Communal garden

mozzyc

Hi. We've just moved into a new place with our 3 cats. Everyone had their own small patio area, which backs onto a communal garden.
There's quite a few cats around, so I knew they'd be ok.
Now there's a couple who let there dogs out into the communal garden every morning and evening which is fine, as its supervised. But there's another family with a rather large dog. They leave their gate open. And 3 times I've caught my cats running and jumping back into our area with this dog right behind them chasing them. So now obviously I'm worried about this dog being out unsupervised in the communal garden catching and attacking my cats.

I mean I've just moved here, so I don't even know what it would be like around me.

What are the laws/rules about keeping dogs in public/communal areas. I thought they'd either have to be on a leash or supervised?

Thanks

BitterAndTwisted

Need guidance on the communal areas? Please read your lease. Few developments have the same rules and regulations, so I doubt that anyone reading this thread would be able to give you accurate advice. Still, the usual way to resolve issues like this is to have a calm chat with your neighbour to work out a compromise, especially since you're new. I'd hate to get off on the wrong foot five minutes after I'd moved in.

krlyr

The law regarding dogs is that they need to be "under control" in public spaces. This doesn't necessarily mean on a lead but running amock unsupervised would probably class as out of control. However, communal gardens are most likely classed as private land, and currently in England there's not really many laws on dogs and private land. Your best bet would be to speak to whoever's in charge of the private land.
However, look at it from their POV - OK, their dog is let out unsupervised but what about your cats? Are your cats leashed or supervised in communal areas? The laws on loose cats may be different, but morally is the situation the same? You might find that speaking to the pet owners (you might want to call a meeting with all of them rather than make one feel singled out, perhaps), you need to all come to a compromise on how to share the space and how to raise any issues without causing a feud.

mozzyc

Well my thing is that my cat couldn't maul their dog to death. Dogs can be dangerous, and they can kill. If my cat was a threat to anyone here, I would take measures to control that situation.

We are planning to approach them, I just needed to know where I stood.
Right now I don't even know if I'm able to step into the communal area without getting chased.

krlyr

Dogs have very different behaviour to small furries than to people so I wouldn't assume that you would get chased - if they've lived in a communal area and don't take precautions to check the gate is shut them I would say chances are the dogs are human-friendly because otherwise they face the risk of having their dogs put down and a lawsuit on their hands.
You don't necessarily know that the dogs would maul your cats to death - lots of dogs enjoy the chase but once the animal stops, they lose interest. You mentioned there being other cats about so the dogs probably aren't serial cat killers - if they were, I imagine the other residents would have their fair share of complaints to try to get the dogs/owners removed. It may be that the other resident cats have learnt to avoid the dogs and the dogs are just chasing yours because they're new and presented the opportunity to chase.
Also while your cats may not go around killing big dogs, if they're out unsupervised or unrestrained, you can't guarantee what they're doing. If not chasing dogs, they may chase other resident cats, they may pester someone's pet rabbit in the owner's patio area, toilet on someone's flowers, scratch a child (even if it's accidentally) and so on. It seems a bit one-sided to tell the dog owner to control the situation yet not have full control over your pets.

mozzyc

Its too easy to assume they won't attack my cats or chase me, but i'd rather not take the chance. Its not worth it. From what i've heard, they are also new to the area, so no one knows what the dog is like yet, but have reported that their cats are also getting chased.

They've seen their dog do this, and have done nothing. Whereas, if I knew that my cats or had seen my cats attacking/scaring another living thing, I would step in. All responsible pet owners should take steps to ensure that their pets do not cause any dangerous situations.

Person_one

Its ok to approach them, but try to tone down the stress and defensiveness that's coming across in your post. They are far more likely to react well to somebody calm and friendly expressing a genuine concern than to someone who's got themselves all worked up and is angry right off the bat.

Lots of dogs will go to chase a cat but never actually want to catch it, or will be happily put off by a quick swat from the cat, it could be that they know their dogs are of this sort and just haven't really realised that its stressing you out because they're used to their dogs and you aren't!

mozzyc

Of course I'd only be civil about it. I don't want to cause any kind of situation. But when you fear that something could happen to something you love, stress is an emotion that will occur.
I just wanted to know if there's a law about supervising dogs in public areas so if the situation worsened in any way, I knew where I stood.
Plus I'm 5 months pregnant, and I need to know that the garden is a safe environment.

The cats seem to scared to go out the back now, so I may just put a catflap on the front door.

CFC

Cats are semi wild creatures and can take care of themselves - which is why you are not legally responsible for what your cats do but dog owners can be sued for what their dog does.

You say that it is creating a dangerous situation so should be stopped, yet you have not checked your lease. There may be dogs that actually manage to catch and savage cats, but they must be a very tiny minority or very dim cats. If it says nothing in the lease about dogs being off lead or alone remember you are in a situation where only mutual agreement will solve the problem. There is nothing to stop the owner saying to you that if you are that worried then keep your cats in when you know the dog will be out. If this is a communal garden to which the general public are not given access I think you will find it is classified as private land even though it is shared.

You are portraying an attitude of 'how can I make the dog owners do what I want' and if you take that attitude across to the dog owner in your conversation I think you will not get far.

As for a 'safe environment' for a baby, cat poo is full of toxoplasmosis which can harm your baby in the womb as well as when they are crawling - I hope you are getting other half to clean up cat poo and not doing it yourself!

mozzyc

Listen, I came in here as a worried pet owner. I've owned dogs throughout my life, I have nothing against them. I just wanted to know the laws incase anything did happen. I rent, therefore don't have a lease on me here today. And of course I know the dangers of cat poo whilst being pregnant. I would never put my baby in any harm.
I used to come onto this forum very often and the advice was always constructive and helpful. This has turned into finger wagging and some kind of opinion that I'm against dogs. I was worried and panicked that something could happen to my cats. That's all.
I'll ask my agent about the lease tomorrow.

UKTigerlily

As someone else said above, everywhere is different. Where I live we have a communal garden & dogs are supposed to be on leads when in it. My own dog will definitely chase cats given half the chance but won't harm them, she lives with a cat & when we go to the park one comes to tell me all about his day while my dog chases her ball & all she does is look at him.

Could you go knock on the neighbours door to introduce yourself, say if the cats cause them any problems could they please not hesitate to let you know & ask if their dog is ok with cats as you saw it chase one?

It may be that a quick chat will reassure you & if the dog gets to close your cats will probably come off better too