What do you do if your neighbors dog runs loose? Here’s What to Expect

If you’re worried about the health and safety of your family, especially young children, speak to the neighbor in person as soon as possible. Explain what happened and why you are concerned. Try to avoid being angry and confrontational, but make it clear that the problem needs to be addressed immediately.

The police department may not be willing to get involved unless there is an imminent threat to health or safety, but you can contact the Animal Control Department. They may investigate, issue a fine and order the neighbor to address the issue.

If you live in a residential area, several of your neighbors probably have pets. Someone else’s cat or dog that wanders into your yard from time to time may not be an issue if it’s friendly, but an animal that bites or scratches your children or pets, or that leaves waste behind, can be a danger to your family’s health and safety.

In some cases, you may have to get an attorney to send a letter threatening to take legal action if the neighbor does not resolve the matter. If you file a nuisance lawsuit because of a repeated problem, a judge may order the neighbor to remedy the situation and impose a fine.

Consider Legal Action If the neighbor fails to resolve the issue, you may have to get the authorities involved. Most municipalities have laws related to the types of animals that residents may own and how they must be confined or restrained. You can check to find out if your neighbor is in violation of any ordinance.

Why Do Neighbors Let Their Dogs Run Loose?

There are several reasons why neighbors let their dogs run around:

  • They don’t believe in dog chaining
  • The dog can be suffering from some illness
  • Your neighbors are not aware their dog is not tethered
  • Most communities have clear laws on loose canines and mandate all owners to ensure their pets are leashed, especially on public property. They can run loose on private property, provided the owner supervises them.

    Most dogs are friendly and don’t bite, but some can be possessive and vicious. Check out why and when to worry about loose dogs in the table below:

    Common Issues With Untethered Dogs Brief Explanation
    Attacking a passerby Canines can attack and cause harm to bystanders, especially if they’re untrained
    Cynophobia (fear of dogs) If someone has cynophobia, they can get a panic attack if they see a dog running loose
    Untrained dogs Some dogs are untrained or aggressive enough to attack little children
    Accidents If the house gate is open, they can run out on the street and risk getting injured
    Invade other people’s property Dogs can get onto other people’s properties and create a mess
    Accidentally run into a shooting range They can even get into a shooting range and risk getting shot

    Resolving the Problem Directly with Your Neighbor

    The best option for addressing a constantly barking or dangerous dog, a loud rooster crowing at the break of dawn, or a cat repeatedly sneaking into your house, is to talk to the neighbor responsible for the offending animal in a non-confrontational manner. The chances are that they are not aware of how much of a problem their pet is causing.

    If your neighbors animals are creating a problem that cannot be resolved through discussion and negotiation, you may be able to invoke a local ordinance or state law. Laws regulating pets and other animals often have the terms “dogs,” “animal control,” or “animal law enforcement” in the title. The following animal behavior, pet owner actions, or other conditions are typically regulated by such laws:

  • Number of animals allowed per household and yearly licensing requirements
  • Types of animals allowed in a home
  • Length of time and frequency of dog barking allowed
  • Leash requirements for dogs
  • Cleaning up after your pet
  • Willful abandonment or neglect of a pet
  • Restrictions on vicious or dangerous animals
  • Containers and proper disposal methods for animal waste disposal
  • Proper loading and transportation of animals, such inside of a personal vehicle
  • Animal abuse, cruelty, or inhuman treatment
  • Spaying or neutering requirements and regular veterinarian care
  • Rabies vaccination requirement
  • As a rule of thumb, the police department will not be able to help you unless it is an urgent situation. It may be more helpful to call your local animal control service instead. If they believe your complaint has merit, then they may contact the owner of the offending animal with a warning. If the problem continues, the neighbor may receive a citation, similar to a traffic ticket, which the neighbor can pay or challenge in court.

    If repeated complaints to the local animal control authorities do not solve a noise or barking problem, then you may want to consider filing a nuisance lawsuit in court. If the suit is successful, the court may order the owner to remedy the situation or face steep fines, or even jail time, for disobeying the court order. The court generally will intervene with an order only if it considers the problem both “substantial” and “continuous.”

    Beyond barking, an animal may have vicious or dangerous propensities. For example, local laws may require muzzling for certain breeds of dogs or animals in general who have poor temperament or are prone to unprovoked biting. In general, proving pet owner negligence is a matter of showing that a caretaker failed to take reasonable precautions to limit a known (or foreseeable) danger posed by an animal, such as in instances where there may be a compelling reason for muzzling a hostile dog, maintaining it in a fenced environment away from the property of others, or keeping it on a leash at all times.

    How To Stop Your Neighbor’s Dog From Barking – Short Version

    Some dog owners seem unaware of the potential dangers of letting a dog run loose into other people’s properties, not to mention the psychological effect that wild dogs encounters have on some people and especially little children.

    If you have a loose dog in the neighborhood, there are friendly ways and less accomodating ones to deal with the problem.

    In fact, depending on the local regulations, your neighbor might be breaking the law and you have every right to report the incident.