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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To report neighbour to council without speaking to them first?

20 replies

MrsSnape · 20/12/2008 13:00

My neighbour has only recently moved in (about a month ago) but they have a dog which looks like a pit bull cross. Anyway the dog is completely free to wander the streets and quite often walks into our front garden and poo's on the grass. I'm sure our garden isn't the only one it does it in either.

I don't fancy starting off a neighbour dispute so I'm thinking if I just report them to the council, they'll simply get a warning and they won't know who reported them.

AIBU to do this?

OP posts:

ilovejonty · 20/12/2008 13:02

Can understand where you are coming from. If they are not the type you could have a 'polite word' with then I might be tempted to do the same.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 20/12/2008 13:02

Would you prefer a neighbour chatted to you about a problem the had with you or went straight to the council?

Original poster

MrsSnape · 20/12/2008 13:04

But I know I wouldn't react by punching said neighbour! I can't say the same for the people next door. You never know how people will react, especially around this kind of area.

OP posts:

Ronaldinhio · 20/12/2008 13:12

thing is, if you have quiet word and they do nothing when you then go to the council they will know the warning came from you

Have you considered offing the dog anonymously? That way you can remain friends with your neighbour and don't have the worry of a horrible dog

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 20/12/2008 13:13

Well, given that no one would know how you would react, which would you prefer...?

wrapstar · 20/12/2008 13:16

can you call the RSPCA re a dog that isn't looked after properly? Agree call council re dog fouling. They sound disgusting people, I can see why you don't want to talk to them.

Helium · 20/12/2008 13:18

Hmmm - I think I would probably ring the council to find out what the process actually is first.. for example how they would issue a warning - what details would they require and what details would they give, how succesful the warnings are and any general advice.

Have a think about what they say (they may offer you some general advice on situtations like this) and then weight up whether you want to go informal or formal.

The downside of starting off informal is that it would probably be completely obvious who reported them if it needed to be taken further.

If it were me - I'd think I'd sort it using the council or my local police community support officers (who are great). Not being rude - but if they are the type to have a pitbull and also the type to let a dog roam free (especially that sort of dog) then I doubt they'll gasp with horror at realisation of their recklessness and get their entire house properly secured for the dog.... espcecially given that I'd pussyfoot around the issue for ages and then backdown when it came to the crunch anyway!!!

edam · 20/12/2008 13:19

Call the council. I really wouldn't bother talking to them - wouldn't want to take the risk that they might be unreasonable people who react very badly.

Letting a dog wander around unsupervised is illegal.

ilovelovemydog · 20/12/2008 13:22

Is a pit bull part of the Dangerous Dog Act? It may depend on the type of pit bull...

Could you find out what type it is first as if it's on the list, then it doesn't matter if it's fouling - it needs to be taken into 'care'

lljkk · 20/12/2008 13:23

This is a toughie, my gut feeling is that It's not nice to be 'reported' for anything, I would try very hard to talk to them first.

However, an eejit who lets their dog roam and sh*t on neighbour's lawn probably isn't sane, anyway.

What if you said "I'm sorry to mention this but I think your dog has done a mess on my lawn" -- if they take that badly, THEN just back off, and wait a few weeks before reporting them for the dog wandering around loose. You didn't complain about dog wandering, so it isn't obviously down to you.

prettybutterfly · 20/12/2008 13:41

I'd talk to them about it if we already had a good chatting relationship. If they were strangers, and a bit scary, I'd just ring the coi=uncil and ask what the procedure is.

ilovelovemydog · 20/12/2008 13:41

Good point lljkk - absolutely true.

prettybutterfly · 20/12/2008 13:42

MrsS, you are having lots of aibus recently!

Steamrunner · 20/12/2008 13:42

Kill the dog, then them. Then kill Wrapstar for making such a bone post. Then yourself because of the terrible crushing weight of the guilt. Happy Yule!

ilovelovemydog · 20/12/2008 13:49

What's your point steamrunner?

Kitteh · 20/12/2008 13:50

YANBU.. i just reported my neighbours for noise without having a quiet work with them simply because they're nuts.. and i would prefer to keep my face in tact..

prettybutterfly · 20/12/2008 14:36

What does steamrunner mean? What is a 'bone post'?

GypsyMoth · 20/12/2008 14:39

dog warden is best bet.....they can also involve environmental health. just report them now as its a lengthy process if you want it all to stop. sound like the kind of people who won't bother even listening.

AnAngelWithin · 20/12/2008 15:15

ring the dog warden. maybe the dog being taken away a couple of times may prompt the oweners into making sure they don't let it wander loose, especially if your dog warden is like our, we have to pay to get our dogs back from them!

Original poster

MrsSnape · 20/12/2008 17:32

Steamrunner, what you on about?

Was watching them today, the dog was jumping about in someone elses garden and she was stood outside doing her own garden so she's obviously aware of what's going on.

It has a collar on so not sure if dog warden would get involved.

OP posts:

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