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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour and goat AIBU?

203 replies

Reggit99 · 31/01/2021 08:56

Help please! AIBU?????

We have neighbours who are perfectly fine normally. They moved here before covid so early 2020 I met them a few times then, all seemed fine. They were nice to my husband, they incited us for coffee but we Haven’t been because of covid.

About six months ago, they appeared to purchase a goat. At least we assume they did as it suddenly appeared in their garden. After a shot while, they obviously got another as there were two. They seem to be kept in the back garden, no pen or anything, they just roam the garden.

This hasn’t been a big problem until now. We are being woken up often before 7am by the noose these animals make, additionally the neighbours garden is becoming a mess. We are potentially thinking about the possibility of moving and we do not want there to be any issues, I think this would put off perspective buyers.

We haven’t approached the neighbours yet, because we haven’t seen them for a while and they refused to join the street whatsapp. I want them to get rid of these goats but I’m really not sure what to do!

OP posts:
Fastedbrownie · 31/01/2021 08:58

They're not getting rid of the goats. I think you need to accept and make friends with this.

redcandlelight · 31/01/2021 08:59

are you in the countryside or a village/town?
renting/owning?

check your and your neighours deeds wrt keeping lifestock.
check information on your council's website wrt keeping life stock on residential properties.

redcandlelight · 31/01/2021 09:00

oh, snd goats are classes as foid producing animals, not pets. check out defra as well.

hashbrownsandwich · 31/01/2021 09:02

Goats are not domestic pets so check your deeds as they are likely to be the same for your neighbour in regards to keeping non domestic animals.

AmySosa · 31/01/2021 09:02

Ooh I looked into getting a couple of goats a while back.

There are rules! There has to be a minimum amount of space and they need a shelter/shed/barn, again with a minimum area.

Some houses have covenants expressly forbidding livestock.

Gobbycop · 31/01/2021 09:02

Anonymous call to local council would be worth it.

Goats are classed as livestock and as such need to be tagged, the owners also need a cph number for traceability.

NiceTwin · 31/01/2021 09:03

Maybe they are fattening them up to kill them.

PeggyHill · 31/01/2021 09:06

I wouldn't give much thought to their messy garden. Just worry about your own garden.

I do think it's legitimate to complain about the noise if it is above the level that is allowed. I might speak to your local council about that.

Gobbycop · 31/01/2021 09:06

We keep sheep.

There are strict rules concerning movement, welfare, keeping records of medication.

You don't just aquire livestock and live happily ever after.

I doubt you can even get a cph number on a back garden.

HamAndButterSandwich · 31/01/2021 09:08

I don't think you can insist your neighbour's keep their garden tidy but you could check the rules on livestock being kept there. As long as they're well cared for I wouldn't complain though. My neighbour's dog was out barking early this morning. It's just what animals do.

RaspberryCoulis · 31/01/2021 09:10

Some houses have covenants expressly forbidding livestock.

Ours does, the lawyer pointed it out when we moved - at the time it was very fashionable for people to keep chickens and she said it meant we wouldn't be able to. She did gloss over the consequences for breaching a covenant though, who enforces it, what are the penalties..

It's really not on to keep livestock like goats, sheep, pigs, cows in a domestic back garden.

Maybe call the council? Or DEFRA?

GreenlandTheMovie · 31/01/2021 09:11

A bit more detail needed OP. I doubt the neighbours are keeping them in a tiny garden, as it would be a mud bath by now at this time of year. Do they perhaps have a smallholding? They do know as if they know what they're doing, as goats shouldn't be kept alone, so two is sensible.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/01/2021 09:12

I really like goats.
They do totally destroy a garden though, they need lots of space, a shed, things to keep them occupied. Are your gardens very large ? Because they really aren’t the animal for the average back garden. Are they pygmy goats ? (Small, tubby, greyish). I am amazed they haven’t got through to yours yet as they are very good at escaping.
Agree in checking your deeds, do you know why they are keeping them, are they pets ?

Original poster
Reggit99 · 31/01/2021 09:12

So by the sounds of it they are illegally acquiring these goats? I wouldn’t even know where to start to go buy one!

It really brings the whole area down, that particular house is a two bed and has had problem tenants in the past. Hmm

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 31/01/2021 09:13

What is wrong with people-goats??!!! Do whatever u have to do OP I’d kick up a right fuss!

tiredteacher100 · 31/01/2021 09:14

Do they have tags on their ears? They need all the correct paperwork, I don't think you can just pop a goat in the garden!

RaspberryCoulis · 31/01/2021 09:16

They do need to be registered, and it specifically says "even a single animal kept temporarily or as a pet".

www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-keepers-of-sheep-goats-and-pigs

Blackdog19 · 31/01/2021 09:16

I’d quite like a Pygmy goat to be fair, they’re sweet! 🐐

BlackCatShadow · 31/01/2021 09:16

About six months ago, they appeared to purchase a goat. At least we assume they did as it suddenly appeared in their garden. After a shot while, they obviously got another as there were two.

Sorry, but this made me laugh so much! Your powers of deduction are on point!

I don't know what you can do but it sounds a pain. What kind of place do you live? City, suburbs, country?

icelollycraving · 31/01/2021 09:17

Bringing the area down, I haven’t heard that expression for years Grin

Fieldofyellowflowers · 31/01/2021 09:19

If the garden is a safe environment and meets all the requirements for goats, if the deeds say that non domestic animals such as goats are allowed, if they are tagged and all the correct paperwork has been done and policies followed for moving them then they are not doing anything wrong. You can call someone like RSPCA to come and check it out if you are worried about their welfare.

However, if everything is found to be in order, there is nothing that you can do. Your neighbours lives do not revolve around you moving. Plus you say that you are only thinking of moving.

Arobase · 31/01/2021 09:20

The trouble is, if you get into a fight about this you would have to declare a neighbour dispute when you try to sell, which wouldn't be helpful.

picklemewalnuts · 31/01/2021 09:22

I think I'd see goats next door as a bit of a plus, to be honest, if I was viewing.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/01/2021 09:24

@Blackdog19

I’d quite like a Pygmy goat to be fair, they’re sweet! 🐐
They are very sweet, but also very greedy and easily bored, very clever at escaping in order to eat something they fancy. I used to help look after pygmy goats, and getting an escapee back into the pen was a nightmare. I once had to pick up one naughty goat as she would not budge. She was tiny but weighed an absolute ton.
PhilCornwall1 · 31/01/2021 09:24

@icelollycraving

Bringing the area down, I haven’t heard that expression for years Grin
Hyacinth would be impressed though.

"Do you know my neighbours? Mercedes in the drive and room for two goats!!"