What is the best option?

Question

There are 2 dogs that keep coming to our garden and messing everything. They have done this at least 5 times. We have warned the owners but they didnt do anything. We have gates that should prevent them from coming but still they manage to get in. We tried to block the paths so many ways, e.g. putting extra woods against the door, but they still managed to get in.

What can we do to stop them getting in our garden?
Is putting barbed wire or nails on the gates a good idea?

Answer 1

No....barbed wire is not a good option for several reasons. You may injure a human/visitor/relative etc. and be liable for all medical costs or legal costs if they decide to sue.
You may injure the 2 dogs and be liable for the vet bills, not a good option at all.

I would take pictures of the dogs on your property. Keep a log of when they next come in and what they are actually doing.

Take copies of this to a solicitor and get them to write you an official letter stating that you will be proceeding with legal matters if they do not restrain the 2 dogs. Be friendly with the letter as if you come across too harsh this will only escalate the situation. By requesting politely at this stage that you would like them to take control of the animals as you would hate to see the poor things hurt or trapped over on your property should they be there when there is no human supervison and without your permission......etc....I am sure the solicitor/lawyer will know exactly how to put it over to them.

Next if this does not work then do NOT be afraid to take this matter to the next level. Your health is at risk from these animals fouling in your yard. There are a couple of nasty ilnesses you can catch from dogs doodoo!!! Toxocara Canis worm for one which can cause blindness in children and Leptospirosis to name a couple.

You are quite within your rights to insist that this person keeps her animals under control and point out the fact that if the animals in any way attacked a human they would automatically have to be put down so if they really cared for those animals they wouldn't allow them to roam around freely and bother the neighbours.

Dogs can 'turn' in a second to become snarling manic mouth frothing monsters who cannot control the rage. If this person insists on allowing them to roam free when you have done everything reasonable in your power to negotiate with owners then you should not be at all scared or feel guilty in making calls to ALL the appropriate people....dog control, lawyers etc....

PLEASE though keep a record of any conversations you have with them...time date what was said....and any attempts you have made to deal with this reasonably. In a court of law if you can show you have done everything in your power to deal with this in a friendly reasonable way it will go better with the judge/jury than if you have argued and fought over it.

ALWAYS keep your cool and don't lose your temper of strike out at the dogs in anyway. That will just prove to a court that the dogs were defending themselves if you happen to get bitten!!!

Answer 2

No do not put barbed wire or nails on the gates. The dogs will get hurt and the owners will come back on you. I would talk to the owners again and tell them if they don't keep their dogs out of your yard you will call the police. Then if the dogs come back do exactly that call the police and file a complaint.

Answer 3

call environmental health or council dog control, even get advice from RSPCA.. take pics if you can, as you may need to prove its these specific dogs,, write to owners, politely, keep a copy and give to who ever takes up your complaint. you cant use barb wire or nails.. I have two dogs, the only way they go out is with us and we always use bags to pick up mess, sadly some owners make it bad for all the rest.
you could use an air horn every time you catch them, this will help.

Answer 4

Call animal control and have the dogs picked up. After getting them back from the pound a couple of times the owners might consider keeping them home and not letting them roam in other people's gardens. Good luck.

Answer 5

actually, you can contact your local animal control group and they will send out a notice for the owners to keep their dogs off your property. We got one of these a while back, so now our dogs have to be on a chain if they're in the front yard. the notice was a pain, cause our dogs are sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly, but for dogs that become newsenses, the notices work wonders. Basically after a certain number of notices, they can take your dog away, so that's always a good insentive to be responsible with your animals.

Answer 6

REMEMBER, THIS IS AN OPINION, THIS IS NOT A LEGAL FACT, A LEGAL DOCUMENT!!! THIS IS ONLY A PERSONAL OPINION


OK, this is what you do- you send to your neighbors pictures of the damage, that you have caught on video tape. You send this to them by REGISTERED MAIL with return reciept- in a lawsuit, this shows that you acted with reasonableness.

Now, you have two options- once you've got that reciept.
You could take them to court- and you now have photographic evidence to back it up. it also helps if you can get a few paw impressions using plaster of paris so it can be compaired with the dogs feet.

You want evidence to show the Judge that you were reasonable in what you have done

The other option- which may or may not be legal in your state- is to shoot the animals dead.

This is why they have leash laws. Personally I would consider sueing them FIRST before shooting their dogs- I'd talk with the local animal control officer FIRST before I did ANYTHING

Answer 7

speak to the police. If you have already spoken to the owners then its all you can do. That way the police know you have filed a complaint. Then put up some barbed wire. If the dogs injure themselves it is the owners fault not yours because you have already spoken to them and informed the police. hopefuly this will work

Answer 8

In most pet store (ie PetSmart or Pet co) there are usually eleteric fences. But thats not a good idea if u live in a neiborhood. Try using an automated speaker. They have motion detectors and release a certain sound that could discourage the dogs. Hope it helps!!

Answer 9

NO someone might get hurt!! buy dog repellent from pet shop scoot or something simlar failing that pepper around edges of garden will put any dog off entering but it will need putting there regularly as rain etc will weaken the effect

Answer 10

Pick up their poop with a shovel and place it on their front porch!!I ah! ah! Seriously, I agree with bcringler's answer. Have them picked up by animal control. Barb wires or nails are cruel. It's the owners fault not the dogs.