Neighbors let dogs run free in neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Tell your neighbor that it's bothering you. If that doesn't work, talk to her again and let her know you plan to call animal control the next time you see her dogs loose. Then, do it. Once she has to pay to bail them out, she'll be more careful.

[Anonymous]

Having one's kiddo step in dog poop and bring it inside...a nasty business. I gather the dog owners consider their pets to be their children, yet are above the task of cleaning up after them. Humph!

[Anonymous]

Can you get photos of the dogs actually pooping in your yard? What happens if you talk to the owners about this? I have 2 dogs and I couldn't imagine letting them wander around for fear of them getting lost/ hit by a car/ stolen. If the owners aren't willing to monitor their dogs, call animal control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you need to report the neighbors, its illegal and for good reason

I feel like if I report, they will know it was me, and there will be retaliation. We live in a neighborhood that, while the majority might be in the wrong, neighbors seem to want to run it as their own little island. Strange mentality.

How many dogs are out roaming your neighborhood streets like this? Do they stay in their own yards with an owner present or are they literally running up and down the sidewalk, into other people's yards and out into the street?

Just trying to get a picture of what you're dealing with. It does sound odd from what you've described.

[Anonymous]

Call the county you live in, ask for animal control. Tell them the dogs are out loose ( when they are) and give them the dogs address if you know it.
You can be anonymous or give a fake name.

[Anonymous]

Do you live in the DC area, OP?

I have heard of this running rampant in the south, but I have not experienced the issue around here.

[Anonymous]

OP, you didn't ander if you have a HOA .

My DH got so tired of stepping in dog poop THROUGHOUT our front lawn while mowing that he fired off an email to every single neighbor on our street. Several responded (who were not the offenders/dogs always on leash) immediately that they were sorry and would keep an better watch.

The likely offenders stopped.

Aren't dog owners worried about what might happen to their unsupervised dog? What if we just put fertilizer down? What if your dog eats a poisonous plant in my yard? Gets hit by a car?

[Anonymous]

11:44 here.

Something g else I had to do...after seeing a neighbor's dog tear through my back yard and dig through nearby yard, I called the dog's owner and said, "Whoops...Winnie's running around in my yard. She must have gotten out. I know you must be worried. Please come get her."

What if you call the neighbors not to complain but to express concern? You could always say that you are worried about them getting hit. Ramp up from there.

[Anonymous]

You'd be surprised how many suburbanites simply open their door and let the dog out to roam free, esp at night when they think no one's around/will care.

Happens in my neighborhood and I've been scared to death several times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You'd be surprised how many suburbanites simply open their door and let the dog out to roam free, esp at night when they think no one's around/will care.

Happens in my neighborhood and I've been scared to death several times.

+1

OP here. This is just it. So far, I have counted at least five - that I know of. It seems normal and accepted to the neighbors to do this. I can't believe people tolerate this, frankly. But then again, most of the children play in the street (free range pets AND children!?).....

[Anonymous]

I have neighbor with big dog that is off leash most the time. The dog is well trained, but it is somewhat scary if you don't know that.
A neighbor with dogs now just avoids our street.

[Anonymous]

I had a similar problem. I first tried the talking to the pet owner approach. Non confrontational, hey your dogs are causing this problem.... Big mistake. she went ballistic on me. Now I just automatically take a picture of her dogs and call animal control.

I had a similar problem. Neighbors were totally unconcerned and annoyed with us. Next time their dog was in my yard, penned it in our back yard and called animal control. AC was familiar with the family and dogs (other people had called, not just us), the dog went to the pound (it's a no-kill shelter. If the dog wasn't claimed in 2 weeks, it would be put up for adoption).

Normally, if I see a loose dog, I assume it's lost and will try to contact the owner. It's what I want someone to do if my dog gets out. But, for those dogs who are out frequently and the owners don't care, I call AC. Believe me, you aren't the only one bothered by it and they'll never know it was you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I had a similar problem. I first tried the talking to the pet owner approach. Non confrontational, hey your dogs are causing this problem.... Big mistake. she went ballistic on me. Now I just automatically take a picture of her dogs and call animal control.

I had a similar problem. Neighbors were totally unconcerned and annoyed with us. Next time their dog was in my yard, penned it in our back yard and called animal control. AC was familiar with the family and dogs (other people had called, not just us), the dog went to the pound (it's a no-kill shelter. If the dog wasn't claimed in 2 weeks, it would be put up for adoption).

Normally, if I see a loose dog, I assume it's lost and will try to contact the owner. It's what I want someone to do if my dog gets out. But, for those dogs who are out frequently and the owners don't care, I call AC. Believe me, you aren't the only one bothered by it and they'll never know it was you.

+10000

There are laws for a reason, to protect everyone. Not just to protect those too lazy to walk or contain their dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially the small dogs. I don't want to report them, but the small dogs are in other neighbors' yards pooping, and generally causing trouble (in addition to being quite happy, and antagonistic to other pets). It seems to somehow be a "cultural norm" here.

I would think the foxes in the neighborhood would be enough deterrent, but they do not seem to be. WWYD?

happy=YAPPY

[Anonymous]

What's your problem with little dogs? If anything, their poop is way smaller than that of big dogs. You find them yappy? How is that more annoying than the deep, loud barking of large dogs? The size of the dog shouldn't matter…it's the principle that matters. People shouldn't let any pet run around loose--besides the poop and annoyance factor, it's just not safe for the pets themselves.