Dog fouling our garden, all help needed - warning, rant ahead!

Littlegreelady

I hope I'm posting in the right section - we are having major issues with our neighbour at the moment and don't seem to be getting anywhere. I wondered if anyone had any advice/suggestions.

Basically, our garden backs onto another garden and the current owner has three huge dogs (I'm useless at breeds, they are the size of an alsation but not... if you know what I mean). Since before last year, we have had an issue with the dogs coming into our garden and fouling. And we are talking a lot of fouling. We have had the fence repaired twice (the last time it cost £200 which we can ill afford) and we have been round to speak to the neighbour but to no avail.

When we went round to his house, he refused to open the door more than an inch and told us his dogs hadn't been in our garden (despite the fact that they were still in it as we drove off to his house). He did promise at the time to try and sort it out - we explained (nicely) that we were going to get the fence fixed on our side but could he sort it out at his end. He muttered something about doing it and to be fair, for a few months there was no sign of the dogs. We believe that he has been deliberately letting the dogs out at night now instead of the day time as we no longer see them in the garden but can hear them at night.

Over the winter we hadn't really had any issues and to be honest we were hopeful that the last fence mending had worked.
This Sunday, we went out in the garden as it was lovely weather, to discover our garden is nothing more than a pile of poo - and we have a really long, big garden, so it's a lot of poo. We went to the bottom of the garden and yet again the dogs have bashed the fence in. We tried to speak to the owner but he said it was our problem not his.

I have spoken to the Environmental health team at my local council, who have said it's a civil matter. They can come and pick the dogs up if they are in our garden but nothing else. The police have said they will come and discuss it but they're very busy at the moment. I've tried another couple of departments in the council but they all send me back to the same one.

We have a policeman who lives a few doors down and he's gone over to talk to the owner, as have other neighbours who are also affected but all it seems to have done is get him to let the dogs out at night.

I don't really know where else to go - we wil have to get the fence repaired again but it's frustrating as it's expensive and it won't last. I want to put something down to deter the dogs but don't know what and I want to make sure I don't hurt them. We have tried turning the hose on the dogs when they come in the garden but we're not at home during the week and we don't see them often enough for that to be effective.

pimento

Next time the dogs are in your garden, catch them, call the RSPCA and tell them the dogs are strays and you don't know who they belong to.

Sexy_Em

Personally I'd get a shovel and sling it over the fence into his garden (at night of course)

See how he likes it!!

Sorry I can't suggest anything more appropriate!

maninthestreet

Sounds like a possible case for an ASBO. Speak to your local councillor, rather than council employees about this.

Littlegreelady

LOL my mum wouldn't let me throw the poo back but it's got to the point that I am planning on doing it tonight.

I didn't think of the councillor, thanks I will try them and see.

As for catching the dogs - they are huge things, I don't think we have anywhere to keep them and i'm a bit of a wimp but it might be worth a try.

frannyann

Very prickly bushes planted against the fence?

gmang

I don't have any experience with these products, but there do exist dog-deterrent gizmos that automatically activate (like a security light) and use ultrasonic sound to annoy the dogs out of your garden. You can get one for about £20 - probably cheaper than the fence maintenance!

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Ultrasonic_Dog_Deterrent.search

Gogette

I would go with the prickly bushes. We've got some vicious gooseberry bushes in our garden - something like that would hurt if they tried to squeeze past.

I also like the idea of chucking the poo back at their garden. Or maybe staying up late with a camcorder and keeping a video log - but I don't know what the legalities of that are.

Gogette

fluffnutter

I'd find the fouling the most distressing part of this... but you may have more luck regarding the issue of the destroyed fence. It's unlawful to allow your dog to destroy someone else's property. Know any solicitors for some (hopefully) free legal advice? Take the neighbour to court regarding the costs incurred in repeatedly mending the fence.

Taz_Devil

Have a look on Amazone.co.uk for a WATER PEST REPELLER (as a new user I cannot post a link to the product), I've heard of them being used by gardeners in the allotments close to where I live to keep pests out/off their plants.

A more drastic measure would be a small electric fence a short distance from the hole in the fens. But you'd have to remember to switch both these devices off if you wish to use the garden.

HTH
Rob

pulliptears

electric fence.....if you are lucky you will get the idiot owner as well.