AIBU to be angry to be Trespassed by a dog

[anniblue]

First time poster in this name.
See diagram (I don't need reminding!)

We live in house (1) on the end of a cul de sac, intentionally bought due to having noone pass the door given the closeness of front door (2) to the road.
When we viewed in February, checked with agent and developer there was no intention to provide access through the hedge and confirmed as negative.

Before moving in it appears dog walkers have forced a gap in the hedge (3) due to the crap (middle - 4) fence at knee height by the hedge. The fences by the houses are 6ft and great. Understandable to an extent but bloody frustrating as nothing I can do as it's not my land to adjust the fence and the developer seems feckless! We've been tolerant, but in the last week a dog has forced way into our home when we've been trying to go out, and today same dog jumped at the handle and managed to open the door and get in due to a feckless owner being the wrong side of the hedge and dog off lead.

Dog got in, scared the crap out of 2yo, was pushed away by me (also scared crapless) and after what felt like a lifetime, retrieved by owner (end house of the cul-de-sac) who didn't even acknowledge, just walked off.

Maybe I should have the door locked and bolted to prevent, maybe I should spread chilli oil over the (MY) pavement outside to irritate the dogs when they sh*t there and the door to minimise this happening again.

AIBU to report a dog out of control, and put the dogcrap through neighbour's letterbox?

@Heartlantern2

I don’t understand it- I would just put a fence up...when it’s dark....in the night....and claim I have no idea how it got there.

Problem solved.

I'd do this. Some thick wire attached to the hedge on each side of the gap, 5 or 6 lengths, 6 inches apart in height. If the owner isn't maintaining it, they're presumably not stood watching over it either?

Find your local councillor and ask them to sort out the access. Developers might not care, but council can stop them building if they aren’t agreeing with planning permission. And that includes access

That's why we lock our cars and our houses and have security systems and teach our children about unsafe adults.

Yes, but how do you sort out your bins with the door locked?
Lob things through a window?

@mrsmcgarry

Ah, they have just won contract on a 300 plot development the other end of town... Maybe that is a way forward.

Put a note on fixmystreet website about the broken fence/hedge and if there is no action, patch up the fence yourself. I can't see you getting into any trouble for fixing it.

@Feathersinthehead

Recycling could be pushed through (stored in garden collected from under kitchen window) a window, but as you say hmm... Not sure generally how that'd work.

@Godimabitch

Thanks for reading before posting.

@Feathersinthehead

That's why we lock our cars and our houses and have security systems and teach our children about unsafe adults.

Yes, but how do you sort out your bins with the door locked?
Lob things through a window?

@Feathersinthehead I unlock the door to go through it I admit obsessive door locking is normal in our house because our dog can open doors, the postie would not be happy if she opened the door when he was bringing a parcel!

You could install one of those builders trash chute things OP and drop all your rubbish through it from an upstairs window? You’d have to make sure dogs couldn’t climb up the bottom end. That appears to be your responsibility

@EggBobbin

Also I don’t keep my front door locked and would expect to be able to potter about outside my house with the door open (washing car/gardening for instance) without anyone/thing entering my home?! Where do pp’s live?!

This. I am sick of the entitlement of dog owners and their apologists!

EggBobbin
Also I don’t keep my front door locked and would expect to be able to potter about outside my house with the door open (washing car/gardening for instance) without anyone/thing entering my home?! Where do pp’s live?!
This. I am sick of the entitlement of dog owners and their apologists
Dogs aside, what about people?!
People don’t leave their doors unlocked routinely surely?
Do you not worry about burglary?!

@Staffy1

Put a note on fixmystreet website about the broken fence/hedge and if there is no action, patch up the fence yourself. I can't see you getting into any trouble for fixing it.

The fixmystreet website is a good idea. I've used them a couple of times, and each time the problem was sorted within days. Take good pics of the problem, give a good written account of the problem, and load it up to the website.

Apologies for underuse of the word 'problem' in my previous post, op! Good luck with getting it sorted.

@Swaddlemeinplants

EggBobbin Also I don’t keep my front door locked and would expect to be able to potter about outside my house with the door open (washing car/gardening for instance) without anyone/thing entering my home?! Where do pp’s live?! This. I am sick of the entitlement of dog owners and their apologists Dogs aside, what about people?! People don’t leave their doors unlocked routinely surely? Do you not worry about burglary?!

Where I live, I have rarely seen anyone lock their front door. I often forget to lock my car and not a thing has been ever touched. I would be bloody furious if you entered my house uninvited. And I will most likely keep your dog and call the police if it happened twice.

I have a dog and would be mortified if he let himself in to someones house , thats not on

Just to explain, I will keep the dog because I would think that the dog owner can’t be trusted with an animal at all.

Where I live, I have rarely seen anyone lock their front door. I often forget to lock my car and not a thing has been ever touched.
I would be bloody furious if you entered my house uninvited. And I will most likely keep your dog and call the police if it happened twice
A house on our street has been burgled twice, we have an increasing gang problem here too despite at first glance being a nice, green area with some very expensive houses.
We have full CCTV, alarms on all windows and doors, fence and gate across our garden and DH wants a (much) bigger dog as an additional deterrent (in addition to much loved pet obviously).
I can’t imagine not locking doors.
The idea fills me with horror

How many dogs can open exterior doors -- how many exterior doors have handles to use to open?

Anyway, different door might sort this out.

Plant some of this in the gap
www.tree-shop.co.uk/product/hawthorn-quickthorn-hedging/

@lljkk

How many dogs can open exterior doors -- how many exterior doors have handles to use to open?

Anyway, different door might sort this out.

How about OP keeps the dog locked in a room and call police and the dog warden?

1. Buy yourself a cctv camera and tf card - not too expensive. Put it in a prominent place overlooking the area, along with a sign saying 'CCTV in 24 hr operation'.
2. Contact the local dog warden saying there is a dog out of control - give them dates and times, and who you think it is.

As an old crone who has always had well trained dogs of all sorts of breeds and none, training to achieve a reliable dog, whatever the circumstances, can be a long and time consuming job. It also requires regular monitoring and, if necessary, daily practice of the basic commands. Commands can be audible, (voice/whistle) or visual (hand /arm/body/facial expressions). It's not advisable, for example, to get a dog with a high prey drive (Lurchers, Whippets, Greyhounds, Working Collies etc) or their mixes if you have small pets/commercial stock/equines. Or small dogs if any family members have impaired vision/mobility/high levels of mental ill health. Dogs can be rewarding and life-enhancing companions but they require owners who know what their responsibilities are, before they become part of the family.

If it’s in a new build development. Claim you will do everything in your power to put others off buying unless the developers fix the gap. Otherwise, sadly not much you can do.

Lock the door. Better a dog than a rapist/burglar etc.

Pyracantha are evergreen fast growing plants that have lovely white flowers that turn to yellow, red or orange berries in the winter. The plant is very productive but the best part for this role is the inch plus long thorns that are like evil ninjas when you come into contact with it. Best time for planting is autumn and winter. Get the spade out!

People don’t leave their doors unlocked routinely surely?

If I'm home the door is unlocked. Tbh, the back door is often unlocked even when I'm not home. I don't know anyone who locks the door when they're home.

In a previous house I used to park the car on the drive and leave the keys in the ignition. It didn't get stolen in the 12 years I lived there.