Something I really hate, that actually makes me super angry.

[altarflame]

Other peoples' dogs roaming loose around the neighborhood.

I cannot even express the way this drives me nuts.

And I am not even talking about our dead chickens, because I do understand you are always taking that risk in one way or another when you choose to keep a prey animal in your yard. We'll secure them better next time.

BUT.

The other evening on our bike ride, Aaron and I had two different LARGE dogs chase us. He almost fell off and got extremely freaked out, both times. I had Elise on the back of my bike and didn't even feel certain I could stop and help him because this giant dog is going nuts and she was shrieking with fear. He keeps his cool pretty well - if it had been Ananda or Isaac it would have been a disaster.

These aren't strays. They're peoples' pets that are allowed to dig under the fence, or sit on the porch until an unsuspecting pedestrian goes by, or whatever. There are already two block long stretches we always avoid because we know there are mean, unattended dogs on them, but apparently now there are more. Even if the dogs aren't truy viscious, barking like mad while nipping at my kids' heels, making him swerve all over the road and become totally distracted from general traffic safety, IS NOT OK. I know of at least two dog owners around here who make a freaking habit of coming out when they hear the ferocious barking from inside, yelling "Dog's name! HEY GET BACK HERE!!!" and then a weak "Sorry". But then they go back in AND THE DOG STAYS OUTSIDE, UNRESTRAINED, until the next person comes along.

Now my across the street neighbors. Who are nice people, and our kids play together, they've given us tomatoes out of their garden and we baked extra cupcakes for them, yada yada. They got a second dog. The old dog was under their fence and in our yard pretty regularly but he was pretty innocent and quiet and very small, and ran when he saw us so I only really mentioned it to them once. But they've added a hyper german shepard puppy who's nearly grown but still acts like a maniacal puppy. Who came under the fence and killed our chickens, and has been back under the fence twice.

Granted we have been trying to figure out a good non-relationship-shattering way to tell them they have to do something, so we haven't informed them of this yet. Partially because summer activities have thrown our schedules so far out of sync that we're rarely home at the same time anymore.

But Grant has found dig marks from the dog coming BACK IN under the privacy fence in the back since. And I found POOP in our side yard, where the kids play. And this morning while I was trying to get my kids out the door to VBS, the stupid thing was - playfully, no barking - jumping all over the opening door, and any person who came out a little, REFUSING to get back. Elise is really freaked by big dogs, Isaac is nervous about them, Ananda USED to have a major phobia that kind of resurfaces in these instances. I was eventually, after yelling at it, and swatting at it, KICKING this dog with my baby on my hip and it was still constantly leaping at me on my front porch as if it were a game. The whole way to VBS and back Jake and Elise were hoping the dog wasn't still in our yard when we got home...but of course it was. So I had to carry Elise in again. Keeping in mind I am never supposed to lift Elise at all because of herniation and entrapment and how usually she climbs in and out of her carseat herself.

I just feel so pissed off about how this is totally socially acceptable around here. Part of me really, really wants to call animal control, but I would never want anyone to call people - animal, child or whatever kind of people - on me, especially without at least attempting a conversation first.

So I have to watch for them to be home and try to have a really awkward conversation now. It's hard because I know they've moved boards around and even gotten some fill, to ATTEMPT to keep the dogs in, and they do put them back in whenever they're home/awake. But it is obviously not good enough and I don't know how to tell them they need to leash them or put up hot wire or stick them in the house more or, I don't even know what. I'm not really in the habit of issuing neighbors ultimatums.

Blah.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Tina, don't enable the neighbors to be bad pet owners. The dogs should be crated when they are home alone, in the house where it is cool. That puppy is lonely, looking for playmates. You don't want a big dog or you would have one. Let the convo be awkward for the neighbors, not you. I don't think that puppy will ever stop trying to get the chickens now that is has killed once. I have three dogs that are never off the leash unless they are in their fenced exercise area. My family cares so much for our pets we would never let them roam the neighborhood. Staking a dog out on a chain is considered inhumane treatment. The humane society will take a dog chained in a yard especially if there isn't water available. I would really encourage the neighbors to keep the dogs inside the garage when they aren't home.

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't "enabling" them mean, like, I am buying the dog food they can't afford, or getting the vet care they neglect or helping to hide the dog when Animal Control happens to be rolling through? I don't think I'm enabling anything by simply failing to stop someone else's pet ownership, I mean come on.

Anyway...I know this crate thing is really popular nowadays, but to me, it seems awfully cruel to leave a dog in a crate inside all day long while you're at work. I'm not at all opposed to them being out in THEIR OWN yard...I just want the yard to be secured. I mean, there is shade, there is water, and I cannot imagine it's natural for dogs to be in air conditioning anyway. I didn't know about the chained in a yard being bad thing - I don't really know a lot about dog ownership overall, to be honest. What is so bad about that? I am asking out of real curiosity because I sort of don't get it. I mean obviously if there wasn't water available like you were saying, but assuming there is, what is the issue there?

Garages in south Florida are DANGEROUSLY hot, children die in them...that would definitely not be an option.

[aranel.livejournal.com]

I think the idea is that chaining is dangerous because the dog could become entangled or even potentially strangle itself (say by jumping over a low fence, or I even had a dog that would climb low tree branches!). There might be some dogs or some circumstances for which it could be safe, but it's generally regarded as cruel. Somebody who wants to keep a dog outdoors and finds it constantly digs under or jumps normal fences should probably create a well-ventilated fenced "run" (say, 10' by 12' depending on dog size) for the dog in part of the yard, with concrete going down into the ground to prevent digging out, and of course shade available. This is a bit restrictive but not cruel for a few hours as long as the dog is getting plenty of exercise and human attention at other times of the day/evening.

That said, I agree with others that a dog getting plenty of long walks/runs, training sessions, and play from its owners will be much less likely to try escaping from the yard even if it's possible to dig out, so I would thing of constructing a fortified run as more of a last resort.

All this is reminding me how much work it is to care for a dog really well and why now isn't the time for me to get one, much as I would like to.

[(Anonymous)]

No, I don't think "enabling them" means feeding their dogs, though I can see how you could view it that way. I think enabling means allowing them to continue to do wrong without attempting to stop them. Hiding them from Animal Control could be a criminal act. Staking animals on chains leaves them defenseless. They can't get out of the sun or harm's way, they are miserable. Staked goats are attacked and killed often. The crate is the best thing ever. If someone in my neighborhood shoots off fireworks, our rescue English Setter runs to his crate. It is his safe place, his own area, and his bed. Being contained makes him feel safe. His problems from the past, we can only guess. He is afraid of fire and has scars on his muzzle. Most dogs can hold urine for 8 hrs or more with training. So crating them while at work isn't that bad. They just sleep while you are gone and are so happy to see you return. Along with that option is the mandatory exercise that a responsible dog owner would naturally do more than once a day. The bonding alone is worth the effort. The problem with letting dogs roam or to their own devices in a yard, is that they look for entertainment and do get into trouble. They are much like three year old children. They cannot reason. You are correct I am from the north where a garage could be an option. If your neighbors don't want to leave their dogs inside while they are at work, they should use a doggie day care. IMHO there is a lot more going on here than just leaving the dogs alone. The lack of training would drive me crazy. Owning a dog is the same as having a baby. A responsible parent spends all day helping their child become the best person they can be. And you already know about the parents who turn their kids loose all day. The lack of structure, guidance and balance makes a bad dog and a bad kid.