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B!nd!
Lv 7
B!nd! asked in PetsDogs · 1 decade ago

What would you do in this situation?

This morning I woke up at about 6:30am to let the dogs out to the toilet, about 15-20 minutes later I have a knock at the door.

Its the police- who ask for me.

Apparently, my dog Nelson has jumped two fences to get to the Neighbours backyard, and has proceeded to kill their chooks- maybe 6-12 of them.

They have the dog in custody.

I ask them when he was supposed to have done this- because he cant jump the fence (he did for a bit- but only because he was using a pot to get over the fence- we moved the pot and he hasnt done it since) and they tell me it happened about an hour ago.

This puzzles me because I only let him out 20 mins ago. Check with the bf- nope- hes been inside all night. The only reason I got up was because he jumped off the bed.

I check the dogs in the backyard and they are both there. I have to show the police that both my dogs are here, and then they take down their details, and their registration numbers.

It wasnt Nelson. It couldnt have been. For starters- he is terrified of chickens- so he wouldnt actively seek them out, and besides- they have the dog that did it, and he was inside when it happened.

What irritates me is the fact that this neighbour knows us. He knows Nelson. He has met him several times, and we have talked at length about him. They own the local pet store- I was friends with the old owners and these people have screwed them around a bit as well.

He was certain that it was Nelson who committed the crime, and led the Police straight to my door.

What should I do now? Should I confront the neighbour and explain that it wasnt Nelson who killed his chooks?

Would the Neighbour be annoyed at me because "my dog" has killed his pets?

Should I get angry at sending the police over to my house at an hour when most people would still be asleep in bed?

I really dont want to be fighting with the Neighbours, seeing as we have only recently moved into the house...

What would you do?

10 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    Do Nothing...there is proof it wasn't your dog. They have the 'guilty' dog in custody and you have yours so you know it wasn't your dog! maybe the guilty dog looks like your dog and the neighbours got confused. there is no reason to confront them, maybe drop a short, sweet note in their letter box explaining the dog that the police caught is not your dog but you understand that the chook owners were distraught and made a genuine mistake. But don't confront them it is not worth the distress to you or them.

    Source(s): general knowledge
  • Wow, that's a tough one.

    Well, I wouldn't necessarily "confront" the neighbors, but I would go over and there and just let them know, for their information, that it was not Nelson who killed their chickens and you just wanted to clarify that when the event happened Nelson was in the house with you and your boyfriend and when the police arrived at your door Nelson was in the backyard and had not jumped the fence.

    Let them know nicely and politely and I would just tell them you wanted to explain because you didn't want them thinking that your dog killed their chickens.

    They were probably upset and distraught when they realize their poor chickens were dead and just thought of the closest person with dogs.

    Give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

    And if they act rudely or get confrontational with you, well them I'd just say "My dog didn't kill your chickens" and leave it at that. You're not in any legal trouble, so don't worry about it. You don't have to talk to them any further than that.

  • 1 decade ago

    IT COULD HAVE BEEN A CYOTOE OR RACOON. POINT THIS OUT IF ASKED AGAIN.

    IF THEY DO NOT HAVE PICS OR A WITNESS YOU ARE SAFE. THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO LEGALLY

    DO NOT TAKE IT FURTHER WITH THE NEIGHBOR OR THE POLICE UNLESS THEY COME TO YOU. YOU WILL COME OFF DEFENSIVE.

    GOING FORWARD SCAN YOUR YARD AND REALLY MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WAY THE KID CAN GET OUT. MAKE THE FENCE HIGHER OR MAKE A DOG RUN AREA THAT HAS A HIGH LOCKED FENCE IN THE YARD. ALWAYS CHECK ON THEM EVERY 10 MIN WHILE THEY ARE OUT. IF YOU CAN DO NOT LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE IF YOUR NOT HOME. THIS IS IMPORTANT THEY CAN TAKE THE KIDS AWAY FROM YOU I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE.GOOD LUCK LET ME KNOW. SORRY YOUR GOING THROUGH THIS.

  • 1 decade ago

    First of all, you need to prove to the police as well as the neighbors that your pet is harmless. You also need to provide evidence on what other dog could have possibly done that. Sit down your neighbors and talk to them very friendly like. Bring up the subject after a while and they should be more open. Tell them what dog it might have been.

  • 1 decade ago

    You should leave it alone if you're in no legal trouble. So what if you have a hasty neighbor? I have neighbors that I classify as 'classy drunks' and they let our dogs play, when my dog gets too rough because their dog grabs his collar and flings him around, im the horrible dog owner? Its sickening, I know. But as long as you know your dog can no longer get over that fence and hurt his chickens

    (not that he would, like you said), then you should have no remorse. You have the evidence, tell them to hook you up to a lie detector if it becomes too absurd.

    People are quick to point fingers if they can sue and get any money out of anything.

  • 1 decade ago

    I'd explain to the neighbor AND the cops that he can't get over the fence, and even if he could, he was inside the house when the event took place. Have your boyfriend vouch for that. Tell them he's afraid of chickens. Contact people you know that could vouch for you that your dog wouldn't kill chickens.

  • 1 decade ago

    It's not an easy question to answer. The best thing would probably ask the police to inform your neighbors that they have the dog in custody and that yours was not involved. I would not go over and confront them in person. That could lead to altercations and you don't want or need that.

  • 1 decade ago

    I wouldn't do anything but give them a very wide berth in future. I had neighbors like that and if you confront them about it, don't be surprised if you get more unexpected visitors.

    If they say anything to you about it, give them both barrels.

    For now i would let it rest, if they don't get a reaction they will move their focus onto someone else.

  • 1 decade ago

    I would definetly be mad that's like really wierd. That's mean. I would be mad. Screw your neighbor your dog didn't do anything and he lied. Did he even see the dog? I'm sure he just doesn't like your dog.

  • mooey
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    I would just say if you have proof that my dog was in your yard then I will listen and if they have no proof then I would say then how would you know if it was not caused by some other animal.

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