Huber Ridge Area

We have lived here since early May of this year, and in this time I have noticed NUMEROUS times two large dogs wandering around free in my area (Mexico, Montevideo and Natalie Ct). I have two young children and there are also many other children in the neighborhood. These dogs, who may very well be friendly and harmless, frequently wander around my yard and others. They relieve themselves in my yard, sniff aorund, get my own dog (who is always restrained) excited and riled up and are a potential threat to my children playing in their own yard! One of these dogs is a Rottweiler, the other some sort of mixed breed -- also brown and black like a Rott. They are both well groomed and wear yellow collars with tags on them, so clearly they are owned and cared for....and yet are allowed to run free frequently.

About two weeks ago, after shooing them out of my yard for the umpteenth time, I followed these two dogs to their home and noted where they lived. I then called the Franklin County Dog Warden and asked them to please deal with the situation, as it is a constant problem. They said they would send someone out to talk to them. Since then, the dogs have been out THREE times. The third, I called again. The officer unfortunately didn't arrive at my home until I had left to go to an appointment, but he left a note stating that he'd been there but hadn't found the dogs.

Has anyone else had an issue with the same two dogs? I would be very interested in speaking to anyone else who has, in order to get the problem taken care of. The more voices who speak up, the more likely the problem will be taken care of. The dogs may be harmless, but I have no way of knowing this. All I know is that I am afraid to let my children play outside (even in my presence) for fear of them. And even if they are friendly and laid back, they still are a nuisance to me in that they leave piles of feces in my yard and get my dog upset as well!

This needs to be dealt with and I would love to speak to anyone else who has the same problem. maybe we can work together.

Thanks!

Dogs

Hi Dana,

You said that you know which residence is caring for the dogs. If Franklin County was unsuccessful in their attempt, you could try the police. We have a community resource officer who could talk to the dog owners - if he knows the address.

Let me know if I can help you further.

Neighborly thing to do.

What ever happened to going to the people who own the dog(s) and tell them about it. If you are unsuccessful after speaking with them, then by all means call the dog warden. By involving outside sources, cost are accrued this should not be the first course of action rather a later action.

re: going to neighbors

Call it fear, I guess? We had a similar situation in our previous home (a townhome where we shared one common yard area with 5 other families). We tried to be nice and go to our neighbors first about problems (blasting bass at 1 am, dogs running loose, kids hitting our walls with balls, etc.) and we were persecuted for it. We were harrassed by people, had our car keyed, had a drunk neighbor literally threaten me, and the final straw was having a dead fish (we lived by a pond) thrown at our door. At this point we involved the police.

I grew up in a world where you dealt with your neighbors directly and resolved issues that way, but in today's society it doesn't seem like that approach is taken well. In fact, you become a bit of a pariah. I guess I wary of starting out on that foot with new neighbors. We love our home and our neighborhood and we intend to be here for a long, long time. I am a bit gun-shy when it comes to the possibility of starting a fued or sorts with new neighbors. All we want is to live in peace.

Maybe I will take your advice and approach the neighbors myself, hoping for the best...

By Dana