stupid neighbors, lawsuit, about my dog! *rant*

Ok... our neighbors have been nothing but trouble... ever since we got our dog!

It started when she was only a few months old, the kids that live behind us started throwing balls and sticks at the fence, MAKING her bark. Then, about a year after that, they called the police on us because she was barking. We got shock collars for barking, and we did everything we could, but they continued to tease and torture our dog. We began chaining her up in our yard so that she wouldn't be able to get close to the fence and bark at the neighbors. This was around a year and a half ago. Guess what they did? When we were gone for a day, they came into our yard, and cut the chain. Then they opened the fence, trying to make our dog run away. She didn't. They continued complaining to us, while yelling at our dog, and egging her on. A few months ago, we found our fence almost completely demolished. Guess who did it? Not our dog... but our neighbors. And they still blamed it all on us.

And now, we were gone for barely a week. Our dog had plenty of water and food, and she has a ton of shelter... everywhere. And while we were gone, she was VERY good. She barked hardly ever, and never escaped from the fence. There was no need to have us get sued... but... the neighbors apparently didn't like something, so they sued us. We can't even figure out WHAT our dog did!! They won't tell us.

I'm going to the vet now to get her a clean bill of health, and to update her on all her vaccinations and shots.

But... ARGH... even in our old home, it was OUR dog (a different dog than now) that got beaten (by the police none-the-less), and then we were told to get rid of our dog, or the police would shoot her. I honestly don't see what we were doing wrong! We keep our dogs in our yard, and people break the fence. We keep our dog on a chain, and they cut the chain. ARRRGH!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't keep the dog in the house? Maybe brining the dog inside will give your neighbors someone else to pick on.

Have you been served with a complaint and subpoena? The complaint should tell you what they are alleging the dog did wrong. If you could prove that they are vandalizing your property, that would look good for your case, taking pictures of your fence, and of your chain that was cut, witnesses to your dog's behavior, and your neighbors behavior would be good too.

OK... she's inside pretty much all day except for when we're gone traveling (for my dad's job, and for vacation), and when she goes out to go to the bathroom. We started bringing her in after the police first came to visit.

One of the biggest problems is that dogs really aren't considered "valuable" property. Especially dogs that were strays, mutts, and with absolutely no known pedigree. Another huge problem is that we're foreigners, and because of that, it's difficult to prove anything.

The notice DID say something, but it was VERY vague. It pretty much just said that it was a problem with an animal, and then it had some words that you just COULDN'T read, so we still can't figure out what the actual problem. The neighbors won't say anything. It's like... three different families of neighbors... so... who do you think would be more "believable", three different families who have lived there their entire lives with one story, or one family of foreigners with a different story?

We also have no real "proof" that they were doing anything, because IF they did it, it was while we were gone.

I don't know how my parents will deal with this. We have several people on our side, so it's not like EVERYONE is against us. I'll just have to wait to see how it all ends up.


Urgh... I went to the vet, to get the rabies vaccination and so on. And guess what? We're not allowed to get it. It's nothing with our dog's condition, but it's with us. Since we're foreigners, we're not allowed to get the vaccination unless we have a specific number. And I have no idea what kind of number it is. ARGH...

Something will end up happening right... hopefully. I'm just hoping we won't have to get rid of her this time... like our previous dog in our previous house.

For safety reasons I would never chain or tie up a dog outside....only if I was outside where I could actually see the dog. Another dog could come along and attack your dog, or people can come along and do things like has already happened....also, it is just plain frustrating and hard on a dog to be chained up, it's totally miserable for a dog to be tied up like that. I would say move your dog inside your house, especially when you are not at home. Or, put up a kennel for you dog outside, so the dog can run and be free and put a shleter in the kennel for the dog and a lock on the gate. With a high enough fence that nothing and no one can get in.

There are a few things that you're not completely understanding Remali.

1. The chain is LONG... at least 20 feet. So the dog is not in some little thing that keeps her from moving much.
2. When she WAS on it, she was never miserable, because she was always able to run around.
3. We would get in trouble if she WASN'T on a chain, because that was when our neighbors were tearing down their fence, so she would have gotten loose (and the neighbors have little kids).

And we've put kennels, dog runs, and all of that. THOSE are the things that people have "vandalized".

We have everything that is "required" by law, and our dog is nice to everyone. She barks at the neighbors in the back, but that's because they yell at her, they throw things at her, and everything. But she still wouldn't attack them.

Our dog can't be inside the house, because when we DO leave, its oftentimes for days on end. Which would not be good to leave her inside of a hot house all day. We DO leave her inside of the house when we leave for a few hours. And she's fine with that.

We've done everything that WE'RE required to do. She's now up to date on her shots, and so on. It's not neglect or improper stuff on our part. It's the fact that our neighbors hate our dog. (though, they have a dog, and there are other neighbors that have dogs, that are aggressive, and yet... they are only mad at OUR dog).

My parents have asked several people, and still... no one is able to tell us what our dog did wrong.


We go to court on Monday. We get her Rabies shot in fifteen days. *sigh*

tell them you are going away, hide your car and lay low for a week or two, or ask someone to house sit for you and film the back yard. Its the only way how you could get proof they are doing it not your poor dog

If you are gone for days on end then I guess I do not understand....who takes care of your dog while you are gone? MAybe they could take her to their house?

We would do that... except all of our teammates live in apartments, and have little kids. And Tasha's just not the best around little kids.

It turns out that it might not be a complaint, or even from the neighbors. Apparently my older brother went to someone, and there were a TON of these little court issue papers about animals. So it could just be something like registering our dog, or something like that. So it might not be a huge deal.

Urgh... still annoying though.

Now that you brought it up, that's a very good question.

My husband and I arrange for someone to feed our dogs even if we know we're going to be out late, past their feeding time. I would never even consider leaving my dogs home alone with just some water and some food, they'd gobble it all up even before we had left the drive way. Lol

Phew, sounds very rudy!

Why people have to tease poor animals? I agree with moomoo, try to witness their offensive behavior.