I’d be out there with a baseball bat. Ready to swing at a dog that bit me.
Miss, of course, but let the stupid owner know that their dogs will be injured if you have better aim the next time.
Your yard, your rules.
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You might also want to consider getting photos/videos of the dogs every time they come on your property. Get enough background in the shot to clearly establish that the dogs have “crossed the line.” The images will be time-stamped and could be used as evidence should things turns ugly and you end up in court.
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@FitzRoy, I would suggest when you call animal control, start the conversation with asking them what you should or are allowed to do in this situation (and describe the situation).
In other words, don’t just call and complain, call and ask for help. What are you allowed to do to protect yourself on your property until the owners contain their dogs? Do you need videos to prove these things happen or will they just believe you?
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I put up one strand of hot wire and baited it with milkbones. The offenders got their noses zapped and stay well clear of the area now. Took the fence down, done.
Also, call AC and ask for input as noted above.
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Being dogless and/or being new has nothing to do with expecting to NOT BE BITTEN by someone else’s dogs. Period. It’s dog owners like that who ruin things for the rest of us who have well-behaved dogs. Just because things have always been that way doesn’t mean inappropriate behavior is acceptable!
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i know dogs arent fond of high noises.
there are ultra sonic device you can put outside in your garden and cats dogs, and other animals stay away from your yard.
cause they hate the ultra high sounds it makes.
So if the police or other instanties dont help you, there is always away to help yourself.
goodluck…
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I was going to suggest pepperspray but wasp spray is better because it shots further.
The owner may not care that the dog runs amuck, but the dog will remember getting sprayed and should think twice about approaching your SO.
AND its YOUR property, its YOUR home owners insurance that will have to pay for damages if a guest of yours get bite by her dog.
Or get a fence. I know you state you don’t want to inconvenience your other neighbor, but this lady’s dog is inconveniencing you on your property.
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And may get the homeowner charged with animal abuse if used.
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Ghazzu wins!
This is why I suggested up thread that you ask animal control what you are allowed to do to keep your family safe on your property.
You don’t want to get yourself arrested for animal cruelty.
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I hear you on the animal abuse. But what about self defense? If a dog comes on to my property and comes after me, an above poster suggested a good kick, or thwap to deter a dog, that can break ribs.
A little pepper spray in the eyes and a good bath to wash it off is less harmful than a kick to the side, PLUS now you have to let the dog come within a limb’s reach to be run off. Same with that paddle thingy.
We had used ScareCrow heat detecting sprayers when we had people on our property, but I am not sure it would scare off a dog, especially a lab that likes water. Hell, my dog would stand in front of the sprayer and play with it.
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Love the ideas and would combine them all with large sticks around the property to grab, wasp spray bottles in easy reach (I love that they spray 25 feet), and a bug zapper. I hope you get the support you deserve from the HOA.
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I’m not opposed to defending oneself from an aggressive dog, but I draw the line at wasp spray.
That is reserved for attacking humans.
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Yes, I would call AC.
I’d also install a couple inexpensive game cams. I got DH a couple for his birthday. They date and time stamp the photos. Easy to aim at where the dogs normally come on your lawn to document each incident.
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Another child in the UK killed in a dog attack this week. Only 17 months old, attacked in her home by a dog purchased by the family just a week before.
The UK has the 1991 Dangerous Dog Act which makes it illegal for anyone to have a dog dangerously out of control at any time. Owners of such a dog may even face time in prison as it is their absolute responsibility to have the dog under control. (There is a long social and political history behind this Act).
The Act was amended in 2014 to include ‘private land’ after a horrendous attack by two Rottweilers on a Postman resulted in permanent, life-changing injuries to the unfortunate man who was just doing his job (my parents lived on the same lane). Now an attack, or fear of an attack by a dog, on private land or in a public place results in aggressive dogs being PTS.
Farmers have always had a legal right to shoot dead any dog worrying (attacking) livestock on their land. We have a lot of sheep.
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And just how is that determined?
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That is always the issue, obviously, but ‘fear of being attacked’ can be reported to the police like other threats of violence to ones person and the police may decide to act on it. It is a deterrent. For riders, it is useful as dog attacks when out hacking is a fairly common problem. The police may shrug off just a horse being chased but a rider stating they feared for their personal safety is deemed more serious.
It is an interesting Act and worth looking up. American Pitbulls are a prescribed breed. No one under 16 years to have one under their control. Dog to be always muzzled when out in public. To be neutered and ID tattooed. The only problem is that, as the Kennel Club don’t recognize it as a breed, there is no agreed breed standard and no expert in the UK can identify what is an actual American Pitbull in Court, with some amusing consequences. The breed was specifically picked out in 1991 because a) animal welfare bodies and police were concerned about the then growth of dog fighting, which has been illegal in the UK since Victorian times, with associated criminality and obvious animal welfare concerns, and b) drug dealers were using pitbulls as a legal alternative to guns or knives for protection, which greatly upset the Police who were getting bitten during drug raids.
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Being dogless and/or being new has nothing to do with expecting to NOT BE BITTEN by someone else’s dogs. Period. It’s dog owners like that who ruin things for the rest of us who have well-behaved dogs. Just because things have always been that way doesn’t mean inappropriate behavior is acceptable!
Absolutely, and the fact that the dog-owning HOA president was seemingly very open to our concerns seems like a step in the right direction.
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I guess what I’m confused about is the idea that a dog could have to be euthanized without ever doing anything “wrong” because somebody was fearful that it might.
Is that true even if said dog is on the owner’s proerty and not presenting an immediate threat to the frightened person?
Because I know people who are terrified of any dog they meet.
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Keep this in your arsenal should the dog owner speak to you again:
There is only ONE person in this situation who has 100% control over whether or not the dogs coming onto your property is a problem. That person is the dog owner. If she doesn’t want to deal with any “problem caused by you” she has the power to prevent it ever occuring again. No dogs harassing you means nothing for you to “complain” about. Plain, simple truth.
You should not feel one iota of responsibility for reporting the dog bites.
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Bingo, well said.
OP, what a frustrating situation! I’m really angry on your behalf, these people are entitled, dismissive, arrogant, selfish, and monumentally inconsiderate.
There is also bear spray that has a pretty good range and that would not be as harmful as wasp spray, but would “get the message across.” Personally, I’d like to use it on the people!, but obviously it’s a safer bet to use it on the dogs as a deterrent; these selfish dog owners are the very definition of “bad neighbors.” 
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