A good neighbor-Opions Please

getut · Apr 15, 2005

( Stuff like that will build up if it isn't kept after. I don't need my work added to because of the neighbor's dog crapping on my property on his way over to raid the other neighbor's garbage cans. Ever try to clean poop off of a gravel drive from a dog that had corn the night before.)
That is what is so confusing. You're in the country now. Why pick it up? I am not in a very cold area, so I admit that I may not be aware if it really builds up over a winter in a colder climate. If that is the case then I can't comment because I have never seen it. My dog is enclosed in an underground fence that encloses around 2 of my 5 acres (the rest of the land around me is part of a couple hundred acre dairy farm). My dog, my neighbors occassionally visiting dog and all the wildlife all take care of business in my yard. It has never been a problem and doesn't build up. Yes I have clumps of greener grass here or there, but I keep it mowed and looking nice. I'm not trying to impress anyone with my lawn and if stepping in the occasional pile is punishment for living in the country, then I'd roll around in it before living in the city.

( I see statements like this written on this forum all the time. They seem a bit upitty to me. Do most people born and raised in the country really think that they have some kind of right to keep their little corner of the world unchanged?)
It isn't uppity. People raised rurally don't have a right to keep their area unchanged, but we have EVERY right to gripe and complain when it changes for the worse. City people that move into rural areas inevitably bring their homeowners associations and their laws designed "protect" people from annoying things. Country folk never needed those laws and defintely don't want them. If a roaming dog did by some outside chance tear something up at a neighbors. There weren't laws to stop him from roaming, the person just called the owner and they took care of it. It was neighborly.

( Well I like rap/hip hop or whatever it's called these days I would like to move next door to you I have a 3000 watt stereo and I like to listen to it all night at full volume and my budy just bought a house next to me.We both agree that everyone within a 5 mile area should put up with it.)
Again, rural people didn't need or want these laws. Most people truly raised in a rural setting will get downright angry over the government telling you what you can and can't do on your own property. The old farmer doesn't mind your dog being on his property. He'll pat his head and maybe give him some vittles while he is there (Eat his chickens and its a different story). But tell that same farmer that he can't build his pole barn without some uppity inspection and he'll get downright angry. The oldest rural folk will stand up for your right to do what you want on your own property. Just keep the government out of it (even if they don't like what you are doing personally). It sounds contradictory, but it is far from it.

This has all been hashed over in another thread, this time it just happens to have a "dog" theme.

Electric_City · Apr 15, 2005

I sent you a PM /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Electric_City · Apr 15, 2005

This has all been hashed over in another thread, this time it just happens to have a "dog" theme.

Call me selfish,but at the closing table and after writing many checks to many people I thought I owned the property I just bought.

And now I could have my little "place of Heaven" but now we seem to have double standards.

Last I knew If I own a property-I dictate what will happen on MY PROPERTY.I did pay for it.You didn't

Freds · Apr 16, 2005

( This has all been hashed over in another thread, this time it just happens to have a "dog" theme. )

I believe you are right. I think it was area lights before and I mentioned that it must be a regional thing. Area lights are very popular in my rural neighborhood and it is far from a subdivision. It seems that having them isn't very popular amongst a lot of TBNers, though and they look down on those that have them.

With the exception of the cop whose rear property adjoins mine, everyone in my area keeps their dogs under control, too. If they aren't on your property, they aren't under control, and that's the bottom line. I suppose the poopin part is the bottom rung. If it has access to poop in your yard on a regular basis, it has access to get into other things. Things like livestock, children, garbage, employees walking small dogs (happened to me). It's just a courtesty thing to me and believe me, I love dogs.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Unclebuck257 · Apr 16, 2005

Electric City,

Your 3000 watt post was interesting, to say the least. You're welcome to come move next to me, because as I said in my other post on this subject, I've got 50 acres, and you won't bother me in any way. That's why I got 50 acres, so I could avoid the nonsense from 3000 watt neighbors!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Had too many of them in my 59 year past.!!!!

Yes my friend, YOU paid for your property and YES, it is YOU that pays your taxes, but you do have some responsibility to your neighbors, wherever you live, to maintain a certain overall, general, quality of life, whatever that is, depending on where your property is located. At least in my opinion you do.

As far as "country" folks being the ones feeling as they do about how the life style in the "country" should be, let me put it like this. I was born, and raised, in Philadelphia, Pa, in a row home. Sure doesn't make me "country" by any definition of "country folks" that these country folks expound. However, I moved into an area that had different values and ideas from city folks or suburban subdivisions because I liked those different ideas and values. Therefore, after moving here, I continued to adopt their ways, for the most part, and did not try to impose other ways on them. It's worked out very well for us and makes for an extremely enjoyable life, and lifestyle.

Another person bought 30 acres down the county road and moved in this area about a year ago. He demanded that everyone adjust to him and his ways, and made enemies of everyone very fast. He now has his acerage up for sale and never did move onto it!!

It doesn't matter where you move to, the "rules" per se, are already in place. If you don't want to adapt to that particular area, and how those folks generally operate or live, then go move somewhere else. You cannot expect people to change just for you. They will bend some, but you will never change them completely, and it's foolish to expect that you will. Check it out before you buy and move in somewhere. It'll save a lot of grief!!...for ALL!!

Ronbo · Apr 16, 2005

I only have 3 1/4 acres. I can see all my neighbors. I have a dog as do some of my neighbors. My neices dog got into the property behind us. I was out back bushhogging. He had turkeys and did not want them killed. He killed my neices dog. Should not have been there. I have ducks (pets) and do not want them mollested by dogs. WE also have a LARGE number of dogs dumped out here. We used to make weekly trips to the animal shelter every weekend. They then started dumping aggressive dogs.

I have a rule. If it growls at me or my family (including my elderly parents), if it chases my ducks, or if it attacks my cats or dog, it dies.

I do not expect anything more than that from my neighbors. Only two have been shot in the past 10 years. That was primarily because on cornered my mom on the porch and the other was attacking my dog.

My preferred deterent is a paint ball gun and that usually keeps them away.

Ron

slowrev · Apr 18, 2005

Freds,
I keep my dogs contained. I understand the problems of dogs running loose in the country. If my dog was loose and caught chasing someone's stock, I would understand if it was shot by the stock's owner. That is why I keep my dogs up. Some people do not keeps their dogs up and don't seem to mind if they are killed on the roadway or are bothering someone else. imho these people exist both in the country and urban zones. They are just more plentiful in the urban zones.

The migration of urban values to the "country" is an ongoing and inevitable process in our lives............
Ben

Jagmandave · Apr 18, 2005

When I bought my acreage I was dismayed by the number of roaming dogs in the neighborhood - the day my wife and I first walked the property we counted 14 neighborhood dogs accompanying us! I started working out there on a regular basis and the next door neighbor's mutt would bark at me endlessly. The next time I took a bag of dog treats and after quite a bit of coaxing, finally got her to eat one. She's now my "best pal" and comes running whenever I drive up - which can be "good news - bad news" since sometimes she's wet and dirty! Over the last couple of years I rarely see any loose dogs roaming the hood, except for the two Rottys from the lot behind me. Those two have growled and rushed at me a couple of times, but so far I prefer to take the tack that this property has been empty and unused for a very long time, and the pond was "theirs" and now I'm the one tresspassing.
Once we build the house and move to this property things will have to change tho, because we have 2 small dogs who don't play well with big dogs. So we'll have to find a way to exclude the big guys and keep our little guys fenced in, and given the lay of the land this won't be easy - or inexpensive. I'm trying to decide whether to fence in the whole 3 acres, which would include the pond, or just the area around the house. Either way has it attractions, fencing in the whole are would be really expensive, but keeps all the neighborhood animals out, including deer (well, maybe) as well as the other dogs. Still pondering this one.
To the thread topic, I've always felt that my animals belong in my yard, and the neighbor's in theirs, but I would only press the matter if I felt their dogs were aggressive or threatening. A little poop should be talked about and a solution found if possible, but not to the extent of starting a "war"......

kensfarm · Apr 18, 2005

The one thing no one's talked about is the medical problems that can be caused to your animals because the same neighbor's who let their dogs poop in your yard.. also might not take good medical care of the dogs too. So now you are stuck w/ having to de-worm your animals over & over again.. plus numerous other parasites. If your children play in your yard.. they can be exposed to the parasites as well.

Varmintmist · Apr 18, 2005

Someone mentioned that it is a double standard because country folk let their dogs run.

Well, yes and no.

A dog can go visit a neighbor without a problem, if he causes the neighbor grief, then it is now the owners problem. Just like anywhere else.

If your horse gets out, you are to take care of the damage, hoof's in the lawn, broken fence, garden damage. If you cows get out you are to take care of the problem and make good for the damage. If your dog poops in someones yard, you clean it up.
Thats the way it is where I grew up in the country. You are responsible for your animals, and you dont need to be told to clean up after your critters.
The guys dog pooped in your yard, it is not ok with you, he should clean it up, period. You pay the taxes, its yours.