Neighbor Animal Disputes

27 Jul Neighbor Animal Disputes

Pets are supposed to bring peace and joy to our lives. The problem is that the same pet that you love with all of your heart can also trigger a major dispute between you and your neighbors. The most common issues behind neighbor animal disputes are barking dogs, animal waste getting deposited in the wrong yard, and property damage.

If you’re a pet owner, you owe it to yourself, your pet, and your neighbor to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

Communication is Important

One of the main reasons neighbor animal disputes break out is the result of a lack of communication between neighbors. The animal owner doesn’t know that there is a problem because their neighbor hasn’t told them. Meanwhile, the neighbor is silently getting increasingly agitated over whatever issue the animal presents.

As a pet owner, it’s a good idea to periodically check in with your neighbor and ask if there is anything you can do to make their life easier. This provides them with an opportunity to discuss any problems they’re having with your pets.

Don’t get defensive or stop listening. Not only do you have to pay attention to what they’re saying, but you should also discuss viable options about how to resolve the matter. 

Try to Resolve the Matter

Showing that you’re making a genuine effort to resolve the issue that is irritating your pet goes a long way towards easing hostility. The problem is that some issues are harder to resolve than others.

If your neighbor is frustrated because your dog is constantly coming onto their yard, you need to do everything you can to limit them to your yard. Remember, in this case, your neighbor is in the right. Technically your dog is supposed to be on a leash whenever they’re not on your property. Easy ways to resolve this particular issue is keeping your dog on a leash or creating a fenced-in area.

If your neighbor sustained property damage as a result of your dog’s actions, you should quickly offer to reimburse them. The quick agreement to handle the issue decreases the odds of your neighbors reporting you to the local authorities for violating local leash laws.

Barking dogs are a harder issue to resolve. The first step is trying to figure out what your dog is barking at and removing the stimulus. If that doesn’t work, you’ll want to seek out the help of a good pet behaviorist/trainer.

The sooner you resolve the neighbor animal disputes, the sooner you’ll find life in your neighborhood enjoyable.