a dwelling or fencing  on the easement, the neighbor has the same restrictions. When he put his house in, he put it as close to the easement as he could get, unfortunetly that is on the same side as my dog yard. He has to get a survyer out here to make sure he wasnt on the property line or the easement line.  I would check with your county restrictions about the easement, and if they are attached to your fence, you have the right to remove it, they are crossing the easement. Just like if you were to attach to the telephone or electric pole, the company can disengage the the fence and there is nothing you can do or say about it.

LeNore

I feel bad for the cat too, but at the same time, I don't think I would feel it was my responsibility to pay vet costs if cat came onto my property.  People who have cats should keep them indoors or in their own yards.