Our Wits End

[Meshell589]

What is the name of your state? Ohio

Last Sept. my son was attacked by dogs that had escaped their owner's home. The woman that rescued him lives next door to the dog owners. My son's injuries weren't severe, but both legs are badly scarred and received several stitches. We're pursuing a claim for his medical bills.

After the attack, the dog owners were arraigned for failure to control and then instructed to destroy the offending animal. The woman that rescued my son wrote a letter to the judge expressing her concerns with the viscious animals and the letter was read aloud in court. Consequently, "war" was declared on her by the dog owners and she's been verbally harassed as well as vandalized and forced to entertain Child Services visits due to anonymous calls. Her tires have been slashed, and the boys (her son and mine are best friends) have been verbally accosted by these individuals while walking in the neighborhood.

Although I'm a comfortable street away, this lady...who did nothing but save a kid from getting killed....is being terrorized on a regular basis. She's a single mother who lives alone with her little boy. We've called the police on EVERY measure to no avail. She contacted legal aid, and was advised that beyond a protection order there was no legal recourse to stop the harassment.

Does anyone here have any other advice? The dog owners have clearly demonstrated their unwillingness to be rational and she is very frightened. Moving of course...is the next step, although neither of us feel she should have to move. Any suggestions?

[stephenk]

" She contacted legal aid, and was advised that beyond a protection order there was no legal recourse to stop the harassment."

Did she follow their advice? If no, why not?

[Meshell589]

She received this advice yesterday, and is considering the protection order. She is, however, frightened that the protection order will only refresh her neighbor's hostility and escalate the situation. She has misgivings about how much protection the order could possibly offer given that their homes are ten feet apart. They've gotten away with every offense so far and she sees no reason why they won't skate on any future offenses -order or no order. Between the two of us, we've involved the police 6 times since September. No one can prove the dog owners are responsible for the tires, or the calls to child services and all verbal altercations come down to our word against theirs. I'm trying to convince her to pursue the protection order, but I completely understand why she might feel it's a futile effort. In the meantime she's focused on trying to get their harassment recorded by setting up a home security system. No easy task considering the tire incident set her back financially as well as missing work to meet with the social worker. It's truly beginning to look like one of those Lifetime movie scenarios where harassment has to go way too far before the law intervenes.