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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be getting sick of my next door neighbour?

272 replies

lineylane · 21/08/2018 13:34

NDN moved in 6 weeks ago. We have only been here approx 4 months ourselves.

We have three dogs- 2 Rottweilers (honestly the softest, most dopey dogs you will meet- all the children on our close adore them and will come up and pet them etc) and a very old, feeble staffie who couldn’t even catch a fly if he tried.

Rotties are walked three times a day- once by DH in the morning, dog walker in the afternoon and me of an evening. Our staffie cannot walk long distances so either both me and DH go on a walk and one of us turns back with our staffie or he doesn’t come out with us.

Aside from this, they get let out in the garden for a play/pee a couple times a day by me (work from home) fully supervised as it’s my time to enjoy a smoke and a quick brew.

Approx a week after NDN moved in, we got a knock on the door at 8am- hysterically screaming at us that are “dogs are out of control” and are dangerous and may attack their DC if they are playing in the garden.

I insisted they were all incredibly friendly, well trained and while like rough and tumble with each other- are impeccably behaved around humans and suggested NDN brought her DC round to meet them which made her even more hysterical. I ended up shutting the door in her face, resulting her banging on the door for 20 minutes screaming through the letterbox while I was on a conference call. I will admit, I ended up losing my temper and ended up opening the front room window and asking her what the fuck she thought she was doing and to get off my property. Looked very taken aback and sulked off.

Anyway- two weeks ago, NDN brought two kittens. Got a knock on the door saying we would have to either keep the dogs indoors, or get rid “because no doubt our dogs would choose to savage them”. Of course no dog can be 100% trusted, but I can say with 95% confidence that if said cats came in the garden the dogs would come to me if recalled.

This wasn’t good enough for said neighbour. I suggested my DH put barbed wire on top of our shared fence so cats wouldn’t be able to jump over. Apparently we are now cruel to animals Hmm

Anyway things have come to a head this morning. Another neighbour has come and knocked to say NDN has started a petition for us to get rid of our dogs Hmm because they are all of “dangerous breed”. Most people have told her to fuck off, one or two others have sided with her.

I’m close to ringing the police for harassment.

AIBU?

OP posts:
MsFrizzle · 21/08/2018 13:36

Ring the police, log it and say you're concerned your dogs may be in danger because of her.

Also, make a suggestion that they cat proof their own garden - if they have kittens, they can put up a fence to prevent them from getting out. It's their responsibility to keep their cats safe.

MsFrizzle · 21/08/2018 13:39

Also, it would be animal cruelty to keep them locked up. She just sounds like a trouble stirrer! If the dogs have never escaped and never caused harm, she has no leg to stand on.

JaniceBattersby · 21/08/2018 13:39

They are being completely ducking ridiculous, and I’m not a dog lover by a long shot.

Can your dogs get out of your garden? No? Can their cats get out of their garden? Yes. The. Their responsibility to keep their cats safe.

YouTheCat · 21/08/2018 13:40

Ring 101. I am not a dog person at all but don't see why her cats should trump your well-behaved dogs. My cat is an indoor one because neighbours all have dogs and we're on a main road.

What does she think a petition means? Does she think if she gets enough signatures you have to comply or something?

katmarie · 21/08/2018 13:40

Provided your dogs are well fenced in, reasonably quiet, and under control when being walked, your neighbour has no right to ask anything more. Her kittens are her responsibility, and if she want to keep them away from your dogs, she needs to make sure they can't get into your garden.

RagamuffinCat · 21/08/2018 13:41

I am a cat lover, and am scared of a lot of dogs. But you are being completely reasonable. She bought her kittens knowing that you have dogs. It is her responsibility to keep them safe, either through cat proofing her garden, or making them indoor cats. I would also be concerned that she may cause harm to your dogs, and would log your concerns about her petition with the local police.

apriljune12 · 21/08/2018 13:42

Who is she intending to present the petition to and on what evidence? Silly cow.

I would ignore her but if she knocks again inform her you are going to seek advice regards harassment. How horrible some people are

BeefyCakes · 21/08/2018 13:43

It's their responsibility to keep the cats safe. Not yours.

Who exactly would she give this petition to? Your dogs are not illegal, they haven't hurt anyone, they're just dogs.

In your shoes I'd ring 101 and say you're being harassed by your neighbour. Maybe look up some legal advice, a stop harassing me type of letter.

Don't let her bully you. She's an absolute dick. Don't let her get away with this.

serbska · 21/08/2018 13:43

Kitty owner needs to pay to have her garden kitty-proofed, or keep an indoor kitty (says a keen cat owner)

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 21/08/2018 13:46

If your dogs are safely in your garden without access to theirs and if they are under control on their walks then that should be ok.

Nikephorus · 21/08/2018 13:48

I think she'd find that if her cats decided to enter your garden when your dogs (Rotties are soppy buggers, love 'em & I've got a Staffie) were there, her cats would be up & on top of the fence long before a single canine paw had moved. And if they stood their ground (as my eldest cat does with DDog out of sheer laziness) they'd either be ignored or loved (including if they got their claws out!)
She's a nutter. Have a word with the police.

QuoadUltra · 21/08/2018 13:50

She’s being a dick but I would try to give some ground or this is going to get worse and spiral. She needs a win however small.

Can you say to her in writing that you have heard there is a petition and you are sorry she feels so strongly. You are confident that your dogs are well behaved. However, for reassurance you are taking them for dog training sessions for extra obedience.

Then take them to one agility class or whatever. Yes, you lose a bit of face but you have the moral high ground yourself, you have peace and quiet and you have your dogs.

Don’t lose your temper again (but you know that). Good luck. Dog haters are horrible people.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 21/08/2018 13:51

My dogs have been chasing cats all their lives and never managed to actually get one. Luckily for them, because I'm certain the cat will do them more damage.

Must say that the cats are very good at finding and navigating a safe path by the flower pots.

Ncobvs · 21/08/2018 13:52

I'm at cat lover I have 2 and not into dogs but you are being totally reasonable. In my experience cats quickly Lear where the dogs which should be avoided live. Also cats move very fast and jump high. The cats will quickly get out of the dogs way if it ever came to it.

As for the kids I'm not sure why the dogs would be a danger in your own garden Hmm

She is harassing you. It's not like anything at all has happened to make her nervous. A near miss with a child I'd understand her trepidation but that's not what happened. Call your community police officer.

spugzbunny · 21/08/2018 13:52

I suspect there's 2 sides to this story. My NDN's dogs are horrible little a$$ hats who lunge over the fence and growl at people. She says they are just a little naughty and want to play!

Your NDN does sound like she's over reacting but is there anyway your dogs are barking through the fence?

ThatFridayFeeling · 21/08/2018 13:52

Their cats, their problem. Log with 101.

sirlee66 · 21/08/2018 13:52

Your dog's sound lovely, OP. Would love to see a pic.

I have a dog and a cat, her kittens will learn to stay away from the dogs as they are naturally cautious. Ignore your bonkers neighbor!!

Secretsquirrel101 · 21/08/2018 13:52

What the fuck?! She sounds absolutely bizarre!! I would speak to the police ref her harassing you about them, and ask what they suggest you do.

user1493413286 · 21/08/2018 13:54

I would have called the police at screaming through the letter box for 20 minutes. I can’t see how she could make you get rid of your dogs; I’d also be surprised if any cats went near your garden with your dogs around.
As long as the dogs can’t get out i don’t see an issue

Thehogfather · 21/08/2018 13:54

She's a dick. Nobody should be letting kittens out anyway, regardless of spaying or neighbours dogs anyone with half a brain waits till they are old enough to have some sense/ caution before letting them roam.

Next time she starts banging on tell her that statistically, her own family and friends are a greater risk to her dc.

gabsdot · 21/08/2018 13:59

Your dogs were there first.

madvixen · 21/08/2018 14:02

Fellow two Rottie owner here (well, one and a half as Boo is part GSD) and your neighbour is a seriously CF.

It sounds as though she is someone who is anti big dogs full stop but her behaviour is harassment. She chose to get kittens and it is her responsibility to keep them safe. Cats soon learn which gardens are safe and which aren't. My Mum had some major issues with a neighbours tom cat using her garden as a litter tray. The boys went to stay for a couple of days and, after being chased up the fence, the cat hasn't been back.
I'd be inclined to take the shared fence up to the maximum permissible height. Firstly to keep the cats out but secondly so that I didn't have to have anything to do with her.

To be getting sick of my next door neighbour?
AnoukSpirit · 21/08/2018 14:06

Well, on the plus side she's highly unlikely to get enough signatures to trigger a parliamentary debate.

But I probably would be reporting this catalogue of events as harassment.

Humans are really depressing sometimes.

DarlingNikita · 21/08/2018 14:06

Who is she intending to present the petition to and on what evidence?

I'm curious about this too. She sounds a bit of a loon (screaming through the letterbox for 20 minutes? Hmm)

BUT I do have to echo a PP and ask what the other side to the story might be. I like dogs and understand that even if they play a bit roughly together, that doesn't mean they don't or won't behave around people; but is there anything in their behaviour that you can see might worry someone who doesn't like or know about dogs?

GreatWesternValkyrie · 21/08/2018 14:11

Hmmm, your dogs are SO dangerous that a petition is required, yet she chose to get two kittens and move them in next door to tempt...taunt...entice said canine terrors. And you’re the one who is cruel to animals? Ooook Grin

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