Neighbours dog

Agreed. They’re highly intelligent dogs who need activity and stimulation.

You do realise that you can't just keep a record of a barking or even an aggressive dog and then get a crt order to have it destroyed
You do realise that a judge would laugh you out of crt

Are you saying this woman has a German shepherd dog and doesn't walk it? That's a recipe for disaster, that dog needs walked at pace for around 2 hours a day and time off lead doing training in an enclosed yard. It's mental health will be fucked if it's kept in a house and garden full time

And thank fuck. I wonder how many Karens would go around getting dogs put down bc they dared to exist around their annoying kids.

Look at protect a pet, it's fencing specifically made so your cat can't get out but they can play in the garden.

Has the dog actually tried to get into her garden though? Or is this her anxiety at play?

I would be putting up a higher fence if I had any concerns re my dc.

We don't even know if the dog has any real possibility of getting into OP's yard.

Dog needs training at least. I wouldn't hesitate to take swift action if the dog is an actual threat, vs. I'm just intimidated by it but it will stay behind the fence.

According to the rspca, dogs can be trained to accept a muzzle very happily, but this woman unfortunately hasn’t even managed to socialise an eminently trainable breed of dog. She hasn’t trained it at alll. It attacks her family members in her own home and she cannot take it out on a walk because she’s too scared of what it might do. That is not a happy life for a dog. Nor is it the dogs fault, it’s entirely the owners responsibility. Sadly if it does end up attacking someone seriously then it is still the owner’s responsibility but the dog will likely bear the brunt and end up being put to sleep which could and should be avoided with appropriate training. It is the owner who is always responsible.

A dead dog or a dead child? I know what choice I’d make.

How casual some people are about a living creature. You just destroy it. How awful.

If OP's fear for her children is based in reality, and not just an unfounded fear, then she should take action immediately on it. If the dog is well contained but just intimidating, it's better if she or the owner do something to shield them from view.

OP is worried about that. Not the owner.
And you can't have a dog destroyed because you are "worried"

Why are people fixated on the cat? The OP says she’s concerned the dog could get into her garden and harm her children. That’s appalling and so awful for the children.

I’d keep a log of all activity with a view to getting a court order to have it destroyed.

The neighbour is a disgrace.

My dog hates cats and chases and barks at them. I have no idea if he would really harm one as he had not been close enough. However I would not agree to muzzle him in his own garden for someone else’s cat. Any sensible cat would stay away. We do have big fences that we make sure are maintained and we fetch him in if he is barking but a muzzle would be a bridge too far.

You can cat proof your garden. So the cat can go out into the garden but not get out of the garden. It’s great.
id contact the rspca too about the dog if its that aggressive

I think this thread should focus on the fact that the op has mentioned concerns for her own children if the dog gets into her garden. We have had this issue in our home, next door’s very strong and aggressive pair of dogs broke through their fencing into our garden a few times. Luckily we don’t have young children. But if we had been outside i am certain they would have attacked us. As it was, the final time we were all sitting around the kitchen table in our own home and the dogs were throwing themselves at patio doors barking aggressively trying to get at us. The neighbours had to drag them away. It was scary. We absolutely insisted they got very substantial new fencing put in immediately which fortunately they did. Otherwise our garden would be off limits to us because we definitely weren’t safe. Muzzle for the dog for sure at least during agreed “playtime hours” so you can relax. There are way too many people out there who get big dogs and don’t take responsibility for socialising them. It’s not ok.

Unfortunately as they aren't considered a dangerous breed under UK law your going to have difficulty getting anyone to take it seriously.
If you can get a sturdy 6' fence that has no gaps so the dog cant see your kids it will help reassure you that your dc are safe and may help calm the dog down if it cant see you.

German Shepherds are incredibly trainable, that’s why they make excellent police dogs. Can you talk to your neighbour about a course of training? The dog should be able to use its own garden unmuzzled, your cat will soon suss out whether it’s safe to trespass.

Cats will roam, it’s their nature, and confining them is cruel. But you have to accept that they might encounter danger and come off worst. I don’t know why people have pets if they aren’t prepared for the consequences.

Get some cat fence rollers.

It's only what they do if they are allowed to. You can contain them or build a catio. It's much safer for them all round anyway. I don't want to contain a cat, so I don't have a cat.

Yes, they roam. But they get killed by cars and dogs and foxes.
If you let them roam, you can't complain they get killed.

Cats roam....its not a case of allowing them, its what they do!

No, her dog would not get into trouble if your cat went into her garden and her dog hurt/killed your cat.