I posted a while back I wanted to leave my house. I still want to leave. I live next door to people who seem to think it's okay to let their neurotic, lonely, neglected dog howl. I have lived next to these people for six years. They've been noisy after midnight before, but we've been okay with asking them to turn down the noise, and they've done as we've asked. They have this deck, high fence and other things for "privacy", and let their dog bark at us through the fence because it sees or hears people. They've developed their property and have maybe $75K or 16% equity in their plot. After six years. They have a newborn and seem to think they can manage being first-time parents and two large dogs without much room to exercise or attention to thrive. They've had at least one large dog since they've moved in, just to let you know that I don't hate dogs, nor had it in for the neighbors since day one. They had three dogs at one point, when they had a family renting beneath. That didn't bother me, because the dogs were quiet and happy and got exercise. Now they have two dogs, and the newer/younger one of them is seriously yappy/messed up/neurotic/lonely.
What I can tell you from the time my father lived with a woman who owns dogs -- dogs love exercise. They are happy when they are running, bounding, playing. They are not happy when they are howling at night or all through the weekend while their owners, who already are ignoring them because they have to adjust to parenthood, take off and leave them alone. So the dogs take their frustrations out on us, and I end up wondering if I bayoneted babies in a past life and am suffering torments now.
My spouse works all day at home. I had to work pretty much all yesterday, some of it from home. We have lived here nine years, on this street with other homeowners with dogs we've never had reason to complain about, because the homeowners and dog lovers are responsible, considerate people. I wanna blow my e-fund on fixing the garage door, landscaping, remodeling, and getting out. Having to leave my home of nine years in a bad selling environment because I have inconsiderate or irresponsible neighbors would suck. I'm not sure I can wait for them to go underwater on their house and get foreclosed upon, especially if they are too distracted to do anything about their dog. They've had an anonymous letter sent to them asking nicely to keep the dogs quiet during evening hours--our city has a noise ordinance effective from 10 pm to 7 am.
one of those icky cry for help posts
June 30th, 2008 at 09:28 am
June 30th, 2008 at 09:41 am
June 30th, 2008 at 11:03 am
June 30th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
We went through this with our neighbors growing up. I think they lived there next to us a good 15 years and we had a big party when they moved. (Hallelujah!!).
But they had something like TEN dogs they completely ignored on their 1/10 acre lot. & they just left them outside howling all day while they were at work - completely ignored them. The sheer # of dogs meant it was easy to complain and get results, but then they resorted to vandalizing our house and stuff. UGh! I just remember my parents going to arbitration with them and getting it all resolved. They were just pissed we were key in getting rid of their dogs.
IT improved for a while and then they moved - woohoo.
Dogs can be such a nuisance. & yeah, too bad there are 99 great pet owners for every one idiot dog owner, who gives the rest a bad name.
So yeah, I Feel your pain...
June 30th, 2008 at 03:40 pm
Good luck in getting this solved. Have you tried talking to them directly? If anonymous letters don't work, but they do cooperate when you ask them to turn down the music, maybe a good honest talk will do them some good.