What Can I Do About My Neighbors Dogs?

Oh, geez....it doesn't sound like animal cruelty, but if he is breeding them, it does sounds like a puppy farm, which is not responsible. I would call the local animal control/SPCA and see if his lot/land does allow the amount of animals he has on his property. If it's allowed, then at least you know. If not, then you have saved a lot of puppies from being bred irresponsibly.
The police may not have a lot of authority here, unless there is a dog bite, and you DON'T want to wait for that.

Video tape the dogs running wild off the leash. Document it as often as it happens. Call each and every time while the dogs are out.

I agree that there is a likely a limit as to how many animals a person can have. Do you live within the city limits? Contact code enforcement and see if they can direct you.

IF you live within city limits, check with your local SPCA and city officials as to the limit of dogs one person can have. Most cities have a limit on the number, regardless of how well he cares for them. DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT, everything. If something terrible ever happens to another human, this documentation will be of help. Go to your city officials. Good Luck

Allison, is this the same cat that you dreaded?

Mamamay you cannot just go around poisoning animals but if they do come on her property and are violent she has every right to shoot them.

Original poster you can complain to the board of health, selectmen, animal control, the spca. Take pictures of the dogs, video, etc so you have proof.

Fence in your yard so they can't get in, keep your cat indoors where it belongs and don't let visitors have their dogs outside unsupervised. I don't understand why on earth your fils dog was outside off a leash and without supervision when you know about these dogs!

I don't understand how he can do what he wants with that many animals in a residential area. Of course, all cities and states are different but I would think that there is a limit to how many animals you can own. Does he have a breeders license? A friend's cousin was a breeder--a good one. She had to have a license and was inspected once a year, which is how some breeders get away with so much stuff. Plus she had to have so much distance between her proprty/animals and her naighbors. I think she was in Ohio but not sure.
I would call the town office or clerk and see if there are limits and possibly a license required.

Many communities restrict the numbers of dogs a person can have on their property - if they want more, they have to have a kennel license. Short of inquiring about that, I don't know if there is much you can do. The dogs are fenced in so technically they are on his property and under his control. If they are outside the fence, most communities have leash laws that states they need to be on leash and under adult control.

The bottom line is you don't have proof of anything, so you cannot say for sure that one of the dogs killed the cat or the other dog. If they are adequately contained, I don't see how they could have gotten to the other animals. If the other animals came into their yard, than it is on you for not keeping them on your property. If you have an animal control officer in your area, you can put in a phone call to them and have them check out the situation but if they don't find anything, it seems that that would be the extent of it. Maybe you could videotape the dogs barking or roaming loose or snarling at you and try to see if they are violating some kind of noise ordinance or leash law. Or call the police or animal control if one or more of the dogs are actually running loose off-leash outside the fenced-in area.

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THe squeaky wheel gets the grease, start squeakin'.
I would start letting everyone who will listen know about him and his dogs. Including the media, start with the paper, SPCA, local media, police. Let them know he scares you and you do not feel safe in your own yard.

Each and EVERY time they are out, call the dog pound to report it. You can file a report with them stating these dogs killed your cat and your FIL's dog. That you think they are dangerous to other pets. This report is then in their records. If you can get the neighbors to file reports and/or call EVERY time the dogs are out, then something will eventually be done. You are not allowed to have loose free dogs running wild! Dogs are pack animals and love to hunt together. PS - Try to be anonymous about this. Your neighbor will be very angry.

If he is breeding them, then he has to have a license for that. I would start there.

We had a lady near me that was a 'Rescue'. She had 20+ dogs and 15+ cats living in a townhouse. She fed them well, but the noise and smell made the neighbor's complain. Cops said that she was a rescue so she was covered. Turns out she forgot to renew her license and so she became deemed a hoarder and the police took her animals. They were held in the county shelter for a month pending the court case.

The judge said that she had to work with the shelter to get the pets adopted out as part of her court case.

You need to take some pictures and start documenting everything. Get pics of them loose and snarling at you. You should have took pics of the cat fur by his yard. Use your phone for pics if possible so it's not as noticable to him what you are doing.

First thing first, you need to check out your city's dog ordinances. Contact the local animal control for guidance. It doesn't hurt to ask questions.

If your neighbor is breaking any laws, you can let law enforcement deal with it. If he's not, I suggest investing in some nice shrubs to put up against the fenceline on your property. Block them out so you can't see them and they can't see you.

I live in a rather small city and we do have laws against "excessive barking." It's somewhere to start.

ETA: I was taking a break and wrote this before your What Happened.

If the dogs are coming onto your property in a threatening manner, which causes you to fear for your life or safety, invest in a shotgun. Shoot the blasted things.

I'd contact the news station that does things for consumers and regular people (like 8 on your side)... killing animals, especially other domesticated ones is a really bad sign. I'd be calling everyone everywhere to see what you can do about this!! Call the SPCA too!!

P.S. I'd start keeping your domesticated animals in the house like they belong... that way, no more finding your pet's skin and fur and your pet dead.

Could you speak with him and ask that you be allowed to give the dogs treats? If they see you as a friend, they might stop snarling at you and the children.

Condolences for the loss of your cat and dachshund.

Contact the news crews and check with the county. I can not believe what he is doing is legal. He can't possibly be zoned for that and you have rights. At the very least you could take him to court because you have a right not to be living with all that barking.

When you say he lets them out does he let them out of his yard? Are they roaming the neighborhood? That would freak the heck out of me. I'm scared of the one german shephard that lives across the street, I couldn't imagine 12-18 of them! I'm sure there are some kind of laws restricting the number of animals allowed along with leash laws if they're roaming the neighborhood (not totally sure of that from what you wrote). Call the animal control and see what they say. Good luck!

I agree with the below answers. If you have animal control in your area, please call them. He sounds like a backyard breeder and is very irresponsible by the way you describe the situation. And yes, I would also call your local ASPCA and get them involved. If you run into dead ends with both of them, google German Shepherd Rescues, they will most likely know who to contact in your area. I am involved with a few rescues and know all the surrounding towns animal control officers, so I would think that it would be similar where you are.

I don't blame you for being afraid, he sounds like a real $##!#. :) Don't you have a leash law in your town or city? I am so, so sorry about your cat and your FIL dog. :( That's really terrible. Does he have an "in" with the police? I can't imagine why they won't talk to him about this. Something is going on there it seems. I hope you can get something done. Update us when you can, I'd like to know what happens.

Good luck,
J.

When you say 'let them out" does that mean out in the neighborhood or just in his yard? Honestly this would scare me too I agree with other poster about calling on them- but be careful
good luck

Perhaps you left it out but it doesn't appear he lets them loose, just out in a fenced yard. Have you actually seen the dogs out roaming? I hate to say it but it sounds like the cat jumped the fence and in his yard there isn't a darn thing anyone will do about it because he had reasonable control over the dogs. Ahhh the street you say. Dammit you still need proof your animals didn't go in his back yard. Sorry. Does your yard have a fence cause they say good fences make good neighbors and I think they had you in mind when they said that.

I have a neighbor that has six dogs, I understand the barking is annoying. Lord I do, but even though our subdivision indentures restrict us to four dogs it just doesn't seem worth the fuss because I am pretty sure even four is still going to drive me up the wall and then I would have made them choose two dogs to get rid of. Seems rather inhumane.

I wish I had helpful suggestions I know it sucks to be his neighbor, still well as you said, he isn't breaking any laws. My only suggestion is ear plugs and you may want to put a fence inside your yard to create a buffer between your fence and his so no one gets too close and gets nipped.

I'm wondering if he has some sort of permit that allows him to keep so many animals! I would check that out first. If not, you can try Code Enforcement. Also, if you have a video camera, can you video the dogs running the neighborhood in a pack. Each individual dog may be a great canine, but dogs in packs are very frightening and can be extremely dangerous. If you do get a video, I would send a copy to the local PD, Sheriff's Office, District Attorney, Animal Control and anyone else I could think of with a cover letter saying you're now on notice. If these dogs hurt anyone, you can be sued and you will be liable because you are now on notice of this dangerous situation. That may get someone's attention! Good luck!

did you ever see rent....This Akita, Evita, J. won't shut up!

Video is a wonderful thing.

Record the dogs every day for a week. THEN go to the police. With the video.

Local ASPCA and local Animal Control officers. What he's doing can't be legal.

If they refuse to help, I would call around to local dog rescue shelters for dangerous breeds and see if they have any resources to help you with this situation. They might already have some information on this guy, and if he's breeding these German Shepherds "off the grid" so to speak and isn't a licensed breeder then it makes me wonder if he's breeding them to sell them as fight dogs. The fact that he's not training them to be neighborhood friendly nor people friendly is a big red flag to me along with the rest of your post.

Updated

Local ASPCA and local Animal Control officers. What he's doing can't be legal.

If they refuse to help, I would call around to local dog rescue shelters for dangerous breeds and see if they have any resources to help you with this situation. They might already have some information on this guy, and if he's breeding these German Shepherds "off the grid" so to speak and isn't a licensed breeder then it makes me wonder if he's breeding them to sell them as fight dogs. The fact that he's not training them to be neighborhood friendly nor people friendly is a big red flag to me along with the rest of your post.

Wow, I am speechless....out of shear frustration I would start googling how to poison hamburger meat. Not saying I would do it. And I wouldn't do that on a home computer...just in case. Do thoughts alone make one guilty?

You and the neighbors must video tape the dogs running around and snarling at you. This is bound to be taken more seriously than barking incessantly. Then make a list and pass out all the local important numbers for all to contact, i.e. non-emergency police number, animal control, animal shelters, county sheriff...call every time any of you feel unsafe outside, like walking to get your mail. And if the dogs really come at you..call 9-1-1 ASAP. Like the other poster stated, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

But due to his past, don't take this on alone. Gosh there are such freaks in our world.