Walk through GATE spraying my watchDog with pepper spray

[redhen]

Sure they have the right to come in the yard..but they dont have the right to just shoot mace at your dogs face...
nope..not buying it,.. (unless your dog is jumping at their throat.. which i highly doubt is happening..

)
i bet if you backed them in a corner, they would back down and let you know when they were coming..
its animal abuse, pure and simple. The dog is a guard dog, and you have a right to have it protect your property.
They NEED to call ahead...period.

 

[gritsar]

They don't read our meters here. We read them and send the reading in with the month's bill.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
I just came upon this thread.

The solution to your problem will vary from place to place. The first thing to do, though, is to LOCK YOUR GATE. That will stop the meter reader from walking through your gate. If you have a dog inside a fence, you really should be locking your gate anyway to prevent exactly this sort of problem.

Then, depending on your location, you may be able to do a variety of different things. The reader MAY be able to read your meter remotely, either through radio technology or simply by using binoculars. Or, you may be able to require him to call you. Or, you may be able to schedule specific days for reading the meter. Or, you may be able to read the meter yourself. First lock your gate, then have a talk with the company.

I have a herd of dobermans, and before I moved the meter was inside the fenced yard -- so I feel yer pain! In my case, the readers were able to read the meter with binoculars. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

 

[AngieChick]

As this is a guard dog, it was probably behaving very aggressively to the meter reader. That's its job as a guard dog. I think that the meter reader has every right to spray an aggressive dog with pepper spray if it is posing a real danger to him. The owner has every right to refuse service with the electric company and go off grid. I know it sounds harsh, and that it should be so simple to get a set schedule from the power company. But, for some reason it's not. Legally I suspect that the utility company is in the right here, and when it boils down to it you may need to follow the law here or there could be bigger consequences. The power company probably can cut you off if you refuse to let their employees view the meter. It would be wonderful if an agreement or compromise could be reached giving you advanced notification, but you may need to come up with a realistic Plan B if they won't budge.

It sounds as if your personal space and independence is very important to you, have you considered going off grid? I know it's expensive, but it could be a good long term goal. If you are unable to, I would recommend to the OP that she create a fenced, secure pathway for the meter reader as Rusty suggested. It's the only way to keep your dog and yourself safe from liability. Not to mention the utility worker who is just doing his job.

 

[domino7]

The biggest problem is that you have no choice which power company to use, so they really don't care much about customer satisfaction. Just because the law backs him up, doesn't make it right. It sounds like the guy has serious issues.

 

[Cetawin]

I know that in Florida, NC, Washington and Oregon...they read them with field glasses and a machine thingy...never have to get out. It can be donw from outside the fence too. If you have to, find out what day he reads on and put the dog secured to another place. In other words, he can read the darn meter without going in there with the dog. Personally, I would put my dog's 'doggles' on him and let him get tagged on my property. He is making a problem by spraying the dog each time...one day he is gonna miss and he is gonna get bit....and the SOB will deserve it!

Personally, I would sue the SOBs for pepper spraying my dog each month. They would change their policy and practices before I let go of them.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I like the dog goggles idea. I would like to see his face when he goes to spray the dog an sees goggles on him.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
I'd like to see somebody try to pepper spray my dog for real, it doesn't affect him

He likes hot stuff, so he'd probably go for the hand holding the can first.. which is better because he usually takes down by the armpit or the inner thigh groin area. Hopefully whoever is foolish enough to spray my dog doesn't loose too many fingers

 

[Sillystunt]

padlock the gate!!! we do and if they want in they knock on our door. i have had no problems doing this!! now they read them from the car with the new meter they installed

 

[PotterWatch]

Our meter-reader has to come through one side gate and walk through our backyard all the way to the other side of the house. Because we have dogs, he rings the bell, I put the dogs away and he goes to read the meter. If we are not home to put the dogs in the house, he doesn't read the meter that time around.

I agree with the others that you should put a lock on your gate.