A neighbor is re-building the fence and said it would take 3 days. it's been almost 2 weeks. i have two dogs!

Question

I have two large dogs, which are now displaced. I could handle a couple of days with them being boarded or taking them to work, but now I'm broke (from dog care). It's not fair for the dogs, that they can't play in the big backyard, or that they have to be boarded. there are no gates up, and basically our backyard is exposed for all to see. The neighbor casually mentioned to us that he was re-doing the fence, so that we could take proper action with the dogs. In conversation the other day, he said it would be 3 weeks! He doesn't have dogs, so he could care less about the well being of my dogs or myself. What legal action can I take to get this fence built NOW, and my dogs free to roam in my backyard?

this is a fence that splits our property line. it's OUR fence. he tore it down and is putting up a block one (vs. the wood one) cause he thinks it looks better. my point is that he said it would only be 2 days, and now he's changing his story to 2 weeks.

Answer 1

Put up a really tacky, ugly, cheap temporary fence on your side of the property line then get your dogs back and let him take all the time he wants to finish the fence. If you can not afford even a cheap fence, put in a pole at the far end of your property, run a wire from the pole to your house and put the dogs on a leader line to the wire. The dogs can run back and forth on your yard and not get away. In the meantime, your dogs will have a nice view and can bark to their heart's delight.

You did not say who is paying for the fence.

If your neighbor is putting up the fence EXACTLY on the property line, half of it is still yours as it straddles the line. If you agreed to pay half the cost, you can add the cost of the dog care AND the temporary fence THEN divide the total cost in half and pay half. If he gives you a "bill" for your half, you can subtract half the cost of your dog care and temporary fence and pay that to him. Keep in mind that even if he does not charge you for half of the fence, half of the fence is still yours since it is straddling the property line. Feel free to paint your side any color you want.

If he is putting it entirely on his side of the property line, it is all his and he is responsible for the entire cost. DO NOT do anything to the fence without asking him first.

Next time get everything in writing so you got something to take into a court. VERBAL discussions and agreements boil down to "he said, I said" type arguments.

Answer 2

Its not his responsibility to worry about your dogs unless the fence belongs to you and he took it down. If this has became a problem then you, not him, needs to put up a fence. Sometimes neighbors that both want a fence, will split the cost of it. He probally would not, just for the fact he doesn't really need one but you do.

PS Now that I read your additional details, it changes the whole story. If you are positive that is your fence, he had a lot of gall taking it down. Did he ask your permission to do this? I would have a talk with him and tell him get it back up or else he'll be hearing from a lawyer, that should get some action.

Answer 3

I am assuming that it is a fence between your properties and the fence belongs to your neighbor. If that is the case, he isnt responsible for your dogs. If the fence is partially yours or their is an agreement you might be able to do something about it. Someone i know had a privacy fence between them and the neighbors but the neighbors owned the fence so when it got broken the fence stayed like that for a while because the neighbors didnt want to fix it.

Answer 4

He is basically telling you that he is SICK of your dogs and since it is his fence, and it is, he can take it down and he may NEVER put it back up---if you have the bucks instead of spending it on doggy daycare- get someone in to put up a really ugly fence that faces his property---that'll tick him off-- and no you can't pursue any legal action because you are the one who needs the fence more than he does---

Answer 5

Build your own fence and quit relying on someone else to take care of your dogs. Your neighbor has no obligation to build a fence to insure your animals are kept in. Take reponsibility for yourself.

Answer 6

if hes doing it out of the goodness of his heart, you cant take legal actions...if your paying him then thats a diffrent story. But maybe you should do it yourself so the dogs dont suffer. or ask around and see if you can get some help and in return you can do a favor for them.

Answer 7

the question here is it your fence or his fence? if it is his fence, your out of luck, if it is your fence on your side of the property line then why did u let him tear it down? your fence= sue him, his fence= your screwed with no legal grounds.