Neighbours & animals
Discussion
Sorry for the long post
So we live in a quiet country location with few neighbours and two small friendly dogs. A husband & wife moved in next door and then a year later a cat appeared. So they are convinced our dogs will kill their cat so to keep the peace we secured all of our fencing to ensure there was no escape. Over time several grumbles & comments have been made regarding our boys and making sure they don’t escape. We genuinely do our utmost to make sure our boys don’t have the opportunity to attack their cat but mistakes happen none of which have caused any actual contact or injury to the cat.
Today my wife returned from a walk and let the boys into our garden just to chill on the grass in the sun as we usually do. She was unaware the cat was in our garden so our dogs chased it. The cat simply ran off and jumped the fence. The neighbours were in their garden and saw it, the NW (neighbours wife) just glared at my wife. Who offered an apology and turned and went into the house.
Later NW called my wife over for a chat and said in a condescending tone why have your dogs not calmed down yet. My wife did not know what to say so NW went on. She mentioned that one of our dogs had gotten free which was our mistake but he only wandered down to NH (neighbours husband) to say hello nothing happened to the cat. Again NW carried on to say that she noted we walk with the boys off the lead. We do but only for around 500yds from the house and in the evening when we know the cat will not be out and about. My wife bless her trying to keep the peace said we will try to do better and take more care.
Finally today my daughter was at home in her bedroom and heard a conversation NW was having with somebody official on her phone. NW was complaining about our dogs calling us uncaring and if the shoe was on the other foot etc.
My wife immediately went round knowing she could not disclose the fact we had heard the conversation and offered reassurance that we will do our utmost to ensure the dogs do not escape and attack her cat and that we do care. We genuinely don’t wish any harm we were cat owners ourselves.
So I am absolutely seething but wondering what to do next if anything ?
Thanks for reading.
So we live in a quiet country location with few neighbours and two small friendly dogs. A husband & wife moved in next door and then a year later a cat appeared. So they are convinced our dogs will kill their cat so to keep the peace we secured all of our fencing to ensure there was no escape. Over time several grumbles & comments have been made regarding our boys and making sure they don’t escape. We genuinely do our utmost to make sure our boys don’t have the opportunity to attack their cat but mistakes happen none of which have caused any actual contact or injury to the cat.
Today my wife returned from a walk and let the boys into our garden just to chill on the grass in the sun as we usually do. She was unaware the cat was in our garden so our dogs chased it. The cat simply ran off and jumped the fence. The neighbours were in their garden and saw it, the NW (neighbours wife) just glared at my wife. Who offered an apology and turned and went into the house.
Later NW called my wife over for a chat and said in a condescending tone why have your dogs not calmed down yet. My wife did not know what to say so NW went on. She mentioned that one of our dogs had gotten free which was our mistake but he only wandered down to NH (neighbours husband) to say hello nothing happened to the cat. Again NW carried on to say that she noted we walk with the boys off the lead. We do but only for around 500yds from the house and in the evening when we know the cat will not be out and about. My wife bless her trying to keep the peace said we will try to do better and take more care.
Finally today my daughter was at home in her bedroom and heard a conversation NW was having with somebody official on her phone. NW was complaining about our dogs calling us uncaring and if the shoe was on the other foot etc.
My wife immediately went round knowing she could not disclose the fact we had heard the conversation and offered reassurance that we will do our utmost to ensure the dogs do not escape and attack her cat and that we do care. We genuinely don’t wish any harm we were cat owners ourselves.
So I am absolutely seething but wondering what to do next if anything ?
Thanks for reading.
Edited by macp on Friday 16th August 18:12
Yep, precisely feck all.
to kill time, and amuse yourself, while waiting for the RSPCA to do a dawn raid on your house, send your neighbours a recorded delivery letter asking them to prevent their cat from entering your property. They can't, you say? Well ask them how they expect you to stop a dog chasing a cat out of it's territory.
Idiots with first world problems, sorry for you.
to kill time, and amuse yourself, while waiting for the RSPCA to do a dawn raid on your house, send your neighbours a recorded delivery letter asking them to prevent their cat from entering your property. They can't, you say? Well ask them how they expect you to stop a dog chasing a cat out of it's territory.
Idiots with first world problems, sorry for you.
Go and speak to her.
If your dogs have never attacked their cat then what's the problem? (chasing is a different matter).
If the cat's in your garden then that's the cat's fault.
I have 2 cats and one neighbour has a pitbull type dog which got out and attacked one of ours so know how worried the neighbour must be but go round and speak to them.
If your dogs have never attacked their cat then what's the problem? (chasing is a different matter).
If the cat's in your garden then that's the cat's fault.
I have 2 cats and one neighbour has a pitbull type dog which got out and attacked one of ours so know how worried the neighbour must be but go round and speak to them.
If our cat wanders into a garden with a dog. I expect the dog to chase it and the cat to leave. It's our/the cats fault. Not the dog or it's owners.
If this has to be resolved. You (as in both parties), could try getting the cat and the dogs used to each others company. So there is no chasing.
If this has to be resolved. You (as in both parties), could try getting the cat and the dogs used to each others company. So there is no chasing.
Thanks all for the responses calmed down considerably now. Was just surprised how angry she was when our dogs chased it out of our garden!!
Just remembered another neighbour has a springer spaniel which escapes and runs free from time to time but never heard a cross word to the owners of this animal??
My mission is to stay out of their way for 24hrs
Just remembered another neighbour has a springer spaniel which escapes and runs free from time to time but never heard a cross word to the owners of this animal??
My mission is to stay out of their way for 24hrs
Never once have we kicked the cat out infact its always been welcomed. It got in once and we quickly jumped on it and removed it before the dogs spotted it. We took it round to theirs and told them we had rescued it, and she says we just dont care.
Sadly she would never let the dogs & cat get to know each other although we feel that is what should have happened. They just decided to label our dogs as killers. Just dont get it ?
Hell hound 1
hell hound 2
Sadly she would never let the dogs & cat get to know each other although we feel that is what should have happened. They just decided to label our dogs as killers. Just dont get it ?
Hell hound 1
hell hound 2
Tribal Chestnut said:
Stop being so polite and pleasant. Don't be rude, but you do not appear to be in the wrong so stop trying to appease them as they will only take advantage of your good nature.
Fair point and I agree with you as I think they are trying to intimidate us or so it seems.Problem is our back doors face each other so bloody difficult when the boys want to go out for a pee.She is insisting they are put on a lead at all times.
macp said:
Fair point and I agree with you as I think they are trying to intimidate us or so it seems.
Problem is our back doors face each other so bloody difficult when the boys want to go out for a pee.She is insisting they are put on a lead at all times.
as long as she keeps her cat on a lead i cannot see a problem with thatProblem is our back doors face each other so bloody difficult when the boys want to go out for a pee.She is insisting they are put on a lead at all times.
macp said:
Fair point and I agree with you as I think they are trying to intimidate us or so it seems.
Problem is our back doors face each other so bloody difficult when the boys want to go out for a pee.She is insisting they are put on a lead at all times.
On a lead in your garden??Problem is our back doors face each other so bloody difficult when the boys want to go out for a pee.She is insisting they are put on a lead at all times.
If that's correct, ignore what I wrote before and tell her to f**k right off and die.
I would say to her that if she has a problem she should report the situation to the appropriate authorities and you will be pleased to deal with them.
In the incredibly unlikely event that she does get anyone interested just be polite and explain the situation and you will be fine. You are doing nothing wrong so she has no leg to stand on.
In the incredibly unlikely event that she does get anyone interested just be polite and explain the situation and you will be fine. You are doing nothing wrong so she has no leg to stand on.
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