To not move my rabbits?

[HeffalumpsDaughter]

We have a back garden that is completely enclosed with a wall that’s about 3 foot high, then fencing on top of that making it about 5 foot high. We have two rabbits that I let run free in the back garden during daylight hours. We also have chickens that we let run free, although they tend to stay by the house but they do see off any cats and gulls that come in the garden so the rabbits are pretty safe.

There is a house that is next to our garden that has sitting room and kitchen upstairs. The owners have recently moved out and are now renting it out as a holiday let. They have complained that they are advertising their holiday let as dog friendly but everyone that has so far stayed with a dog has complained that their dogs have been going bonkers as the main window from the sitting room overlooks our garden and the dogs can see the rabbits.

Neither them or us is wanting to raise the fence as doing so would get rid of sea views from the ground floor. I have said I’m not moving the rabbits, I have nowhere else to let them run free and even if I did lock them in their hutch the dogs would still be able to see them. Neighbours are now threatening to report me to the RSPCA for neglecting my animals, the council for not controlling my animals and some unspecified place because I’m sabotaging his business .

It’s so weird as they were completely normal people when they lived there and we always rubbed along. I even chopped down some trees in my garden just so they had a nicer view.

Aibu to just completely ignore them and carry on doing what I always have?

No of course you shouldn't move your rabbits! How ridiculously entitled of your neighbour! It's entirely his problem, not yours. I would have thought net curtains would work - failing that, simply stop advertising it as dog-friendly

Actually I third alpacas (llamas are too big I think).

Put up a huge fence that blocks their sea view.

I'm guessing he's installed curtains or blinds that could be closed if a dog was to get upset? You can get blinds that lift up from the bottom so they could still have a nice view even if pulled up? If not, id also go with alpacas

Alpacas it is. Plus a remote control fence that raises up and blocks their view every time he complains.

Just get him to add a note to his airbnb description: Dog friendly but please note there are rabbits and chickens in the next door garden.

YANBU. You should only move your rabbits if they are being distressed by the dogs.

You might want to consider growing a hedge.

I would certainly raise the fence. My dog could easily clear a six foot fence in seconds.

I have a sign on the back gate (which opens onto their drive) saying Free Range Chickens, please close the gate. It’s right in front of where you’d park your car so there’s no way you can miss it. I don’t think it’s outrageous to expect dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead if they know there are chickens and that their dog could clear the fence.

I don’t think it’s outrageous to expect dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead if they know there are chickens and that their dog could clear the fence.

Most dogs aren't automatically kept on the lead in gardens though - mine has free run of the garden at home. Of course if I knew the neighbours kept rabbits it would be different, though!

But if you were arriving at a holiday let and the gate directly in front of where you park had that sign up would you? Next door has an alley between their garage and wall leading to their back garden. If they just put a gate there then dogs could run around in their garden. As it is, even if I didn’t have rabbits, their garden goes straight into their drive and onto the road.

But it doesn't say keep your dog on a lead, so the thicker end of dog owners (and there are plenty) won't work it out. I've had my horses chased a few times on our footpath and the owners are all "but I didn't think he would.."

You're not neglecting the rabbits. All rabbits should be free range.

I'm not sure that on arrival at a holiday let (when I might have been travelling for ages and be a bit tired), I would take much notice of a sign on a neighbour's gate about free range chickens and then automatically assume that my dog can't have a run around the garden in the holiday let