Anyone gone to court for their dogs running at large?

[Ready_To_Riot]

So I’ve been served papers from my city that says I have to go to court in March over my dogs being out of the fence last year. Like march of 2015.

So when they served me the papers they said that 3 of my dogs were out of the fence on 2 separate days. The 17th and the 18th. A little back story, I have 6 dogs. And yes, from time to time, my dogs have gotten out. But never at the same time! Ever! I’ve never come home and be missing half my dogs. But my neighbor hates me and my dogs and calls animal control on me regularly just because. Any dog he sees not in a fence, he blames me for. As if u own all the dogs in the neighborhood. I’ve tried telling him these dogs aren’t mine, but he tells me I’m lying.

So, on these days in particular, I’m going to say I’m 99% sure these weren’t my dogs. The only way they could have been is if someone caught them and put them in my fence. Which doesn’t make sense to me since everyone in the neighborhood thinks my dogs are vicious. Animal control wrote in the papers, they they couldn’t catch the dogs. I was never notified that this had occurred until the police officer came to me last week.

Am I correct in thinking that since there is no hard evidence that these were my dogs, that this will get thrown out? The only way I’m going to be convinced it was my dogs is if they show me a picture of the dogs outside the fence.

Thoughts, advice?

[Sswor]

My thought is you need to be more diligent in containing your dogs if your whole neighborhood is being terrorized by them. I have very little sympathy for your situation, admittedly, being a neighbor who had to work very hard to get my own local authorities to take a Dog-at-Large problem seriously.

I’d be willing to bet your neighbors do, indeed, have photographic or video proof of your dog(s) running at large and you need to be prepared to prove that you have made adjustments to your property that will, indeed, contain them in the future.

Dogs running loose is no joke. People, and other pets, are killed every year by loose dogs. It’s not a joke. No one wants to live in a neighborhood where they are terrorized every time they set foot outside their front door and are too scared to walk their own dogs properly on a leash because some jerk can’t keep their dogs contained. Not calling you a jerk, just saying. Take a look at the situation you are putting your neighbors in.

Ps, considering you now have a history of prior leash law violations, IF one of your dogs kills or maims a person, you may be subject to a manslaughter, murder, or assault charge. Please take it seriously.

[Ready_To_Riot]

You clearly misread my post. My dogs do not get out. There has been 1 time in the 5 years my dog has gotten out the fence. Once. One dog. Jumped the fence.

I live in a community of older retired people. I have 6 large German Shepard type dogs (mixes) that bark loudly if you come near my fence and I have 5 beware of dog signs posted along that fence. I want people scared of them. I live alone. But they don’t get out and terrorize people.

ETA, I’m sorry, twice. The day I moved in 5 years ago my female discover a hole in the fence I missed.

Twice in 5 years

[BUSY]

No Sympathy … re-read your post ‘from time to time’

One dog
Once ! One dog is too much • IMHO !
I have suffered the consequences of this one dog once !
99% not good enough !
I love dogs but :mad:
I hate my neighbor’s dogs that run loose !
I have repeatedly tried to work with my neighbor !
He lies and lies …
His dog / dogs or others’ dogs on my property … WILL DISAPPEAR !

Not a threat … a promise !

I’m protecting my people, property and animals !!!
No 'ands … ifs …buts… about it !

Damaging | Dangerous Dogs running loose on my property caused this !

I’m Done with the begging and excuses !

[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8546434]
So I’ve been served papers from my city that says I have to go to court in March over my dogs being out of the fence last year. Like march of 2015.

So when they served me the papers they said that 3 of my dogs were out of the fence on 2 separate days. The 17th and the 18th. A little back story, I have 6 dogs. And yes, from time to time, my dogs have gotten out. But never at the same time! Ever! I’ve never come home and be missing half my dogs. But my neighbor hates me and my dogs and calls animal control on me regularly just because. Any dog he sees not in a fence, he blames me for. As if u own all the dogs in the neighborhood. I’ve tried telling him these dogs aren’t mine, but he tells me I’m lying.

So, on these days in particular, I’m going to say I’m 99% sure these weren’t my dogs. The only way they could have been is if someone caught them and put them in my fence. Which doesn’t make sense to me since everyone in the neighborhood thinks my dogs are vicious. Animal control wrote in the papers, they they couldn’t catch the dogs. I was never notified that this had occurred until the police officer came to me last week.

Am I correct in thinking that since there is no hard evidence that these were my dogs, that this will get thrown out? The only way I’m going to be convinced it was my dogs is if they show me a picture of the dogs outside the fence.

Thoughts, advice?[/QUOTE]

[TBROCKS]

[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8546434]

… yes, from time to time, my dogs have gotten out.

…everyone in the neighborhood thinks my dogs are vicious.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn’t bet on it getting thrown out.

[Ready_To_Riot]

Wow. I had no idea this board was full of such ignorant people. Accidents happen. It doesn’t make anyone negligent. I can almost bet that at some point you’ve had an animal lose be it a dog, cat, horse, whatever.

I didn’t open my gate and say run free! Ridiculous minded people bug me.

[red_mares]

My thought there is a big difference between “my dogs get out from time to time” and “they have gotten out twice in 5 years.”

If you can’t keep it straight, how can you be so sure your dog wasn’t out?

You intentionally have big scary dogs, which is your perogative, but don’t get upset when the neighbors are scared of your pack of big scary dogs and do whatever they can to get rid of them. It’s what neighbors do.

Sorry we aren’t telling you what you want to hear.

[TBROCKS]

@Ready To Riot;8546434

A little back story, I have 6 dogs. And yes, from time to time, my dogs have gotten out. But never at the same time!

@Ready To Riot;8546547

You clearly misread my post. My dogs do not get out. There has been 1 time in the 5 years my dog has gotten out the fence. Once. One dog. Jumped the fence.

Which is it?

[pezk]

Have you consulted any of the other neighbors about if they thought it was your dogs running loose? Would any of them be willing to call animal control and tell them your dogs weren’t loose on the day in question. Who else in your neighborhood has dogs that look like yours? You need to be a detective. If you can find a neighbor who is willing to talk to the AC, would they go to court with you?

Once I had a neighbor complain to AC about my crazy dobe running loose. Another neighbor was talking to him and asked him to describe the dog. He told her that the dog was black and had a long tail. My dobe was black/tan with a docked tail. It was a lab that was running loose but this complaining neighbor couldn’t tell the difference. The AC caught the lab and asked the guy if this was the dog. He said yes, it’s her(meaning my) dog. AC told him wrong owner, wrong dog. The other neighbor’s were disgusted with the guy for causing trouble.
That’s why you need to talk to your other neighbor’s. Go knock on doors and talk to them. The best defense is a good offense. That means your fences have to be in good shape, you have to have the respect/help of the other neighbor’s etc.
Is the neighbor that complained someone of position in the town? That may make it harder.
Are your dogs licensed? If not that can land you in a heap of trouble. And the town can try to take you to court over that.

[Ready_To_Riot]

It is what I said. Twice have my dogs been out. My female found a hole and my dog jumped the fence. The only other time I’ve dealt with animal control is when they were trying to get a rescue dog taken away from me. The called me saying he jumped the fence every day and jumped back in when I wasn’t home (this was untrue I know it for a fact because the dog couldn’t jump. They just wanted a reason to take him). They ended up taking the dog abd contacted my vet about his malnourishment. Vet said we were dealing with the problem and miraculous the dog never “jumped” the fence again. That is why I said from time to time, but this last little bit really isn’t your business and I don’t like sharing it.

My question was, since this instance wasn’t my dogs, what will be done?

[BUSY]

Ignorant dog owners cause accidents to others animals !
Keep your dogs contained !

[pezk]

[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8546599]
It is what I said. Twice have my dogs been out. My female found a hole and my dog jumped the fence. The only other time I’ve dealt with animal control is when they were trying to get a rescue dog taken away from me. The called me saying he jumped the fence every day and jumped back in when I wasn’t home (this was untrue I know it for a fact because the dog couldn’t jump. They just wanted a reason to take him). They ended up taking the dog abd contacted my vet about his malnourishment. Vet said we were dealing with the problem and miraculous the dog never “jumped” the fence again. That is why I said from time to time, but this last little bit really isn’t your business and I don’t like sharing it.

My question was, since this instance wasn’t my dogs, what will be done?[/QUOTE]

You need to get the help of other neighbors. You will have to prove it wasn’t your dogs!

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8546583]
Wow. I had no idea this board was full of such ignorant people. Accidents happen. It doesn’t make anyone negligent. I can almost bet that at some point you’ve had an animal lose be it a dog, cat, horse, whatever.

I didn’t open my gate and say run free! Ridiculous minded people bug me.[/QUOTE]

I think we are getting an idea of why your neighbors are unhappy.

Contain your dogs. “From time to time” is unacceptable. Dogs running loose is a threat to public safety. Especially big, “scary” dogs. Please take it seriously.

You have chosen to own a pack of large “scary” dogs. Unfortunately, it has become your neighbor(s) problem and they have decided to do something about it. You need to work with them.

I would seriously suggest to you that you walk into court with the approach that you would like to work with the city and your neighbors to eliminate the problem, rather then the approach you have taken here.

[Ready_To_Riot]

[QUOTE=pezk;8546595]
Have you consulted any of the other neighbors about if they thought it was your dogs running loose? Would any of them be willing to call animal control and tell them your dogs weren’t loose on the day in question. Who else in your neighborhood has dogs that look like yours? You need to be a detective. If you can find a neighbor who is willing to talk to the AC, would they go to court with you?

Once I had a neighbor complain to AC about my crazy dobe running loose. Another neighbor was talking to him and asked him to describe the dog. He told her that the dog was black and had a long tail. My dobe was black/tan with a docked tail. It was a lab that was running loose but this complaining neighbor couldn’t tell the difference. The AC caught the lab and asked the guy if this was the dog. He said yes, it’s her(meaning my) dog. AC told him wrong owner, wrong dog. The other neighbor’s were disgusted with the guy for causing trouble.
That’s why you need to talk to your other neighbor’s. Go knock on doors and talk to them. The best defense is a good offense. That means your fences have to be in good shape, you have to have the respect/help of the other neighbor’s etc.
Is the neighbor that complained someone of position in the town? That may make it harder.
Are your dogs licensed? If not that can land you in a heap of trouble. And the town can try to take you to court over that.[/QUOTE]

Dogs in my area don’t have to be licensed, only have rabies shots. Which mine do.

And I haven’t askee anyone about the dogs being out that day because it was a year ago. The only reason I believe it to not be true is I never came home to 3 missing dogs.

There are several dogs that could pass as mine as I have a wide variety of colors in my yard and sometimes have fosters.

[Ready_To_Riot]

When my dogs aren’t the problem, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to work with them?

[Ready_To_Riot]

[QUOTE=pezk;8546604]
You need to get the help of other neighbors. You will have to prove it wasn’t your dogs![/QUOTE]

I am assuming you’re saying innocent until proven guilty doesn’t apply here? If they don’t have a picture or video of it being my dog, it’s going to be their word against mine. Do they automatically win?

[Dramapony_misty]

Wow…I’m really sorry for your plight, OP. I don’t think dogs (or 1 dog) getting out 2x in 5 years is that much of an issue as long as they aren’t dangerous or caused destruction of property. Is it ideal? No, but nobody is perfect.

Legally, I don’t know what you could do. Maybe set up some sort of game camera or a surveillance camera in your yard for cases in the future so you can say “Look, your Honor, here is a date and time-stamped image of my dogs in their enclosure when the neighbor alleges that they were running at large.”

Are their other neighbors whose dogs are out wandering alot more often than yours?

[Dramapony_misty]

[QUOTE=BUSY;8546574]
One dog
Once ! One dog is too much • IMHO !
I have suffered the consequences of this one dog once !
99% not good enough !
I love dogs but :mad:
I hate my neighbor’s dogs that run loose !
I have repeatedly tried to work with my neighbor !
He lies and lies …
His dog / dogs or others’ dogs on my property … WILL DISAPPEAR !

Not a threat … a promise !

I’m protecting my people, property and animals !!!
No 'ands … ifs …buts… about it !

Damaging | Dangerous Dogs running loose on my property caused this !

I’m Done with the begging and excuses ![/QUOTE]

Whoa, killer…are you referring directly to the OP’s dogs or are you blaming your own neighborhood doggie-gang issues on all dog owners? Seems to be the latter.

Maybe you should lay off the exclamation point hysterics in order for your point to be taken more seriously. Just a thought.

[Ready_To_Riot]

[QUOTE=Dramapony_misty;8546636]
Wow…I’m really sorry for your plight, OP. I don’t think dogs (or 1 dog) getting out 2x in 5 years is that much of an issue as long as they aren’t dangerous or caused destruction of property. Is it ideal? No, but nobody is perfect.

Legally, I don’t know what you could do. Maybe set up some sort of game camera or a surveillance camera in your yard for cases in the future so you can say “Look, your Honor, here is a date and time-stamped image of my dogs in their enclosure when the neighbor alleges that they were running at large.”

Are their other neighbors whose dogs are out wandering alot more often than yours?[/QUOTE]

It’s too late for the camera thing as this back dates to a year ago. And yes. Many people in the neighborhood adjoining mine don’t have fences. The dogs are either tethered outside (only a few that I know of have this set up), or they let their dogs out to wander and do their business. I run the lost and found Pet Facebook group fit my area and despite continually connecting families with their now deceased dog(because it got ran over) they continue to allow their dogs out of the home unleashed. Many of these dogs end up coming to my yard to bark at my dogs. I assume my neighbor sees me get them in my house (to keep them safe until I find the owner) and assumes the dog is mine. Which is how every lose dog in the neighborhood has become “my dog” in their eyes.

[red_mares]

If your neighbors posted:

My neighbor has 6 big shepherd type dogs that occasionally get out. They scare me. If anyone goes near them, they start barking like hell. I don’t trust them. It isn’t even the same dogs all the time, but they all look bad/mean. She’s had some really skinny ones in there too. Is there anything I can do?

The advice would be to call animal control every time they saw a dog loose and document, document, document. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute. You are not the one who has to be convinced here; the judge or magistrate does.