Walk through GATE spraying my watchDog with pepper spray

[SarahFair]

Is there no way to make a direct path to the meter from the drive so the dog can not get to him?

 

[Mattemma]

I keep my gate locked at the driveway.I had the fence installed behind the gas meter,and paid to move the water meter to the front of the house.My electric meter is way back,but somehow the readers for that can scan it from a distance.I would see about locking the gate and having the meter scanned outside the fence.....or call in the numbers each month. Or even set up a day they are to come and keep the dog locked inside that day.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Wise advice and if the company representative doesn't listen, go higher up.

Kat - meter reader wouldn't want to do that to my dog because I have my own pepper spray and know how to use it.

 

[meriruka]

Send a letter to the editor of your local paper. Have a bit of a rant on how companies no longer want to work with their customers.
Especially if that is the only service available to you in your area, so your stuck with it.)
That the right to come on to your property they've somehow translated as the right to injure your dog upon arrival.
You could also find others with complaints and list them at a town council meeting.

In my area, enough people complained about the crappy cable service until the cable company actually sent a rep out to a council meeting
to address the issues.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Yes, they often have the right of access. When we were in Florida, I actually paid to have the meter moved to where the reader could read it but the dogs did not have access. I had no desire to have them calling the law for a dog bite. In those cases the courts are all on the meter reader's side and Florida does have a 3-bite rule. After the 3rd bite the dog is put down even when it isn't his fault.

So protect yourself from lawsuits and your dog from death--move that meter or fence off a pathway to it so the meter reader has access.


Rusty (who has schutzhund Dobies and GSDs)

 

[dacjohns]

I guess what it all boils down to is for anyone with this problem to check their contracts and local laws and ordinances to see what rights and responsiblities the residents have and the same for the utility companies. Then figure out ways to solve and work around the problems.

Not all electric companies have the remotely read meters. You can't really expect an electric company to install one for one person.

There are many ways to deal with this reasonably. Sugar often works better than vingegar but then on the other hand sometime it doesn't. I suggest the soft approach first.

 

[sundance]

Last time I looked at a sportsman book , they had this marvelous thing called BINOCULARS.Why can't they read the meter with those. Our meter reader has a small hand held device he just points toward the meter and it reads it. I know it's right because i go outside behind him and read the meter then check my bill to see if KW is read right. When we Lived in Polk Co. Fla. the Lakeland Electric Co, had a phone number you could call and they would notify you when the meter reader was comming and to please close up all animals.I know up here now the guy just climbs the fence of my GS place to read his meter. marrie

 

[SarahFair]

Quote:
Because like my meter the bincos would have to be able to turn corners...

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
+1

I'm saddened to hear so much animosity toward the folks who are just trying to do their jobs and read the meters. What's so wrong with trying to work things out - communicate - and compromise?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Is it too hard or complex to have a specific date given to her so she can put her dog in the house?

I wouldn't know since I'm not the OP nor the local electric company and can't speak for either. I was only giving my opinion that the meter reader has to able to get to the meter and the control of the dog is up to the owner.

Thanks
Steve​