What do you do if you call animal control and they do NOTHING?

[LaraMN]

This is in regard to the neighbor's dog that has been getting into my garbage for months, now. I talked to the owner and things improved for awhile, until about a month ago. I've had to clean up garbage out of my yard three or four times this week. The dog will slam into our can until it falls over, if he can't get at it any other way. He ran after my bil, completely unprovoked, and grabbed onto his leg, but only got his pants. My bil had to kick the dog off of him. We called the police last week, because we have no actual "animal control" unit in town. They asked my husband if HE could go catch the dog and bring it in. Yeah- my husband's going to go chase down a dog that is hostile to everyone that walks near it. Nice. I am getting so pissed off. What do I do? Keep calling the police and reporting it over and over again?

[malta blue]

1. yup

call and call, unless, that is you want to take measures into your own hands....

[musiclawyer]

2. You might want to contact your county supervisor or city council

...person

That's what they are there for....when departments re doing their job .

Now it also might be a matter of proof. Aninmal control won't do anything unless there is proven harm of threat of harm to people. Garbage and noise they often consider to be private nuisance and expect you to sue your neighbor on your own. Their deal is public nuisances and threat to people, not private nuisances.

[LaraMN]

4. Well, I can certainly get pictures of him getting into my garbage.

The "threat to people" might be harder to prove. The neighborhood kids are all scared of the dog, as are some of my adult neighbors, but as far as I know, my bil is the only one who the dog has actually gone after. Perhaps I'll try reporting it to the police again the next time he gets in my trash, and take it to someone higher-up, if they are not responsive. I have to bring my kids in the house whenever that dog is running around, because I'm scared it'll attack them, and it pisses me off that they can't play in their own yard safely because of a stupid, negligent dog owner.

[Kire]

21. The dog bit the OP's bil

I don't know what a bil is, but it sounds like a person who got harmed.

[hfojvt]

36. good point

call a lawyer.

[youthere]

3. I'd keep calling..

sooner or later they will do something if for no other reason than to shut you up...I would also make sure you fill out something in writing for every complaint you make.
That dog is darn lucky though..if it were around here, my husband would have shot it a long time ago.

[Dangerously Amused]

12. Shoot it? Really?

He'd kill the dog because the owner sucks?


That hardly seems fair.


What if the owner gets another dog?


And another?


How many dogs would he kill before dealing directly with the problem?

[billyskank]

14. You mean shoot the owner?

;)

[Dangerously Amused]

16. Well, that would at least be a direct resolution of the problem.

:hi:

[youthere]

19. If the dog is agressive, yes, he would. ..

he's all for rescuing animals, but an unprovoked attack on a human calls all bets off for him.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. Keep calling the police.

I had a neighbor behind me who left their two dogs out 24/7 in all kinds of weather. The dogs also barked 24/7, which prevented me from getting any work done, or BabyMidlo from sleeping as her bedroom window faced their house.

I called the police probably on the average of 5-6 times a week. They finally moved away. Problem solved.

[HEyHEY]

6. Get a bear trap

I'll let your personal morals take it from there

[Kali]

7. Maybe a pest control company can capture the dog for you.

I'd probably shoot it. Maybe I would get in the neighbor's face first, but if they already know from before...

[Dangerously Amused]

13. You too would shoot the dog because the owner sucks?

[Kali]

20. Hey I live in the country. Unfortunately you are not allowed to shoot the owner.

A bullet is a fast solution to the problem. I sure as hell wouldn't take a vicious dog INTO my home. What else are you going to do? The owners are obviously assholes. She said animal control wouldn't do anything, and even if they did it most likely would still involve a death sentence. Life is harsh sometimes. A ten cent bullet is fast and more accessible than catching the damn thing and giving it an injection or gassing it. It's called responsibility. Yes it is loud and somewhat violent, but sometimes hiding behind some agency to do your dirty work is chicken shit, in my opinion.

[Pithlet]

23. I'd rather having barking dogs and garbage problems.

Then neighbors who think gettin out the gun and sendin' the bullets flyin' is the answer. Sheesh.

[Kali]

33. One well placed shot is hardly "sendin' the bullets flyin'"

And there was more to it than garbage and barking.

[Pithlet]

37. Doesn't matter.

Whipping out a gun and shooting it to kill is not the civilized way to handle a problem with a neighbor, no matter where you live. And bullets fly through the air before they smash into their target wounding or killing, do they not? Not to mention it endangers others. Unless there was was a direct, immediate threat, there are other, safer options that don't potentially involve fire arms charges, never mind cruelty to animal charges and potential cross fire victims. I would report a neighbor shooting a dog in a heartbeat.

[Kali]

38. If you were my neighbor...first you likely wouldn't hear or see it - I'm almost

two miles from anybody. Second if your (or anybody else's) dog was attacking me or mine, or my livestock I WILL shoot it. You (or anybody else) are welcome to report away. I'm sure the local deputies will have a good chuckle. Or maybe they will put a whole squad on it. In shifts.

I don't give a shit if that is civilized or not. The "neighbors" of the OP were informed, warned, possibly even fined previously. The dog in question has attacked at least one person. It is damaging property and running loose. If the authorities are not going to do anything that leaves two alternatives. Ignore the problem or do something about it yourself.

By the way, I am not advocating long range shooting in a crowded neighborhood, but if that animal was in close proximity on my property, given the history one shot would do it quickly.

[youthere]

42. Couldn't agree more with you Kali..

Brava. My sentiments exactly.
:applause:

[Dangerously Amused]

39. "Responsibility," huh?

I have other words for it.

[Kali]

40. Like letting an aggressive dog run loose?

Yep that's the responsible thing to do.:sarcasm:

Got kids? Got your own pets this dog might attack?

[Dangerously Amused]

45. Do YOU have kids?

It seems to me the responsible thing would be to teach them that violence and killing ought to be a last resort, not something you do to a hungry dog looking for something to eat in your garbage.

Jesus.

[Kali]

46. um ,we ARE talking last resort.

Owners won't do anything. Authorities won't do anything. Dog has attacked at least one person. Dog is damaging property and is a threat to children. I did suggest calling a pest control company - seems everybody missed that. So what is your next step? Wait until it attacks some kid? Nice.

Oh I suppose you could feed it at your house. Make sure your kids are careful around it, it may not be well socialized. And keep it in the yard, would ya?

[LynneSin]

8. You know, we would spray our garbage with Windex to keep the racoons out

Maybe that could help some!

[Dukkha]

9. call someone with a .45 and a shovel in their trunk

:hide:

[liberal hypnotist]

10. heres what I did.

I went to the county building an got a copy of ordinance and read it to be sure the barking dogs creating my problem were covered by the ordinance. Then, I left a copy for my neighbor. When I called animal control I gave the ordinance number and described my problem. It worked.
The problem was never the dogs. It is usually stupid dog owners that are unable to train and maintain their pet.

[BikeWriter]

11. The cats here are a similar problem, but I trap them and carry them in...

Ammonia sprayed on the can helps with dogs, but I'd be calling someone in charge, repeatedly. Also, I once dumped a can of garbage over a neighbor's fence. He came out and asked "Hey, what the hell are you up to?" I pointed out his dogs that had just run back into his yard and told him I thought they might want to finish their meal later. I wouldn't advise it unless you are big enough to kick their ass, though.

[plcdude]

15. actually just did that

I called the police and then chief of police and then the mayor and said if some one gets injured because of your negligence then the next call will be a lawyer. They came out and took care of the dog.

[flvegan]

17. Talk to the owner again. This time, get the name of their homeowners insurance

company. Let then know under no uncertain circumstances that if damage is done, to person OR property, that they'll be contacted directly.

Seems that if talking to the owner worked before, maybe a second try might be in order.

[Kire]

18. What is a bil?

brother in law?

[LoZoccolo]

22. Dogs like to fetch things.

Go up to the fence every now and then and toss some things for the dog to fetch, maybe those little beef nuggets in the bag or something; it will start liking to play your little fetch game. Then go get an M-80 and light it and toss it in! Be sure to run away or else it will try to give it back to you.

[flvegan]

24. Sure...if you're into committing felonies.

That's precisely what that would be in her state.

A better suggestion: cranking any of the last three Oasis CDs up. That's enough to scare away ANY creature with ears that work.

[Susang]

25. I can't believe that you, of all people

Are advocating torture against animals. I think cranking Oasis to ungodly levels is against the Geneva convention. Or something. It's gotta be, right? ;-)

[flvegan]

26. Aha, but think of

the torture brought upon the neighbors. SURELY, hearing bloody "Wonderwall" a few times would be enough for them to invest in a leash of some kind. The dog will forget the temporary discomfort, and may save his/her life. The people...well, I don't use the term "scarred for life" lightly, but, you know...

[Susang]

28. But dog's ears are way more sensitive than humans

What would hearing Champagne Supernova over and over again at 160 decibels do to that poor animal? :scared:

[flvegan]

31. In that scenario...

the PETA choppers would descend upon the neighborhood...

[Susang]

34. Thank god for PETA!

I think they're the only ones who could possibly defeat Neil and Noel Gallagher! :thumbsup:

[San Diego]

27. Bungee cord the lids to the trash cans.

And make sure you have pepper spray or mace at every doorway.

Advise anyone and everyone that if they are going to be outside, to make sure they carry the mace or pepper spray.

If the dog becomes aggressive and charges you, spray it directly in the face and mouth. If you repeat this behavior every time the dog comes near you or anyone else on your property, the dog will eventually learn that your property is off limits.

Yeah, this sounds really cruel. But the other option is to have the dog put down, either through continued complaints to the authorities or through vigilante justice. Not advocating that route, but it comes down to a decision of whether you want to continue to put yourself and your family at risk.

[Kire]

29. Does anybody know what a bil is?

Is it brother in law or what?

[Pithlet]

30. Yes, brother in law. n/t

[hfojvt]

35. it's what the utilit company sends you every month

DUH!

I've trained my dog to attack all my bils.

[Little Wing]

32. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire...

[LaraMN]

41. She got into my trash AGAIN, last night.

On the downside, there were poopy baby diapers all over my yard. On the positive side, that dog must have smelled HORRIBLE when she went home.

}(

[youthere]

43. Call the neighbor ...

and tell them the dog got in the trash again and you'd appreciate it if they would come clean up the mess.

[AllegroRondo]

44. And if they dont clean it for you

hire someone to do it and send them the bill. If they refuse to pay, take them to small claims court.

[cwydro]

47. Mothballs in and around the cans might help

dogs don't like that smell.