I live in Tennessee. My father-in-law has lived in a duplex for a year and a half. The other side was empty until recently when an old drunk moved in. He started complaining about my father-in-law's dog barking, which none of the other neighbors ever do. My fater-in-law went around to all the other neighbors to make sure that this wasn't a problem with anyone else that he wasn't aware of. All the othe neighbors love his dog and said they feel safe becase they have had less thefts in the alleyway since he got his dog. The old drunk came over cussing about the dog and screaming and saying he was going to kill it in front of my children. Can he legally kill my dog, can we get in trouble for the dog barking, and can anything be done to him legally for his behavior? The dog is not mean and doesn't growl. He has bnever hurt anyone. He doesn't even look mean. He is just a very happy playful loving dog.
2006-09-21 12:45:53 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Answer to one of the most obvious questions: No, he can't legally kill your dog.
Answer to another question: Yes, you can get in trouble for your dog barking.
Whether he's a mean drunk, or a quiet old lady, if your dogs barks and other people hear it outside your house, then it's your responsibility to make it stop or animal control can, in fact, take your dog.
I have 2 dogs. 8 months after living in my apartments an old lady moved in across from me. I never knew my dogs barked during the day b/c I go to work (and so does everyone else around me) and no one ever complained before. She doesn't work so is home all day and informed me of the problem.
One day, I left for work, but hung around the parking lot for about 5 minutes to see if my dogs really barked, and if they did, if it was even annoying.
Sure enough, shortly after, my dogs started barking & howling like I have never heard them before! I couldn't believe it.
Since then, I've had to keep them in my bathroom when I leave.
2006-09-21 12:53:13 · answer #1 · answered by Lizzie T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to get the neighbors to put in writing that they have no problem with the dog. Make sure the dog has license or whatever it needs to be legal. Then call the police if the drunken and disorderly neighbor comes back and makes threats.
Be careful there are lots of borderline crazy people around ready to cross over the line any moment and be totally crazy and violent.
What matters in court is evidence. If you have proof the dog doesn't bother the other neighbors, your Father-in-law will be much better off whatever action he has to take to get rid of the problem neighbor.
I take for granted that the landlord allows the dog. If so, let the landlord or property manager know that the new neighbor is belligerent and threatening.
2006-09-21 12:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by Susan M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
But does the dog bark? If the dog is barking, then the drunk has a case. I have dogs, and only one neighbor complained about them (the others didn't care or didn't notice or whatever) and the next day I had animal control at my house. My dogs bark every now and then, if a car pulls up in my driveway or someone rides a bike down the street, but not all night every night. You have to be careful with people like that. I'm constantly worried that someone will complain about my dogs and animal control will come back. Is there a way to bring the dog inside? Just at night? It's natural for a dog to bark, that is their voice. It should be no big deal for a dog to bark during the day, unless it is incessant, and from what you wrote, that doesn't seem to be the case. And no, he can't legally kill your dog!
2006-09-21 12:57:07 · answer #3 · answered by stuckinamoment 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the guy is a drunk, then he probably doesn't sleep well. Maybe falls asleep at all hours of the day or night just whenever he can snooze. If the dog barks at anytime it'd probably upset the drunks snooze. I'd ignore the drunk. If the drunk doesn't like the dog barking let him call the cops...being a drunk, he'd probably never call the cops.'
2006-09-21 12:57:32 · answer #4 · answered by Bluealt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course he cannot legally kill your dog!! I would call the police and report his threats. That way if heaven forbid anything ever does happen you will have it on file already. I believe that as long as the land lord doesn't care there is nothing he can do legally. When you make a report you might want to ask what you should do on your end just to cover your bases. Good luck!
2006-09-21 12:55:54 · answer #5 · answered by Monika S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy him a case and apologize. Hopefully he will get too drunk to thnk about the dog.
2006-09-21 12:55:29 · answer #6 · answered by dm23805 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Call the police and I bet he will get himself arrested.
2006-09-21 13:08:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a sonic whistle. blow it everytime your dog barks. it irritates them. its effective in keeping them quiet.
2006-09-21 13:01:57 · answer #8 · answered by BeeFQuake 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
KILL THEM:D
2006-09-21 12:53:45 · answer #9 · answered by Lucas R 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋