Cross Breeds

Any legal suggestions to protect us and our dogs from a potentially dangerous neighbor kid?

My husband and I have recently moved to a suburban part of town. We use to live in a very rural area. We have three Irish Wolfhounds. The Irish Wolfhound is an extra large breed of dog whose size rivals a Great Dane. See picture( http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images15/IrishWolfhoundFrankBrendan.JPG ) Anyway, my husband and I take dog ownership very seriously. From the moment we bring a dog into our home we begin a rigorous course of training and socialization which doesn't end until the dog dies. We respect our dogs and the fact that they're animals driven by instinct. We are also fully aware of the fact that they have teeth and despite all our training may at some point bite someone if they are presented with a bad situation. Anyway a neighborhood child (who lives 3 houses down) has seen it appropriate to begin tormenting our dogs. This boy throws things over the fence at them (large rocks, bones, garbage, etc.) On one occasion he threw a thing of Recon rat poison over the fence which I thankfully saw and was able to throw away before the dogs got it. I, and other neighbors, have personally seen this child do these things and we have spoken with him on several occasions. When the taunting never stopped we spoke to his parents who blew us off. We are currently building a privacy fence to help ward off some of this unwanted attention but it will take a few days to get it up. However the other day I realized we needed to take further measures. The dogs were in the backyard the other day when they started barking and growling (which is not normal for these dogs) when I went to see what was going on I found my daughter sitting in the grass by the fence, holding her head and crying. This child had started throwing garbage over the fence again and managed to hit my daughter in the head. My dogs are very mellow and quiet but protective of their family (this is true of all Wolfhounds) I'm convinced my daughter's injury set them off because all three were jumping at the fence, barking and snarling. I called them back and the instantly came to my daughter's side and sat down. After evaluating her we decided she needed stitches so we took her to the hospital. We honestly do not wish to live in this neighborhood (or any neighborhood period) but we have to make due for the time being. However this whole situation has made me realize we need to take some serious action to protect us, our children and our dogs. Any suggestion on legal action we can take? It sucks that it's come to this because we've never had problems before. In the area we use to live in no one had fences and our dogs as well as our neighbors dogs were allowed to roam and play together. We all watched out for each others kids and pets. It was wonderful to let them roam the small area freely and not worry because you had a friend and confidante keeping an eye out for you. The dogs were happy. The kids respected them as animals and we never had an incident.

Public Comments

1. Call the cops on that kid ! And maybe one day if the kid comes back ''accidently'' release your dogs (;
2. You might talk to a police detective and have them open up a file or file something to have the child kept away from your yard using your daughter as an example. Chances are they are sick of their child bugging them and they don't mind when their kid bugs you. Make them stop to listen a little. The problem is the kid's parents not your dogs. If you don't like using police you can hire an attorney to represent you and perhaps write a letter.
3. Wow that is not good at all. I would call the aspca. also if he does manage to kill one of your dogs with that rat poisoning stunt of his he could go to jail/Juvenile hall due to the fact that it is a federal offence. It is a class 2 felony and you could sue the parents. Also I would write the parents a letter say this information then say "Unless you want me to sue your *** I would control your kid" Maybe even a lawyors note if you can get one although I'm not a lawyor so I'm not sure you could get one I really hope this helps that neighbors kid is an *** I hate people that would do that to an animal. Edit:Get a camera and aim it where he would throw the stuff once you have proof you should go to the neighbors who have seen it and get them to file a claim and get it to the aspca and file a claim with the police. and file a complaint against that kid at that point.Do this before you write the note. and get the neighbors to pay for the stitches. tell the police it has gone on too long and get the records of the emergency room visit with the daughter and sue the neighbors for the money it cost you to get your kid stitches. (Sorry everything is every where I have ADD and can't focus all that well is paragraph isn't well written lol definaty something I would turn in to myy english teacer hahaha) Edit:Donn't get the neighbors to file a claim lol just get them to sign a petiton/note thing which would help if he managed to kill your dogs and for sueing them for the daughters stitches money