Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Washington
Neighbors' Dogs in our Yard
We have a neighbor whose yard is adjacent to our yard. They have two small dogs who come into our yard each time my daughters and dog are outside playing for any extended period of time. They get into our yard by digging under the fence we share. I talked to one of the neighbors and asked that she keep the dogs out of our yard. She described to me this electrical fence they have that is supposed to keep the dogs out. She said that the wires keep disconnecting and she does not know why. I told her that it sounds like there needs to be another solution because the dogs come into our yard all the time. This woman said that it is not her fault that the dogs come in our yard - it is because they are attracted to our daughters and our dog. We are not sure what our rights are and what action we can take if their dogs continue to come into our yard. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Neighbors' Dogs in our Yard
Call and write to the Animal Control Agency in your town or county. Send pictures. Ask them for enforcement services. If they don't respond, ask again and document your requests.
Re: Neighbors' Dogs in our Yard
You might also see if there is an "Alternative Dispute Resolution" or mediation center in your town, if you are interested in resolving this in a friendly manner.