Do you get hassled for owning dogs in town?

United States
January 4, 2008 3:27pm CST
I lived in a small town for a short time. I rented a home with a large yard for my four dogs. I had one lab and three german shepherds. All of my dogs are very well mannered with wonderful temperments. At the time, two of my shepherds were still puppies. They welcomed anyone who wanted to give them attention. The other shepherd was timid and would not let strangers approach. People did not like that and I was lectured for having an aggressive dog. I said she was not aggressive. She would be more likely to run from a stranger than to attack. It came to a point where someone began to open the gate. I was ticketed for aggressive dog at large, though the dogs did not leave the area of home. So I kept them inside unless I was out with them, or else when I left, I would put them on chains. I would only be gone for an hour or so to go to the store. Well, one day I went to the store and came back to a cop chasing my dogs around my house. My timid shepherd was still hooked to her chain because whoever let them out could not approach her and instead unhooked her at the stake. There was nothing broken on any of the chains and I had only been gone twenty minutes. One of the dogs was running in circles from the cop, the other was sitting on the front porch, one was still in the backyard, and the other was the timid female caught by her chain in the bushes, shaking with fear. I was given a $5000 ticket for three aggressive dogs at large and my three legged lab, who did not leave the backyard was accused of biting the cop. I was outraged because I knew that the lab would not leave the back yard even with the gate open. I told the cop that. His exuse was that the dog bit him when he was trying to put the other dogs back in. I argued and said there was no other dogs put in the back yard, and the ones were let out. I showed him the chains and the stakes. Nevertheless, after arguing with the town about the situation, they agreed to drop charges if I got rid of the dogs. Of course I could not get rid of them. So I was forced to move. I'm stuck way out in the country, but at least I do not have to worry about neighbors. After all this, the same cop that gave me the tickets, was caught on camera from another citizen letting their dog out of the back yard
1 person likes this
3 responses
• United States
6 Jan 08
Yes a few years ago. Had some new neighbor that bought a house to fixe and sell. He complained about my dogs. They were dobes. They were either barking or mean or something. I told the animal control officer and the cop that being the animals were not out of the house unless I was home or my husband and the yard was fenced, they were up to date on shots and had not bitten anyone I didn't see what their problem was. I explained if you went down the alley or street they would bark at you. This wasn't like the neighbers dog that was complaining that never shut up? As they could hear these animals they got the point. I also explained that as my dogs sleep in the house and are only out when someone is home that the noise disturbance probably wasn't them. All the time we were having to almost shout to be heard over the complaining neighbors dogs. This was the only new neighbor in the last few years and being the others have dogs also and theirs were not running loose, barking at all hours of the day and night, or attacking folks either. They had visits from the animal controll guy also. The guy with the complaints got a ticket for his dogs constantly barking. Had to put a lock on my gate to keep someone from leaving it open. Good thing I have always kept the dogs inside when not at home and at night. Get up in the morning and start to let them out to potty and have to go close the gate before letting them out. It was because they were dobes.
1 person likes this
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
4 Jan 08
And let me guess, he was also the cop that responded to the other citizen's dog being out of it's yard???? I think that other people around there would be wise to start watching him closely if they saw him in the neighborhood. It's cops like that that give law enforcement a bad rap. If it's a small town, then pretty much everyone knows everyone else, I've lived in a town like that. So they all know him. Enough complaints against him and they will have to take some type of action against him.
1 person likes this
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Sounds like that cop has some sort of scam going! We live in a small town, and we have three dogs. Our neighbors are pretty cool about it,and most of them have dogs, too. We never let ours run loose, not on purpose anyway! Sometimes they will slip out and bark at people who are outside or walking by, but they just make noise, never act aggressively. The only complaint we have had is from our next door neighbor who works third shift. He said our dogs were disturbing his sleep. I didn't realize his bedroom was on the side of his house next to ours. So I just try to be considerate and not let the dogs bark outside too much. He hasn't complained for a while so I guess we're doing okay.