Writing a letter to a dog owner?

[mygirlmaggie]

I'm trying to come up with a way to write a nice but to the point letter for one of my neighbors. We just moved and we have a neighbor who doesn't like to tie up their dog. Well from talking around with different people they've tried different things and no one will do anything because she's related to someone on the board. So they won't enforce it due to the family thing. Well I'm tired of it coming in my yard and marking all over and pooping huge piles. I've chased it off but it just comes back at a different time. It runs down the road all over many people's property. I can't ride horse or even walk my own dog because it's pretty aggressive. Just walking down to get my mail it seen me yesterday with my dog and started approaching slowly growling and barking. I had to head back home to avoid confrontation with my dog as she won't tolerate rude dogs. And being a pit bull she would have been the one with the fingers pointed at her even though she was on a leash and controlled. I have seen the looks around here already. I just want to try writing a letter to show my frustration and hope maybe they will get the hint that way. If the letter doesn't work I'm going to contact the sherriff's department. I just would like some ideas of a way to write the letter to get the point across but not make it threatening or nasty I guess. I don't mind being nasty and rude about it but don't think that would work really. Any ideas or info would be helpful!

[FredRock]

I'd go straight to the Sherriffs office, myself. If there is a leash law and she's breaking it she needs to be punished, whether the HA board wants to do something or not. It's dangerous for the community because the dog could run into the road, bite someone, start fights with other dogs, etc.

Writing a letter will get you involved personally in the matter. Going to the Sherriff's office keeps it objective because it's the law.

[miatapony]

OK so you have a HOA yes ? then dont say a word to the person .. just call animal control .. and every time you see the loose dog call the HOA and i mean every time. i had to with a dog and an elderly person in my HOA because she was walking her dog into my front yard and letting her dog poop I'm my front yard. i would take a pic of it and fax it to the HOA too every time... then i started calling the animal control.. do not say anything to them because that gives them the evil eye at you ...

[cowgirlup@idaho]

I agree with Miatapony, write your letter to the HOA, and relate your experiences thus far with the dog, then start taking pictures each time and send them to the HOA.

[saddlebum]

It doesn't sound like the owner would respond well to a letter. I'd call animal control and call them on a regular basis until the problem is solved. If people are afraid because of someone's connections to the HOA board..........sounds like you guys need a new board.

[vicklynn]

Ya, forget the owner, go directly over their heads.

[dame_wolf]

Ya, forget the owner, go directly over their heads.

Exactly! My sister lives on a street where there are 2 very agressive dogs. Problem is they are owned by the Chief of Police's cousin! One day she and her friend were walking the babies down the street and one of the dogs ran out and bit her friend. The owners didn't care cause who was gonna say anything? They ended up writing to the city officials and complaining to them since the police wouldn't do anything. I personally would have shot the damn dog! Could have been one of the kids/babies that was bit!

Good luck!

[Remali]

I agree..... call the animal control people and report the dog and the owner.

[miatapony]

KEEP on the HOA ... everyday call if you have too ... and call animal controll too everyday... yup i mean everyday .. then go to the next meeting you have and bring it to the attion of the meeting guys .. with pics of the dog lose... that way you have the proof to back you up ... and i would also VOTE in new PEOPLE for your HOA......

[FredRock]

and call animal controll too everyday... yup i mean everyday

We call people that call in to animal control/SPCA about the same problem every day psycho callers. Please don't be one of them. Call when you see the dog running loose. Now if that's every day, then so be it. But don't just call in every day. If they tell you that response time is 2-3 days, calling in the day after you called isn't going to change anything.

You can help them by telling them the times that the dog is loose outside, too. If they stop by and there's no loose dog, there's nothing they can do for you. No loose dog=no breaking of the law.

[miatapony]

that is what i meant ..if the dog is out every day call every day.. if the dog isnt out then dont call. i dont care if they think im psycho caller if this dog is going to get mine or me hurt then im calling.

[YAorNEIGH]

We call people that call in to animal control/SPCA about the same problem every day psycho callers. Please don't be one of them. Call when you see the dog running loose. Now if that's every day, then so be it. But don't just call in every day. If they tell you that response time is 2-3 days, calling in the day after you called isn't going to change anything.

GREAT advice. I also think that the police should be directly involved with this if there is indeed a leash law being broken.