When or if to speak to the Guards

Discodog

A neighbour & I used to get on really well. Recently his dog shot out of an open gateway & bit my dog for the fourth time. He now has a second dog & I asked him if he could put a pallet, or similar across the gateway to stop it happening again. He drove off saying that "dogs will be dogs". The aggression has continued as I walk past his place twice a day to walk my dogs. On one occasion he shouted telling me not to stop near his house & keep walking.

Today I stopped him driving past my house to warn him that his new dog was very close to a busy main road & that I was worried in case it caused an accident. He got out of the car & threatened me adding that "it might not be just the dogs that come barking after you".

I am concerned at the escalation & as I have no experience of these issues & Irish country folk, I don't know if I should have a word with the local Guard. Would it be appropriate or would it be seen as a further escalation ? Should I get something on record as I will be passing his house every day ?

I should add that, the lane where he lives, is quiet this time of year. Soon there will be lots of walkers, children etc using it to get to the beach. I am concerned about a child getting bitten.

thestar

You could speak to a dog warden also. If he wont listen to you maybe he will listen to them

Little CuChulainn

The dog warden should probably be the first port of call. What kind of dogs are they?

Discodog

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

The dog warden should probably be the first port of call. What kind of dogs are they?

A terrier & Collie. Wouldn't he see me contacting the warden as provocation?

runawaybishop

Discodog wrote: »

A terrier & Collie. Wouldn't he see me contacting the warden as provocation?

He's provoked by you walking past his house. Report to dog warden.

Wheelnut

If the dog can shoot out the gateway and bite your dog (or anything else), it is not under effective control as is required in a public place. Dog wardens are a bit thin on the ground because councils are not putting in the resources and an offence may have been committed so the Gardai could become involved.

Discodog

When I used to be in the English countryside. I would of spoken to the local Police. They would of called in & just told him to cool it. Then the dog warden would deal with the dog problem.

It's disconcerting to have a 6ft 6in man getting out of his car, outside my house & saying that the dogs will be least of my problems. It was a very clear threat.

Samuel T. Cogley

You can report it to the guards if you like. If an aggressive dog was on my property it would soon find itself and ex-dog.

Pat Mustard

Discodog wrote: »

Today I stopped him driving past my house to warn him that his new dog was very close to a busy main road & that I was worried in case it caused an accident. He got out of the car & threatened me adding that "it might not be just the dogs that come barking after you".

I am concerned at the escalation & as I have no experience of these issues & Irish country folk, I don't know if I should have a word with the local Guard. Would it be appropriate or would it be seen as a further escalation ? Should I get something on record as I will be passing his house every day ?

It may well be that your neighbour is an idiot who was mouthing off. However, if you felt threatened, you can go to the Gardai.

I would take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to a neighbour. You will have to live next to them for a long time so you should be slow to take action, unless there is good reason to act otherwise.

Some dogs can be aggressive, especially if they think that your dog is encroaching upon "their" territory. I used to carry an umbrella for that reason. When my dog was a small pup, I took him out for walk and he was attacked by an aggressive Jack Russell. I hit the Jack Russell fairly hard with the umbrella and he ran off, screeching. He got a shock more than anything else. There was no real damage done but problem solved.

Discodog

Pat Mustard wrote: »

It may well be that your neighbour is an idiot who was mouthing off. However, if you felt threatened, you can go to the Gardai.

I would take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to a neighbour. You will have to live next to them for a long time so you should be slow to take action, unless there is good reason to act otherwise.

Some dogs can be aggressive, especially if they think that your dog is encroaching upon "their" territory. I used to carry an umbrella for that reason. When my dog was a small pup, I took him out for walk and he was attacked by an aggressive Jack Russell. I hit the Jack Russell fairly hard with the umbrella and he ran off, screeching. He got a shock more than anything else. There was no real damage done but problem solved.

Yes that has become my thought too. I think that another neighbour saw him out of the car & threatening me so he may be thinking twice. But I will have to contact the warden if his young collie gets near the road. It's a lethal spot with several accidents. If the dog came out the boreen drivers would get no warning. Yes they should hit the dog but it's human instinct to swerve especially as they will be travelling at around 50 mph

please helpThank YOU

Never speak to a Guard on your own Never rule number 1.

Little CuChulainn

please helpThank YOU wrote: »

Never speak to a Guard on your own Never rule number 1.

You get a solicitor to report a minor crime?

pilly

I think dog warden is the best course of action. Getting Garda involved could escalate the situation very quickly.

Dog wardens are very good at dealing with these situations.