A poster on one of my PB forums is experiencing issues with their neighbors children:

Our next door neighbors have a stack of cinder blocks right next to our privacy fence. Their son, his cousin, and a friend (ages 7-10 yrs old) have been entertaining themselves by teasing our dogs. A couple of weeks ago I heard the dogs barking, and when I got out back I see the kids standing on the stack of blocks, hanging over our fence, yelling at the dogs, and swinging sticks at them.

A discussion with the parents was attemped:

I had a talk with the neighbors. They don't really seem concerned. This has happened a couple of other times since then.

The most recent incident:

I had just gotten home from work, and let the dogs out in the back yard. I went outside with them. Next thing I know the kids are at it again. They are hanging over the fence, yelling and whistling at the dogs, and banging on the fence. One dog completely cleared the top of the fence, the second made it to the top, and the third is not too far off. I yelled for the dogs to "ause", which they did. But the kids just kept taunting them. When confronted all three of the kids stood there and swore that they weren't messing with the dogs, they were just watching them. WOW! I was standing there watching them the whole time.


The concern is the dogs are PBs and if a child gets bit...well it will be another viscous PB attack. Booby trapping the fence is illegal in St Petersburg, Fl.

My question, other than filming what is going on what can legally be done? What might be done from a safety perspective, other than not let the dogs out unattended. Any suggestions are welcome.

Get em on video. Your state should have a law in place that prohibits malicious teasing of animals. If not, electric fence wire across the top of the fence to "keep your Pb's from jumping over and hurting anyone as any responsible dog owner would do" should stop the little buggers.

Howard

 Quote: Valerie Tietz-Kelly

My question, other than filming what is going on what can legally be done?

That would be my first action, too, just as Howard said.

Photos are better than nothing while video is being arranged.

JMO.

Even if you don't bring a filmed taunting to your local authorities at least it would help to cover your own --- if something were to happen.

I don't know how Florida is but in Michigan you need proof. Video is the best.

On the other hand I've always had better results dealing directly with other peoples annoying children. Perhaps a lawn sprinkler stragtegically placed to water your grass, then again, I'll throw sticks back (although I would never recommend someone else do this)! The way I see it kids are allot like dogs. They'll do whatever they feel like until challenged back. Then they'll look for an easier place to wreak thir havoc. My current problem is with Mailbox baseball. The only way the cops will do anything is with photos. Luckily the last group managed to leave their mom's truck in the ditch while plowing my post. Mailbox popped off and struck the windshield spider webbing it. Sure is frustrating because they have more rights to do harm than we do to stop them.

Valerie, how did the poster "confront" the kids? It seems people normally think they have no authority over others' kids even when the kids are messing with their property. She may have been somewhat docile, or asked a question like "are you teasing my dogs", to which they replied "no". That doesn't work. What I do is COMMAND the kids to stop looking over the fence, stop teasing the dogs, stop waving sticks at the dogs, whatever it is they're doing, that's what I address. In a firm and authoritative voice, no messing around or being meek. It works. If the offense is big enough, which it seems it is in her case, I would also threaten to call the police..."Stop (whatever, insert here), or I'll call the police. That works too. If they do it again, follow through and call the police. I don't tolerate bratty kids, especially dog teasers, and most especially not teasers of my dog.

No messing around, no being meek. And videos or pictures can be shown to the cops when they arrive. But if she doesn't have any before she calls the cops, call anyway.

It pisses me off how parents raise their kids to not have any respect for other people's property. So if the parents aren't concerned, doesn't mean they can't be made to have concern. Cops showing up at the door helps with that.

Eric maby I missed something you actually throw sticks atkids
All I can say is those kids must really be cut throat kids
for a grown man to resort to such nonsence
Maby you should be a man and talk to their parents
and dont even get me started on the kid \dog comment
Idont know where you are from but if you lived by me and
spoke off key to my child much less threw something his way
I would kick your inmature thoughtless ass, no wonder the kids baseball your mailbox sounds like you deserve it

just an oppinion from a dad and ill leave it at that

Hi,

Easiest thing to do is to get the kids on tape, talk to the parents and go to your local police station to get it on file that this is happening to your dogs (just in case something should happen). Another thing to do is to install a second fence away from the property line fence to keep the dogs back a bit further so the kids don't have easy access to taunt them.

Kimberly

Valerie try to get the poster to talk to the parents,
once may not be enough,it may take a couple visits ,some
people will jump through hoops to resolve a situation
when there confronted in the right manner,even if that manner
is a visit from the poster with the video and a mention of litigation or something to that effect

The OP already mentioned that she talked tot he parents. I imagine she got the typical, "my kids would never do that!" response. Get 'em on tape and press charges against the parents for destruction to property.

As far as the baseball goes, the parents of a friend of mine had the same problem. After three or four boxes were destroyed his old man filled the next one with cement and placed it at the post when dry... hmm never happened anywhere on his street again..??