# Neighbor problem from hell, and dogs barking all the while... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725 "2009-09-11T20:17:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/21 "2009-09-12T21:08:13Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > My husband thinks we should get a restraining order, but I guess I don’t want to believe that is necessary. I honestly don’t know what to do. Your husband is right. Also. . . > [@](#): > > [Indiana General Assembly](http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar46/ch3.html) > > **IC 35-46-3** > Chapter 3. Offenses Relating to Animals > . . . > > (4) “Neglect” means: > (A) endangering an animal’s health by failing to provide or arrange to provide the animal with food or drink, if the animal is dependent upon the person for the provision of food or drink; > (B) restraining an animal for more than a brief period in a manner that endangers the animal’s life or health by the use of a rope, chain, or tether that: > (i) is less than three (3) times the length of the animal; > (ii) is too heavy to permit the animal to move freely; or > (iii) causes the animal to choke; > (C) restraining an animal in a manner that seriously endangers the animal’s life or health; > (D) failing to: > (i) provide reasonable care for; or > (ii) seek veterinary care for; > an injury or illness to a dog or cat that seriously endangers the life or health of the dog or cat; or > (E) leaving a dog or cat outside and exposed to: > (i) excessive heat without providing the animal with a means of shade from the heat; or > (ii) excessive cold if the animal is not provided with straw or another means of protection from the cold; > regardless of whether the animal is restrained or kept in a kennel. > > . . . > > **IC 35-46-3-7 > Abandonment or neglect of vertebrate animals; defense** > Sec. 7. (a) A person who: > (1) has a vertebrate animal in the person’s custody; and > (2) recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally abandons or neglects the animal; > commits cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor. However, except for a conviction under section 1 of this chapter, the offense is a Class D felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction under this chapter. > [@](#): > > [http://www.boston.com/yourlife/articles/2007/09/06/willful\_abandonment/](http://www.boston.com/yourlife/articles/2007/09/06/willful_abandonment/) > > Tom Flanagan, a longtime Boston police officer who is now an investigator for the Animal Rescue League of Boston, teaches animal control officers around the state to follow through on **calls about neglected pets because they may prove to be a sort of canary in the domestic coal mine.** > > **"People leave dogs outside, it never goes into the house, totally unsocialized. So many times you knock on the door, develop a rapport, and find out there are other things going on** that don’t lead to a good lifestyle," Flanagan said. "The more that we dug into these things, the more we found other things – **senior abuse, child abuse, so many of these things are intertwined."** This organization may be able to help you, as well. > **[FIDO Indy - Helping Outside Dogs in Indianapolis](https://fidoindy.org/)** > > FIDO Indy (Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside) is dedicated to enhancing the lives of outside dogs in Indianapolis through education, resources, and direct assistance. Join us in making a difference. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/22 "2009-09-12T22:29:35Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > I > 2) We called the police, they came out, didn’t see anything and nothing changed. Except the evil dog neighbors installed spot-lights focused on my bedroom and blasted music til midnight every night. Spotlights? Really? Doesn’t that violate some kind of harassment law? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/23 "2009-09-12T22:45:08Z")
You might consider keeping your cat inside. No telling what the sum’bitches will do if they can catch the cat. Best of luck - These are very scary situations, even worse when it’s your home and safety involved. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/24 "2009-09-12T23:51:19Z")
Do you own the house? If not you need to move ASAP. When you try to fight with psychos it’s usually not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/25 "2009-09-13T00:03:57Z")
I live in the same town as **Indygrrl** , and the last few times I’ve tried animal control, they’ve been less than useless. I was once told that they couldn’t be bothered to come get a stray dog unless I caught it myself an then called to have them come pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/26 "2009-09-13T00:07:55Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Spotlights? Really? Doesn’t that violate some kind of harassment law? Wow. I have a dusk to dawn light pointed at my drunk methhead neighbors’ bedroom window. Unless they could somehow prove I put it there just to fuck with them, which I did, they can’t do shit. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/27 "2009-09-13T00:10:31Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > The reaction of **Indygrrl’s** neighbors is an answer to the question someone always raises in “obnoxious neighbor” threads: “Why don’t you just go over and ask them to keep it down?” > > _ **Because people who are clueless noisy idiots stand a very good chance of also being psychotic borderline personality disorder shitheads,** _ that’s why. BM. No shit, and A-fucking-men! Does anyone seriously think anyone so self-absorbed as to blast 100+ dB music at 2:00 in the AM is in any way approaching an approximate definition of reasonable? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/28 "2009-09-13T00:12:52Z")
Do you own a gun? If not, and you plan on continuing to live in this hellish neighborhood, buy one. And keep calling the cops, repeatedly. The police are going to get tired of being called out there and will eventually do something so they can go back to not being bothered to doing anything they deem so trivial. Don’t back down from these people. Showing weakness is how they will continue to harass you because they will think they can continue to get away with it. Seriously, why would anyone have a problem with a neighbor telling them their dogs were in their yard and being a nuisance unless they were psychotic? Buy a gun. Use it if you have to. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/29 "2009-09-13T05:27:27Z")
If you can’t move out of your home (which, although crappy, does sound like your best option)…can you afford to put up a fence around your back yard? If your neighbors won’t fence their dogs in, you can fence them out. As for the solicitors…yeesh! I wonder why, in a neighborhood full of awful, screamy people, solicitors would keep coming back wanting to knock on their doors. If I was selling stuff, I’d want to go to the neighborhood where everyone is quiet and too polite to say “no” - not where nasty dogs are running loose and people are being flipped off in the street! ---
**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:** [September 13, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/30 "2009-09-13T05:48:10Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > I have a dusk to dawn light pointed at my drunk methhead neighbors’ bedroom window. Unless they could somehow prove I put it there just to fuck with them, which I did, they can’t do shit. Why? ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/31 "2009-09-13T06:00:54Z")
Move. Move. Move. Move! Life is way too short to have to deal with the hell that is bad (and possibly dangerous) neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/32 "2009-09-13T06:59:43Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Why? Long story involving their drug dealing in the middle of the night, getting drunk and breaking the fence that separates our yards, losing a crack rock in their mother’s yard and looking for it with flashlights at 3 AM, loud parties, constant banging/clanging/sawing from their back yard at all hours, blasting the Christian radio station as loud as they can on Sunday afternoons, throwing shit at my dog, yelling at my dog, calling the cops on my dog, accusing me of abusing and neglecting my dog, screaming and cursing at me so loudly that a neighbor _from another block_ marched right down my driveway and screamed at her to STFU, throwing trash and rotten food in my yard, and trimming their trees and throwing the branches in my yard, and pouring weed killer in my yard. I could list more, but thinking about it gets me angry and I’m trying to be cool. The worst I’ve done to them in retaliation is that light, so before you defend them, consider them lucky instead. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/33 "2009-09-13T07:05:26Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > Long story involving their drug dealing in the middle of the night, getting drunk and breaking the fence that separates our yards, losing a crack rock in their mother’s yard and looking for it with flashlights at 3 AM, loud parties, constant banging/clanging/sawing from their back yard at all hours, blasting the Christian radio station as loud as they can on Sunday afternoons, throwing shit at my dog, yelling at my dog, calling the cops on my dog, accusing me of abusing and neglecting my dog, screaming and cursing at me so loudly that a neighbor _from another block_ marched right down my driveway and screamed at her to STFU, throwing trash and rotten food in my yard, and trimming their trees and throwing the branches in my yard, and pouring weed killer in my yard. I could list more, but thinking about it gets me angry and I’m trying to be cool. The worst I’ve done to them in retaliation is that light, so before you defend them, consider them lucky instead. Holy heck. Aside from the stuff they didn’t deliberately do to you, why did they start this campaign against you?? Did they really hate your poor dog that much? ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/34 "2009-09-13T07:13:25Z")
> [@supergoose](#): > > Holy heck. Aside from the stuff they didn’t deliberately do to you, why did they start this campaign against you?? Did they really hate your poor dog that much? Because they are a bunch of drunk unclefuckers. Who knows? I didn’t do anything to them. They were on good terms with my aunts who lived here before me AFAIK. And since I own the house, and they own theirs and the one across the street from it, nobody’s moving anywhere. My hope is to one day put up a privacy fence so I never have to see them again. And maybe to start a wind chime collection in the tree nearest to their house. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/35 "2009-09-13T07:24:44Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > I have a dusk to dawn light pointed at my drunk methhead neighbors’ bedroom window. Unless they could somehow prove I put it there just to fuck with them, which I did, they can’t do shit. They can now 😛 ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/36 "2009-09-13T08:21:10Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > They can now 😛 What, you gonna print this thread and mail it to them? I guarantee they’ll be too fucked up to read it. If they know how to read, that is. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/37 "2009-09-13T14:07:42Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Spotlights? Really? Doesn’t that violate some kind of harassment law? Wow. Yes, actually it did. They were forced to take them down. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/38 "2009-09-13T19:51:55Z")
Paper work wins. Call the cops over and over. Document as much as possible. Keep a log. It gets away from the he said ,she said. Take digicam photos every time their dog strays. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725/39 "2009-09-13T21:19:32Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Do you own a gun? If not, and you plan on continuing to live in this hellish neighborhood, buy one. And keep calling the cops, repeatedly. The police are going to get tired of being called out there and will eventually do something so they can go back to not being bothered to doing anything they deem so trivial. > > Don’t back down from these people. Showing weakness is how they will continue to harass you because they will think they can continue to get away with it. > > Seriously, why would anyone have a problem with a neighbor telling them their dogs were in their yard and being a nuisance unless they were psychotic? Buy a gun. Use it if you have to. Despite this story, my neighborhood isn’t hellish at all. I’ve lived here in relative peace for over three years. It’s a quiet street where the yards are kept up and people wave in passing. Before all of this, I haven’t had any problems that aren’t a normal part of living in a neighborhood. I don’t own a gun, and I’m frankly terrified to have one in the house. I have an autistic 13-year-old who can get into just about anything. For a gun to be handy, it would have to be in a place where it would be a danger to her. And I don’t plan to move over this. It just isn’t a realistic option, plus I love my house and yard and gardens, etc. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let a couple of nuts run me off. Surely others on here don’t move every time they have a problem with a neighbor, especially with the housing market the way it is right now. My hope is that all of this will cool down and things will go back to normal. Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t think they are going to come onto my property and harm me. I will certainly call the police if anything else happens, and I plan to make good on my promise to call Animal Control if the dogs are in my yard again. I’m also double checking my locks and window coverings, and I’ll be paying close attention to anyone who comes near my property. I’m also keeping my outdoor cat in the house as much as I can (much to his dismay). Other than these things, I don’t know what else to do right now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-problem-from-hell-and-dogs-barking-all-the-while/509725.md?page=1)