Neighbors Affecting My Business

[hsdcmama]

A while back I posted about my next-door-neighbors who yanked their infant out of my care and accused me of breaking the law because I wouldn't wake the baby to eat or keep him on the unnecessary 3-hour feeding schedule the parents wanted him on. Well, things with them just keep getting better and better.

A few weeks ago (after daycare kids were gone, thank goodness), their 2 American bulldogs attacked my dog on my front porch. If you don't know American bulldogs, they are HUGE, heavy dogs. My dog needed surgery, and naturally my dc parents wondered why my dog had drains and a cone and was being kept in a pen (he usually has free reign of the house).Now my best dc family that makes up 2 of my 3 kids is asking every other day what is being done about the dogs that attacked him. Obviously I was very upset with the neighbors; they paid for my dog's vet bills and have kept the dogs tied up since then, and they say they are going to put up a fence. I've told my dc parents this, but I get the feeling they are not satisfied. If I lose those 2 kids over this, I am going to be so upset. It has been a hell of a year.

[Thriftylady]

Was animal control involved at all? In many cases like this they are. If so, I would have my dc parents call and bug them! Maybe they can get the ball rolling. I don't know about where you live, but some communities have a law that dogs can't be tied up more than X number of hours per day.

[Naptime yet?]

At least your neighbors are working with you on this one, I guess they're afraid you'll call animal control.

Is there any way you can get a written agreement from them regarding the fence? Then you can show your dcf that something is indeed going to be done.

I wish I could be more helpful! Hang in there!

[nannyde]

You can't blame the parents. They know it could be their kid next. This is a tough one. You may have to take the hit if they aren't willing to put the dogs down. Their presence is going to upset the parents.

[NeedaVaca]

I would insist on the fence and a timeline for it that is reasonable/fast! I would get it in writing and would be speaking to them tonight and hopefully have it settled by the end of the weekend so you can let the DCF know first thing Monday!

[Soccermom]

First of all, I am so sorry this happened to your dog! How awful! I hope he heals up quickly.

It might be a good idea to have a fence put up around your yard if possible. It would be reassuring to the parents and prove that the safety of your daycare kids is a top priority for you. (Assuming you don't already have one)

Enclosing the front porch for safe drop offs might be a good idea as well.

Anything you can do to protect yourself, your daycare kids and of course your dog would be an advantage.

Did you report this incident to animal control? It is not okay for your neighbors to have vicious dogs running around the neighborhood!

Hugs to you and your dog!

[daycarediva]

You can't blame the parents. They know it could be their kid next. This is a tough one. You may have to take the hit if they aren't willing to put the dogs down. Their presence is going to upset the parents.

What state are you in? What deems an aggressive dog and/or an irresponsible owner? Call animal control and find out. Do you have a city code re: dog laws. Here there is a limit to number of dogs, hours chained, mandatory registration, etc. The dogs could be removed for failure to comply with those things.

You could legally sue to get the dogs euthanized or removed from their care. I've done this and won. A dog attacked my daughter, broke/went through a locked screen and attacked my daughter as she was walking in the yard next door. We won, and the dog was euthanized.

This is a VERY dangerous situation. What if that was a dck at pick up? Knowing it's a dangerous/aggressive animal, the liability is astronomical!

In MY state, there is a one bite law, the dogs are allowed to bite once as long as it doesn't result in death, they are usually not euthanized. They are held for 10 days, the owner pays a fine and they are released. If they are already 'known history of aggression' eg. one bite offenders. It's no questions asked the second bite. The owner is also not liable for the first bite.

Check into your laws. Call every single time you see the dogs loose, or barking after the noise ordinance, or call the city to see if they are registered, I would do whatever it took to get them gone.

If I was your dcp, I would have already pulled. Unfortunately, it's a very large risk and even the best providers couldn't prevent/stop a large dog from doing serious harm.

[NightOwl]

Here, if dogs are tied up (which I DETEST) They have to have access to a dog house while on the chain/rope/whatever. This is cruel, imho. <br />
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I've called animal control before for someone several houses away who had two dogs tied up in their front yard with no shelter. I drove past a couple of days later and the owners had put two pieces of plywood out so that they touched at the top to form a teepee type structure. Apparently animal control thought this was acceptable because those poor dogs are still tied up with the crappy, rotting plywood thing as their only shelter. That was months ago. <br />
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Sorry, I got off topic. That's a sore spot for me. I would call animal control. They will probably remove the dogs for a 10 day isolation period. And that would show the owners how very serious this is. Your call would be anonymous, so if this happened a while back, they wouldn't necessarily know it was you. <br />
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And if a fence didn't start going up in the very near future, I'd call animal control every day for cruelty toward animals for the dogs being tied up around the clock. I don't know how people who do this can sleep at night.


Eta: I fully agree with restraining aggressive dogs temporarily until a better solution can be found. Don't get me wrong. But in the long term, it's cruel.

[Naptime yet?]

In MD it looks like the law varies a bit by county. If you think your neighbors are going to give you any trouble, print off the leash/bite laws for you county & present them with it then they can't argue.

Although they may argue, as aren't these the neighbors that know all about daycare licensing ?

[Leigh]

Here, if dogs are tied up (which I DETEST) They have to have access to a dog house while on the chain/rope/whatever. This is cruel, imho. <br />
<br />
I've called animal control before for someone several houses away who had two dogs tied up in their front yard with no shelter. I drove past a couple of days later and the owners had put two pieces of plywood out so that they touched at the top to form a teepee type structure. Apparently animal control thought this was acceptable because those poor dogs are still tied up with the crappy, rotting plywood thing as their only shelter. That was months ago. <br />
<br />
Sorry, I got off topic. That's a sore spot for me. I would call animal control. They will probably remove the dogs for a 10 day isolation period. And that would show the owners how very serious this is. Your call would be anonymous, so if this happened a while back, they wouldn't necessarily know it was you. <br />
<br />
And if a fence didn't start going up in the very near future, I'd call animal control every day for cruelty toward animals for the dogs being tied up around the clock. I don't know how people who do this can sleep at night.


Eta: I fully agree with restraining aggressive dogs temporarily until a better solution can be found. Don't get me wrong. But in the long term, it's cruel.

Tethered dogs are WAAAAY more likely to bite. Many times, a dog can be dog aggressive and NOT human aggressive, but YOU have nothing but the owner's word on this, which is not enough. Imagine yourself being tied to a post in the yard all day...you'd go crazy. Dogs do, too. I'd talk with the neighbors and let them know that tethering just isn't going to work and that you're about to lose clients over this. Offer them the option of keeping the dogs indoors unless they are actively supervised or going to court to fight over it.

[NightOwl]

Tethered dogs are WAAAAY more likely to bite. Many times, a dog can be dog aggressive and NOT human aggressive, but YOU have nothing but the owner's word on this, which is not enough. Imagine yourself being tied to a post in the yard all day...you'd go crazy. Dogs do, too. I'd talk with the neighbors and let them know that tethering just isn't going to work and that you're about to lose clients over this. Offer them the option of keeping the dogs indoors unless they are actively supervised or going to court to fight over it.

[coolconfidentme]

You might check your local pro se desk about the liability of the pet owner if the income lost is a direct result of the pet owner's violation of the law. I would let the neighbor know you DCP is worried about DCK's safety with their dog. If DCP gives a notice, make sure she states the direct reason.

[hsdcmama]

I wish our yard was fenced! We can't afford it, but I'm thinking we may have to bite the bullet and finance one, at least for the back yard. I don't blame the dcp at all for being concerned -- I'm concerned for my own kids as well! My husband told the neighbors a week ago that the dcp wanted to know what was being done, and that's when they told him about putting up a fence. So far the yard is still wide open though, and I am just so tired of fighting with them at this point, you know? Plus there are other neighbors that let their dogs run loos, so it's not just these ones that are a liability.

[My3cents]

I wish our yard was fenced! We can't afford it, but I'm thinking we may have to bite the bullet and finance one, at least for the back yard. I don't blame the dcp at all for being concerned -- I'm concerned for my own kids as well! My husband told the neighbors a week ago that the dcp wanted to know what was being done, and that's when they told him about putting up a fence. So far the yard is still wide open though, and I am just so tired of fighting with them at this point, you know? Plus there are other neighbors that let their dogs run loos, so it's not just these ones that are a liability.

bite the bullet and put your own fence up to ensure that your daycare kids are safe!

I love animals, but in a daycare setting I believe dogs don't belong. Dogs can't talk and tell you they don't feel good or are having a bad day or about to bite a child. I know the nicest of nicest dogs have turned in a seconds time. Its a normal reaction for a dog or anyone to respond when hurt. a Kiddo stepping on a dogs paw/tail by accident the dog is going to react- Just my take on this subject.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

bite the bullet and put your own fence up to ensure that your daycare kids are safe!

I love animals, but in a daycare setting I believe dogs don't belong. Dogs can't talk and tell you they don't feel good or are having a bad day or about to bite a child. I know the nicest of nicest dogs have turned in a seconds time. Its a normal reaction for a dog or anyone to respond when hurt. a Kiddo stepping on a dogs paw/tail by accident the dog is going to react- Just my take on this subject.

I 100% agree.

I sadly have to second someone else who already stated they would have already pulled. I would have as well.