Neighbors from hell...continued.

[Need4speed]

Hey TropicalStorm, I notice that you’re in Alberta. Which area? North, South, Central, East or West? I live in central Alberta, (Moved here from southern Ontario, a year and a half ago) It was quite the culture shock. I’ve moved to a rather, how shall I put it, red-neck area. If I went to the police with a trespassing complaint, I’d probably be laughed out of the place. I know, not the right thing, but not something high on the cops priority list.

The way they deal with trespassing dogs around here is with a shotgun. No, it’s not very nice, but frankly, if it came down to my horse running all their weight off, scared all the time, crashing through a fence to get away from a dog “who likes to chase horses”, that dog would disappear, even if it was just to take it to the humane society.

By the way, for anyone who wants to flame me for saying to get rid of the dog, unless you’ve seen a horse be put down because it destroyed it’s leg crashing through a fence to get away from a dog, you have no idea how awful it is, and what you would do to stop it from ever happening again.

[JoZ]

The only thing I find wrong with your approach is, would ya please, for the love of god, STOP saying the kids are welcome under ANY circumstances? With supervision, when you’re there, whatever. I know you are trying to be nice and not alienate your neighbors but you are not dealing with normal here.

Do you truly see any happy future instance in which you are sharing a bonding moment with either of the two spawns of satan? Do you think they will listen to you regarding horse care or treatment? KEEP THEM OFF YOUR PROPERTY WITH WHAT MEANS ARE NECESSARY. You are NOT being blunt enough.

[Quin]

I agree with the hot wire, signs, and a certified letter/return receipt. I would also include in the letter that you intend to hold them liable for damages including all vet bills if by their actions, including unauthorized feeding, they cause harm to your horses.

You might want to stop by the local police department now, before there are any incidents. Explain what you have done and ask the police what the local procedures are, how best to involve them, etc; stress the potential for damage both to the dear kiddies as well as your very valuable animals (some cops will pay more attention to the issue of the kids; for others, the “valuable livestock” will trigger a response).

[hoser1]

Tropical Storm, I feel for ya! I had the neighbor children from hell for the first couple of years we moved in here - though sounds like your case takes the cake. In my case, I had to get progressively meaner and meaner, until they knew not to mess with me. In their case, the parents were never around, so I didn’t have a “whole family” problem like you. Luckily the kids in my case wound up moving (after the young boy set the house on fire).

It does absolutely suck to feel like you have to defend your own property. And I’ve found that it’s more common than one would think. It also sucks to have to act out of character to defend your rights as a property owner - but I did it too because there was no other way.

As for the dog, I believe you can get a dog “arrested” for chasing your animals. My parent’s golden retriever got a bit of a “rap sheet” for chasing the neighbors assorted peacocks and guinea hens. Look into your local laws on that. I second what everyone else said about documenting everything & considering having a legal statement delivered to them.

Hang in there. I found that not too many things made my blood boil more than having neighbors with no boundaries or sense.

[ParadiseFarm]

Don’t worry about tearing the fence down.
Just build a new fence sitting 4’ in from the existing, you won’t lose that much space.
Attach mesh on the inside part of the outer-most line - and maybe plant something big and shrub-like in between - your view will be nicer too!

[Sobriska]

Build a new fence 8’ high inside the old fence and plant poison ivy in between:)
Buy a couple of motion sensors that have that barking snarling dog sound when motion is detected.
Walk around muttering crazed things. Go outside when the moon is visible and howl for as long as you can manage.
Drape a black sheet around your body and light a small campfire and walk around sprinkling things and chanting.
Get teen friend to dress in cammon and patrol with paintball guns.
Hmm, need any more evil ideas?

[Trixie]

I agree with Sobriska. The more devil-worshipping type activities you can do the better.

Nothing in the world scares off the parents like a bad influence.

[Amchara]

Get creative and make post extenders (not a real term). Theoretically, if it were 6ft tall it would be level with your WB’s back (guessing he could get up to 17H).

Instead of Poison Ivy, maybe go for Norwegian Blackberries. Spread like wild fire, have thorns, and have very edible and delectible berries :D.

[Graymaresrule]

Mine are moving!!!

One set of my neighbors from hell is moving next month. They didn’t have a problem with their mutt chasing my goats sheep and horses until my goats started going over to their house.

Now to do something about the other neighbors’ pit bull.

[aahunterjumper]

I second the double fencing on the neighbors’ side. Even though you are giving up some land, I think it’ll be worth it in the end. It sounds to me as if your land is on the edge of suburbia - years ago, I had problems with the neighbors feeding my horses moldy grass clippings. Horses eat grass right? The fence closest to the neighbors should be 5’ no-climb, maybe with a strand of electric on top. In the meantime, run a few strands of electric on the inside of the existing fence - that’ll get your horses to stay away from the fence to start. (It probably won’t keep the dog out). The no tresspassing signs are excellent advice too. With your specific neighbors, I also think the certified letter outlining “keep dogs and kids off my property” is a good idea. I’d also check the rest of your fences to make sure there’s no way your horses can get to the neighbors’ yards if they get loose. Because of my experience leasing a barn that backed up to a housing development, any similar property I looked at (to buy) needed to have a budgeted item for double fencing. More expensive, yes, one reason why I still board, but at the end of the day, I want a tresspasser to have to explain “accidentally” breaching two fences. And, if my horses get loose, they have to get through two, well-maintained fences. I wish you all the luck!

[TropicalStorm]

Hey TropicalStorm, I notice that you’re in Alberta. Which area? North, South, Central, East or West? I live in central Alberta, (Moved here from southern Ontario, a year and a half ago) It was quite the culture shock. I’ve moved to a rather, how shall I put it, red-neck area. If I went to the police with a trespassing complaint, I’d probably be laughed out of the place. I know, not the right thing, but not something high on the cops priority list.

Okotoks (right outside Calgary)
What’s sad is that this is a “high end” neighborhood. It’s not like we are in a run down property with a junk depot next door. They have 3000-5000 sq ft houses here :\

Regardless though, even if I had trashcans and pickup trucks all over the place, I’d still want the spawns off my property.

I am seriously starting to consider the double fence.
Or at the very least a big and irritating plant.

Do horses eat poison ivy?

[fotie]

Well…what can I say??? Stupid parents when bred, spawn stupid children. You have my sympathy. A little knowledge is dangerous!!! Please keep us posted. Remember…GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

[sk_pacer]

@TropicalStorm

Okotoks (right outside Calgary)
What’s sad is that this is a “high end” neighborhood. It’s not like we are in a run down property with a junk depot next door. They have 3000-5000 sq ft houses here :\

Regardless though, even if I had trashcans and pickup trucks all over the place, I’d still want the spawns off my property.

I am seriously starting to consider the double fence.
Or at the very least a big and irritating plant.

Do horses eat poison ivy?

You DID move yourself right into the middle of Yuppie Haven Acres, didn’t you? At least there ARE laws governing livestock rights - and yes, in Alberta and Saskatchewan, livestock has the right to be left alone, and dog shooting is legal. I know Sky West Farms has No Trespassing and No Hunting signs all over their fences, and I am sure they have problems, being along the highway.

The attitude shown by these people is typical of the people with fresh money from the oil patch - they not only think they are superior, but they KNOW it and spend hours telling everyone how much better they are. Kids get everything they want, and are deeply offended, to the point of tantrums if they are refused anything. If they want riding lessons, they go to the best places, if they want a horse, mummy and daddy buy something outrageously expensive, and happily allow the kids to ruin it or them, and just replace the ruined horse with a different one. These kids are always told how good they are, how wonderful, and are never censured for ill-thought out or just plain rude behaviour - they are RICH, and therefore better and such behavior is allowed if directed at someone who is not ‘rich’ or to someone who has what they want, no matter the financial standing of the object of disdain.

If nothing else, you have one of the best vets in Western Canada right in Okotoks

[Schune]

I give you major props. I would have gone nuts a long time ago.

I option for the shotgun and moat

[Seal_Harbor]

Yes they do eat poison ivy. When they rub on you afterward they will get the stuff on you. That was the only way I ever got poison ivy, from my horses.

I’m thinking a lovely landscaped hedge, one that is evergreen, thick and grows to be 10-15 feet tall, right on the property line, then low fence against the base of it to keep the dog from coming through, then the paddock fence.

That way you will not be able to see them at all, and they really can’t just waltz over to your property. You have a lovely view of something green and they can’t see anything going on at your farm.

In Oregon and I believe Washington as well, a dog may be shot without warning if it’s caught harrassing livestock. Any law like that in Alberta? I would think there might be as aren’t there many beef cattle farms?

[WildBlue]

Even though it’s a small property, I’d go one lawn mower width inside the fence and put up an electric fence. At least on the sections where these people might try to feed your horses. That reduces their options to 1. climbing over the perimeter fence (trespassing, damage to your property, both proveable by pictures) or 2. throwing food at the horses. Both of these are preferable to idiots feeding things that could colic a horse and/or teaching them habits like biting or headshyness. And a good weed-burner charger might slow down kids who think they can climb the fence and ride your horses when you’re not around (it happens).

You have already done the right thing by warning them about the dog. If it’s on your property again, I suggest calling animal control. They will take care of the problem, starting with fines. Harsh, but it beats the mangled cats, trampled dog, and injured horses that COULD happen if you don’t call.

As suggested, document, document, document. Clearly, professionally, and every time. You already know that this is a recipe for disaster. Prepare yourself for either them suing you for damage to children or dog, or you suing them for damage to a horse. It hopefully won’t happen, but I, personally, wouldn’t want to count on it.

[Need4speed]

If placed just right, I think that a couple strands of electric fence, one at 10 inches, the other at 20 or 25 should zap the dog if it tries to come through. Won’t try again. Only do this, however, if you’re doing a secondary fence. Put the electric wire on the fence closest to the neighbour, you definitely don’t want your horse to get it’s legs caught in that.

[Goodyfourshoes]

edit

[Gnalli]

You know, a lot of people hate blackberry bushes and Cherokee rose bushes and 7 sisters rose bushes, but man, do they make it hard for people critters to cross them when they get big enough. Horses tend to leave them alone too, and won’t go thru them. Cows either. When we had them on the farm, none of the animals would get tangled up in it and the neighbors bratty kid would not sneak into the pasture. When we get more land, you better believe I will put up a row of them. If I have to repair fences, then I will cut back and do it.

Another option is to put a serious hot wire up above and about half way down too, plus down low so that at any height, they get bitten. The horses will leave it alone(this staying away from the fence) and the kids will learn, and so will the canine. A solar charger for your place should run about $99 (we had one on 2.47 acre pasture and it was fine, just not too much bite), but you can get one like my buddy’s that plugs in for the same amount that will curl your hair. Trust me, I went without a perm for 2 years because of the zap on that one…ouuuuuccchhhiiieeee . WORD OF CAUTION-put it on your side of the fence so that it is obvious that if they get zapped, they were where they were not supposed to be. On their side, and you have trouble and still have to deal with them.

These neighbors are about to be trouble with a capital T, and I agree with all the above situations. Something else that may help would be to have your dad discuss this with the neighbors, because a whole lot of people see a 19 yr old and go, ooh, its a kid telling me what to do, and ignore it, even when the 19 yr old has the right to do so. Just point blank ask her why she feels she has the right to mess with your stuff, and what she feel about you coming over and putting diesel in her gas burner or borrowing her grill just because it is within sight of your place and you feel that she is being selfish to not share. Tell her you are not into socialism, and from where she stands, its a slippery slope to it…

[Equinetech]

Just a quick note before I go back to reading the rest of the posts.

We have a very large sign (4’x8’ marine grade plywood) that states:

“Tresspassers will be shot-Survivors will be violated”

you may want to look into something similar lol