Dogs are great pets as they have a special way of making a house feel homely. This is why more people are taking in dogs as their pets of choice. Dogs can quickly become a nuisance and dangerous if they are too aggressive. If your neighbor has a dangerous dog, the best way to keep you and your family safe is asking them to handle it.
There is a process to solve the dangerous dog problem without creating rifts between you and your neighbor. Here are five tips on how to amicably deal with your neighbor’s dangerous dog problem.
1. Check for What Might Be Making the Dog Aggressive
Sometimes, even previously, calm dogs can pick up aggressive behavior. Unless the neighbor has brought home a new dog that is aggressive by nature, something is making it aggressive. Therefore, it’s vital to check for what might be making it so aggressive. It can be:
- The presence of other animals like a deer or coyote
- Children teasing the dog regularly
- Excessive activity nearby which might be making the dog uneasy
Think about solutions that can remove these external factors from the vicinity. Maybe passing children are teasing the dog. Ask them not to do that as it can be dangerous. If you can do these steps by yourself, then you may solve the issue without involving your neighbor. Furthermore, you should also be familiar with the effective approaches on how to calm an anxious dog at night so as to avoid the issue of neighborhood disturbance.
2. Talk to Your Neighbor
If you have dealt with the external factors and the dog is still dangerously aggressive, then there is likely a deeper problem. It’s now time to talk to the neighbor who owns the dog and explain to them the situation. You must take the right approach to this process so as not to create friction.
Approach the neighbor with a friendly attitude and talk with them as a discussion rather than a lamentation. Do not leave any notes for the neighbor, as this is rude and passive aggressive. Moreover, avoid giving them harsh stares expecting them to know the problem naturally. You have to tell them because the dog may only be aggressive to strangers, and the owner doesn’t know about the problem.
Ask your neighbor if they’ve noticed any sudden change in the dog’s personality. It could be that their dog is normally friendly and something is wrong. Are there any new pets in the home? Has the family changed schedules lately? Has the dog been to the vet recently? Illness is a common cause for aggression in a normally friendly dog [source]. You could be doing the dog a huge favor if his aggressive behavior is the result of pain from an injury that’s gone unnoticed.
3. Record the Dog’s Aggressive Behavior
If the neighbor agrees to find a solution to their dog’s aggressiveness, you should give them time to accomplish this. The dog might need medical treatment or discipline training, and it will take time before positive results become noticeable. On the other hand, the neighbor might decide to do nothing or even be rude to you in response. If you notice no change in the dog’s behavior after some weeks, it’s time to take action.
Start recording the dog’s aggressive behavior. Your records can be used as evidence in case you have to contact local authorities in the future. You can have some video recordings of the dog’s aggressive behavior.
4. Try a Neighborhood Intervention
As you start taking records on the dog’s aggressiveness, you should also start working on a neighborhood intervention. A dangerous dog is a threat to the entire neighborhood. According to Bogin, Munns and Munns lawyers, even though very few dog bites prove to be fatal, they can cause lasting physical and emotional harm.
Thus, if the owner did not listen to you, they are likely to cave in to pressure by the entire neighborhood. When confronting the dog’s owner, it’s best to take a diplomatic approach. Try to remain cordial and avoid coming off as an angry mob.
5. Contact Local Authorities
Contacting local authorities should be your last resort if all else fails. It’s best to call the non-emergency police line. Explain to them the problem and show them your notes and evidence. They are the ones who will determine if the case merits for animal control to get involved.
If you or any of your loved ones come to harm because of the neighbor’s dangerous dog, then you need legal representation to pursue the matter in court. Reach out to your attorney for help. They have a lot of experience dealing with cases of this nature, and they will give you all the legal assistance you need.
