Where to report someone who keeps dogs free

Rox31

Hi there.

I have a question: I live in a small village in Ireland and I can’t go anywhere with my baby because I’m afraid of somone’s dogs. He has 4 and he keeps them free, outside of the house. Every time I go by walk because I don’t have any other option, there they come. The small fences next to the road don’t help. I try to walk on the other side of the road but they are still agressive, trying to reach us. What can I do? Is there any solution for this? Thank you very much.

PS: I love dogs, but this is too much for me...

bertsmom

I'm not sure but I think as they are on his own property you don't really have much say. As long as they are not coming out on the road etc. It breaks my heart that people have dogs and don't seem to bother making proper arrangements for them. The poor dogs are probably bored.
To be honest even in parks where there are signs up everywhere asking people to keep their dogs on a lead eg. Coole park in Gort Co. Galway it's absolutely ignored and the authorities just turn a blind eye as people walk multiple dogs at a time down there without a lead! So I wouldn't be too hopeful of a solution.
It's very annoying as a dog owner myself I can't understand why people are so selfish that they think their walk is more important than everyone else's.

Rox31

bertsmom wrote: »

I'm not sure but I think as they are on his own property you don't really have much say. As long as they are not coming out on the road etc. It breaks my heart that people have dogs and don't seem to bother making proper arrangements for them. The poor dogs are probably bored.
To be honest even in parks where there are signs up everywhere asking people to keep their dogs on a lead eg. Coole park in Gort Co. Galway it's absolutely ignored and the authorities just turn a blind eye as people walk multiple dogs at a time down there without a lead! So I wouldn't be too hopeful of a solution.
It's very annoying as a dog owner myself I can't understand why people are so selfish that they think their walk is more important than everyone else's.

I mean they can go on the road. Fences are not high and they are very able to jump. I wouldn’t bother if they would only stay on his property.

Meauldsegosha

Contact the dog warden of your local county council.

bertsmom

I totally understand what you are saying and it's so scary sometimes walking along beside a boundary where dogs are jumping up and barking and you know that they would be well able to get out IF they were so inclined BUT if they just run along barking and scaring you but DONT ever leave their own boundary then I'm not sure there's much you can do.
I remember our elderly neighbour at home had a dog like that as he was scared living alone and growing up we were just taught to ignore the dog (r.i.p Captain) and keep walking. It worked he just used us as amusement lol. Maby in rural areas Theese dogs can be all elderly or not so elderly people have to give them reassurance, let's face it there's zero gaurda presence in rural ireland.
However if the dogs are leaving their boundary perhaps first a letter to the homeowner and if no resolution then perhaps have your local dog warden have a word with them.

Emme

Meauldsegosha wrote: »

Contact the dog warden of your local county council.

And have the dogs picked up and taken to the pound? :eek:

I would approach the owner of the dogs before doing that.

.......

This post has been deleted.

Big Bag of Chips

Moved to Animal & Pet Issues.
Local charter applies.

Ashbx

Are the dogs actually coming over to you, or are they in their own property? You say they are aggressive. How have they been aggressive? Is it barking or are they lunging at you?

Theres a huge difference between dogs being in their own house and barking at passer by's than dogs coming out onto the main road and being aggressive (barking, lunging, nipping) at passer by's.

Graces7

Rox31 wrote: »

I mean they can go on the road. Fences are not high and they are very able to jump. I wouldn’t bother if they would only stay on his property.

The OP has clearly said the above. Yes the dog warden who is better equipped to have a word with the owners

the beer revolu

Graces7 wrote: »

The OP has clearly said the above. Yes the dog warden who is better equipped to have a word with the owners

But the op said that they can go on the road.
It's not clear whether they actually do or not.

Ashbx

Graces7 wrote: »

The OP has clearly said the above. Yes the dog warden who is better equipped to have a word with the owners

Nothing clear about it! Being clear would be they are jumping the fence and coming onto the road not "they could go onto the road and are able to jump the fence". From reading that, I took it as the dogs are not coming out to the road at all and are intimidating the OP from their own property.

I would advice the OP speak to the owners themselves first before contacting the warden.

Rox31

Ashbx wrote: »

Are the dogs actually coming over to you, or are they in their own property? You say they are aggressive. How have they been aggressive? Is it barking or are they lunging at you?

Theres a huge difference between dogs being in their own house and barking at passer by's than dogs coming out onto the main road and being aggressive (barking, lunging, nipping) at passer by's.

They are able, I told you, I just wanted to know if there is something I can do about that situation. Sorry, but I notice that you don’t really understand what it feels like to see them jumping over the fences and you be forced to walk on the wrong side of the road to avoid them. I intentionally specified that I love dogs, I’m not usually scared about them. But they are agressive, there’s nothing to keep them on owners property. I don’t mind he has dogs, he could have 100 more and live altogether in the same house. I’m concerned about my and my baby’s safety when we have to pass by. We have to, sometimes. It’s not a choice. Thanks for your answer!!

Rox31

....... wrote: »

Why would the dogs be picked up if they are on their own property?

The dog warden can go and check on the dog licences and inform the owner of his rights and responsibilities wrt keeping the dogs under his effective control and not letting them run out on the road where they are in danger of being knocked down, stolen for dog fighting or breeding or a danger to members of the public.

That was all I needed to know. And all I wanted to say. They need to be supervised. They can bark inside the property for hours if they want, I don’t care. My problem is different...

the beer revolu

Rox31 wrote: »

They are able, I told you, I just wanted to know if there is something I can do about that situation. Sorry, but I notice that you don’t really understand what it feels like to see them jumping over the fences and you be forced to walk on the wrong side of the road to avoid them. I intentionally specified that I love dogs, I’m not usually scared about them. But they are agressive, there’s nothing to keep them on owners property. I don’t mind he has dogs, he could have 100 more and live altogether in the same house. I’m concerned about my and my baby’s safety when we have to pass by. We have to, sometimes. It’s not a choice. Thanks for your answer!!

Still you say that they are able to come out of their property. You still have not stated if they actually do come over/under the fence or not.

Rox31

the beer revolu wrote: »

Still you say that they are able to come out of their property. You still have not stated if they actually do come over/under the fence or not.

If you can’t help, please don’t post. Thanks!

the beer revolu

Rox31 wrote: »

If you can’t help, please don’t post. Thanks!

Please don't tell me where I can and can't post.

I am trying to establish what the situation is. Your language is vague, despite it being queried already.

Rox31

the beer revolu wrote: »

Please don't tell me where I can and can't post.

I am trying to establish what the situation is. Your language is vague, despite it being queried already.

I just asked you politely to not post if you can’t help. If that bothered you, then do whatever you want.
I was looking for an answer, was not looking for a group to discuss or clarify the situation I find myself in. There were people that answered my question, I found the answer I was looking for. My language is ok, seems like you are the one that doesn’t understand. Have a nice evening!

jaxxx

Rox31 wrote: »

If you can’t help, please don’t post. Thanks!

Being able and actually doing are two completely different things. As it stands, you have still refused to answer a very simple question. Posters can't offer advice or help unless all the facts are known. You say they're able to come out onto the road but as yet refuse to clarify whether they actually do or not. If they're not actually coming out on the road, then their ability to come out onto the road is completely irrelevant. If they are actually coming out onto the road, then that changes things.

em_cat

While most people will appreciate that dogs lunging and barking at anyone passing them is not pleasant, there is very little you can do while they are contained within their own property, it only becomes an issue if they are outside the property & are not deemed to be sufficiently under control as per the Control of Dogs Act. You would need to lodge a complaint with the local Dog Warden in this case.

If you can't approach the owners, you may need to alter your route to avoid the property if possible or there are positive ways to teach the dogs not to lunge at bark at you as you pass, but it would take some time and patience. I know it is the responsibility of the dog owner; sometimes it's easier to take the passive-aggressive approach.

I'm sure there are heaps of boardsies that can give you some suggestions if you are interested.

Cherry Blossom

Rox31 wrote: »

I just asked you politely to not post if you can’t help. If that bothered you, then do whatever you want.
I was looking for an answer, was not looking for a group to discuss or clarify the situation I find myself in. There were people that answered my question, I found the answer I was looking for. My language is ok, seems like you are the one that doesn’t understand. Have a nice evening!

Hi OP,

Boards.ie is a discussion forum, the purpose of posting here is to discuss. Please do not instruct other posters not to post. This is called back-seat moderating and is not permitted on Boards. Also, your language is not 'ok', you are deliberately being vague in the hope that people will tell you what you want to hear. This is incredibly infuriating to other posters.

Rox31

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

Hi OP,

Boards.ie is a discussion forum, the purpose of posting here is to discuss. Please do not instruct other posters not to post. This is called back-seat moderating and is not permitted on Boards. Also, your language is not 'ok', you are deliberately being vague in the hope that people will tell you what you want to hear. This is incredibly infuriating to other posters.

Hi Cherry Blossom,

Sorry, I didn’t know this is moderating. Also, I didn’t know there is a correct way of asking and my language was seen as vague because I gave all the details I had. All I have left to do is post photos or videos showing the dogs and I didn’t think about taking some. I’ve seen them jumping fences, so that’s a posibility, they are able. I wrote in the message that the purpose for asking is not that they have already bite me, I just want to know what can be done if I feel threatened by someone else’s dog. Is that right? I’ve done a mistake, I’ll try to not post from now on. My language could be vague again. Sorry about that! Thanks for your answer.

Cherry Blossom

Have the dogs ever left the confines of their owners property while you were walking past? The answer is yes or no, not they are able to.

Big Bag of Chips

The dogs can jump the wall.
The dogs jump the wall.

Those are 2 different sentences with 2 different meanings.

Have the dogs ever jumped the wall and approached you on the road, barking and aggressive?

Peregrinus

People are not trying to get at you, Rox31. This detail is needed if you are to be given the advice you ask for. If the dogs actually do escape the property and go onto the public road, that's a breach of the law and the warden can take action, which would probably start with a call to the house to advise the owner of his obligations and to suggest that he improve his fencing. If that doesn't solve the problem the warden can prosecute the owner, or impound the dogs. The warden can do less if the dogs don't do this, but you fear that they might. In that scenario, there has been no breach of the law. Hence, if people are to give you useful, relevant advice, it's important to clarify which it is.

the beer revolu

I think there are a few things we can assume here.

1. The OP will not give a straight answer.
2. The dogs are, in fact, staying on their own property.
3. The OP is genuinely fearful of these dogs.

ace_irl

Hi Rox31

For anyone here to give you constructive advice on what best to do in order to resolve your situation you're going to have to clarify the following

At any time that you have walked past the property have the dogs escaped their confines and entered on to the public walkway?

I understand that the fear of them when you go past can be really upsetting and unnerving, and you may feel like it's just a matter of time before they do jump the fence, but if they are able to leave the property and they don't then their really isn't a whole lot that the dog warden can do. It is their home after all and people walking by can be unnerving for them too.

With the lack of clarification, I can only assume that thus far, they have not left the property but you feel they may very well do so.

One course of action you could take is to contact your neighborhood association if you have one. They can issue a text alert about noise complaints regarding dogs etc. That might draw the owners attention to the issue with out you having to directly confront them or go down the route of contacting the warden.

wexie

Rox31 wrote: »

I’ve seen them jumping fences, so that’s a posibility, they are able.

My 2 dogs ARE able to savage every single passerby out on the lane way if they felt like it.

As it is they're both asleep on the couch because they don't.

Neither the dog warden or the Gardai or the neighbourhood watch are going to be taking any action whatsoever based on what you think these dogs might be able to do.

jaxxx

wexie wrote: »

My 2 dogs ARE able to savage every single passerby out on the lane way if they felt like it.

As it is they're both asleep on the couch because they don't.

Neither the dog warden or the Gardai or the neighbourhood watch are going to be taking any action whatsoever based on what you think these dogs might be able to do.

The only action they might take is against the op for wasting their time :pac:

A friend of mine has always been of the suspicious kind of nature. The kind you wouldn't want to look at funny. "Hi gardai? My friend has the ability to murder someone, but he actually hasn't. Can you arrest him please?" :cool: Actually you could say the same for every human being on the planet.