Neighbor's dobermans on my land, protecting "their" property ...??

[RoyJackson]

We have our car insurance through one major carrier and our homeowners insurance through another. Last year our car insurance carrier called and wanted to quote our homeowners insurance. They asked what kind of dogs we owned and when we told them we owned a pitt bull. They said they could not insure us. We told them we weren't interested in doing business with them.

As I'd written in an earlier post, we erected a chain link fence between the house and outbuilding just for the dog...about an eighth of an acre. That was to keep Ol' Jule in and other critters out.

 

[riptides]

....What say ya'll about all this?? (sorry for the book)

Sounds like they are covering their tracks, well NOT really.

If they call you back, say "Please stay off the property".

If the dogs harass you, call animal control.

 

[Milton Burro]

You don't need a reason or explain yourself to your neighbor/s for keeping your property private. You own it, it's yours to do with as you please without apologies to your neighbor.

 

[Travelover]

Ah a chance for education. Tell us how does one " handle " 2 large dogs intent on tearing you apart without the above mentioned tools. Better yet how does a 5 year old child "handle" it?

Exactly. :thumbsup:

 

[forgeblast]

Not sure how many of you watch the show "ax men" but I was watching the episode where JM Browing got back into the race and they said that Jesse (Jays son) had his step daugher mauled and killed by the familys two rotties. I saw that and was almost sick, the family is devistated.

 

[rjkobbeman]

We can argue until the cows come home whether or not Pit Bulls and similar breeds are "mean", "aggressive", "dangerous", etc. It DOES NOT MATTER how nice/friendly/etc. "your" dog is. The breed(s) in general have aggressive characteristics in them and have killed/maimed people.

We can also argue about how personal raising/training has EVERYTHING to do with it. However, a toy-poodle, no matter how it is raised/trained, is not going to rip a grown man to shreds.

I love dogs and like the breeds in question, however I would not have one in my house with children around. (This is not to inflame, I just don't trust them.) I have seen dogs ignore their owners when the right conditions are met... and the owners have trained their dogs properly.

I also do not believe in having to act/behave "correctly" around my dogs. I train them to not be agressive no matter what the kids are doing to them. Nothing pisses me off more than to have a dog growl and/or bite a kid... only to hear the owner say "your kid should not have done that". Priorities are really messed up here. I'm not talking about a kid being aggressive either.

Anyway... sorry for the rant, that was not the real purpose of my post....

All of this "treat the neighbor's dog nice / get to know the neighbor's dog / give the neighbor's dog treats" are touchy/feely to some, however a land owner should not HAVE to do that. I agree it may work for some, however if a neighbor does not have control of their animal, it is not the land owner's job to deal with it. Plus, if a neighbor loses control so the dog goes on a land owner's property, chances are that neighbor does not have control to prevent an attack.

Don't lose control of your dog and you wont have to get upset about said dog being put down. Don't blame it on the land owner.

Btw, I like dogs (I mentioned that ealier I think) and like to get along with all of my neighbors, however all of this IS NOT the land owner's problem. Just quit with all of the excuses and quit with all of the things the land owner should try first.

If I feel threatened by an animal (chances are my wife and/or kids will feel threatened as well) while I am on my own property, that animal's days are numbered.

 

[LMTC]

Why do some folks think an allegedly-one-time-accidental trespass is permissible with a dog? I know it happens, and I tend to be tolerant IF 1. I know the dog and know the owner to be responsible, 2. the dog clearly is not capable of major mayhem (i.e., under 15# or so) and 3. is not behaving aggressively in any way. Meeting just criteria 2 & 3 will usually result in a pass as well even though I don't know the owner, until I see the same dog several times and then I call the warden. Any dog violating 2 AND 3 is gone, right now, whether I know the owner or not. I refuse to assume any risk because of someone else's choice. You want a big dog, you find a way to guarantee it's confinement. Is every Pit Bull/Rott/Doberman/Etc. a killer? Of course not. But guess what? I don't know how to tell one that is dangerous from one that isn't, and on my property I will not tolerate even the possibility. YOUR dog, YOUR responsibility to keep it under control. Why would you expect me to participate in your responsibility by giving them a pass to run my property?

IMO the OP's neighbors were wrong for EVER allowing their dogs on that property, or riding on it as well, without permission from the owner. They knew it was not their property, and by allowing their animals familiarity with the property they have contributed to their difficulty in confining their animals. Their lack of respect for property that belongs to someone else would indicate to me that they will never be neighbors I would be close to, so I might as well define the relationship as it needs to be....no, you cannot ride your horses on my property, and I do expect you will control your dogs. Telling me the dogs won't hurt me is not controlling them.

 

[Car Doc]

As far as I can see you had the chance while face to face to say no I don't want you riding on my property and talk about the dogs etc now you have to approach them about it again.

This is turning into a self fulfilling soap opera imo. Sorry if I sound like a grouch I just like plain old honesty say it to my face exactly how you feel and I will respect you a heck of a lot more and I do the same that's how I run my affairs.

Would I think twice about shooting an agressive dog **** no would I talk about doing it ahead of time **** no just take care of business if need be and go on with life.

 

[LMTC]

I'll ditto Car Doc on that one too. Allowing the opportunity to pass and doing it at a later time may well aggravate the effect.

 

[RTII]

AN easy out for the OP is to say he contacted his insurance and that they are telling him not to let folks ride due to liability and that waivers aren't worth a flip in court.

Better yet, Actually call the insurance company and see what they say, whether you feel like telling the neighbors or not, it would be worth it to know for yourself.

You don't need a reason or explain yourself to your neighbor/s for keeping your property private. You own it, it's yours to do with as you please without apologies to your neighbor.

I tend to agree with this sentiment but if you don't let them know it may continue. The problem (uncontrolled dogs) is theirs and they are making it your problem. If it happens again, deal with it then. If you feel you're at risk, defend yourself to the extent you feel you need to. If it turns into just the dogs running free on your property, deal with the neighbors - let 'em know your expectations when it comes to keeping their animals off your property. Clearly. This need not be confrontational unless they respond agressively.

Good luck, Let us know how it turns out.