Unsecure chicken perches

[cheekymonkey68]

I have neighbours who have two very strong dogs who constantly escape from their garden.

These two dogs have escaped over 10 times since end December when I moved in and I have taken them back to the owner on numerous occasions. I and my OH have had harsh words, and then polite words with the neighbours, where I explained that they should keep their dogs contained and have a suitable fence around their garden, as the dogs can get out into the road. I spoke with the lady about dog training as her 7 month old puppy is dog aggressive and has attacked my brothers elderly dog which I was looking after, and also our neighbours dogs on more than one occasion. She told me she cant afford it. I told her just how much exercise her breeds of dog need and she tried to tell me I was wrong. They refuse to get a fence put in to contain their dogs as the property is rented and they dont want to spend the money. I explained I had chickens and actually showed them to the nieghbours so they knew where they were, and that their dog escapes were not acceptable.

I had one more escape of both of the dogs, and I caught them when the girls were free ranging in the front garden with us. BUT

 

Tonight was the last straw, my girls were out in their electric fenced run, then all hell breaks loose and their "puppy" is in with my girls chasing them and has got one in the corner of the run... I vaulted the electric fence and got to the dog, who just stopped dead. My partner came to hold the dog( a ridgeback) while i detangled two of my girls from the electric fence, and then rounded up the other two girls. Fortunately no one was hurt, a few tail feathers were lost but that was about it.

 

We marched round to the neighbours went to their back door and my Oh had a few choice words to say to the man of the house. My Neighbours explanation was that the kids had left the dog run door open.(this is a husky cross and a ridgeback) They cant secure their garden as the property is rented and they arent allowed to do the work plus its too expensive. They were going to take the dogs to a rescue centre last monday but didnt have the time. My Oh told him very clearly to sort it out as a dog owner that was his responsibility...plus he would be receiving any vets bills we incurred as a result of the damage his dog has caused.

 

What do you think I can do to sort this out as they wont take responsibility for their animals, who could get hurt when they escape, neither of them have tags on their collars...so I thought next time I bung them in the car and take them to the dog warden. Or should I call the dog warden and complain that they are attacking all the neighbours dogs and tried to kill my chickens ???

I'm going to see if I can find who their letting agent is and have a word... can you think of anything else I can do or anyone I should talk to to get some help.

I cant leave my girls out in their big electric run when Im not here now just in case, and its not fair on them to be shut in their walk in run all day.

Im just sooooo cross... if you have the privilege of having an animal you need to take responsibility for it.

[The Dogmother]

I think you need to speak to the dog warden as a first recourse, then be prepared to go to the police as the dogs seem dangerous. Can I suggest that you keep a log of these incidents, and photos if possible.

 

Might it be worth speaking to the landlord?

 

An acquaintance had something similar where a neighbour's dogs were invading her garden and terrorising/attacking her dog - after several increasingly stern words with the neighbour she ended up taking it to the housing association who clamped down as the neighbour shouldn't have had animals there.

 

I hope you get it sorted, that is an untenable situation.

[cheekymonkey68]

Thanks that was what I was thinking, and will do that tomorrow. The doggies are actually lovely, but they need training and to be properly excercised, being rehomed to people that want them and who will care about them would be ideal.

[auntielizzie]

I would definitely try and find out who the landlord is. If it is a housing association or private let through an agent, they will probably be very keen to help, especially if the tenants are not supposed to have pets. Even if they are allowed to keep pets, they will certainly take action if they are not being kept under control and causing a nuisance to the neighbours. You could maybe insist that the landlord erect fencing if the dogs are to remain in the property.

 

We had a similar problem a few months ago when our next door but one neighbour's massive greyhound decided to terrorise our girls one day - thankfully they were securely in the run, but they were clearly terrified by it. The wind had blown down the fence in their garden and we only have a high hedge around ours, which the dog squeezed through. OH went round and had words with the owner, who stupidly said "oh he only wants to play" and "oh, I wonder how he got through two gardens" Luckily this seemed to be a one-off, but I totally understand how you feel.

[heth1986]

It makes me really angry when I hear stories like this, I'm the very proud owner of a lovely soppy Rottie X girl and, due to other owners neglect of their duty to care and training over recent years, people shy away from her and give me dirty looks for letting her off her lead in a field because she is a 'dangerous breed' .

 

Anyway, before I get up on my soap box, Ridgeback's have a high prey drive so now that it knows where your chooks are it really needs to be kept under control. I'm not sure about huskies but they're pack animals so I'd imagine that if one's coming over then the other will inevitable follow.

 

My first call would be to the letting agency. It may be that they shouldn't have dogs there anyway, I'd be very suprised that a house let with an insecure garden would allow dogs? If they do have permission, then it may be that the landlord can sort some suitable fencing out, or at least demand that the tennants do instead.

 

Secondly, contact the council, some councils have 'wardens' who deal with nuisance neighbours, dogs etc. Whilst the dogs aren't necessarily dangerous to you, they are obviously a nuisance and the council should be able to advise you and your neighbours on how best to deal with your situation (especially if they are also noisy???).

 

I'd also make contact with the dog warden, if you can 'contain' the dogs then the warden will come and collect them or of course you could take them to the pound. This seems like the best option to be honest, it sounds as though your neighbours aren't in a situation that they should be keeping animals, if they can't afford the time or money to train them then they can't afford to keep them. Not only that but if they were at all bothered about the dogs then they would have rectified the problem by now so that they would not lose them to an accident on the road.

 

Sorry to go on so, I cannot abide unresponsible dog owners, it's not fair to the animals nor the people they have to live with... there I go again!

 

Good luck!!!

 

PS Re the Police, they will not deal with the dogs unless they are a threat to humans, you've mentioned that one is dog aggressive but you have managed to handle them yourselves which would suggest to me that they are not aggressive towards humans.

 

Hope this helps and again, sorry for going on!

 

PPS Well done you for blaming the owners and not the dogs!

[mimi5]

I had a similar experience with some previous neighbours a few years back, only it was my rabbit and guinea pigs which got attacked. (I thankfully didn't have any chickens at that point!!) They were only badly shaken, but the dog had damaged my run and it's mouth in the process.

 

Yes definitely the dog warden is a first point of call and as has been mentioned keep a log of everything!!

 

On another occasion with those neighbours also got the R.S.P.C.A involved with a cruelty issue and they actually removed the poor ducks in question from the owners.

 

Thankfully they moved and we now have lovely neighbours.

 

I hope you quickly find a solution to your problem.

 

Best wishes

[cheekymonkey68]

It makes me really angry when I hear stories like this, I'm the very proud owner of a lovely soppy Rottie X girl and, due to other owners neglect of their duty to care and training over recent years, people shy away from her and give me dirty looks for letting her off her lead in a field because she is a 'dangerous breed' .

 

Thats really sad. I've seen lots of older Rotties on the rescue websites, and I have to say that when I am looking for a dog in the future I would definitely consider one as I have seen some fabulous ones locally who go out riding with the horses, they are really well behaved, faithful and so gentle. I'd really like a larger dog. My OH would prefer something smaller !

 

I truly believe the man maketh the dog, and the ridgeback puppy which is huge was just playing with the chicken, he didnt bite but did have a good chase until I caught him and then he came trotting over and was looking up at me as if to say 'oh did I do something wrong??' Neither of the dogs are dangerous to humans, unless you count being strong enough to pull you over!!

Its just their owners indifference to the nuisance/ danger they cause to their other neighbours animals and my girls.

[The Dogmother]

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the dogs are properly contained, and that they aren't able to escape or roam the streets unaccompanied. I think I remember being told that any damage caused by an animal in that sort of situation is classed as criminal damage, same as if someone's child had broken a window with a stone.

 

I assume that they are both wearing collars and ID tags?

 

I never let my dogs out in the garden unless I am out there with the, not that they can escape, but as a precaution as quite a few lurchers are stolen from back gardens.

[Chicken shack]

Landlords have a responsability to ensure tenents behave. Pester and pester the agency, landlord and write to your MP if nothing changes. It may take time up to six months to evict a nusence tenent but you have to start some where. It is also the reponsbilty of a dog owner to keep there dog inside a secure area. Good luck

[cheekymonkey68]

Thanks all for helpful suggestions,I managed to contact the managing agent and the dog warden yesterday both of whom were most helpful. The Tenants are actually nice enough, and the dogs are beautiful... but its just they keep escaping (9 10 times since xmas) and the tenants haven't taken the situation seriously enough for myself the rest of the neighbours liking. We are concerned for our pets and the dogs themselves when they get out, as they do have direct access to a main road via my open garden. Hopefully this will be resolved now.

 

M

[heth1986]

That's brilliant news, what was their response just out of interest? Are they going to sort a proper fence out or are your neighbours going to get rid?

[cheekymonkey68]

Still waiting for an actual response, but the Management company said that they would speak to the Tenants about the issue. So I take it they are not allowed dogs. The dog Warden said she would be sending them a letter today telling them that their dogs are not to roam at large as they will be fined. She also told me if the dogs get free again and they have no tags ( which they dont) to give them a call and they will arrange for the dogs to be collected and put in the doggie kennel, and for the neighbours to get a fine, if I cant wait for the dog warden to arrive, she told me where I could take the doggies myself and they will have to pay a daily fine to get them back. I do feel bad as in a way Im promoting the dogs to be rehomed, and they are not nasty dogs. After 7 days in the kennel, they are allowed to rehome them if they havent been collected.