Harassing Neighbor

[Jilliann]

I need some advice please.  I have a neighbor that has been giving me a hard time since I bought my house 4 years ago.  I have a very tame, non-aggressive Rottweiler that she is afraid of.  He occasionally has gotten out in the past and run into her yard.  Never defecated, dug up, anything etc.  Just sniffed and literally runs back in my house.  We have since bought a training collar and it hasn't happened in quite some time.  I got a Chihuahua for Christmas and he has done the same thing.  My dogs are literally back in the house in less than 5 minutes.  They do not run the streets or the neighborhood as some others do.  She has called the police several times stating that I let my dogs run loose.  I would never do that, my dogs are like my kids.(which my husband and I have 6.  Which tells you how friendly my dogs are.)  She has now turned to threatening my children.  she has threatened while speeding down the road to run my 13 and 10 year old over.  She has cussed out my 15.  She has 4 grandchildren that live with her that have invited my kids to play basketball.  She said that if they come on her property again she is going to call the police on them. As you can imagine my kids are now worried about going to jail. Needless to say, I have not filed complaints just ignored her and told my kids to stay away and off her property.  I have not wanted to instigate anything.  Now, I have the chief of police telling me that if they receive one more complaint that animal control is going to come take my dogs away.  They haven't been out of the house in months and when they are it is 5 minutes, literally.  They come right back and right in the house.  The thing that concerns me, is I called the police station to discuss the matter and they tell me there is not log stating that anybody went to my house and the police chief will not return my calls.  I want to talk to somebody because I was not home when they informed my 13 year old daughter that we are in danger of losing our dogs.  Can I file harassment charges against her?  Is there a law against false complaints?  My family is worried to death that this woman is going to make another false complaint and we are going to loose our dogs.  What are our rights?

ANSWER: I dont know whats\ that you live in  nor do I know the laws in your county or town. Every state, county, and even town has its own laws.  However you have mentioned several things that would be against the law in MY county.  Of course you can file charges against the other party but I would suggest that  you have documentation about the things that you are complaining about.  I don't know why the police chief  won't return your calls but my advice  would be to schedule an appointment to meet with him.  It sounds like this isn't a very big city if you are  calling  the chief.  If  he won't meet with you then  call the prosecutors office and find out what legal remidies that you have as a citizen.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

I just wanted to let you know that I live in Aberdeen, Maryland and yes it is a small town.  I did finally get a response.  As it turns out the woman actually went to the mayors office and made a verbal false complaint.  He has since informed me that he came out as a public courtesy and that everything is ok and nothing is on paper.  However, if she does complain again, there will be a written report and a full investigation by animal control.  I guess what I was wondering, what kind of documentation/proof do I need of her actions?  At this point I only have the words of my children and the neighborhood children.  I feel like it is more or less my word against hers.

[Dickie]

I need some advice please.  I have a neighbor that has been giving me a hard time since I bought my house 4 years ago.  I have a very tame, non-aggressive Rottweiler that she is afraid of.  He occasionally has gotten out in the past and run into her yard.  Never defecated, dug up, anything etc.  Just sniffed and literally runs back in my house.  We have since bought a training collar and it hasn't happened in quite some time.  I got a Chihuahua for Christmas and he has done the same thing.  My dogs are literally back in the house in less than 5 minutes.  They do not run the streets or the neighborhood as some others do.  She has called the police several times stating that I let my dogs run loose.  I would never do that, my dogs are like my kids.(which my husband and I have 6.  Which tells you how friendly my dogs are.)  She has now turned to threatening my children.  she has threatened while speeding down the road to run my 13 and 10 year old over.  She has cussed out my 15.  She has 4 grandchildren that live with her that have invited my kids to play basketball.  She said that if they come on her property again she is going to call the police on them. As you can imagine my kids are now worried about going to jail. Needless to say, I have not filed complaints just ignored her and told my kids to stay away and off her property.  I have not wanted to instigate anything.  Now, I have the chief of police telling me that if they receive one more complaint that animal control is going to come take my dogs away.  They haven't been out of the house in months and when they are it is 5 minutes, literally.  They come right back and right in the house.  The thing that concerns me, is I called the police station to discuss the matter and they tell me there is not log stating that anybody went to my house and the police chief will not return my calls.  I want to talk to somebody because I was not home when they informed my 13 year old daughter that we are in danger of losing our dogs.  Can I file harassment charges against her?  Is there a law against false complaints?  My family is worried to death that this woman is going to make another false complaint and we are going to loose our dogs.  What are our rights?

ANSWER: I dont know whats\ that you live in  nor do I know the laws in your county or town. Every state, county, and even town has its own laws.  However you have mentioned several things that would be against the law in MY county.  Of course you can file charges against the other party but I would suggest that  you have documentation about the things that you are complaining about.  I don't know why the police chief  won't return your calls but my advice  would be to schedule an appointment to meet with him.  It sounds like this isn't a very big city if you are  calling  the chief.  If  he won't meet with you then  call the prosecutors office and find out what legal remidies that you have as a citizen.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

I just wanted to let you know that I live in Aberdeen, Maryland and yes it is a small town.  I did finally get a response.  As it turns out the woman actually went to the mayors office and made a verbal false complaint.  He has since informed me that he came out as a public courtesy and that everything is ok and nothing is on paper.  However, if she does complain again, there will be a written report and a full investigation by animal control.  I guess what I was wondering, what kind of documentation/proof do I need of her actions?  At this point I only have the words of my children and the neighborhood children.  I feel like it is more or less my word against hers.

[Saelac]

Lynne,    I can't tell you how the government of Aberdeen, Maryland works or whether there will be a written report or not.  You are dealing with people who have discretion on what kind of action will be taken, what reports are written or not written, and what happens next.  You have to realize that every single town, county, burg, etc, works differently.  By the way you could have asked the mayor what will happen next.   If I were you I would simply document everything that happens.  Document means keeping a journal of sorts and write down everything that happens in the future and everything that has happened in the past with approximate dates.   To be honest with you the reason that no one wants to do anything or take any action is because it is your word against hers and no government official wants to be involved in a case like that.