What To Do When Neighbor Dogs Jump On You, Poop Wherever [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — It’s simple: Dogs are like toddlers and young children, and neither should be left outside to go wherever they want, one Patch reader advised another who has an issue involving a neighbor’s gallivanting dogs.

Here’s a recap of the situation:

In an email to Block Talk, “Concerned Auntie” said her niece is new to the neighborhood, and the previous owners were perfectly fine with the neighbor’s dogs galloping over, jumping on them and leaving poop mortars all over the yard. The niece and her husband, not so much. They have children who play in the yard. They’ve tried talking to the dog’s owner but are being made out as the bad neighbors.

“If kids misbehave, you discipline them, and it’s the same for dogs,” the Red Bank-Shrewsbury (New Jersey) Patch reader wrote in our survey seeking advice for Concerned Auntie’s niece. “Start with a leash. Do not bring them out without proper fencing.”

Another person who reads Middletown Patch, Long Branch-Eatontown Patch and Red Bank-Shrewsbury Patch, all in New Jersey, agreed that it’s up to the dogs’ owner to make sure their pooches have manners.

“Seek a therapist for the dog, leash training, invisible fence training or just more training,” the reader said.

Even that may not be enough.

The dogs have been allowed to get away with the behavior for so long they’re incorrigible, said Diana, a Stratford (Connecticut) Patch reader.

“They should put up a fence,” she said. “Their dogs are not controllable. They don’t listen to commands.”

Regift The Poop

Neighborliness and good will have only gone so far for Concerned Auntie’s niece and her husband. That calls for more extreme measures, according to Elizabeth, a Woonsocket (Rhode Island) Patch reader.

“Put the poop back in the neighbor’s yard,” Elizabeth said. “Take a video of what happens and go to animal control with it. People need to keep their dogs in their own yards.”

Minus the doo-doo drop, other readers said a call to animal control is the only option left if the neighbor continues to let the dogs be delinquents.

“Simple,” said Beth, a Scotch Plains-Fanwood (New Jersey) Patch reader. “Call animal control and file a report of nuisance animals! I don’t know where this is, but where I live, there are rules that are enforced.”

“I have to assume there’s a leash law wherever this is taking place,” said Carol, who reads White Plains Patch in New York and San Bruno Patch in California. “If the owner isn’t complying, then the police should be called.”

To the owner of the free-roaming galoots, Carol said, “Be a responsible dog owner.”

“There are leash laws. Call animal control,” said Patch reader Barbara, adding that in future conversations with the neighbor, “Don’t yell. Be kind.”

(Concerned Auntie had acknowledged that, uncharacteristically, she lost it with the dog’s owner when they jumped on her when she was dressed up and wearing nylons.)

‘Call The Dog Warden’

“Check the town’s ordinance regarding free roaming dogs,” advised Huntington (New York) Patch reader Carole. But, she added, “talk to the neighbors and tell them before [reporting it] if it’s against town ordinances.”

But, Across America Patch reader G. pointed out, “This neighbor obviously doesn’t care.”

“All she does is apologize. Put leashes on your dogs, lady!” G. continued, adding if that doesn’t happen, Concerned Auntie’s niece should notify animal control.

“If the person won’t control their dogs, I would protect my yard,” said Michael, a Tuscon (Arizona) Patch reader. “I would also video the misbehavior and file a complaint with animal control.”

Michael allowed that “good fences make good neighbors” and giving a heads-up is a nice courtesy, but also that “some neighbors are best avoided.”

Other readers got right to the point.

“Call the dog warden,” said Oxford (Connecticut) Patch reader Linda.

You Figure It Out

Jean, a Bethel (Connecticut) Patch reader, said it’s up to Concerned Auntie’s niece and her family to keep the dogs away.

“Put up a fence,” Jean said.

Janice, an East Haven (Connecticut) Patch reader, said citronella spray, sold under brand names such as PetSafe Spray Shield, deter aggressive dogs.

“It won’t hurt the dogs, but they hate the smell,” Janice said.

A gentle knee won’t hurt the animals, either, said a Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) Patch reader who commented on Across America Patch.

“As an animal lover, I would never wish harm to another’s pet; however, a large dog jumping on a small child or a frail individual can be dangerous, if not deadly,” the reader said.“So, a simple knee to the dog's chest likely will stop it from jumping on you again.

“As for the dog doing its business on your property, if a blunt conversation with the owner doesn't solve the problem, a call to the local [law enforcement office] with video evidence would be the next step. If that doesn't work, there are numerous home-made and commercially available concoctions to keep animals out of your yard.”

With a where’s-the-red-type-when-you-need-it-level disclaimer, a reader named Mel offered this unhelpful, undoubtedly illegal, and certainly cruel and inhumane course of action: “Shoot it.”

While we strongly condemn the suggestion, it shows how much situations like this can accelerate if left unresolved and how much neighborhood relations can deteriorate as a result.

But we’ll give Mel points for being right about this:

“Not letting your dog crap on other people’s lawns” is basic neighborhood etiquette.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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