Legal Issue with Beagle and Chesapeake Bay Retriever
kjj
up as Kevin) and I'm a newcomer to the group. Recently (as in today) I've
had a problem with my dogs and the law and am hoping to get some insight.
A year before I got the beagle, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever--my roommate's
dog--got off her run and ran roughshod through the neighborhood for only a
few minutes. The dog was only a puppy at the time, and it hasn't happened
since. Nevertheless, our neighbor (who happens to have some sort of
vendetta against us, although we have never spoken more than two words to
each other and have no direct interaction) filed a complaint with the
township. We got a letter with a photocopy out of lawbooks stating the
ordinance against "nuisance" pets that bark at night, chase people, run
loose, etc.
Last year I got my own dog, a beagle/basset mix I rescued from an abusive
situation. The beagle (her name is Snickers) is shy toward most people
except me and my roommates and barks if anyone gets near the house. She
also has protective-aggressive tendacies when anyone ventures on her
territory, so I am sure to keep her supervised and on a run whenever she is
outside the house.
Nevertheless, today my roommate and I received a letter stating again that
our dog is a nuisance (they didn't state which one, and I doubt the
authorities really care), sent the same page out of the lawbook and
threatened to call the County Sherriff if it happens again.
It's rather frustrating because there seems no way in this system to tell
our side of the story, or to appeal this black mark on the household. Does
anyone have any knowledge what happens next, or what we can do? My
roommates and I agree that there is nothing in this letter that either dog
has committed, and if it is the neighbor who dislikes us then all the jerk
has to do is complain again and we're in trouble. Will we just get a fine,
or will the dogs be destroyed? I really could use some advice or have
someone share their own experience in this matter. Both dogs are fine
animals who are loving companions, and I couldn't bear to have them put to
sleep over this churl's petty vendetta.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Vasco Miagkobrukhoi Mishkovich
[...]
>It's rather frustrating because there seems no way in this system to tell
>our side of the story, or to appeal this black mark on the household. Does
>anyone have any knowledge what happens next, or what we can do? My
>roommates and I agree that there is nothing in this letter that either dog
>has committed, and if it is the neighbor who dislikes us then all the jerk
>has to do is complain again and we're in trouble. Will we just get a fine,
>or will the dogs be destroyed? I really could use some advice or have
>someone share their own experience in this matter. Both dogs are fine
>animals who are loving companions, and I couldn't bear to have them put to
>sleep over this churl's petty vendetta.
>
>
>Any thoughts?
You need LEGAL help, because it all depends on what the law is in your
area, and how it's interpreted locally.
Why don't you contact the complainant (and/or the agency) and ask if
there's anything that can be done to resolve the matter without having
to go to court?
Maybe you can even find a lawyer/dog lover who might help you out pro
bono. Your vet might be able to recommend one.
They can't take your dogs away just because your neighbor dislikes
you; you need to find out if you're in violation of some local
ordinance and then attempt to resolve it.
Good luck!
--
Dogman
mailto:dog...@i1.net
http://www.i1.net/~dogman
Proud "Gang of Thugs" member in good standing.
Vasco Miagkobrukhoi Mishkovich
379 Running Dog Rd.
Salem, MO
Visitors welcome.
Lynn Kosmakos
kjj wrote:
> Nevertheless, today my roommate and I received a letter stating again that
> our dog is a nuisance (they didn't state which one, and I doubt the
> authorities really care), sent the same page out of the lawbook and
> threatened to call the County Sherriff if it happens again.
This sounds like a form letter that is sent out whenever any kind of
dog complaint is reported. If I were you, I'd call whomever sent the
letter and ask for specifics about the complaint. Approach it from
the reasonable position of not understanding what the complaint is
about and not being able to remedy it without knowing. After being
told the nature of the complaint, you can then mention tension with a
neighbor and ask about the procedures for complaints of this kind,
next steps, how to protect yourself, etc..
Lynn K.
Elaine Gallant
The city will actually have to send out an animal control officer to press a
charge. If that time ever comes, the neighbor will not be able to prove a
violation occurred.
"kjj" <Kbow...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:t09hdpk...@corp.supernews.com...
> Hi there! My name is Josh (I'm using my roommate's computer so it will
show
> up as Kevin) and I'm a newcomer to the group. Recently (as in today) I've
> had a problem with my dogs and the law and am hoping to get some insight.
>
> A year before I got the beagle, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever--my
roommate's
> dog--got off her run and ran roughshod through the neighborhood for only a
> few minutes. The dog was only a puppy at the time, and it hasn't happened
> since. Nevertheless, our neighbor (who happens to have some sort of
> vendetta against us, although we have never spoken more than two words to
> each other and have no direct interaction) filed a complaint with the
> township. We got a letter with a photocopy out of lawbooks stating the
> ordinance against "nuisance" pets that bark at night, chase people, run
> loose, etc.
>
> Last year I got my own dog, a beagle/basset mix I rescued from an abusive
> situation. The beagle (her name is Snickers) is shy toward most people
> except me and my roommates and barks if anyone gets near the house. She
> also has protective-aggressive tendacies when anyone ventures on her
> territory, so I am sure to keep her supervised and on a run whenever she
is
> outside the house.
>
> Nevertheless, today my roommate and I received a letter stating again that
> our dog is a nuisance (they didn't state which one, and I doubt the
> authorities really care), sent the same page out of the lawbook and
> threatened to call the County Sherriff if it happens again.
>
> It's rather frustrating because there seems no way in this system to tell
> our side of the story, or to appeal this black mark on the household.
Does
> anyone have any knowledge what happens next, or what we can do? My
> roommates and I agree that there is nothing in this letter that either dog
> has committed, and if it is the neighbor who dislikes us then all the jerk
> has to do is complain again and we're in trouble. Will we just get a
fine,
> or will the dogs be destroyed? I really could use some advice or have
> someone share their own experience in this matter. Both dogs are fine
> animals who are loving companions, and I couldn't bear to have them put to
> sleep over this churl's petty vendetta.
>
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks
>
> Josh
> kbow...@charter.net
>
>
Julia F N Altshuler
to state and municipality and municipality. You're going to have to get
legal advice from someone in your area because, as much as everyone here
wants to help, we don't know how it works where you are. City Hall might
be one source of information. Your veterinarian or local dog club might
be another. Neighbor disputes normally don't have much money in them for
lawyers, but a police officer might know.
I'm more interested in the human question. There might be a legal answer
that involves spending big bucks on lawyers and taking it to the Supreme
Court while there's an easier (and cheaper) way to deal with a neighbor
from hell. Stretch your mind; can you think of why this neighbor has it
out for you? Or does your neighbor bother everyone? I'm not suggesting
that the reason is going to be rational. Might it have something to do
with a prejudice? Could, in this instance, using the legal system to
harass someone be part of a hate crime? In the world of human
interaction, it's possible for old people to hate young people because
the young people are young, that is healthy, having fun, enjoying dogs,
having friends visit, etc. And that's just one example. See what you
can figure out.
I won't go into the details on my neighbor from hell,
but I can tell you that I would handle it differently if I could do it
all over again. I'd let it slide that my gentleman callers weren't
visiting so I could have wild sex with them (what she imagined), nor were
they folks having dinner so I could try to make some friends in a new
city (the truth). I'd make it clear that they were bill collectors or
relatives I didn't like or participants in a psychology experiment or
anything at all I could think of so she'd imagine that I wasn't enjoying
myself.
So maybe there's a creative solution in there somewhere. I can't imagine
what it is, but you might.
--Lia
--
"It is a strange fact of life on earth that a human being who reaches
college age under the impression that "it's" is the possessive form of
"it" cannot be disabused of that belief. No amount of red ink will wash
it out."
Louis Menand
Anne
>except me and my roommates and barks if anyone gets near the house. She
>also has protective-aggressive tendacies when anyone ventures on her
>territory, s
Does this mean she spends much of the day barking? Or does it happen only once
in a while. If a dog barks all day, every time someone passes the house or for
an hour at a time, that really could be a nuisance.
Anne
Alpha Wolf
> ordinance against "nuisance" pets that bark at night, chase people, run
> loose, etc.
Usually the law contains language such as "willfully and knowlingly". All
conditions within an ordinance must apply in order for you to found guilty
of violating the ordinance. For example, my neighbor called animal control
years ago when one of my dogs escaped from the run. I had just spent a lot
of $$ installing a 6' high run next to the house. However, a new dog I
rescued had a tendency to dig (which I had not yet discovered). He dug out
while I was 50 miles away at work and was caught by the dog catcher.
Charges were filed.
The neighbor was a royal ass and wanted them to take my dogs away. By
showing the judge what I had done to contain my dogs, and what I had done to
eleviate additional escapes, I was found not guilty because I neither
knowingly NOR willingly allowed my dogs to run free.
Two weeks later another neighbor saw the 1st neighbors kids open the gate to
my dog run. Again, the police were called and all 4 of my dogs impounded.
Once again into court with the jerk of a neighbor. The final result? Not
guilty with the neighbor admonished to control her children or have them fce
charges of tresspass and cruelty to animals.
So...read the law....and conform to the letter of it. Then screw the
neighbor...with the caveat that I have heard of irate neighbors poisoning
dogs they dont like....
regards,
Toby
dw
receipt of an unconfirmed complaint.
The best response is to write back a simple letter stating
that your dogs are kept under control and you follow all
laws requiring the ownership of animals. Thank them and give
them you phone number and ask them to call if they need any
information. Nothing more.
Be sure that your dogs and up on shots and licensed.
daniel
PS animal control often knows about these complainers and
seldom acts unless a cluster of complaints are made about
address. Then they will need to obser the problem before
issuing a ticket.
kjj wrote:
>
> Hi there! My name is Josh (I'm using my roommate's computer so it will show
> up as Kevin) and I'm a newcomer to the group. Recently (as in today) I've
> had a problem with my dogs and the law and am hoping to get some insight.
>
> A year before I got the beagle, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever--my roommate's
> dog--got off her run and ran roughshod through the neighborhood for only a
> few minutes. The dog was only a puppy at the time, and it hasn't happened
> since. Nevertheless, our neighbor (who happens to have some sort of
> vendetta against us, although we have never spoken more than two words to
> each other and have no direct interaction) filed a complaint with the
> township. We got a letter with a photocopy out of lawbooks stating the
> ordinance against "nuisance" pets that bark at night, chase people, run
> loose, etc.
>
> Last year I got my own dog, a beagle/basset mix I rescued from an abusive
> situation. The beagle (her name is Snickers) is shy toward most people
> except me and my roommates and barks if anyone gets near the house. She
> also has protective-aggressive tendacies when anyone ventures on her
dw
The phones are hell and most of the information can be
considered restricted unless a citation has been issued.
dw
Lynn Kosmakos
dw wrote:
>
> You will score more points if you write.
>
> The phones are hell and most of the information can be
> considered restricted unless a citation has been issued.
Both good points.
Lynn K.