# I may have just gotten my neighbor's dog killed, and I don't feel even a little guilty. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 11, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704 "2009-07-11T20:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/21 "2009-07-12T01:24:48Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Each time we complain, the owner swears that her dog would never, ever actually harm anyone, that we’re overreacting, that it will never happen again, and that \*\*we \*\*need to respect the \*\*dog’s \*\*space. When we point out that the dog’s space does not include the street, the sidewalk at the end of the street, or other people’s driveways, its owner says that it’s just a dog and doesnt understand that. To the owner: yes, but **you** understand that, and it’s your responsibility. > [@](#): > > Don’t we _care_ that we have made it look like she’s violating the court order and as a result her poor _baby_ may be _murdered_? To the owner: no, we didn’t make it **look** like that. We didn’t have to. That’s exactly what it was. And no, we don’t care. > [@Chefguy](#): > > What I find endlessly amusing, in a look-at-the-hopeless-psychotic sort of way, are dog owners who, when their precious makes a beeline for some unsuspecting child or octagenarian, will say things like “Raper, don’t go near other people”, or possibly “Nut Ripper, leave the hapless child alone now”, all delivered in that chirpy voice that mothers use to gently admonish a child. I’m not an octogenarian yet, but I’ve heard that from a dog owner. That’s why I started carrying pepper spray and a cell phone on my walks. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/22 "2009-07-12T01:25:47Z")
Out in the country, where I live, problem dogs like this are handled with the “Three S’s” Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up! Probably not an option where you live though. :smack: I hope it all works out. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/23 "2009-07-12T01:28:09Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > Not to mention Skald’s gate was closed yet the dog still got into the yard. Sounds like a gate on the neighbor’s yard might not have worked either. Yes, I meant SHE should have installed a gate. And sorry, there is no Dog on the planet that is immune to gates. If your dog can get out of the fence then you don’t have the right fence or you’ve installed it improperly. It can jump a 6 foot fence you say? Well try an eight foot fence. It can dig under the fence you say? Well sink the fence two feet. It can break down the gate? Well use stronger hinges. I’m sorry, but every dog on the planet can be contained by a fence if the fence is installed correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/24 "2009-07-12T01:51:39Z")
I wouldn’t feel guilty either. Recently there was a couple of dogs running around and biting people. Over the space of a few weeks an old man who was sitting in his yard was attacked, and then two little girls were attacked. Both times a woman showed up, grabbed the dogs, stuff them in a van and left. (Well, the second time she only hauled off one, the other was taken by animal control when they got there). Now she’s going before the courts and facing up to $10,000 in fines for various violations (unlicensed animals etc) and they can’t locate the second dog but I heard they think it’s in another town, probably taken in by friends of hers. From the comments I read on the online articles it sounded like many people wanted to do GaryM’s suggestion… to her. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Bobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@King\_Bobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Bobo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/25 "2009-07-12T02:10:21Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > I wouldn’t feel guilty either. > > Recently there was a couple of dogs running around and biting people. Over the space of a few weeks an old man who was sitting in his yard was attacked, and then two little girls were attacked. Both times a woman showed up, grabbed the dogs, stuff them in a van and left. (Well, the second time she only hauled off one, the other was taken by animal control when they got there). > > Now she’s going before the courts and facing up to $10,000 in fines for various violations (unlicensed animals etc) and they can’t locate the second dog but I heard they think it’s in another town, probably taken in by friends of hers. From the comments I read on the online articles it sounded like many people wanted to do GaryM’s suggestion.. to her. Flutterby, Sounds like you may live near me; I have heard of comparable incidences recently from my albeit scant news coverage in the last couple of weeks. I am not much of an admirer of dogs. I have little experience with them and am suspicious of virtually all of them. I really hate it when I am out walking and some large, (or even small), hound prances about very in or near what I consider my personal space. SO tired too of hearing that “Fang”, “Chomper”, “Fifi” or “Muffin” has never harmed a living soul. How do I know that said beast will not take a dislike to my smell or human aura or whatever and take a large/small bite out of my person? My view is that all dog owners should be responsible for their pets and control them in public places and when not out in public should confine them to their own property. Dogs that escape and trespass on other’s property are another matter and I see it as fitting that home owners take whatever steps necessary to protect themselves and legitimate residents or visitors on that property. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/26 "2009-07-12T02:17:53Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > It can jump a 6 foot fence you say? Well try an eight foot fence. It can dig under the fence you say? Well sink the fence two feet. Many cities have ordinance that would not allow these actions. For example, here in Minneapolis the maximum height for a fence is 6 feet. So you couldn’t do an 8 foot one. And if you are digging more than 6 inches into he ground, you have to have the state underground utility location service come out to survey the area. And you may need to request an excavation permit, depending on the amount of soil you are moving. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/27 "2009-07-12T02:20:44Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Many cities have ordinance that would not allow these actions. > > For example, here in Minneapolis the maximum height for a fence is 6 feet. So you couldn’t do an 8 foot one. > > And if you are digging more than 6 inches into he ground, you have to have the state underground utility location service come out to survey the area. And you may need to request an excavation permit, depending on the amount of soil you are moving. Fair enough. Most dogs can’t jump a 6 foot fence. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/28 "2009-07-12T02:31:07Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Don’t we realize that she’s under a court order to keep the dog under lock and key because it’s already bitten someone? (No, as you never told us that, and in fact this revelation exposes you as a liar when you say the dog is no danger to anyone). Don’t we _care_ that we have made it look like she’s violating the court order and as a result her poor _baby_ may be _murdered_? I’m trying to envision a reality in which these two issues are somehow your fault, and my head is hurting from the sheer cognitive dissonance. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/29 "2009-07-12T02:55:02Z")
Sounds like animal control took the wrong bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/30 "2009-07-12T03:28:02Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Fair enough. Most dogs can’t jump a 6 foot fence. And if you can’t legally install a fence more then 6 feet high AND your dogs regularly jump a 6 foot fence and bite people…you need to look at other options. Dog on leash ANY TIME it’s outside, move somewhere else, train the dog better or give it up to a rescue that can properly place it. And while you’re right, most dogs can’t jump a 6 foot fence, remember that after a long cold winter with no above freezing temps, that 6 foot fence can turn into a 3 foot fence if the snow drifts back into a corner. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/31 "2009-07-12T03:42:15Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > And while you’re right, most dogs can’t jump a 6 foot fence, remember that after a long cold winter with no above freezing temps, that 6 foot fence can turn into a 3 foot fence if the snow drifts back into a corner. That’s how a family dog, half Bassett Hound and shaped like one, learned to get over a regular height chain link fence, even after the snow melted. We kept him in by putting up an electric wire at the top of the fence. After two shocks he wouldn’t try the climb anymore, and we turned the electricity off, leaving the wire in place. That kept the dog wary, and in the yard. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/32 "2009-07-12T04:06:24Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Many cities have ordinance that would not allow these actions. > > For example, here in Minneapolis the maximum height for a fence is 6 feet. So you couldn’t do an 8 foot one. > > And if you are digging more than 6 inches into he ground, you have to have the state underground utility location service come out to survey the area. And you may need to request an excavation permit, depending on the amount of soil you are moving. Well, there you go. The dog would never be able to get a permit to dig under the fence. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/33 "2009-07-12T04:19:57Z")
I’m generally fond of dogs, and I’d feel just as non-guilty as **Skald** in this instance. Dumb-asses like this give other dog owners a bad name. That said, my Bloodfang would never harm anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/34 "2009-07-12T04:40:07Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Many cities have ordinance that would not allow these actions. > > For example, here in Minneapolis the maximum height for a fence is 6 feet. So you couldn’t do an 8 foot one. > > And if you are digging more than 6 inches into he ground, you have to have the state underground utility location service come out to survey the area. And you may need to request an excavation permit, depending on the amount of soil you are moving. Why is that anybody’s problem but the dog owner’s? If you have to get extra permits and utility locators to build the fence that your dog needs, then you suck it up and get 'em or you find another way to deal with your dog. Letting a dog roam free because you’re not allowed to build the fence is no solution at all. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/35 "2009-07-12T05:06:40Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > And if you are digging more than 6 inches into he ground, you have to have the state underground utility location service come out to survey the area. And you may need to request an excavation permit, depending on the amount of soil you are moving. And? Underground Service Alert is a simple phone call. They do all the work. And you need to do it anyway when you put in fence posts to build the fence in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/36 "2009-07-12T05:20:25Z")
I’m the local SDMB’s animal lover loony, and even I think you’ve done well, **Skald**. If this woman is serious about saving her dog, all she needs to do is get serious about the fence actually fencing the dog in. Of course, I do think the dog is not Evil, just an unhappy, neglected and confused dog (big surprise there, eh 🙂 )who doen’t know where his property ends, thinks it is the whole neighborhood, and keeps finding trespassers there who need to Get Out. But you’re right at your neighbour being a stupid bitch, all right. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/37 "2009-07-12T05:43:25Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Sounds like animal control took the wrong bitch. Actually, they just didn’t gather up enough of them. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/38 "2009-07-12T05:56:04Z")
Yay! We had a somewhat similar situation here a year or so ago, though not quite so bad. We did call Animal Control and the owner got a ticket, but if I’d been able to lock it up and have it taken away, I would have. The dog was being neglected and was thinking the whole street was its territory. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/39 "2009-07-12T06:38:19Z")
I had a rental neighbor next to me years ago with a pit bull. The landlord threw him out after a couple of months but I was seriously thinking of getting a gun. One day after arriving home and parking in my detached garage I opened the back door to a lunging dog. I confronted the neighbor soon after and the guy just stood by while the dog jumped visciously toward me. I just happened to have pruners in my hand and kept them on the fence in case the dog decided to jump over it. I fully intended to prune the throat out of the dog if he cleared the fence. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704/40 "2009-07-12T10:50:04Z")
> [@King\_Bobo](#): > > SO tired too of hearing that “Fang”, “Chomper”, “Fifi” or “Muffin” has never harmed a living soul. How do I know that said beast will not take a dislike to my smell or human aura or whatever and take a large/small bite out of my person? Some years back, I had a doofus of a Dalmatian who just \*lurved \*everyone, to the point of being a pest. So when I hired some chimney cleaners, before they showed up, I put the dog on a run, confining her to a section of the yard away from the driveway and the house. One of the work guys asked if he could pet her, and I assented, warning him that she liked to jump on people. But as he approached her, still out of her reach, she suddenly showed a side I’d never seen before. My doofus dog wanted blood! :eek: Needless to say, the guy turned around and decided he’d rather clean the chimney after all. And I’ve since taken to confining all our dogs, including the geriatric throw rug, whenever strangers come to the house. You just never know… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-have-just-gotten-my-neighbors-dog-killed-and-i-dont-feel-even-a-little-guilty/502704.md?page=3)