In Search Of: Responsible Dog Owners

[Jokerman]

How is it that so many dog owners can be completely oblivious to the nuisances created by their pets? I like dogs. I grew up with dogs. A well-trained, well-behaved dog can be a joy to have around. I don’t own a dog mainly because I like to travel and I don’t want the responsibility of training and caring for what can be a very needy creature.

My old neighborhood was full of dogs. Most of my neighbors had dogs, many of them Dobermans or Pit Bulls that spent their time in small pens, barking constantly. I saved my money and eventually bought a house in a better neighborhood. I was glad to be getting away from my inconsiderate neighbors. Taking into account the number of complaints I had lodged against them in person, with the police and with animal control, I’m sure they were glad to see me leave.

Now my new neighborhood; to the east, two medium sized dogs that are outside barking all the time; to the north, two small yappy dogs that are outside barking most of the time, especially in the early morning; to the west, five large dogs. Amazingly enough, the neighbor with five dogs keeps them under control most of the time unless I venture out into my back yard, then they jump at the fence barking and snarling at me. In fact, if I dare to actually sit in my back yard there will be nine dogs barking at me from three different directions. As an added bonus, if the wind is from the west, I’m treated to the stench caused by five large dogs in a small back yard.

I’ve tried asking each of them to control their animals but only the guy with five dogs has made any effort, maybe because he knows he’s in violation of local ordinances and doesn’t want to risk a visit from animal control.

Is it unreasonable to expect a decent nights sleep in my own home or the use of my own back yard? Does everyone have these kinds of neighbors or am I just unlucky?

</end of rant>

[commander bunnypants]

1. next store neighbors

they just leave a beautiful chow out there 18 hours a day. The poor mutt has no companionship at all.

DDQm

[Jokerman]

3. So Sad

Most of the complaints I registered with animal control in my old neighborhood weren't about barking but about abuse & neglect.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[commander bunnypants]

4. to the wood shed with you

DDQM

[tandot]

5. Chocolate kills dogs. Was that your point?

I have a dog. He rarely is in our backyard without supervision. As soon as he starts barking, I'll make him stop.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Not funny. I had a dog that was poisoned by the sadistic kids

next door to another home of mine.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[JVS]

14. You have a good point, it is the fault of the irresponsible owners

Poison them instead.

;-)

[hlthe2b]

15. I'm glad you realize that...

There is never, ever, ever, ever, ever any excuse to advocate animal cruelty in my opinion--even in jest.

Thank you for recognizing that. I feel reassured now...

[joefree1]

6. As a pagan dog guardian

I'm disgusted how some people treat the animals they've brought into their homes. You should look at this as an animal rights issue. Animals are not possesions but gifts from the Gods. As a society we should be more protective of animals and how they are cared for.


This is Zoomer and he's a great buddy.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PaganWarrior/

[Mountainman]

7. I own 5 dogs

We use to get complaints all the time from the neighbors. We moved to the mountains and are surrounded by vast quantities of open space now the dogs can bark all they want.

Seriously. We tried as best we could to comply with the neighbors wishes. When we were home we could control the barking but when we were at work we could not so we kept them in the garage. Where we lived there were laws about barking dogs and about how many you could have. A home owner has the right to enjoy her/his home in peace. But dogs bark. So the law stated that excessive barking was illegal. The problem is to determine if your dogs barked excessively.

If I were you I would call animal control and work with them. They should help you deal with your neighbors with out you getting involved directly.

[bleedingheart]

8. you are unlucky...

I live next to a couple that got a black lab from a shelter...he is a gentle dog...but my daughter is scared out of her mind of him...
so they tie him up religously and take really good care of him...I rarely hear him bark.

My neighbor across the street has toy dogs...(little yappers my husband calls them...) but she too cares for them and loves them...I suspect she has little princess beds for them...I never hear them in the night.

[fairfaxvadem]

11. I don't think there is an answer...

The townhouse 2 down from me has 3 mini Pinschers, they stay outside, they never get walked, and all they do is bark at shadows, since they never see what is actually going on beyond the privacy fence. Anytime someone walks along the back common area they go bonkers, but they don't know what's going on. If they hear any of us go outside our back doors, they go nuts. I think they are actually insane by now.

It's awful.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. Yeah we have some yappy dogs in our hood

My dog ONLY barks when someone is outside the gate...both my neighbors are old folks on either side....one day not long after I got him I went and apologized to them for the dog barking and to my surprise and relief both sets of neighbors said they notioced that he only barked when someone was outside the yard and that they were glad to have a "watchdog" amongst our three houses...now my dog gets cookies from over the wall by both neighbors (with my permission of course)

[adriennel]

13. you're right. but my problem is

the search for responsible owners of little humans...I've had kids come into my house & yard uninvited, they drive those damn electric kid cars up and down the sidewalk all AM and PM, chase my cat and dog who want nothing to do with them, very little parental supervision, etc etc etc

my heart breaks whenever I see a dog left outside all day...in my opinion, most "bad" dog behavior can be attributed to boredom and lack of exercise. we are very attentive to our terrier, because I've seen first-hand that she behaves poorly when she is not properly exercised. She's not a yippy dog, and I can't stand barking (except if a stranger appears at our door, that I will allow.

So, your neighbors sound like most neightbors I know : )