Am I jerk for calling animal control?

Question

Dog at large at least once a month. The neighbors do not care about property lines or boundaries and I've already called the dog catcher before so they could get a verbal warning. I've also called about one of their dogs barking for over an hour at 6am.
This time the neighbors actually came out to retrieve the dog from running around the block loose and I watched them carry the dog back by it's front paws. The little dog was squirming and whining to get free.
I don't want the neighbors to hate me because I do care about boundaries, even though they make our living situation terrible with letting their kids and dogs have run of my property, but I still feel like they should have SOME kind of responsibility as a pet owner.
I've been taking pictures of everytime their dogs run loose and I'm pretty sure they think I'm the jerk for reporting it.

What would you do?

LEC

I would love to not care what they think of me but they live next door and I don't think they're moving. :-( It makes it a little difficult when everytime we go outside they stare at us and give us the evil eye so we can't even enjoy our yard without them constantly watching.

Maybe I need more tips about how to not give a damn what people think. :-p

I've also tried talking to the neighbors when we first moved in. We made it a point, for a year, to take our problems up with them and it got us nowhere = animal control.

I fully acknowledge that I probably should find something better to do with my life. ;-)

LEC

Answer 1

I like Alyssa's answer and I'll tell you why. I've tried calling the non-emergency numbers on people as well and they do NOTHING but come out and talk to people. They almost never remove animals and that annoys me. The next time you see the poor thing in the street catch it and take it to a shelter a couple counties away. I doubt the people will go looking for it.
Carrying a dog by the legs and letting dogs run in the street is cruel and neglectful. WHo cares what they think- they are animal abusers and those are the worst kind of people. Next time they make you feel like you are the bad guy just remember that at least you have a soul. Can you put up a fence?

Answer 2

I struggle with this myself, but my neighbors in the back have 4 unneutered male dogs that dig under the fence and I was confronted in my own yard by one of their dogs, a dog that weighed about 120 pounds. There have been 3 litters of ugly mutts from what I have seen in the last couple of years.

These people are backyard breeders from what I can tell. One of the kids living there told me they were also breeding cats. The whole situation makes me sick and I've called animal control, I've talked to the people and recently I wrote a letter to the landlord and told him how many animals are euthanized in our county each month (over 400) due to tenants like the ones he rented to. No response. These people are hillbillies and many animals suffer because they are ignorant trash. I say you do whatever it takes. Even in animal control takes the animals and fines them, the animals will be better off than they way they are treated now. I wish it was more of a crime and more could be done in these situations. Don't worry about being a "bad neighbor". They are the bad neigbhors and they are causing death for animals--that is the way I look at it and I hate them for it.

Answer 3

I think you are doing the right thing. We live in a very strict neighborhood where if any dog gets lose we get a verbal warning then next time it gets picked up and we have to pay a small fine. then the more it gets out the bigger the fine. People need to take more care and have full control of their pets. I would try and not care what they think. I know it's hard but you have to live life too ya know. enjoy ur yard and have fun. Your not the person being irresponsible

Answer 4

I have done the same exact thing. My evil neighbor and his string of german shepherds have been the bane of my existence here, but every time I saw the dogs out, I called animal control. And they have taken the dogs to jail before because the owner was such a jerk. Every time I found crap in my yard, I flung it onto his truck hood. When they bark excessively, I call animal control. Every time they bust through the fence, I calll animal control. The guy surely hates me but he keeps his dogs locked up now! I won't even look at him but he now knows there is a leash law, you don't get to let your dogs run loose and chase my cats, and don't mess with ME!

Answer 5

I wouldn't say your the jerk. Your neighbor sounds like the jerk. Knock on his door and tell him you don't the dog in your yard anymore and you've had enough. That way you gave him a warning. Then call animal control, if he's dragging the dog around like that, you most likely will be a savior instead of a jerk. Crappy neighbors are a burden, good luck.

Answer 6

Here we go, are you ready?

BB GUN!!

Ok no really, I'm not a horrible person, but seriously... That idea about catching the dog, stripping it of it's collars, and bringing it in as a stray will really teach a lesson, that way they have to pay to have their dog released from the pound.

And the fee goes up every time the dog is brought in, so after the 5th time I'm sure they'll get tired of it.

And ... if they don't want to pay to get it out, I'm betting it'll get a better home that way :)

Answer 7

You are doing a service to that animal. If you don't who would ? As for the children I sure hope someone is doing something to help them too. You have rights as they do, the difference is you are obeying the law and they are not. Don't' sweat it... Let them.. I bet after a couple of tickets they will put up, shut up, or move out! Good going and keep it up!

Answer 8

I think you've been polite by only reporting them. I'd catch the dog, strip off it's collars, and take it to the SPCA as a stray. Maybe it would be able to find a good home that way.

Answer 9

You most defiantly did the right thing, you should report it and take the pitchers so they can see them. You should also tell them about the neighbors dragging the dog, (that's abuse).

Answer 10

I once had a neighbor that liked to let his dog crap in my lawn. I spoke to him about it once. It didn't help. Then I had an inspiration, and mailed a shoebox full of it back to him. No problem ever since.