I have illegal chickens. They are in a nice secure area in my yard- and basically, I don't bother anyone and I look the other way whenever anyone in my neighborhood is doing something they shouldn't. Whether its screaming at their kids/wife, drag racing down the street, blaring their stereo at all hours of the night, etc etc, I never say a word. I let my neighbors borrow whatever they want- lawnmower, air compressor, ladder, rake, cup of milk, saran wrap, etc. My children are well-behaved and do not fight with neighbor kids, display good manners, etc.
I am a veterinary technician and a wildlife rehabilitator. As most technicians do, I have more than my legally allowed amount of animals. (In my city you are allowed a total of 3 animals- those animals being only dog, cat, and non-breeding rabbit). I have three dogs and five cats, and two parrots and a tortoise- plus my chickens. My yard does not smell, it is well-groomed, and we are non-conspicuous neighbors.
However, my problems here first started when I brought home my pit bull mix. He is a great big dork. He does NOT have an aggressive bone in his body. Please, if you have any doubt to what I am saying, there is no need to read further. I would not keep an aggressive animal (my stupid wiener dog excluded but that is because she is only four inches tall). I have put two perfectly healthy dogs to sleep because they showed aggression. One toward me, one toward others. I have too many kids here and in the neighborhood to own an aggressive animal. However, when I first brought home my pit mix, my neighbor expressed hatred. He has an obvious fear of pit bulls and his own preconceived notions of them. He refused to get to know my dog when he was just a pup, and I do not know what he does when my dogs are outside...ie: turn the hose on my dog, kick the fence, etc. However, I do not let my dogs bark when I am not home. What I mean by that is I do not let my dogs bark excessively. My pit has been through two training classes, and knows all basic commands and listens very well. I would trust him around my youngest family members- the babies, etc. Well, my dumb dog is loud- when he wants someone to come play he will bark and he tends to jump on my gate. We correct him, but he has no clue. He barks- and my neighbors tell me how scary it is when he hits the fence. I have explained what a goof he is, apologized that he sounds scary, and then walked to the fence with them to show them that he is 'talking' and they have reached over and pet his head, etc. This is the part I have the hardest part explaining in type- my dog is not barking to be aggressive, he is being vocal. However he LOOKS scary because he is as tall as a lab, black and has a pit bull head.
Yesterday, my neighbor put her laundry on the fence to dry. My dog stole it. She went into my backyard without asking and retrieved it. He was friendly and wanting to play with her (these are her words. I wasn't home- my fifteen year old was home, out front on his skateboard). She said she played with him, pet him, then left the yard- as she was entering her yard (shared fence-they have a gate next to mine) they say my dog jumped on the fence and bit her shoulder(that had the clothes draped over it). Actually, the husband screamed in my face when I got home, that my dog attacked his wife. He screamed at me that he was done with my dog, and if I didn't take care of him, he would. He told me that my dog goes after his kids, the neighbor kids, and him all the time. This is very untrue. He had already confronted my son- and told him that he better control his dog or he was going to take care of it. My son and his friend had met me at the corner and told me what was going on- so I called my husband and told him he better come home. After the neighbor finished screaming at me- and not letting me get a word in- he went in the house. Once my husband was home, he didnt come out. His wife was out- but he wouldnt. This is typical behavior of this neighbor. He will scream at kids, women, but not men.
My husband is going to put up a privacy fence, and he is going to put in six foot chainlink gates- however I do not know what is going to happen now. If my neighbor calls the pound, what they are going to do. I am so distraught-I have no idea how I am going to go to work today.
I am a veterinary technician and a wildlife rehabilitator. As most technicians do, I have more than my legally allowed amount of animals. (In my city you are allowed a total of 3 animals- those animals being only dog, cat, and non-breeding rabbit). I have three dogs and five cats, and two parrots and a tortoise- plus my chickens. My yard does not smell, it is well-groomed, and we are non-conspicuous neighbors.
However, my problems here first started when I brought home my pit bull mix. He is a great big dork. He does NOT have an aggressive bone in his body. Please, if you have any doubt to what I am saying, there is no need to read further. I would not keep an aggressive animal (my stupid wiener dog excluded but that is because she is only four inches tall). I have put two perfectly healthy dogs to sleep because they showed aggression. One toward me, one toward others. I have too many kids here and in the neighborhood to own an aggressive animal. However, when I first brought home my pit mix, my neighbor expressed hatred. He has an obvious fear of pit bulls and his own preconceived notions of them. He refused to get to know my dog when he was just a pup, and I do not know what he does when my dogs are outside...ie: turn the hose on my dog, kick the fence, etc. However, I do not let my dogs bark when I am not home. What I mean by that is I do not let my dogs bark excessively. My pit has been through two training classes, and knows all basic commands and listens very well. I would trust him around my youngest family members- the babies, etc. Well, my dumb dog is loud- when he wants someone to come play he will bark and he tends to jump on my gate. We correct him, but he has no clue. He barks- and my neighbors tell me how scary it is when he hits the fence. I have explained what a goof he is, apologized that he sounds scary, and then walked to the fence with them to show them that he is 'talking' and they have reached over and pet his head, etc. This is the part I have the hardest part explaining in type- my dog is not barking to be aggressive, he is being vocal. However he LOOKS scary because he is as tall as a lab, black and has a pit bull head.
Yesterday, my neighbor put her laundry on the fence to dry. My dog stole it. She went into my backyard without asking and retrieved it. He was friendly and wanting to play with her (these are her words. I wasn't home- my fifteen year old was home, out front on his skateboard). She said she played with him, pet him, then left the yard- as she was entering her yard (shared fence-they have a gate next to mine) they say my dog jumped on the fence and bit her shoulder(that had the clothes draped over it). Actually, the husband screamed in my face when I got home, that my dog attacked his wife. He screamed at me that he was done with my dog, and if I didn't take care of him, he would. He told me that my dog goes after his kids, the neighbor kids, and him all the time. This is very untrue. He had already confronted my son- and told him that he better control his dog or he was going to take care of it. My son and his friend had met me at the corner and told me what was going on- so I called my husband and told him he better come home. After the neighbor finished screaming at me- and not letting me get a word in- he went in the house. Once my husband was home, he didnt come out. His wife was out- but he wouldnt. This is typical behavior of this neighbor. He will scream at kids, women, but not men.
My husband is going to put up a privacy fence, and he is going to put in six foot chainlink gates- however I do not know what is going to happen now. If my neighbor calls the pound, what they are going to do. I am so distraught-I have no idea how I am going to go to work today.
