Big dumb jerk threatened Max!

[micki76]

Originally posted by Aspen and Misty
Agreed. While I don't think it's right for him to shoot your dog. He does have every right to, and there are leash laws, so I can also see how he could be upset. I would be upset if my neighbors let there dog run loose, manly because of my life style. I haev small animals who are out on the porch all day long who I dont' want scared away (or hurt), just like his life style is to hunt deer/bear, he has deer/bear out on his lawn day and night who he doesn't want scared, this is his way of life, I think respecting it is the best thing a good neighbor can do.

On another Note: People letting there dog's off leash is one of my bigest pet Peeves, if a dog ever came on to to my property without it's leash on the owner would get a HUGE ear full (I have done it before) or I would call the Human Society and have them pick the dog up. (Even if I lived in the boonies I would still do this)

I hope you can work something out that is Safe for Max. He's such a sweetie!

Ashley

^ what she said.

[Glacier]

Originally posted by Queen of Poop
Call me the dumb Canadian but I don't see how any of this can be going on. I'm very scared for your family and Max. If someone is going to shoot at a dog, they could also shoot at a person, accidentally. I hope and pray that all of you remain safe.

The situation would be the same in Canada. I'm a Canadian too and it's perfectly legal here to shoot a dog who is on your property and/or threatening your livestock, wildlife, business, family ect. You don't even really have to prove the dog was threatening or harassing..if it's on your property you can get away with shooting it. It sucks, but it's true!

[stacwase]

I think the cable idea would be the most practical for us. I can't build a fence by myself, and my husband is in Iraq. We also live right on bedrock, so the fence supports would have to be set in rock, which would be very expensive to hire somebody to do.

I just hate it. We're in the freakin' middle of nowhere! We're down a pothole-filled dirt road and everything. Our only neighbors besides Big Dumb Jerk are way across the hayfield, and I talked to them before we moved in to see how they felt about dogs. I didn't think he would be there often enough to worry about him. The neighbors have really old dogs, and they said they've never lost a dog to an accident or an animal attack, so it did seem pretty safe here.

My stepdaughter works for a guy who knows the jerk, and he says "Be very careful of him, he's mean." Grr.

I know bear attacks are rare, and normally I wouldn't even worry about them. We've had them in our campsite and night and everything. But the bus stops at the same place where we're supposed to set out our garbage and they do love to get into the garbage. I'd hate for him to accidentally take one by surprise - or scare a mother with her cubs. It stinks that this guy is deliberately attracting them.

I'm just being a big baby, I know. But Max doesn't even chase deer.

Sorry for blabbering on and on. It's just that we bought this place with Max in mind.

[wolf_Q]

He's indoors most of the time now, and when he does go outside he stays in the yard 90% of the time.

So there's a 10% chance every time he's loose that he'll run off. That's a risk that in my opinion, shouldn't be taken. I do not appreciate dogs off leash coming and bothering me or my dogs, it doesn't matter if I'm in the country or the city. While there are some dogs and some situations where off-leash is OK, most of time it is not, especially if you are bothering others.

No I don't think how he acted is ok, nor do I think whatever illegal activities he's doing is ok. But if you want to keep Max safe, don't let him loose.

[kingrattus]

I don't know about the usa but in Canada its illegle to bait wild game!!



How about getting one of those underground wires to keep Max in ur yard??

All I know is do not get the ones out of pet stores, they tend to rust & break underground. Get a pro. to put one in with thick wire, that should last over 10 years.

[Glacier]

Originally posted by stacwase
I think the cable idea would be the most practical for us. I can't build a fence by myself, and my husband is in Iraq. We also live right on bedrock, so the fence supports would have to be set in rock, which would be very expensive to hire somebody to do.

I'm just being a big baby, I know. But Max doesn't even chase deer.

Sorry for blabbering on and on. It's just that we bought this place with Max in mind.

I have five cable trolley style tie-outs in my yard. They work great. I use them for the dogs that can't live in the pens with other dogs--my blind guy, my dog aggressive girl. Never had any trouble with them and it gives the dogs plenty of room to run and play.

Is your property treed? Our house is built on permafrost so we can't really set in posts in most areas--at least not easily. We use trees as fence posts and then added sections of wire along the ground so the dogs can't dig under. Maybe when your hubby gets home you could try that? (I hope he will be home soon, safe and sound BTW)

[stacwase]

Yes, Glacier - my property is treed! what a good idea. It would blend in so much better with the nature, too. Until my husband comes home, I could do the trolley thing between trees, rather than trying to set in posts to attach it to.

Why didn't I think of that? It's so obvious!

Now if I can just find a way to keep him from bolting.

I was talking to the lady with the life estate about my problem, and she says that she has solved the problem with her dogs' extremely high energy levels by setting aside two hours very early in the morning, before anybody else is up, when they are allowed to run. At that time, the only real risk is a porcupine - and she feels that by letting them run off the energy she's actually decreasing the chance of them getting injured, because they don't bolt out the door during the daytime when Big Dumb Jerk is next door. She's 82 years old and been raising dogs on this property her entire adult life. They've all lived to ripe old ages (except the ones who have died of cancer), so she must know what she's talking about.

She told me about why she got dogs. She used to live in the house we live in now, and one day she walked out in the garage and found herself in there with a mama bear and her two cubs! Through the garage is the only way out in the winter, as the snow gets so deep that it's not feasible to keep both doors free of snow. Every morning after that, she would find them in her garage and she just couldnt' get rid of them. So - she got dogs and never had a problem with bears in her garage or deer in her garden again. Her dogs have always been indoor/outdoor. They sleep inside and come in and out whenever they want. She says she doesn't know if it was the smell of the dogs or what, but the dogs never actually had to tangle with the bears.

I thought that was an interesting story.

Anyways - back to Max. I think a combination of a trolley (I'll keep it near my garden!) and limited run time would probably be the safest option.

[pitc9]

I feel bad for you!
You bought the house and land, thinking that Max could have a wonderful life, running his little head off... but then you have this jerk doing this to you.

I know how you feel! We fenced in our yard and still have to sit outside and babysit because the stupid neighbor doesn't watch their dog when she's loose. (they have no fence, leash... nothing! The dog doesn't even wear a collar!!)
grrrrr!

So, it may not be bears and guns I have to worry about but I do know how you feel!

If I were you I'd feel bad having to tie him up when you have all that land! I sure hope things work out for you and Max!
I also hope your hubby comes home safe!!!

[ramanth]

Stacey....can you see this bait pile from your house? My dad hunts and he's always told me that if a house is in sight, you do not shoot. It's illegal to discharge a firearm within so many yards of a home. And I think it's also illegal to bait in MI. I'd definately contact the DNR or something....

Hugs to you and Max.

[stacwase]

Thanks for the kind words, Pitc!

Ramanth, I can't see his bait pile. I just got the impression that he was attempting to attract the bear from some of the things that he was saying. He was very excited about the opportunity to kill this bear. Personally, I think that's absolutely terrible but that's my own opinion.

I need to get a platt map, but I think he owns like 40-80 acres. His "camp" (the garage he stays in while he's there) is right across the street from our house, but his deer blinds are further into his land.

He kept saying things like "I know what he's like. I know what he eats."

He also made a point of telling me that he has cameras pointed at his bait piles. He just sits inside and watches the bait piles on his cameras. What - was he afraid I was going to do something to them?

Then he made a big deal about the wood he had stacked up for his wood stove - making sure he mentioned that it was his, and he was using it. Like I was going to steal his freaking wood!

It's legal to bait deer here. It's so easy to just throw some bear bait into your deer bait pile. I know he's baiting the bear - because he made such a point of telling me he had the cameras pointed at the piles and he was hoping to snap a picture of him there.

He likes to shoot at night, which is also illegal. But he turns other people in for hunting out of season.

I would turn him in to the DNR, but he's scary. I don't want to make him mad.

[ramanth]

I hear ya.

Despite it not being hunting season yet, as far as I know..., hopefully he won't be around much in the winter and in the summer.

*hugs*

Originally posted by stacwase
I would turn him in to the DNR, but he's scary. I don't want to make him mad.

[DJFyrewolf36]

Can't you make an anynomus call? I sure would! Here (in NV) it's illigal to shoot within so many feet of developed property, and you can't hunt unless its A season and B you're in a designated hunting zone owned by the BLM. I'm not sure what the hunting laws in MI are though. I would go online and see what the laws are, and if he is breaking them I would inform somebody. I understand if he came over and said "I'm worried that someone might shoot your dog if he was over here" but from what you discribed, he seemed really rude and threatning.

Be careful and keep Max safe!

[caseysmom]

Wow what a scary guy Keep your babies safe...I can't imagine someone shooting a dog.

[sabies]

What a shame. Neighbors make all the difference, and yours just sounds like jerk. Keep an eye on him and learn the laws regarding hunting. Make sure he knows you have your eyes on him - don't let him bully you around! Max is an easy target for people like him since dogs don't have many rights, but Max won't be his only target. I understand not wanting to complain but I think he will give you a hard time about anything and everything no matter what. You need to show him that you are the alpha neighbor on the block now!