Help with neighbor's dog? Legal recourse?

Question

Hi everyone,

I live in Michigan and am wondering if anyone can help me with my neighbor's dog?

We live in a semi-rural area and our neighbors have a roaming dog and an electric fence (supposedly) that hasn't worked in the five years we've lived here.

I'm a dog owner and lover myself, but my dog stays on my property SUPERVISED.

Their dog comes onto our property constantly. He chases my livestock. If I am riding my horse his owners will let him out of their house and he will come barreling at my fence barking and growling.

My fence is 15 ft from the property line. He urinates on my fruit trees which are just on the other side of the fence. 

I have come home to see him ripping apart a wild rabbit on my front lawn.

Thankfully he seems to prefer my other neighbors lawn for leaving his poop (though they are as happy as I am about it all ) :P

We have tried talking to the owners several times, both politely and not. The owners blow us off and swear their dog never leaves their yard. They just like drama and talking to them isn't working.

The dog is over here at least once or twice a week, and any time I try to ride my horse. He interferes with the enjoyment of my property.

Do I/my neighbors have any sort of legal recourse? What do I do if I have children visiting and he comes into my yard barking and growling like he does with me? 

I don't think he's a mean dog at heart, his owners are just irresponsible jerks.

And again, if I can be a responsible dog owner, I don't understand their refusal to respect others property.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Some areas in Mi have BSL, if you contact police and you have BSL and the breed is on that list, they would come take it away due to killing livestock.

Jen · Answer

Ooooh, a livestock killer!  There's probably something you can do with that.  I would call the cops and find out exactly what your rights are in your area regarding that.  Most places that allow livestock are pretty harsh on dogs that kill livestock and pretty harsh on the people that own the dogs.  

The trouble is ... if your neighbors are asses, they might respond to complaints in a negative way.  So, before you call the cops and get them involved as yourself if you think these people are waked out enough to go after the rest of your animals if you call the cops on their dog.  And if they are, I'd make sure to set up some video cameras after you complain and make sure the police know that you think they'll kick back that way.  You just never know what people like that will do.

Good luck, I feel for you.  Having idiot neighbors is never fun.

Anonymous · Answer

Talking hasn't solved the problem so everyone needs to take photos of the dog on their property and writ down the time and date. After each incident go talk with the neighbor. do this for about a week and then EVERYONE needs to talk with your local animal control. You will have proof of what the dog does the fact he's off his property ad the fact the owners have not done anything to prevent that. 

Unfortunately nothing can be done about your animal because it wasn't reported at the time it happened.

dusty_puppy · Answer

Call the police, and ask them what department you are supposed to report a nuisance dog to.  They may have an animal control department or a dog warden for your town.  

You can sue when someone's dog kills your livestock.  It would be a trivial amount of money, but at least it would send the message "Keep your dog on your own *%$& property!"

mcally · Answer

I would call animal control.  Most areas have leash laws.  The dog owner is lucky.  I live in a rural area and I have farmers for neighbors.  If my dogs killed their livestock they would shoot my dogs no questions asked.

Anonymous · Answer

For killing your pets/livestock you need to file a police report.  In most places you can shoot any dog that is on your property harassing livestock or killing. Simply call police & AC on them & file a complaint.  It would be best if your other neighbor does also so it isn't just one on one.  Once they get fined & have to pay for your killed livestock, they will keep him up or surrender him.

Help with neighbor's dog? Legal recourse?

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