To report my bullying neighbour to the police?

[L3gohouse]

I am considering reporting my neighbour to the police..

I never thought my life was interesting enough to warrant a post on AIBU but things have changed - here we go!

I recently purchased a ground floor flat in a block of 9 flats. We all share a communal garden but only myself and the next door flat have direct access via patio doors.

I have a registered Hearing Dog for the Deaf (I am profoundly deaf). I've had this dog for nearly a year and previously lived in a rented flat with a small balcony. Now that we have a massive garden, my dog is absolutely loving it and enjoys running around and playing in it (fully supervised).

Most of my new neighbours have been fantastic and very understanding of the dog and welcome his cuddles! However, our direct neighbours (who also have direct access to the garden) have been really difficult. It is a male and female living in the flat - the male is ok-ish, but the female is much worse.

It all came to blows the other day where I had my in-laws over for the weekend. I took the dog out in the garden in the morning so he could go to the toilet. I wasn't anywhere near the neighbour's patio doors or windows - more towards the back end of the garden (approx 10m?), and she flung open her window and started shouting at me!!

I then approached the window and asked her what she was saying. She was shouting and saying 'your dog cannot use the garden as a toilet', over and over. She started saying some other things but I couldn't lip-read her well so I asked her to repeat it and she slammed the window and rolled her eyes at me. I took the dog back indoors and, after discussing with my husband and in-laws, I went round to their door and knocked on it. I asked if I could clarify what the problem was with the lady.

The male invited me in and the lady just started ranting at me. She repeated what she was saying earlier and said 'you have LEGS, you can WALK to the road and toilet him there'. I tried to explain that he is a service dog and that we already had confirmation from the building's management company that he can use the garden. She then started to mimic my voice and said 'UnFoRtUnAtLeY He Is a HeArInG dOg" and kept going on and on, raising her voice and becoming angrier and angrier. She kept saying it didn't matter that he was a service dog, he is still a DOG!! and he must go to the toilet in the road??? After about 5 minutes of going around in circles, I said 'I'm going to leave before this escalates' and the male let me out and gave me a quick apology.

I ended up back in my flat absolutely shaking with adrenaline/fear/anxiety. I've decided to only let the dog toilet in a specific part of the garden (gap in bushes directly opposite my door) to reduce his impact on the garden. Once he has done his business, he is free to run around and play. I don't have to do this but I thought it would be a nice gesture and will hopefully reduce the likelihood of being screamed at again...

Since the weekend, she has been banging on windows and waving at myself and my husband to get our attention but we've been ignoring her - I'm starting to get more and more anxious to go out in the garden and it's having an impact on my dog as well.

Would I be unreasonable to report this to the police?

I didn’t know they existed until a few weeks ago when I was visiting a friend and looked at the balcony next to hers. They had a dog toilet on the balcony!

No I don't think your dog should be using the communal garden to poo. I wouldn't like this either. I dont know the rules governing working dogs and access to areas. Imtoo am surprised that a highly trained dog is approaching strangers. Not everyone likes dogs or wants this sort of attention.

Her behaviour and attitude towards you is unacceptable.She should not have gone in with all guns blazing and mocking you is vile. However, I would not want a dog using a communal garden as a toilet, unless you are constantly clearing up the solid mess and sluicing down the wee it is going to really stink as well as being a health risk

They can request proof and reject a dog if proof cannot be provided! Hence why I have an ID card with a photo in it as well as information about the dog, the legislation, and contact details for ADUK.

👆

Yes they do, they’re not allowed to refuse anyone who says their animal is an assistance dog nor ask for ID.

Let's hope none of the previous posters ever have to share a communal garden with a guide dog. They are actively trained to toilet in a specific area at home before going for a walk.

I think you're doing everything you can OP, trying to restrict his toileting to a small area near your flat is a good compromise.

Why are you bothering to ask for advice OP? You don't seem to be taking anyones advice on board and are still determined that your dog will be running around the shared garden whether the neighbour likes it or not.

There is no need to let the dog into the garden, you're able to take it for regualr walks, just like everyone else is able to take their dog for walks.

You come across as extremely selfish I'm sorry to say.

They can request proof and reject a dog if proof cannot be provided!

Ok I'm only saying this not to argue but because it might help you in future.

If you Google, business owners are not allowed to refuse assistance dogs if the owner's disability means they need it. Nor does the owner have to show proof that it's an assistance dog.

You could say the same thing about the other residents. If you don’t want a dog in you garden get a private garden!!

Is your dog a properly trained service dog , or is he one of the dogs that people have nowadays that they ‘treat’ as a service dog,? A proper service dog should not be having ‘cuddles’ with anyone. I guess your dog is one of the ones that people have nowadays to ‘help’ with their problems and call them service animals to bypass them being taken everywhere. A proper trained service dog shouldn’t be running around in a communal garden, they are trained regarding toileting, and any dog shouldn’t be crapping a peeing in a communal garden either. Why on earth you thought it was ok to buy a flat with out your own outdoor space is beyond words. Entitled! But neighbour could have reacted a bit nicer!

If it was made clear in the contract that service animals can use the shared garden then I can't see what she has to complain about...assuming you're picking up poo. In hot weather I'd probably hose down any wee too. In winter/when it's wet it's mental to be upset about that. I think you should maybe complain to the management company rather than the police.

Legally a business cannot refuse entry to a dog if its owner is claiming it’s an assistance dog. They also don’t need to have ID, any sort of marked collar, lead or tabard on the dog. There really does need to be some kind of official register for assistance dogs as so many people buy a tabard from online and put it on the dog. Many of these dogs are also poorly trained. I have a medical alert assistance dog and stupidly joined a few assistance dog FB groups. I had my eyes well and truly opened on those groups with people owner training their dogs.

At least half the posts are 100% in support of OP. Added to which the woman who objects doesn’t even lived there. If the management company is happy that’s the end of the matter.

But it’s not nice sharing with a dog that goes to the toilet in the shared space, even if OP does clean it up.

You are so right, different rules for cats though aren't there?

I think you are being unreasonable, the garden is not yours it belongs to 9 different flats. Why the hell should the others put up with your dog using the garden as a toilet ? Service dog or not it is not all about you and the dog.

I’ve taught my lazy, only moderately well behaved dog not to use my private garden as a toilet. Surely a service dog could learn that easily. that way he could still enjoy the outdoor space without aggravating the neighbours.

Your neighbour was definitely rude, but she wasn’t wrong. Not sure it’s a police matter though.

My dog is a fully trained Hearing Dog for the Deaf. He was trained until 2 years of age.
You do realise that service dogs don't work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week right? They have to have toilet breaks, play breaks, walks, etc...

And trust me, if I had the money to, I would have bought a whole plot of private land just for him. Funny how people think disabled people have tons of money and can pay for stuff to make things easier for themselves.

This 💯

She didn’t ask for advice on whether or not her dog should be allowed in the garden she has the right to be in because she paid for the property. She’s asking about advice as to whether or not report her abusive neighbour to the police. Don’t comment if you’re not going to read the question properly. That dog has every right to be there it’s his home and he’s plays a vital role in the OPs day to day management of her life. The dog gets to be in his garden just like everyone else’s dogs get to be in theirs. If other people don’t like it then tough they can sort other living arrangements. If you can’t tolerate the idea of having to accommodate other people in life then don’t live anywhere with a communal garden because that’s exactly what you’re going to get. It’s quite straightforward really. I’m assuming you haven’t read the logistics of the garden it’s hardly like she’s letting the dog do it’s business on someone’s prized vegetable patch. Some barren bit of unused ground that no-one uses, with no grass and a huge distance away from someone else’s property entrance that gets cleaned up immediately. This dog literally protects her from all manners of dangers that 99% of people wouldn’t have to care about. Senses are something of which we all take for granted but are crucial for self preservation. But hey, you sit there all high and mighty being able to walk around with I expect all of your senses in tact because if not I’d imagine you’d be much more sympathetic. Let’s hope you never befall a serious life limiting illness or disability which means that you need help because the entitlement you’re projecting is quite gross. You come across as even more selfish.

So sorry for you OP . Some people are just ignorant . And she is one of them . Carry on living your best life .

So whoever takes him out the back and keeps him on a lead and supervises him can take him out the front instead.

I agree with other posters the dog shouldn't be using a community garden that you share to use the toilet.
Our neighbours let their dogs in the community garden and we can no longer use the space with the children unless we want to clear up the dog mess first.

I don't think that it matters about the dog being a service dog it's a dog and doing its business in a space that you share which isn't very nice.

Yes makes sense and useful on a balcony.

But in a garden? Putting one on top of the actual grass? Sounds bonkers to me!