LifeHappens
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? New York
I live in the country on 1.5 acres, same as my neighbor next door in Western NY. Whenever I go outside, their dog barks at me non stop until I go back inside the house (the dog also comes onto my property whenever they let the poor thing off of it's leash, it also chases my 15-year old cat). I waited for 2 months to see if they would do anything about it. Nothing happened. I have asked them many times in the past 5 or 6 weeks -- in a nice tone of voice and in a friendly way -- if they could please do something about the constant barking. They said they would but they haven't. I offered a solution (suggested by my other next door neighbors because it annoys them too) to move the dog and dog house behind their house so that they still have a watch dog and the dog won't bark at me when I'm in my own yard (their house would block the dog's view of me in my backyard). Nothing happened.
I didn't want it to come to this, but tonight we had a screaming match. Despite my careful attempts, she got defensive because I told her that I have asked nicely, repeatedly to keep the dog off of my property and to do something about the dog constantly barking at me when I'm in my own backyard. She said she hopes her dog barks all the time (it already does whenever I'm outside) -- that if I said anything that they (meaning the authorities) would do nothing about it anyway.
I did not want to come to bad terms with my neighbors but I feel that they have left me no option if I want peace and quiet (within reason) in my own backyard. I actually feel sorry for the dog -- they keep it chained up 99% of the time and don't do anything with it. I'm sure it is barking for attention more than anything. I tried to explain to her to teach the dog to no avail.
I have been a good neighbor to them since they moved in over a year ago. I am nice and welcomed them to the nieghborhood and I mind my own business. I just want the same in return. Being a blue collar, single person, I financially can't afford a fence or planting a hedge right now, much less legal counsel.
What can I do that I haven't tried already? What legal options do I have? I would sincerely appreciate any advice that you can give. Thank You.
I live in the country on 1.5 acres, same as my neighbor next door in Western NY. Whenever I go outside, their dog barks at me non stop until I go back inside the house (the dog also comes onto my property whenever they let the poor thing off of it's leash, it also chases my 15-year old cat). I waited for 2 months to see if they would do anything about it. Nothing happened. I have asked them many times in the past 5 or 6 weeks -- in a nice tone of voice and in a friendly way -- if they could please do something about the constant barking. They said they would but they haven't. I offered a solution (suggested by my other next door neighbors because it annoys them too) to move the dog and dog house behind their house so that they still have a watch dog and the dog won't bark at me when I'm in my own yard (their house would block the dog's view of me in my backyard). Nothing happened.
I didn't want it to come to this, but tonight we had a screaming match. Despite my careful attempts, she got defensive because I told her that I have asked nicely, repeatedly to keep the dog off of my property and to do something about the dog constantly barking at me when I'm in my own backyard. She said she hopes her dog barks all the time (it already does whenever I'm outside) -- that if I said anything that they (meaning the authorities) would do nothing about it anyway.
I did not want to come to bad terms with my neighbors but I feel that they have left me no option if I want peace and quiet (within reason) in my own backyard. I actually feel sorry for the dog -- they keep it chained up 99% of the time and don't do anything with it. I'm sure it is barking for attention more than anything. I tried to explain to her to teach the dog to no avail.
I have been a good neighbor to them since they moved in over a year ago. I am nice and welcomed them to the nieghborhood and I mind my own business. I just want the same in return. Being a blue collar, single person, I financially can't afford a fence or planting a hedge right now, much less legal counsel.
What can I do that I haven't tried already? What legal options do I have? I would sincerely appreciate any advice that you can give. Thank You.