I asked him about the roosters. He said he didn’t mind. So I thought he didn’t. I’m also rehoming two of them. Which I told him when he mentioned the roosters, for the first time, after he called the town.
I asked him about the roosters. He said he didn’t mind. So I thought he didn’t. I’m also rehoming two of them. Which I told him when he mentioned the roosters, for the first time, after he called the town.
OK, I’ve read this whole thread, had a farm in Schoharie and lived in NY for 25 years. His bullying and letting his dog run equals harassing you, which is illegal. It is causing you undue anxiety, strife and fear for yourself and children. Rise above your chickens and launch an offensive attack. Here’s how:
1. A - Do not talk to him anymore. Period.
1. Document conversations with him and his wife. Get a notebook just for documenting all of this - not electronically, do it on paper in a spiral notebook or other bound notebook where papers can’t be added or moved. Document your recollections of past conversations as best you can, note the day you are recollecting along with the approximate date of incident. Date, time place for each. Note scent of alcohol, the way he walks (stumbling?), tone, volume, slurring?, threatening posture, gesticulations, your fear of him when he is yelling, raising his voice at you, appears inebriated or drugged, whatever he appears to you
2. Document by photo when his dog is on your property. Videos are tough for court docs. Get pics of dog knocking down your kids. A game camera can do this and all the pics will be on the SD card. Borrow a game camera from a hunter if you have to.
3. Get a letter from your therapist documenting the strife, stress, nauseous feelings you are getting from being verbally attacked and harassed by him.
He can call authorities all he wants but it is illegal to threaten you, yell at you, gesticulate, cause you fear for yourself and family. Look up harassment in nys law.
4. CALL ANIMAL CONTROL THE NEXT TIME THAT DOG IS ON YOUR PROPERTY. Keep calling until they come pick it up and he has to retrieve it from the pound. Make his dog his problem and be a squeaky wheel to animal control until they enforce the laws for him. Document every call to them with date, time, who you spoke with. His dog jumping on your kids is dangerous and unacceptable. It is only a matter of time before one of your kids is injured by the dog knocking them to the ground.
5. File for a restraining order against him and his dog using all of the above. The police can help you, courts may have guidance in your county too. Start online; there is a tremendous amount of information, documents, online in the New York Court System.
CHICKENS
1. Try to lease or rent the land adjacent to your lot to provide the required set back.
2. Use hardware cloth on your coop walls and floor not chicken or welded wire. It is the only material that breaths that will keep out forest critters 99% of the time.
2B. Do not install the new coop until you have the proper setback.
3. Gather a list of people who keep chickens and inform them of the ordinance, let them know the council is reviewing the ordinances. Suggest wording for a new ordinance that takes into consideration new chicken keeping practices. Old ordinances were designed to keep stench away from homes. New products practically do away with the stench of chicken houses. (Sweet pdz is one, sand floors are another ) Talk to chicken owners separately until you have a few that agree on helping, then add more people. There are many towns that have updated ordinances so you don’t have to invent this. Just research and copy, present to supporters and choose. For example, in all five boroughs of NYC you can keep up to five hens, no roosters, on your property, which can be as little as 15’ wide and directly adjacent to neighbors.
4. Since you are making money at this, consider leasing/renting land close by, in case you do need to move your operation. Call it a business, never a hobby. If any agency issues a deadline to move them that you cannot meet, ask for an extension citing all your best efforts to comply, which you have documented in your notebook.
Hope this helps by providing a step by step guide for action. Big hug. If you can homeschool kids, you can do this!
