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???

Electric fencing all round the of your fence. Easy to install and not particularly expensive.

If you do put electric fencing or wire do you need to let the owners know (as the dog cannot read the warning signs)

Would you be able to pile up a load of random wood or furniture so that when he jumps the fence he will injure himself but tell them first so if he does , the onus is on them. They have the responsibilty to keep him from harm .

If he's injured on your property , I can see you being sued for the loss of a working dog by the looks of things !

And if he shits on your property you scoop it up and leave it on their doorstep?

Yeah, I’d be tempted to tell them if their dog came onto my property again I’d shoot it.

I wouldn’t actually do that though, however cunty the dog is.

That's an idle threat that would do diddly squat though 3827 because the neighbours will no she has no intention of doing it.

My NDN dogs used to come into my garden (and one shit on my lawn) I went round there, told them, shored up the fence etc.

I wouldn't ever say "I;ll harm it" because I wouldn't and couldn't. (I could've locked the buggers in my shed but why would I?)

Any idle threats not carried out just give them extra leverege . It needs to be legal and do-able.

Actually, if I lived in a gun culture country and had a gun I might well shoot this dog.

Have you got a gun OP
Will the Ranger mediate a meeting with the neighbours?

If you are all together and you ask :
Is it right that your dog enters my property
Is it right that your dog is aggressive towards us?
Is it right that your dog is aggressive towards my young child?

There is no Universe that the answers could be "Yes" to any of these.

Then you ask :
Is it legal and appropriate for me to shoot the dog on sight next time it does any of the above?
If the answer is "No" what is their alternative ?

Though a solicitors letter might be the way forward?

So basically you can either take matters into your own hands, OP, or let the council continue to do nothing. Make a choice.

Don't shoot the dogs FFS! Shoot the owner, let the dog dispose of the evidence. Then once the owner has been reduced to a pile of chewed up bones, get on to the ranger that the dog has been abandoned.

Spoke to the council again, got a different ranger person who said there are multiple previous complaints about the dog and that next time the dog is out call them and they'll go round all guns blazing (so to speak) and the dog will be classified as dangerous (ie has to be muzzled and on a leash when out, fines if out uncontrolled, etc.).

They said that previous complaints had also referenced the neighbours' behaviour in targeting people who reported the dog, so they advised a quick phonecall without talking to neighbours next time, rather than sending a ranger round this time.

I did say "wow, that's pretty different advice from Friday then" and the ranger said "erm. Yes. Noted." and changed the subject!

MugOfCoffee, that's a very cool update. Result. I'd be preening a bit.