Would you ignore a neighbor guilty of breaking this dog rule?

The Leash Law was enacted to keep dogs in their own yard or under control of its owner. It only takes one time for your dog to bite a human, while running loose, then it’s lawsuit city for you.

The dogs will adjust and you can rest at ease from a citation from Animal Control.

John, there is no Animal Control out here in the boondocks. And Bichons don’t bite. They act like they will but they don’t. Not that you often see a soul outside around here.
Question was, “would you ignore a neighbor who allowed their dogs to run loose for ten minutes , 2X daily?”

Not OK outside the fenced back yard. I don’t want strange dogs coming on my property. They need to be taken for longish exercise walks to get their adventure (on leash).

My problem with my neighbors letting their dogs out without a leash, is that their dogs shit in my yard and my kids step in it. We have really thick grass with a ton of brown pine needles and leaves, and the poo tends to blend in so you don’t see it ‘til it’s too late. Pisses me off.

In fact, it pisses me off so much that I have begun keeping loose dogs that run through my yard, and having them picked up by the city. Maybe if my neighbors have to pay a fine enough times, they’ll quit letting their dogs run wild and I won’t have to deal with giant shitmines in my front yard.

I agree, @WillWorkForChocolate .

Things are very loose here. People have invisible fences to keep their dogs on their property. Because it is a rare event we do not complain if a dog runs free.
That said, if it becomes a regular pattern, none of us would hesitate to pop the dog in the butt with a BB gun. Past experience has shown this works very well for about 6 months.

One neighbor even encouraged us to pop their cat if we see it hanging around our bird feeders. The Daisy method works.

Your dogs are being let out in someone else’s yard to pee and bark? Am I getting that right?

I’m a dog person. Yay, dogs. I have an awesome dog and she’s off leash daily- in designated off leash areas. Keep your dog and your dog’s pee out of other people’s yards. I wouldn’t ignore a neighbor who did this. I would tell the neighbor flat out to stop.

@quiddidyquestions Don’t blame you. We think someone already called the security officer; possibly our next door neighbor. He came to the door w/the dogs running ahead of him , barking, and said he was “concerned they’d get hurt.” but that it was “alright.” Nice man.
@LuckyGuy , I doubt anyone around here has a BB gun but I understand what you’re saying! I have enough to stress about without getting heart palpitations over this 2X daily.

If a neighbor let his dogs shit on my grounds, I would certainly not ignore him.

Instead of being embarrassed and getting heart palpitations and alienating some of your neighbors and breaking the law, why not tell your S/O to either use a leash or keep them in the large, fenced yard?

If his dogs, why not everyone’s? The lease laws are in place for all dogs, not just the sweet ones who may not bite or get excited and run in front of a car or scare a small child.

I have a good friend who brings his three springer spaniels up here to romp but 1) he calls and asks first and 2) he always picks up the piles of excrement.

@Aster Invisible fences and Daisys really work. We would never call the authorities no matter how bad it got.

I wouldn’t ignore it if the dog came to shit in my yard. There’s also the possibility that some dogs could get dangerous, especially in new surroundings they’re not familiar with. We’re talking about the safety of people, especially little kids. That would suck if I had a kid and he was playing in the yard, then some random dog comes up and mauls him. That probably doesn’t happen on a regular basis, but it can. Maybe Bichons don’t bite, but be that as it may, you guys have to follow the rules like everyone else.
There is, of course, the safety of the dog. I knew these people on a farm that had a bunch of dogs, and they let them run loose. Now, this is a farm. Not the same thing. But one of the dogs loved to chase cars…by running in front of them and trying to keep ahead. The owner never did anything about this, I’ll let you guess how that poor dog eventually met its demise.
But no, getting off track…I wouldn’t ignore something like this. For the sake of the people around, and the dogs themselves.

@LuckyGuy no more electric fences. We had one in a previous state and , no matter how high we turned it up , that Bichon ran right through it. That’s how eager he was to escape the yard. I still can’t believe it. And you’re very kind.

If you have a fenced in yard, I don’t see the necessity of letting them run off leash outside the yard. Even though your dogs are friendly, it’s not fair to the others who have to comply with the rule. Also, dogs do shit and that will piss someone off immensely, if they step in it or their kid steps in it.

I remember going upstate to visit friends once, a few years ago when my child was 2. She had on sandals and she came about an inch or two away from stepping in a huge pile of dog shit. I was thinking thank God she didn’t step in it, because it would have been soooo disgusting, ruined her shoes, been tough to clean up in this public place that did not have a facility to clean up. Tell your husband to try to be considerate of others besides the dogs.

Why does your SO feel they can’t just get their exercise and adventure inside your large fenced yard? That doesn’t seem logical. To answer the question, no I wouldn’t ignore a neighbor who did this, I’d ask them to stop. If they didn’t stop, I’d call the appropriate authorities.

Bichons do bite and I have the scar on my palm to prove it. Maybe yours don’t but if they should become scared and cornered, it could happen.

But the main reasons I would not let my dogs run free are, they may get lost, they may get stolen, they may get hit by a car, someone who doesn’t appreciate strange dogs crapping in their yard may poison them.

Tell your mate if the dogs are bored in their yard and need time to run (and I agree, that happens to all dogs penned in a yard), then he should put on his running shoes, snap on the leashes and all go for a run. Or he can do some bike jouring with them. A human who adopts a dog is responsible for the thinking ability that a dog does not have. It is his job to protect the dog, turning it loose is not responsible or fair to the dog.

In my neighborhood, dogs on leashes poop in your yard too. But we all know who did it.

I let my dog off leash but have a walker.

Animals have instincts and we should protect him. I must say, my dog wont leave me for any reason.

If anything happens when the dogs are off running it’s your responsibility. Would you let your toddlers run loose around the neighborhood for just ten minutes even if they are well behaved? No.

I wouldn’t ignore a neighbor if he continually let his dogs roam the neighborhood. I would say something to him. If he didn’t act, I would call authorities. Not everyone is a dog lover who wants a dog greeting him when he is relaxing in his own yard (not to mention having to worry about your kids playing in your own yard and having to deal with the neighbor’s pain in the butt dog).

I don’t think the authorities could catch them; they’re usually inside. They are outside running about 20 min per day in two runs.
My s/o can’t walk them. He has plantar facilitiis, a foot disease. I could walk them but they like to walk in the woods and I have a warm, red, swollen arm from insect bites (planted a rosebush.)
It would be very hard for them to be (shudder) hit by a car. We have almost no traffic. True, they have chased a car on about four occasions in three years.
The yard is fenced but they mostly use it for a bathroom.

I can really understand why your neighbours are pissed off. I have dogs and work with dogs and I get really annoyed by people that give other dog owners a bad name (ie: the ones that don’t pick up their dog’s mess or, like your husband, the ones that don’t keep their dogs under control especially in areas where it is the law.) You may spoil it for other dog owners if you do get caught breaking this rule as it may cause the authorities to make the rules on dog ownership even harsher. I would recommend having a little bit of consideration for your neighbours as, right now you (your husband) are acting like you are above the law. Also, if I have read your question right and the dogs are running on other peoples’s lawns then yes, I would ignore you (I’m actually surprised someone hasn’t given you a piece of their mind and/or reported you). That’s incredibly rude.

I don’t mean offense by what I am about to say but it seems that you often make excuses for not walking your dogs properly. If you are physically unable to give them a decent walk each day then maybe you should make other arrangements for them so they do get a good walk (ie: pay someone to do it for you).

Also, Bichons can and do bite. You may be confident enough that yours won’t but don’t ever be 100% sure of yourself.

I also have plantar faciitis and wear these plastic heel cups in all my shoes. It almost eliminates the pain if combined with supportive walking shoes. I walk everywhere and often.

It is not a foot disease but an inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot.

I also can do 45 minutes on the treadmill at a very good clip.

In addition to the heel cups and proper shoes, there are stretching exercises and various kinds of orthotics (including custom made ones) that will afford your s/o some relief. Plus an occasional Advil.

This is an uncomfortable but not debilitating condition.

Your warm, red swollen arm should heal soon, unless you have an infection. What kind of biting insects would cause that anyway? And you walk with your legs; the arms only go along for the ride.

He wears orthotics but has diabetes and I’m very cautious about the foot pain.
I’m glad your pf is under control and you can do 45 minutes on the treadmill.
I have no idea what the insects were that bit my arm.
I am right handed. I’d hold the leash with my right arm/hand and it’s swollen and red.

@Leanne1986 I think we were reported two days ago. The security officer came to the door while the dogs barked and ran inside and he said, “it’s alright” and smiled. Doesn’t mean that next time he’ll be as nice.

@Aster: I am sorry about your husband’s diabetes, but I thought that regular exercise was a vital part of the maintenance program.

I am sorry about your husband’s pain and situation but that does not excuse letting the dogs defecate on other people’s property, or ignoring the rules where you live. If that were the case, everyone would let their dogs run loose and come up with some kind of disability as justification. Not saying he’s not being truthful, but it’s not fair to enforce laws and rules for certain people without being consistent for all.

@gailcalled Yes; exercise is vital with diabetes but he has never engaged in it and now his foot kills him if he walks for very long.
He never once said he can’t or won’t walk the dogs because of his foot.

@Aster: Yes, but you did say above “My SO can’t walk them.”

of course he could walk them! He could also run down the block , do jumping jacks and jump off rooftops but I am sure he wouldn’t do it. This all started when he had to walk a mile to get back here. Before that his foot was fine.
I would never expect any jelly to care about his foot. That’s what partners are for, hopefully. /:

@Aster: You said “My SO can’t walk them, he has plantar facilitis.” Then you said “He never once said he can’t or won’t walk the dogs because of his foot.” So then why does he let them run loose without walking them on the leash? Because they enjoy the freedom? They get that freedom in the fenced in yard, off the leash.

Hire the kid down the block or some senior citizen to walk them for you, or use insect repellant.

I always hear people say their dogs are safe to walk off lead then you later hear about how they dashed out in front of a car chasing a bird or a cat. Or the big dog down the street attacked, or whatever. It all depends on how much you value your dog.

@jca He can’t or won’t walk them with an inflammation of the foot. If I had diabetes and a foot problem I wouldn’t walk them either. I’m sorry you don’t get it. It’s ok.
They have nowhere near the fun or freedom in the yard as they do running full speed down the street. I have never witnessed them playing in the yard. They just potty out there although on rare occasions the male will bark at birds or a squirrel.
@rooeytoo I believe that he does not value the dogs as much as I do or he’d worry about them getting hurt . Not that it would be easy to get hurt around here but it is possible if improbable. Not much traffic at all with a cul de sac a block away. Still….
he feels a life worth living always includes risk. And that a life without risk, which I prefer, is no life at all.

@Aster: Sorry for not understanding the first time, but I read literally what you wrote, and you did say “he never once said he can’t or won’t walk them because of his foot.” Now you’re saying that again, “he can’t or won’t walk them with an inflamation of the foot.” So I go back to my original comment that even if they’re friendly, it’s not fair to others to not comply with the rule, nor would it be fair of whoever enforces the rule to let the person with the disability not comply and meanwhile, enforce the rule for everyone else. Soon everyone would be coming out of the woodwork with their own issues, one is old, one has a bad knees, one has emphysema, etc. I understand dogs like to run loose, but if they’re going to defecate in people’s yards (and if you’re not accompanying them, you don’t see it) and everyone is going to see it, you’re going to have some upset people. Also, little kids may be scared of dogs running up to them. Rules are the rules.

Agreed.

@Aster is there a field or park nearby that is enclosed where you could let them run with a bit of freedom? That would be safer than letting them run in the street.

Look at it another way. If a neighbour of yours had a big breed that they also allowed to run free in the street like your husband does with your dogs, how would you/your husband feel if that dog attacked yours? You’d probably be angry that the neighbour broke the rules and put your dogs at risk right? I know you say there isn’t much traffic but if there is some traffic, even one car a day, there is still risk. If someone has to swerve their car to avoid hitting your dogs then you have put other lives at risk.

Please try and get through to your husband. You seem to love these dogs and are genuinely concerned that people in your neighbourhood are ignoring you so don’t just accept your husbands reasons for continuing to let this happen.

How about your husband goes out into the backyard with them, sits in a chair, and throws for games of fetch? That would get them running around and playing in the back yard.

^^^^^^ we both do that inside , daily, and I do it on the back screened porch. The yard is so full of insects and it’ll only get worse.
@Leanne1986 puts lives at risk? You can’t hardly drive over 15mph here. No park nearby. We did try it, though, by driving them in the golf cart to the other side of the golf course. What did they do? Run until they found some houses and went right to their backyards! They spent very little time on the course itself which was, naturally, against the rules.

Try this site to maybe help you find a dog park near you.

Find a dog park, hire someone to walk them, take them to doggy day care to get some stimulation and exercise, get one of those cool things that attach a leash to a bike and take them for a run, slather on some aloe and wear a long sleeve shirt. You have plenty of options. Quite honestly, if you were my neighbor I wouldn’t care about your excuses when you’re letting your yappy dogs annoy me and piss in my yard for 20 minutes a day.

Good suggestions. They actually “piss” on our yard too when they’re let out. Right near the mailbox!

Hell no. If an unleashed dog came onto my property you can bet I will be complaining.

If neither of you is currently capable of giving the dogs sufficient exercise, then you need to arrange a deal with someone who can do so without breaking the law. Pay a dog-walker.

@Aster 15mph could still easily squish your little Bichons even if no human lives are actually put in danger!

People on here are coming up with really good ideas to help you with this problem but you keep making excuses as to why you can’t improve the situation (as you seem to do a lot when it comes to your dogs). It sounds to me like you actually can’t be bothered to do the right thing by them and I wonder why you have them at all.

@Leanne1986 – I was thinking exactly that also.

@rooeytoo and @Leanne1986: I thought the same thing. I heard a lot of excuses.

@Aster I wonder if you’re missing the point. They’re your dogs. They should piss in your yard. They should not be pissing, pooping, barking, walking, chasing, etc in anyone else’s yard uninvited.

Ditto @leanne with the excuses. Enough already. Did you ask this question to complain about foot problems and bugs? Take care of your responsibilities.

@quiddidyquestions and @Aster: In addition to pissing, pooping etc. in anybody else’s yard, the rules are the rules. The rules don’t say “Dogs must be on a leash unless you are unable to walk them on your own.”