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Dear Aunty Pam,

 

We recently moved into the area and just love it. My husband and I have always wanted to live near the mountains and enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle. We also enjoy being a part of the community and have made some very nice friends

Our problem is with a neighbor two doors down. This couple has two big dogs that they let roam all over the place. The dogs have come repeatedly into our yard, defecated and have aggressively challenged our dog, which is much smaller. I dislike being forced into an altercation with a neighbor, especially having just moved in, but I went over and, as nicely as I could, explained what had happened. The woman pretty much just dismissed me and said, “Oh, they go ‘visit’ everybody in the neighborhood and everybody likes them. It’s just that you’re new here and they don’t know you yet.” When I said that might be the case, but I’m having to clean up after them and they frightened my dog, she said, ‘Well, I’ll try to keep them from coming over.’

It’s been 2 weeks and the dogs keep coming back every day. My husband said we should just call animal control, but I hate to do that. I’ve already gotten wind that we’ve been seen as newcomers trying to change things around here and I don’t want things to escalate. I also don’t want to keep stepping in her dogs’ poop.

What can we do??

 

Signed,

Newcomer

 

Dear Newcomer,

 

You may be asking the wrong newspaper columnist as Aunty Pam has NO patience for this sort of thing.

Look, everyone’s dog may stray from an unfenced yard now and then, but to be regularly showing up on your property, copping a squat and threatening your dog? That’s simply unacceptable. Plus it’s extremely irresponsible of your neighbors as it’s only a matter of time before they get hit by a car or a Fed Ex truck.

If you want to be uber diplomatic and not make waves, the best scenario is to fence in your own front yard. That’s not cheap but it does protect both your dog and your lawn. Otherwise, have one more chat with your neighbor and be quite frank with her. Perhaps pick up all the smelly cigars the dogs leave in your yard and deposit them on her front step so she can see the multitude of grossness you are exposed to daily. If this doesn’t work, check your local leash laws (if they exist, but that’s another story—welcome to Cakkalakki) and if they do, call animal control. You can do this anonymously. It’s a little ridiculous you have to go through this when all it takes is basic common courtesy and responsibility from the dogs’ owners, but sadly, this can often be the case.

 

Cheers, dear!

Aunty Pam