Crazy gun toting neighbour and his dogs

[KhalSancho]

So, we’re moving onto my partners Mums property. I’ve ordered a heavy duty dog run for a temporary fix and I’ve got a small coop already that will suffice. Here’s my problem:

we’ll be out on the far side of the property next to an old war veteran who is literally bonkers.He shoots his gun all day everyday and he’s now decided to let his dogs roam free.. meaning they come onto her Mums property and harass her chooks and ducks and dogs and will eat the chooks if they have the chance. They’ve already killed quite a few animals... The man can not be spoken to and WILL NOT tie his dogs up. I’m going to wire the top and bottom of my cages but I’ve got some nice show birds and I don’t want to risk it. We can’t really call council because the neighbor can have a go at her Mum for things If he really wanted to be an ass.. which he is. We also have a new baby and our dog and I don’t want to be afraid and confined in my house. They’re apparently crazy cattle dogs and you “shouldn’t even get close to them”. I love all animals and I don’t want to do anything like trap and relocate or bait.. but with the man being a lunatic, talking like civilised people isn’t an option either. Like I’m concerned about my chooks but at this point they’re so nuts I have to worry about my family’s safety as well. Any advice?

 

[sourland]

Wow! Hot wire can protect your birds, but for the people ? All that I can think of is an enclosed area in perhaps the back yard also protected by hot wire so that your child is safe. Good luck this sounds like an untenable position to be in. Ironic that my wife and I just found a ledger that she wrote on a trip to Australia/New Zealand for our 40th anniversary. One recurring theme was the high caliber of the folks that we met in each country. I thought that we had a higher preponderance of nutjobs here in the US.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You could run some electric fencing. Most dogs need one good zap, and they will stay far away.

 

[Mtnboomer]

So, we’re moving onto my partners Mums property. I’ve ordered a heavy duty dog run for a temporary fix and I’ve got a small coop already that will suffice. Here’s my problem:

we’ll be out on the far side of the property next to an old war veteran who is literally bonkers.He shoots his gun all day everyday and he’s now decided to let his dogs roam free.. meaning they come onto her Mums property and harass her chooks and ducks and dogs and will eat the chooks if they have the chance. They’ve already killed quite a few animals... The man can not be spoken to and WILL NOT tie his dogs up. I’m going to wire the top and bottom of my cages but I’ve got some nice show birds and I don’t want to risk it. We can’t really call council because the neighbor can have a go at her Mum for things If he really wanted to be an ass.. which he is. We also have a new baby and our dog and I don’t want to be afraid and confined in my house. They’re apparently crazy cattle dogs and you “shouldn’t even get close to them”. I love all animals and I don’t want to do anything like trap and relocate or bait.. but with the man being a lunatic, talking like civilised people isn’t an option either. Like I’m concerned about my chooks but at this point they’re so nuts I have to worry about my family’s safety as well. Any advice?

Has anyone ACTUALLY talked to him in the past to determine he's psycho? I mean I shoot guns all the time and im not psycho. At least I dont think i am. Or am I? I'll talk it over with myself and decide later.

Allowing the dogs to run loose is irresponsible and dangerous. If this is the case, call your local law enforcement agency and notify them immediately. Let them handle the confrontation. If he harasses you afterwards, contact the agent again. I usually do not push litigation but if thats what's necessary to keep your loved ones and property safe, so be it.

 

[Trish of the Coop]

By the sounds of it, If i were you i would take about 1/3 or 1/2 of an acre around the back or side of the house and have it fenced in. It's a shame to cut off so much but it would give you peice of mind and decent space to live. Fenced and gated.

 

[Halfpasthen]

Good fences make good neighbors. If you can't talk to him and are unwilling to go to the authorities I don't think there is any other option.

 

[BloomBunny]

Good fences make good neighbors. -Robert Frost

old war veteran who is literally bonkers

FWIW, I'm going to suggest you reframe the problem. I know damaged veterans who wreak havoc. The moral injury they have suffered leaves them unmoored. They don't experience a sense of safety that most take for granted. He's shooting to protect himself from danger. Same with the dogs. His group. His protection.

I'm not suggesting he needs a cuddle. He's dangerous. I'm suggesting strong, non-threatening, non-hostile boundaries. If you choose confrontation, you will lose. He knows confrontation better than you. He feels at home in it.

Also, don't call the cops. They usually side with the veteran. Shockingly so.

You might check to see if someone, usually cops, does 'welfare checks' for veterans. If they do, they might check on his living conditions, get him access to veteran programs... If you go that route, tell them you're concerned about retaliation. They may be able to make the check seem routine rather than a response to a report.

 

[hayley3]

So, we’re moving onto my partners Mums property. I’ve ordered a heavy duty dog run for a temporary fix and I’ve got a small coop already that will suffice. Here’s my problem:

we’ll be out on the far side of the property next to an old war veteran who is literally bonkers.He shoots his gun all day everyday and he’s now decided to let his dogs roam free.. meaning they come onto her Mums property and harass her chooks and ducks and dogs and will eat the chooks if they have the chance. They’ve already killed quite a few animals... The man can not be spoken to and WILL NOT tie his dogs up. I’m going to wire the top and bottom of my cages but I’ve got some nice show birds and I don’t want to risk it. We can’t really call council because the neighbor can have a go at her Mum for things If he really wanted to be an ass.. which he is. We also have a new baby and our dog and I don’t want to be afraid and confined in my house. They’re apparently crazy cattle dogs and you “shouldn’t even get close to them”. I love all animals and I don’t want to do anything like trap and relocate or bait.. but with the man being a lunatic, talking like civilised people isn’t an option either. Like I’m concerned about my chooks but at this point they’re so nuts I have to worry about my family’s safety as well. Any advice?

How are you going to live with a baby, next to someone that shoots their gun all day , every day? Electric fence would work to keep the dogs out and give you the ability to keep your chickens and allow you to go outside without worrying about being attacked, but sounds like trouble in the making with that neighbor.

 

[Kiki]

Congrats on the baby.

 

[Jan Croot]

1. He was there first. Its up to you to find some accommodation. Put your preconceived notions aside for a minute, and stop assuming his is an irredeemable horror show. Breath.

2. Drop off a "Hi, I'm your new neighbor" box with baked goods, maybe some jam and a good sized bottle of whisky. Include PICTURES of you and the BABY and your prize BIRDS, and a letter kindly introducing yourselves. And maybe at the end hint you are afraid of the dogs.

3. Let him think on that for two or three weeks and he'll go into solutions mode on his own if you don't push him. Push him and he'll push back.

4. Old guys are like cats. If you run after then, they run away. Sit still and they come to you, slowly.