What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
Adopted dog from shelter in our town 6 mos ago. Behavior tested and is good with other animals and children. Now that the weather is warmer, our neighbor's mother sits outside on the 2nd fl balconey. 3 wks ago, the neighbor said to my son when he was in the yard with dog, can you have your dog not bark when we come outside. My mother is afraid of dogs. She was sitting on the balconey. My son said well, he's a dog. It's how he says hello when he hears someone come out. 2 wks ago I received a letter from the township that a complaint had been filed that our dog was running around the neighborhood off leash. Tuesday, I received a letter from the board of health that our neighbor filed a complaint that we are throwing feces over the fence. At that point I called the township. Lo and behold the shelter director receives my call, remembers our dog, etc. Says she will speak with them today in an attempt to stop the false allegations.
11:30 this morning, my fiance and son get home from the vet, my son trips and falls at the base of our front steps. The leash didn't leave his hand, he gets up, goes in the house and says thank heaven the dog didn't bark because the neighbor's mom was outside in their front yard. 8:00 tonight the police park and go next door, then came to our house to take a statement (my fiance works 3-11; I was at a meeting) from my son as the neighbor filed a complaint that our dog tried to attack her. My son provided my fiance's name and number as the dog owner. Then he outlined the trip and fall, showed the leash, said he was shelter tested, etc. The cop says-come on, tell me the truth. My son advises he is telling the truth, points out that our dog is laying on his blanket chewing a bone, that the dog did not step foot off of our property. Cop says he is just taking statements and that animal control would be by for a visit.
Clearly these people are trying to cause problems due to the mother's fear of dogs. There is no action that can be taken against us as he has done nothing wrong and certainly I'm not throwing feces over the fence. If this nonsense continues, can I file a complaint for them filing false reports? Harrassment? Anything that would make them think twice before filing another false complaint? Any suggestions for managing this would be appreciated.
Adopted dog from shelter in our town 6 mos ago. Behavior tested and is good with other animals and children. Now that the weather is warmer, our neighbor's mother sits outside on the 2nd fl balconey. 3 wks ago, the neighbor said to my son when he was in the yard with dog, can you have your dog not bark when we come outside. My mother is afraid of dogs. She was sitting on the balconey. My son said well, he's a dog. It's how he says hello when he hears someone come out. 2 wks ago I received a letter from the township that a complaint had been filed that our dog was running around the neighborhood off leash. Tuesday, I received a letter from the board of health that our neighbor filed a complaint that we are throwing feces over the fence. At that point I called the township. Lo and behold the shelter director receives my call, remembers our dog, etc. Says she will speak with them today in an attempt to stop the false allegations.
11:30 this morning, my fiance and son get home from the vet, my son trips and falls at the base of our front steps. The leash didn't leave his hand, he gets up, goes in the house and says thank heaven the dog didn't bark because the neighbor's mom was outside in their front yard. 8:00 tonight the police park and go next door, then came to our house to take a statement (my fiance works 3-11; I was at a meeting) from my son as the neighbor filed a complaint that our dog tried to attack her. My son provided my fiance's name and number as the dog owner. Then he outlined the trip and fall, showed the leash, said he was shelter tested, etc. The cop says-come on, tell me the truth. My son advises he is telling the truth, points out that our dog is laying on his blanket chewing a bone, that the dog did not step foot off of our property. Cop says he is just taking statements and that animal control would be by for a visit.
Clearly these people are trying to cause problems due to the mother's fear of dogs. There is no action that can be taken against us as he has done nothing wrong and certainly I'm not throwing feces over the fence. If this nonsense continues, can I file a complaint for them filing false reports? Harrassment? Anything that would make them think twice before filing another false complaint? Any suggestions for managing this would be appreciated.
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