Need help stopping pet harassment by neighbor

[Rocky]

I own Huskies that are a very important part of my family. For some years now, I have been battling some serious health issues and these dogs have been more than therapeutic, they have been my best friends. Unfortunately, I live next door to a neighbor who hates our dogs, particularly since they are talkative, as all Huskies are.

For years now, he has bombarded us with complaints alleging that our dogs bark continuously (they always sleep inside with us and since I am disabled and work from home, they are indoors with me a good deal of the day) and that they are creating a health hazard by going to the bathroom (We pick up the droppings several 3-4 times a week). He even resorted to filing an animal abuse complaint against us which forced someone from the local animal control agency to come by and inspect our premises. They found absolutely no grounds for the allegation.

Basically, this is a hostile and disturbed individual that doesn't like animals and has decided to harass and intimidate us just for owning dogs he doesn't approve of. I am at my wits end here as this as gone on for YEARS. I am often afraid to even leave my animals outside unattended for any period of time, even though our yard is enclosed, for fear he will try to harm them, which he has threatened to do. We have found suspicious bones that seem to have tossed over the wall.

I have meticulously responded to each and every complaint filed and every time they tell me he has thew right to file such complaints even if they prove unfounded. I have pointed out that this is an obvious abuse of the system and no one seems to care or want to do anything about it. Because of my health problems I am not exactly flush with money to spend on surveillance cameras or an attorney, but at this point I need help desperately to protect my animals and stop this threatening abuse of the system in an attempt to deprive us from enjoying our animals.

Has anyone else encountered such harassment and do you have any specific suggestions about what I can do? I don't even know what kind of attorney I would need to seek out or what kind of action or lawsuit . Are there any animals agencies or advocate groups that could help me with this? I am desperate for help and the constant stress being created by his threats and intimidation tactics are taking a toll on my health (I have Lupus).

I would welcome any help or advice from anyone.

[Rocky]

Thanks, Kat.

[Rocky]

Thanks, Lexxis. I have talked to several attorneys now and I will share what I find out in the event it might help others in the future. Even the attorneys I spoke with so far said the best thing to do right now is obtain a surveillance system both for protecting my animals and for having hard evidence to counter his complaints. I truly appreciate that people have reached out to help me already. Animal lovers are just a better breed of people, I think :-)

[Nikki]

I hate to even say this but I would becareful of you neighbor..I have seen and read so many stories about the same thing and the endings are terribal..usually some sob of a neighbor has to shot the animals or do something to kill them. Its a shame that these people get away with it too.

[Rocky]

I am very worried this, Nikki, and the law seems to built to accommodate acts "after-the-fact," which, of course, is too late. I am doing every thing I can to protect them but I do wish their was better protection for this kind of harassment.

[Nikki]

Its the same thing with humans..wait til they kill someone then put them in jail..even though you know they are gonna do harm to someone they still wait til they kill. Sometimes going to the cops is pointless..it seems that they are no better..I have also read stories about cops killing dogs over nothing. In a way having animal control coming to your house alot is a good thing..it probably p*sses him off when they don't find anything and maybe the animal control will just tell this guy to stop calling. They probably get sick of him calling. They don't need that..there are other people out there that actually abuse their pets etc..they are the ones who need animal control.

[MooMoo17]

I'm sorry to hear about this. I would like to know why he had the right to complain all the time like that when it is not true what he is saying. And if he can't stand them that much why can't he just move or something. I think people like this just do it to be annoying.

[Rocky]

Having spoken with a lawyer now and numerous officials in both my city and county, I am being told that he has a right to file these complaints. The city allows him to file 4 complaints per year without substantiation and this is exactly what he has done for years now. He has never been able to get one other person to substantiate his claims and he would need a total of 4 for the city to actually take action. The county has it's own system which is similar. As for abuse charges, they have to send someone out to investigate every claim even if they are found to be unwarranted. I have explained to all of them that he is abusing the system to harass me, but this is simply the way the laws are set up and though they are often sympathetic, there is nothing they can do. It looks like my only legal recourse is to file an injunction, which would cost a great deal and wouldn't really stop him from harming my animals. It would just stop him from filing complaints. Hence, this might have the opposite effect and make him feel like attacking the animals is the best course. I may hire an attorney to send him a cease and desist letter, which doesn't cost as much as an injunction which could cost anywhere from $3k-20K depending on how much he contests.

I spoke to one obviously very honest attorney who told it would be better to first spend money on a surveillance system first so that 1) I can prove the dogs are not a nuisance, and 2) so I can watch the dogs when they are out and have hard evidence should he attack them as he has threatened to do. As for the complaints, as long as he has no substantiation, which he does not, I have been told the best thing is just to put up with it and hope that eventually the city or county will get fed up with it and ask him to stop even though they cannot demand that he stop.

It's a shame, really. I am fighting a serious health battle and my dogs are always at my side making me feel better. All I want is to be able to enjoy their companionship and feel safe, but now what I do most of the time is worry, which hasn't helped my health.

[Sharon Mistic]

If he has a right to file a complaint,then so do you!! A complaint about his false complaints!! And a Harassment Complaint!! I would!~

[Edda Bataan]

First of all I am so sorry that you have to endure such harassment for so long it is beyond my comprehension on how some humans if you call them that find nothing better to do than to complain about dogs and threaten to hurt them. I suggest that you first call the police and file a report that way if anything god forbid were ever to happen to you or your dogs it's on record and that neighbor would be the first to get hauled off. Second is this person or does this person live alone? Is he old and just mad? Do you have any family that lives near you or friends that can lean on himm eaning if he opens his fat mouth that they tell him to get a life that you are disabled and these dogs are your friends and it's your property and they can do and bark all they want .....I have encountered so many a__holes in my life too just walking my dog they come runnin gout to ask if I am picking up their poo day after day this crazy old lady came out with a broom and I asked her I am in no mood last I checked this is a free country and my dog can walk where he pleases so if you are really coming at my dog with that broom you had better be sure you are going to use it lady cause if your old enough to swing then you are opening the door to a whole new ballgame ....needless to say she never ever bothered my dog again. So in your situation not saying go after this guy but just alert everyone possible and if you can contact any attorney to just issue him a warning to stop harassing you and your dogs otherwise you will be liable to a suit maybe then he'll stop....Good lUck and I will pray for you.....

[Rocky]

He has actually physically assaulted me once and we did file a police report, but this hasn't stopped him from filing the complaints. It did stop him from verbalizing the threats, though. I may end up having to take a legal action, but I want to avoid the cost if at all possible, particularly since my health has impacted my earnings. My first priority is to protect them and I will do that to be best of my ability.

Maybe what is needed is a little activism on behalf of pet owners to pass laws against this kind of harassment through abuse of the system. You would think that after dozens of complaints with no substantiation he would be prevented from filing further complaints or at least fined. I know, for example, that if you have an alarm system where I live, once the police respond to 3 false alarms in a year, you are charged for all subsequent false alarms. I would like to see a system like this in place for people that harass pet owners because they don't like animals. If he were fined for these false complaints, I am sure he would stop.

[Nikki]

Edda I couldn't agree with you more on calling the police and filing a report..it might help or it might not but it won't help to try..and your right..at least the police or whoever has it on record. This might sound dumb but isn't there like a restraining order for pets..can't she get a PFA against him for herself and her dogs?

[Sharon Mistic]

I AGREE!! TOTALLY- Love your response! If he has a "right" to file a complaint,then so does she-HARRASSMENT