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Is this a threat? Dogs on property?

Hi, my neighbor told me "Do not to ever let me see your dogs on my property again or something bad will happen to them." Is that considered a threat? If it is verbal, would I have to have a witness around to have it stand up in court? And since the threat was referring to my dogs, does the law still apply to this, or is it just for humans?

5 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    NO.

    A "threat" from the legal point of view should be "specific."

    "Something bad" could mean calling police or animal control to impound the dog, or just a lawsuit, and so on.

    An "illegal threat" must be specific about the intended action, and such action must be illegal in nature like "killing the dog"; the threat doesn't have to be 100% verbal since a gesture would be enough (like using the hands to mimic a gun).

    In your case since your neighbor was careful enough to leave the rest of the sentence to your imagination you have no case.

    By the way: it's legal to shot trespassing dogs if they try to attack anyone. So keep your dogs on leash.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    He made a threat to cause suffering to animals and, arguably, to commit criminal damage to your property (your dogs). In the UK at least, there are laws to protect you from that.

    Though, as you pointed out, it's your word against his at the end of the day. Contact your local police department on a non-emergency number. Yeah, you won't exactly get him sent to prison, but it's important that there's an official log of his behaviour, in case it escalates or persists.

    To be fair... maybe you should also keep your dogs off his property...

  • ron z
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    well first of all, i would keep your dogs off the neighbors property, however yes that could be a threat, i would have notified law enforcement, cuz it sounds like this man plans on trying to harm your animals, which unless they hurt him physically, he has no right to touch your animals, as for it being verbal, yeah its a he said she said situation so it wouldnt hold up

  • 1 decade ago

    You are at fault--if you let your dogs on your neighbors' property.

    I wouldn't want your dogs on my property either.

    And please keep those dogs quiet! Yes, you can train dogs NOT to bark.

    Become a responsible dog owner and you won't have a problem.

  • 1 decade ago

    You are to have your animals under control at all times..so keep them under control

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