Neighbors let their pets roam?

Question

The neighbors on both sides of us and across the street let their cats and dogs out to roam every day. There seems to be the general opinion that cats are harmless - that may be true, but if I don't have an animal, I should not have animal feces in my yard and flower beds. I have two small children who are harmless- is it okay to let them crap in the neighbor's yard and garden?

How do I handle this? The occassional incident I was willing to overlook, but it's gotten out of hand, and each time I've mentioned it, the neighbor is certain that it isn't THEIR pet, it's someone elses. My girls and I should able to play outside without stepping in poop, or even worse, finding it in my daughters' sandbox.

Answer 1

When the animal gets on your property, videotape it. Make sure you get a close up of the animals, so that you have hard evidence. Comes in handy later on. Call animal shelter and have them take the animal away

Answer 2

Two ways to deal with it.

Openly. Go talk to the neighbors and ask them to control their pets. Tell them the problems that are being caused by their animals. If they do not get their animals under control tell them that you asked nicely but now you are going to animal control. So much for being friends with the neighbors after that.

Secretly.

1. Call up animal control and have them go talk to the neighbors. They can give the neighbors a ticket and warn them what will happen if they do not take care of their pets.

2. Get some live catch animal traps and trap their animals. Then take them down to the pound and turn them in. They will have to pay to get the pet out. After a few trips, they will catch on. There are traps big enough for even good sized dogs.

3. Catch the dogs. Invite Korean friends over for dinner.

4. Catch the cats. Buy the book "101 things you can make from a dead cat."

5. Get a pellet gun. When they come onto your yard, shoot them in the butt. May not really solve the problem but the satisfaction you will get will be big!

Answer 3

Well, you could try talking nicely to your neighbors, to begin with. If that doesn't help, then you could try talking to local law enforcement to find out what the laws are regarding roaming pets. Ultimately, you could do what I would consider to be the worst possible option---you get get a humane trap and catch the animals in your yard and turn them over to animal control. I would hate for you to do so, however, because someone's beloved pet could be put to sleep. It would put an end to that problem, but it would open up a neighborhood war, with everyone being against you.

I suggest you try talking to your neighbors and trying to find others who agree with you, instead. Perhaps you could join together as a group to discuss the problem with the irresponsible pet owners; just do so as a point of concern...you don't want their pet getting hit by a car, attacked by other animals, etc.

Answer 4

I would start with complaints to my local animal control center. These folks are paid by your taxes to come and catch animals loose without dogtags/cattags. They also will talk to the owners to remind them of the legalities of your state or city. I would also include a little note about what diseases are carried in feline feces, and how gross it is to find in your child's sandbox. If that doesn't work, try trapping them with a Hav-A-Heart trap. Use some tunafish, and wait for them to get in and spring the trap. Collect the trap and take to the Humane Society and drop it off. Let the owner pay the fee to retrieve Fluffy. Last resort--a pellet gun works wonders. There are several commercially available chemicals to make dogs and cats stay away, but I don't know if they are toxic to humans. Let your level of irritability guide your choice. Always check with the local laws to keep yourself out of trouble. Good Luck!

Answer 5

There are no leash laws re. cats, but there are re. dogs. Call the local Humane Society or ASPCA about the laws. Once you know them call the authorities when you see your neighbors breaking them.
Now, for the sandbox... Yes, it's a pain, but perhaps you could cover it with something. Because it's NOT just your next door neighbor's cats. My neighbor accused my cats for the longest time, then one day saw 4 cats, NONE of which were mine, in her flower beds. Every time you see a cat in the yard spray it with a hose. Eventually they'll get the idea.

Answer 6

This is mean but if you put some bad food out for the dogs to eat .. they will go back to there house and puke all over there house.. I know someone that did this and it fixed the problem... Or maybe call the police and tell them that the dog was trying to bite your kid or something.. that would do it too.. i wouldnt really worry about the cats. maybe put a cover over the sandbox so the cats stay out... If you have a small yard you could put up a fence???? O yea .. and like everyone else said put the poop back in there yard... :)

Answer 7

First of all if you have a community association, attend the next meeting and make a general comment about what you concern is. Get them involved that is what you pay them for. If you do not them ask you neighbors once again explaining you observations and if no action is take call the animal control. You may make enemies so try not to do that. But if it really bothers you that much them take a stand. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Sadly, unless you can corral every cat in the neighborhood, a sandbox just tends to attract kitty...treats.

My suggestion is to call your local animal authorities.

And, should that not be enough, get some plastic spoons--you know: the long ones like they use in shakes--and have your kids fling it at the neighbor's front door...or the car would be fine. Then when the neighbor accuses you of doing it, you can tell them how certain you are that YOUR children would never dream of doing such a thing! lol

Answer 9

There are cat & dog repellents available that people can't even smell. I know it's not right that you have to pay for something because the neighbors won't do things the right way, but it could be worth it. After a while, you won't have to keep using it (unless the neighbors acquire new pets) because they will get accustomed to staying away from your yard.

Answer 10

I totally agree with you!! I have no idea why its ok for cats to roam the neighbourhood, and not dogs, (neither should do it)
I applaud owners who have their cat on a leash.......If these neighbours won't do anything to stop it, I'd get a trap......there are traps you can buy, or sometimes wildlife will loan you one for people who have a raccoon or skunk problem. We caught a cat in one, as well as a skunk (not together) it doesn't hurt them, they are just in a cage, and then you decide what to do next........it would certainly give proof that the cat was in your yard.....
You just put something tasty inside, and when they go in to get it, the door shuts quickly, and they are trapped, unharmed......just be prepared, anything could end up in there!

Answer 11

Once or twice, when I lived in my last house, I got so mad I caught the cats and gave them away! (Well, those were the kittens that my neighbour kept getting for her kids who used to take the cat out on a leash and swing it around over their heads like a helicoptor. I considered it a "mercy capture.") Other times, I lured them with kitty treats and delivered them to the SPCA.

When you think about it, sooner or later, if the cats are driving YOU nuts, they're going to tick off someone with a really psycho streak and the cat's going to die a terrible death from eating poison or glass laced cat food put out by some nutjob who REALLY wants the cat owners to be taught a lesson!

I used to have a fence around my house, AND I loved to hang bird feeders in my yard. But the cats would just walk up my driveway at night and right into my yard! It broke my heart when I'd go out to top up the seed boxes and I'd find my little birdies lying on the ground with their heads bitten off. And cats only do it for the pleasure of the hunt! They don't even kill for food!

I know cats aren't crazy about water so sometimes I'd leave my sprinklers on at night when they were on the prowl where I knew it would block their path into my yard. Someone told me that sprinkling garlic powder all around on the grass at the point of access to your yard will deter them because they hate to stink after they walk through it. Another thing I heard was to shake cayenne pepper over the area and they won't go near.

Some people with pets are ignorant idiots. They just don't get it that you don't want their "darling's" dander, poop and hair all over YOUR living area. I used to own a german shepherd and she ALWAYS obeyed and stayed in our yard. Too bad other people aren't as thoughtful.

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