What is the name of your state?Georgia
We moved to a new house in June 2003. We were very excited about the beautiful neighborhood.
We eagerly moved our children and best little furry friend, Pugsley, into our new home, with a fence. A great place for Pugsley … we thought. Well, recently we faced a tragedy that could and should have been avoided.
We have three wonderful children and one smart, obedient, friendly, and downright adorable Pekingese. Pugsley was our first “son.” He came into our lives seven years ago and has been through many trials and tribulations with us.
If you are an animal lover, you know where I am coming from. My neighbors, though, you see, are not much the animal-loving type. They have a dog - a poor, lonely, neglected dog.
When their puppy came bouncing in a few months ago, things became quite puppy like. We would walk out and find stray items on our steps, car seats and toys gnawed on, and destroyed decorations. But as dog lovers, we mentioned the mess making no fuss, assuming our wealthy neighbors would cease these incidents.
No! It only got worse.
Their poor dog, in search of attention, began getting into our fenced back yard with Pugsley. The lab puppy was growing rapidly and we were very much worried about Pugsley’s well-being and mentioned this issue many times. They assured us a fence was coming and the puppy would be at bay.
They did install some kind of faulty invisible shock fence, but this brought no resolution and the puppy was now strong enough to knock the slats out of our wooden fence. We informed them several times that their invisible fence wasn’t working - now worrying Pugsley might get out in the road.
Once again, we were assured of immediate action. We heard all the excuses: I am working on the fence. It will be taken care of by tomorrow. The batteries are low. No one was home. He broke out of the barrier. And many more. None of course ever helped to provide resolution.
Well, January 8th, just as we were leaving for a family outing, Tommy (my husband) went to tell Pugs bye and leave him a treat. Pugsley was gone. But the puppy was close by, with the slats in our fence pushed aside again.
We frantically searched. Tommy set out in the car and I - with our two boys in tow and our daughter waiting patiently in her carrier by the door - went around and around the house yelling and searching for our best friend. Our oldest son, only a preschooler, yelled right along with me. We both knew at any moment, Pugsley would come running right at us.
With no luck I headed back in to call Tommy. He answered, but couldn’t talk. He was not able to speak a word … but I knew. I knew. I ran out into our driveway and screamed my lungs out, while my husband picked his lifeless best friend up off Walnut Avenue.
We knew Pugsley was very dear to us, but we never imagined the grief his death would cause. This was the worst weekend ever. We are heartbroken - completely heartbroken.
As we search for a new playmate and a way to tell our preschooler about his dog, we wonder…where are the loyal, friendly, and respectful neighbors my parents and grandparents grew up with? I wonder, where have those true NEIGHBORS gone?
And how did we get stuck with ours?
we are seeking cost of damages including pet. we have sent two demand letters. one without date to be completed. 2nd (after no reply) with date and stating next actions (filing a claim).
immediately following incident they accepted blame and offered to buy new dog, but after a few days once we sent demand letter, no response.
we do have leash ordinances in our city. not always or even seldom enforced.
what are our chances? do we need a lawyer? what can i expect in court?
We moved to a new house in June 2003. We were very excited about the beautiful neighborhood.
We eagerly moved our children and best little furry friend, Pugsley, into our new home, with a fence. A great place for Pugsley … we thought. Well, recently we faced a tragedy that could and should have been avoided.
We have three wonderful children and one smart, obedient, friendly, and downright adorable Pekingese. Pugsley was our first “son.” He came into our lives seven years ago and has been through many trials and tribulations with us.
If you are an animal lover, you know where I am coming from. My neighbors, though, you see, are not much the animal-loving type. They have a dog - a poor, lonely, neglected dog.
When their puppy came bouncing in a few months ago, things became quite puppy like. We would walk out and find stray items on our steps, car seats and toys gnawed on, and destroyed decorations. But as dog lovers, we mentioned the mess making no fuss, assuming our wealthy neighbors would cease these incidents.
No! It only got worse.
Their poor dog, in search of attention, began getting into our fenced back yard with Pugsley. The lab puppy was growing rapidly and we were very much worried about Pugsley’s well-being and mentioned this issue many times. They assured us a fence was coming and the puppy would be at bay.
They did install some kind of faulty invisible shock fence, but this brought no resolution and the puppy was now strong enough to knock the slats out of our wooden fence. We informed them several times that their invisible fence wasn’t working - now worrying Pugsley might get out in the road.
Once again, we were assured of immediate action. We heard all the excuses: I am working on the fence. It will be taken care of by tomorrow. The batteries are low. No one was home. He broke out of the barrier. And many more. None of course ever helped to provide resolution.
Well, January 8th, just as we were leaving for a family outing, Tommy (my husband) went to tell Pugs bye and leave him a treat. Pugsley was gone. But the puppy was close by, with the slats in our fence pushed aside again.
We frantically searched. Tommy set out in the car and I - with our two boys in tow and our daughter waiting patiently in her carrier by the door - went around and around the house yelling and searching for our best friend. Our oldest son, only a preschooler, yelled right along with me. We both knew at any moment, Pugsley would come running right at us.
With no luck I headed back in to call Tommy. He answered, but couldn’t talk. He was not able to speak a word … but I knew. I knew. I ran out into our driveway and screamed my lungs out, while my husband picked his lifeless best friend up off Walnut Avenue.
We knew Pugsley was very dear to us, but we never imagined the grief his death would cause. This was the worst weekend ever. We are heartbroken - completely heartbroken.
As we search for a new playmate and a way to tell our preschooler about his dog, we wonder…where are the loyal, friendly, and respectful neighbors my parents and grandparents grew up with? I wonder, where have those true NEIGHBORS gone?
And how did we get stuck with ours?
we are seeking cost of damages including pet. we have sent two demand letters. one without date to be completed. 2nd (after no reply) with date and stating next actions (filing a claim).
immediately following incident they accepted blame and offered to buy new dog, but after a few days once we sent demand letter, no response.
we do have leash ordinances in our city. not always or even seldom enforced.
what are our chances? do we need a lawyer? what can i expect in court?
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