another stupid neighbor problem

[Bird]

As a rookie police officer in Dallas, I rounded up an assortment of animals at times, including horses. Back in the 60s, the city animal control officers would usually only respond if the police or someone else got the animal(s) confined for them. But eventually that changed and the city animal control officers respond to the usual city animal complaints instead of the police. But I think it was about 1980 (don't hold me to the date) when Texas got a new state statute that made the sheriff responsible for any loose "livestock", even in the city. Many sheriffs had no facility, no equipment, and no personnel for doing that kind of work, but I think they just about all got forced into it eventually.

 

[Skyco]

We have an animal control officer in our area that we can call (anonymously) to pick up loose animals.

Ya know it bothers me that in my county one cannot get animal control to come anonymously. The sheriff's department will respond to anonymous calls but not the animal control department. I don't think it is right, I sometimes see problems with animals that need to have them respond but I don't want to get on someone's "get even" list. Right behind me the people have 3 or more dogs with no collars or tags, a violation, and I figure they probably don't have proper vaccinations either which put everyone at risk. If animal control could just come and check it would be nice, but no I have to sign a complaint to get them to.

 

[WTA]

Pitbulls are about to get banned outright in this county. It's against state law to do it but so many people have been attacked lately it's going to happen anyway.
Animals just need to be taken care of or taken away as far as I'm concerned.

 

[3RRL]

I agree with what's been said, call the animal control AND sheriff to get them to keep their animals on their property. They will get tired of it fast.
After several calls, I don't think you will avoid it "getting ugly", especially if what you said about them is true. I am not envious of your situation. Neighbors like that are a serious problem and it is probably going to escalate in some adverse manner? Prepare for the worst, but don't lose your head.

 

[WTA]

I'm really not scared of this family or what they think. In fact they are scared to death of me now. One of the elderly neighbors of mine that I talk to a lot told them I shot some guy for trespassing this year. It's not true but I don't even try to conceal my pistol and everyone knows I know how to use it. Last fall a bunch of neighbors were over here and bet me I couldn't hit I coyote on one of their farms from my place with my rifle. I got it at just over 1000 yards on the first shot. They have all been telling stories about me since that.

Really, I wouldn't hurt a fly unless my family or property were threatened and it was the only option. I don't even have the heart to kill coyotes unless I see a really mangy looking one that is better off dead.

 

[deere755]

Neighbors can be great or they can be a real pain in the lower area of your back. I would just call the cops everytime they get loose. Maybe they will catch them doing something illegal and your problem will be solved. Good luck I know what you are going thru.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I had a neighbors burro and gelding here twice in the same day then once again a few days after that. Each time I caught them and put them in a 12x12 pen. It has not happened in awhile so perhaps they sold them off or fixed their fence.

Not having fence up for my two stallions yet, I had them both in heavy duty corral panels but I was pretty nervous about them getting hurt on the panels as they "bumped" into them.

Hope that is the last I see of the neighbors. Anyway, something relative to this type of behavior is really bothering me lately. We have been seeing this dog, it looks like a fox terrier, hanging around at along the road near us. It just sits there waiting and I believe it was dumped. The dog runs away from us when we try to call it over. We have left some food which it is eating.

Lord knows, we don't need another mouth to feed. I took in a stray, dog number four, a couple of months ago that I believe was dumped out front of my place. I figure if we catch the terrier that we would at least take it to a rescue group rather than have it get killed by a coyote or something.

 

[Redbug]

Having livestock in this state can be a pain in the wallet if they get out and one gets hit on the road. Auto insurance will not pay, so you have to take the livestock owner to court yourself. It can get expensive for you...especially if the livestock owner does not have insurance, can't pay, or take responsibility for their actions. I would not keep horses if I did not have the liability insurance to cover them, (unless you have nothing to lose anyway).

 

[WTA]

You all will not believe what I saw this problem neighbor doing yesterday! I think I know now why their horse is out every morning now too.

I was in my shop here next to the house with a customer and saw the neighbors pickup stop along the road in front of out property. At first I thought they were messing with my well out near the road but I got the binoculars out and 2 of them were out in the ditches, on the other side of the road lucky for them, and were cutting the johnson grass growing wild there with big knives and throwing it in their truck bed. They moved a few feet at a time with their truck for nearly 45 minutes filling up their truck untill they say my customer and I come out of the shop with big mean looking rifles slung on our shoulders. They peeled out then. I was just done working on his rifle and we were walking out to my range out back to go shoot is all. It still scared those people though. Good!

Those neighbors know darn well I am selling hay here. It's 7.50 a bale and it's the best quality stuff they will get in this area. Most hay around here that even comes close to the quality of mine is going for 12-15 dollars a bale.
I think with that truck idling out there for 45 minutes they burned at least a gallon of gas which would have darn near paid for a bale of hay.

I'll bet anything they were feeding that johnson grass to their animals. That's not a good thing to do.

They are darn lucky that I keep the ditch on my side mowed too. I regularly spray MSMA in that ditch to kill out the johnson grass. That will kill out most livestock also. It contains arsenic. It's my property after all.
The side they cut it off of should be safe. I have to spray because the guy across the road doesn't.

What morons!

Oh, the cotton field I saw 2 of their horses grazing in this morning over near their house recently got sprayed for bugs. I am fairly sure they used someting called timic. That's what I was told by another neighbor. It kills pretty much everything. I'm gong to look around for the aspca or humane society somewhere in this area now. These people just shuldn't have animals as far as I'm concerned. I know we don't have any organizations like this for the area but someone should do something after I tell them about all this.

 

[MrWoodChips]

Hope that is the last I see of the neighbors. Anyway, something relative to this type of behavior is really bothering me lately. We have been seeing this dog, it looks like a fox terrier, hanging around at along the road near us. It just sits there waiting and I believe it was dumped. The dog runs away from us when we try to call it over. We have left some food which it is eating.

Lord knows, we don't need another mouth to feed. I took in a stray, dog number four, a couple of months ago that I believe was dumped out front of my place. I figure if we catch the terrier that we would at least take it to a rescue group rather than have it get killed by a coyote or something.

Yes, please catch the poor dog and bring it to the fox terrier rescue. They will help to find a home for it. The way you have described the dogs actions, it seems like it was dumped.

John