Neighbor child and our dogs

[TNBSMommy]

We are in Hattiesbug, Lamar County.

Thank you for the ideas and thoughts. I didn't want it to get to this point, but I am worried she is doing this on purpose, and I am going to protect my home and family (including my dogs). So, I guess it's calling the cops every time this child comes onto our property and antagonizes our dogs, and we are discussing putting cameras up, hopefully will be doing that this weekend. My dogs are secure, it's the neighbor kid that isn't. I get we still have liability if something happens, that's why I was asking, was to protect ourselves before it got to that point.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

They have a very "OPEN" definition. I suggest you erect a second barrier to keep the dogs away from that fence, plug the hole in the fence and put screens in your lower windows. A second option would be to invite the animal control officer over to approve your containment given the "circumstances" before something happens.

Public nuisance. Any animal which:

A. Molests passers-by or passing vehicles;
B. Attacks other animals or human beings;
C. Trespasses on school grounds;
D. Is repeatedly at large;
E. Damages private or public property;
F. Barks, whines, howls or makes other annoying noises in an excessive, continuousmanner or at unreasonable hours;
or
G. Creates an excessive and continuous odor.

Sec. 4-15. Compliance with article required for keeping animals.
It is unlawful and it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail todo any act required in this article. Unless specifically required herein, no mental element need be present to constitute an offense under this article. (Ord. 2090, sec. 1, 10-12-82)

Sec. 4-25. Restraint.
It shall be unlawful for an owner to fail to keep such owner's animals under restraint asfollows:A. Except for cats, all animals shall be kept under restraint, as defined in this article;B. Every female dog or cat in heat, shall be kept confined in a building or secureenclosure, or in a veterinary clinic or boarding kennel, in such manner that suchfemale dog or cat cannot come in contact with another dog or cat except for intentional breeding purposes.C. Owners shall exercise care and control of their animals to prevent them from becoming public nuisances. (Ord. 2090, sec. 1, 10-12-82)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2253730/Hattiesburg-Code-of-Ordinances-Animals-and-Fowl

 

[CanyonHermit]

I had a similar issue with neighbor kids years ago. They would enter my house if the doors were unlocked- sometimes as late as 9 pm. They were around 6-7. My family was in the basement watching TV one night and our dog went growling and barking up the stairs. We heard a door slam. I ran up and sure enough, there was the neighbor boy crying hysterically on my back deck. He had managed to climb our back gate, enter the yard and enter the back door. I went out to see if he was OK, was worried that something was wrong with his parents (we did not know them, they lived about 2 houses down). He was scared and took off. A few days later, I came home and found a bunch of kids on my trampoline in the back yard. My gate is locked. It was a 6 ft privacy fence- someone had to help them over. They wouldn't answer me as to how they got in. They ran off and within the hour, I had a parent banging on my door threatening a lawsuit because her kid had fallen off of my trampoline. I called CPS and made a detailed report. I then sent them a letter stating that their children have been accessing my property and that if I catch them again, I will be calling police. I was only concerned about these little kids getting hurt and their parents were obviously not supervising them at all. If it were 12 year olds, it would be a bit different- but these kids were in 1st and Kindergarten. We never had a problem after that. Good luck.

 

[TNBSMommy]

Lately the weather has been bad, so no one has been out...

Even better, Monday a "For Sale" sign went up in their yard!!! We were celebrating! We just need to hold on for a little longer!