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[hide][/[hide]hide]Okay, so I watch the show on a regular basis, I have treat trained dogs (tisk tisk I know) However they are very obedient without the bribe of a treat in front of them. They are however two small little dogs. My fiance and I just moved out to a small town and are now living close to some friends that have 2 huskies. My concern is that since we have lived here their dogs have killed 3 cats after escaping from the yard. I know their dogs don\'t get enough exercise or attention they are left outside at all times since the arrival of their newest who is now 1 yr old. I have expressed my concern to them and their response is that it is the cat owners fault for leaving them outside. I don\'t know what else to do, I don\'t know if I can request at the end of my leash for somebody else or if they have to consent first so you know they want to put in the effort. Their dogs run away constantly and one has already been hit by a car. My concern is for my dogs (should they ever come face to face with theirs off leash) and for theirs aswell as it is only a matter of time until they either get killed by a car or put down by bylaw enforcement. Any ideas on how to approach the situation?[/hide]

Yikes. Keep your dogs safe. Cause it sounds like they will blame you if your dog becomes their dogs lunch.
I think they have to call show themselves//you kinda have to think you have a problem.....and they don't seem to think so.
Other peoples pets are the problem to them. Hmmm I wonder if they are popular in town.
Not sure how you can ask them to be more responsible with their dogs //it could end up probably in a fight between friends/
Other people with you can help get concerns across (2 or 3 is always better then 1)//not sure if the owners of bad dogs would appreciate that.
/Do they not believe in obedient dogs? I would be ashamed if (and I have had huge dogs) tore a cat apart. But they may listen if presented properly with no blaming//just the facts with solutions. Maybe a letter would work better.
I already don't like the owners.
I do not envy your situation. Good luck.

Not sure if this is an option in a "country setting" (it would definitely work in the city) ... call by-law ... take pics if you can, or a video camera of the dogs taking off ... with the date stamp if possible and present your evidence.

The other thing you can do ... be strong when you walk your dogs ... have your dogs ALWAYS on a leash around their property and while you're calm while walking your dogs, be alert.

From the sounds of it, they haven't bit people, so if you see one of them running towards (DO NOT PICK UP YOUR DOG!!! THIS WILL MAKE THEM BAIT) stand your ground in FRONT of your dogs (this lets your dogs know that you are going to take care of the situation) and block the other dog from getting near yours ...

Sounds confusing, and a little scary, but I have done this successfully with my dog (she's 85 pounds) and the funny thing, I'm "protecting" her from small dogs! Role reversal, and a little easier on my part, but works everytime.

The dogs are stunned that someone would have the audacity to stop them from what they are doing. You can't be yelling, screaming, freaking out or anything when you are "challenging" the dog, and don't have a staring contest with them ... but use your whole body as a dominant posture and let them know you mean business ...

Good luck,

marion

Wow that's scary. Just be very careful when walking your dogs near their property. Have you expressed your concerns to your friends? 'Hey guys, we love you but.. your dogs are psycho' lol.. Do they realize the seriousness of the issue, that they've got two canine serial killers living under their roof? And blaming the cat owners = D-E-N-I-A-L! lol.. Did the cat owners know it was the dogs that killed their pet? If so, I'm surprised the city hasn't stepped in. As Abby said, I'd check your city's by-laws and, even though they're friends, I'd report them. You're actually doing your friends a favour by doing this, as well as the neighbourhood - because if the city investigates them and acts on it, they'll have no choice but to deal with it. That'll get them off their de-Nile river barge pretty quick lol..

Report them to animal control. You can even call and speak to one of the officers, and explain the situation. They often act on anonymous complaints anyways so they would visit. By-law will require proof of a city license and vaccinations too. Your friends need to understand the seriousness of the situation- are they willing to lose their property due to a claim? Probably not. Eventually these dogs' nine-lives will run out. Maybe it will be a transport truck next time, or maybe a bigger more aggressive dog will defend itself and kill it. Who knows? But you are in a position to end it. You're in a tough spot, and we all feel for you. Keep us posted.

[hide]Ya the Bylaw officer of the town is WELL AWARE of the issues however is restrained with what they can actually do. They have already gone to court for one of the cats violent deaths, however the other two can\'t be prooved that it was them, the owners think that it may have been coyotes, however the dogs had gotten loose that night and came home with scratches and porcupine needles on one of their faces so there is not much doubt in my mind or in the owners mind that it was them. About my dogs they are always on leashes anyways but get very defensive around big dogs, my one dog has been attacked 3 times already and is lucky to be alive (by different dogs). We have opened the door to leave in the morning and found their dog laying at our door, so its not exactly avoidable. Its not even the dogs fault though and that is what is frustrating to me, they just are left to run wild.[/hide]

I can understand the bylaw officers not being able to do much about the cat's deaths (need more proof than just heresay) but what about the dogs roaming freely around the neighbourhood in the first place? Most provinces require that all dogs be on a leash unless they are at an off-leash park or in a fenced yard. When I was growing up, there was a pitbull cross that terrorized all the kids in the neighbourhood and the owners let this dog run free in front of their house. Bylaw officers picked that dog up several times and the owners had to pay a fairly hefty amount to spring the dog out of the pound. After the dogs are taken away a few times, I'm sure that the owners would get the picture. The owners can be issued fines as well for violating the local bylaws. If the officers in your area are not doing their job, take it higher. Contact the local police dept and launch a complaint. Speak to concerned neighbours as well and have them files complaints. Eventually the authorities will have to bend to pressure. It amazes me how irresponsible some pet owners are. And the ones that will pay for their actions will be the dogs when they are either run over or eventually put down

If the dogs are leaving their property (and you're finding them on yours) call the animal control then, if they are called enough about those particular dogs they will do something. Other peoples dogs are not allowed to camp on your porch, and you are well within your rights to have them removed; and if you friends are any sort of understanding they will realized that your dogs are not safe with theirs around.
Meaghan

I know of some people that have had a problem with thier neigbours dogs always onthe loose spreading garbage all over everywhere. with thier owners not having any control over these animlas at all. Now these are indoor/ outdoor dogs . Some of you might think this is mean but, it does get you point across and it fixed the problem instantly. What one person did was feed these dogs a nice pound of hamburger each mixed in with Exlax , it cured the dog problem right away.

Yes it is hard for the animal control people cause once the dog is back on its own property-they cannot go in and get--unless it has attacked a person and there is proof. You could call when on your property and get them picked up or give a ride to the dog pound. Hamburger and exlax-yep that is mean. But I understand. we had a very big dog ripping our garbage in back lane -as i watched him. I told the owners and they said "no way no how was it OUR dog" I said 'OO really -then I am mistaken and as long as its not your dog-I am going to shoot it next time I see it. They were shocked (my point got across) and said 'whoa" might be-could be our dog-- and promised to keep him home. p.s. I would never really shoot him. But they didn't know that.