Dog owners: how is this our fault?

[mugOfCoffee]

We live opposite a family that has a very aggressive border collie. It spends most of its life as a working sheepdog elsewhere, but when it's in town they let it roam unchecked.

It comes into our yard (jumps the fence) and bails us up, barking and snarling, ears and tail down, a hand's length from 19mo DS in the pram.

Today it happened for the fourth time in the past year (numerous other times it's been in our yard, pooing on the lawn). I said to the neighbour "we could really do without this. It's not on having your dog barking at our baby in the pram" and she responded "well sorr-eee, you stupid f*ing bitch".

I phoned the council. Ranger talked to neighbour, who said it is our fault. Ranger has therefore advised we talk it through with our lovely neighbours. Who incidentally happen to be pillars of the local community and members of a particular political party.

How is this our fault? What have we done that this dog is responding reasonably to us being in oyr own yard???

(sorry the political leanings of our neighbours are not relevant. More that said political leanings tend to reveal an "I'm all right, Jack" point of view that goes with a lack of respect or compassion for others)

Was the ranger aware that the dog was in your yard when it was aggressive to you and your baby? How did the neighbour intimate that it was your fault? Aggressive dog not under control of owner, surely at least a caution about keeping it under control was given?

Arseholes. It is not your fault. You should be able to enjoy your garden and the dog should be under control. As they are looking unlikely to deal with it, could you look at raising your fence where it is jumping over? Maybe some trellis on top or a nice thorny plant?

What did the ranger say when you said, “The dog jumped our fence and bailed us up in our own yard, what is there to talk through exactly?”

I did ask if the ranger had the details correct. Yes, apparently. Yes, including that this has happened in our yard and that the neighbours are confrontational and aggressive. Yes, so under those circs it makes sense to the ranger that this is for us to discuss among ourselves? Yes.

I said Ok, thanks and put the phone down as I was unsure what to do next.

I'll phone back and ask what to do as I feel the solution offered isn't appropriate... (to put it mildly).

This would piss me off. Next time when the dog is in your garden could you phone the RSPCA and say there is an abandoned dog roaming around.

What country are you in OP? That sounds outrageous. Can you phone the local pound/shelter to come and pick the dog up?

What a disgusting attitude from the neighbours and the ranger. Id be questioning whether your neighbour has some clout in the local neighbourhood that makes them untouchable or whether the ranger has a personal relationship with them in conflict with their professional one. I’d definitely complain and take it higher.

As for protecting the dog coming on you property garden, yes, I’d absolutely install whatever is legal to put around your property as a deterrent.

I have a totally antisocial dog. No known cause - perhaps in-bred? She's certainly never been abused, and we've had her since she was a pup. We've trained her extensively and she's still hopeless. Meanwhile - she's never allowed outside unless she's on a halter. I would never trust her around little kids or other dogs. I would never forgive myself if anything happened because I was complacent. Your neighbours are dicks and your ranger is being completely complacent here.

If the ranger does nothing about it, and the dog continues to come onto your property, call the police.

It is absolutely not on to have a dog growling or showing signs of aggression towards a child.

Film it.

Send to local TV news.

Does the ranger double up as a dog warden? If not, get on to the dog warden.

Email the ranger with a summary of the response you got the neighbour, and explain that this is not a satisfactory outcome. Copy it to your local councillor, too. It might be best to do this using their complaints procedure, as there will a process that the council has to follow.

I would also start gathering evidence and taking video every time this happens, and submit it to the council. Check out the law on out of control dogs on private property that is other than their owner's, and make sure the council you know what options are available to them. If, at any point, you feel at risk from the dog, call 999 and say there's a dangerous dog in your garden.

These people obviously think they can do what they like, and you may have a struggle on your hands to get action taken, but this is an awful response from the council.

Where I live, the dog warden comes and takes dogs away if they're causing a nuisance in this way, and the owners have to pay to get them back. (Or used to, I've not needed to use them for a while - my dog is feisty with other dogs and scares them off, and our garden is pretty secure now).

Wild guess, Australia? It's utterly shocking. Do the police have any clout with this? I'd report it to them. Constantly, with video.

Were having to guess what country you’re in, as you haven’t mentioned (though it’s obviously relevant) but if you’re in America presumably you can shoot the dog next time it ventures on to your land.

“Were having to guess what country you’re in, as you haven’t mentioned (though it’s obviously relevant) but if you’re in America presumably you can shoot the dog next time it ventures on to your land.”

Are you for F real !

OP I’d call back and ask to speak to someone higher up, also raise a formal complaint, 9/10 they cannot ignore or fob off if it’s wrtitten down, more so if it’s council responsibility

Police, for the insult/offensive language and the threat from the dog.

I would ask email the ranger (ie get it in writing) laying out exactly what you discussed and asking them how they are ensuring the safety of your child from this dog whilst your is on your own property. Including from toxoplasmosis or other diseases/general unpleasantness of the dog poo, developing phobias from having the dog bark at her so close by, and God forbid, being bitten.

Yes to contacting the police too about an aggressive out of control dog repeatedly approaching your child in your own garden (though it is also not ok on the street)

WTAF! OP YANBU!!!!!! What the fucking fuck?! This has actually engaged my rage mode - I don’t understand how this is anything but a straightforward case of “control your dog or you will be fined”.

neighbour has some clout in the local neighbourhood that makes them untouchable

Film it. Send to local TV news.

This and this. But don't shoot the dog FGS.

What country are you in, OP? DOesn't sound like the UK. Either way, Film the dog and complain to your council. If it were me, I would have told the neighbuors off and the useless ranger.

Hose pipe if your water pressure is good.

Your neighbours are knobs and I would go back to the authorities.

Filming is, erm, difficult when you've got a growling, barking, snarling bastard of a dog 20cm from your 19 month old.

Similarly, recording conversations is difficult when the dog has just buggered off so you're practically crying with relief, and your neighbour is now calling you a stupid f*ing bitch.

Those circs aside, I'm doing what I can to take it back to the authorities as not only are the neighbours complete nutjobs, the ranger's response was absolutely pathetic. I agree that the neighbours' standing in the community may be why it's difficult to get this taken seriously. Everyone knows the surname...