Why does this lady think she can issue edicts on what you must do? Because she's a judge's wife? good grief. She has no authority even though she thinks she's a judge holding court. Show the cop how your dog is taken care of and then tell them that lady's name and how she is overstepping her boundaries and you would like it to stop. She has no authority, or her husband, to enter your yard or to tell you what you "must do". After the police are aware of what these people have done, any future disputes won't automatically go against you "because he is a judge".
Trespassers not leaving when asked, what can I do?
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Why does this lady think she can issue edicts on what you must do? Because she's a judge's wife? good grief. She has no authority even though she thinks she's a judge holding court. Show the cop how your dog is taken care of and then tell them that lady's name and how she is overstepping her boundaries and you would like it to stop. She has no authority, or her husband, to enter your yard or to tell you what you "must do". After the police are aware of what these people have done, any future disputes won't automatically go against you "because he is a judge".
That is what my wife and I were talking about is we need to make sure we have our end covered. We live in a very well connected town in the sense high up people will help out all their "buddies" and a judge is someone I would prefer to not be going against especially considering I know he is on a first name basis with many cops in the area. That is one of the primary reasons I was concerned.
To top it all off I have to go in front of him in October for a speeding ticket lol, looking forward to that one. I didn't have my proof of insurance on me so I have to go, I can't just send in the payment.
There is an old adage, "Good fences make good neighbors." You no doubt can appreciate it now.
I'm not going to take sides here, because I think there was some fault on your part and some overzealousness on their part. Some of these animal rights people are so self-righteous, it is almost impossible to reason with them. Among the things they get upset about is a dog on a chain. Somehow dogs were perfectly fine on chains my entire life, now it is some crime against nature to restrain them.
The unfortunate fact however is that you have to live in that neighborhood among these people. They seem to have some boundary issues, ie they are busybodies. I am guessing they are a bit older and you are a bit younger.
What I would seriously advise you to do is to try to co-opt them. I would meet with both women, and just tell them the whole story about the storm weekend and how sorry you are about it. Tell them it is your first dog and you were not fully aware of how to keep it properly. Ask their advice. If they are halfway decent and see that you are making an effort , instead of just some asshole who chains his dog without water and leaves for the weekend, your problems are likely over. Plus, you can enlist them to look after the dog when you are away.
I don't see being confrontational as a winning approach. You mentioned they are connected, first name basis with police, etc. Plus, the laws in most places about animal welfare are pretty strict, so you will be on shaky ground even complaining. They likely have a legal right to come on your property to rescue an animal they reasonably believe is in distress.
I'm not going to take sides here, because I think there was some fault on your part and some overzealousness on their part. Some of these animal rights people are so self-righteous, it is almost impossible to reason with them. Among the things they get upset about is a dog on a chain. Somehow dogs were perfectly fine on chains my entire life, now it is some crime against nature to restrain them.
The unfortunate fact however is that you have to live in that neighborhood among these people. They seem to have some boundary issues, ie they are busybodies. I am guessing they are a bit older and you are a bit younger.
What I would seriously advise you to do is to try to co-opt them. I would meet with both women, and just tell them the whole story about the storm weekend and how sorry you are about it. Tell them it is your first dog and you were not fully aware of how to keep it properly. Ask their advice. If they are halfway decent and see that you are making an effort , instead of just some asshole who chains his dog without water and leaves for the weekend, your problems are likely over. Plus, you can enlist them to look after the dog when you are away.
I don't see being confrontational as a winning approach. You mentioned they are connected, first name basis with police, etc. Plus, the laws in most places about animal welfare are pretty strict, so you will be on shaky ground even complaining. They likely have a legal right to come on your property to rescue an animal they reasonably believe is in distress.
You are definitely right on them being older and me younger. One was probably late 50's, the other late 40's and I am 21. They said exactly that about the cable I have my dog on. She said that was torture to have an animal on a cable like that and that I don't deserve to have an animal if I am going to ever hook it to something like that....The cable weighs maybe a couple pounds for all 30ft and the dog is over 60lbs. I don't think she minds it on her at all. Besides it lets her be able to run around and play when we are at work.
I didn't get hostile with them really despite the fact they were yelling at us. The only time I raised my voice really was when they kept making all these claims and then would interrupt me before I could explain everything. The one lady was yelling at my wife and I told her to be quiet and let my wife speak if she is going to ask us a question and then not allow us to respond. Other than that and telling them get off the property now I remained calm the whole time.
As big of a scene as they caused when leaving the property I will probably wait a week or two for things to cool down and blow over before I try speaking with them unless they show up again. They just wanted to turn it into a who can yell louder match and try to talk down on us for the whole situation. If that is how they want to act and they wouldn't allow me to speak then there is no sense in even trying to talk with them until they calm down some.
Thank you for the input, that is probably a good idea and definitely a good idea then to have them to look after our dog if we are ever away.
Anytime you restrict a animal with a chain/cable and leave it that way for several hours you're probabaly going to lose the argument with activists, and they most certainly are in a position to make your life miserable. AAA gave the best advice. Follow it and you'll probably be OK.
As a suggestion, if you can afford it, get a fence.
As a suggestion, if you can afford it, get a fence.
Of course you have to obey the laws and regulations. Maybe you could call or visit the spca or animal shelter in your town or county and find out exactly what the rules are in that jurisdiction. I understand they can be different in different places. And be honest with them about exactly what you've been doing with your dog and don't sugarcoat it. If they say you need to change it, then you should do so. If they say what you are doing is lawful, then i'm not in agreement with others of attempting to placate the activists. If you're abiding by the rules, then your neighbors need to stay out of it.
The animal shelter sent a paper with my friend when he picked her up. It said the dog must have shelter, water, and be fed or the animal could be impounded. Those were the only 3 requirements if I am not mistaken. Usually her shelter is us bringing her inside, but I fixed the shelter issue last night anyways with a nice doghouse for her. The water situation is just because she likes to play in it and she tends to tip it over. I will either dig a hole so she cant tip it or I will find a way to hang a bucket so she can't knock it over. But we regularly bring it to her anyways when she is outside. So she never goes long without it. My son and I always play with her in the backyard in the afternoons and I always take her on walks late at night so it isn't like we are neglecting her. Nobody ever sees me walking her because I don't usually do it until 11 or 12 at night right before I go to bed. We will walk a mile or so and play around in the yard before I go to bed. This is when I work with her on training as well since there are so many less distractions at night. She gets lots of attention and affection. She has never been a night without being fed either. She is fixed, flea/tick medicine, and up to date on her shots. We take care of her quite well. I just choose to let her play outside on a runner vs. keeping her in a kennel inside while we aren't home or aren't able to play with her (doing work on the house inside when they stopped by yesterday).
Legally speaking we have corrected the only issue they could possibly claim. Except for their "evidence" of dirty water in her bowl (either from rain water or her splashing muddy paws in it) and the ONE time she was left in the rain for a couple hours we have done nothing wrong in raising/caring for her. Their claims were absolutely ridiculous. The only thing needing change was the dog house and I fixed that immediately.
I would check with your local animal control office or ASCPA about the cable or runner issue.
This is clearly going to be an important issue with your neighbors. You want to make sure what you are doing is legal. It might not be the way your neighbor wants to see you do it, but if it's legal, you can politely explain to her that the dog is not on the line 24/7, etc and that is all you can do until you can put up a fence.
These people obviously handled the situation very poorly. They should have tried to talk with you constructively about the issue and judged how willing you were to work with their concerns. Instead, they overreacted to a one time situation and then behaved aggressively with you.
You are just going to have to rise above it and maybe say to them you are really sorry you and they got off on the wrong foot and that you don't want to do anything to discomfort the dog.
This is clearly going to be an important issue with your neighbors. You want to make sure what you are doing is legal. It might not be the way your neighbor wants to see you do it, but if it's legal, you can politely explain to her that the dog is not on the line 24/7, etc and that is all you can do until you can put up a fence.
These people obviously handled the situation very poorly. They should have tried to talk with you constructively about the issue and judged how willing you were to work with their concerns. Instead, they overreacted to a one time situation and then behaved aggressively with you.
You are just going to have to rise above it and maybe say to them you are really sorry you and they got off on the wrong foot and that you don't want to do anything to discomfort the dog.
I tried being polite with them yesterday and attempted to explain the situation but they refused to let us answer all their questions. Both of them were going back and forth grilling us and wouldn't allow us to respond. If they come back and knock on the door vs just walking to our backyard I have no problem discussing everything with them unless they decide to lose control and start yelling again then I will of course notify the police that they are out there.
I tried getting their license plate number as well, but was unable to as the spare tire on the back blocked the plate from my angle. The car is easy to recognize though so hopefully I will spot them before they make it into the yard. I will then go ahead and notify the police before stepping foot outside so I can be sure that the cops arrive to witness them on our property.
I tried getting their license plate number as well, but was unable to as the spare tire on the back blocked the plate from my angle. The car is easy to recognize though so hopefully I will spot them before they make it into the yard. I will then go ahead and notify the police before stepping foot outside so I can be sure that the cops arrive to witness them on our property.