I didn’t read any of the other replies, but I would call the police and report exactly what’s happening (i.e. disturbing the peace).
Best advice. Mind your own business until their actions directly affect your family or property. Neighbor feuds never end well.
Am I perhaps the only person who has yet posted in this thread who believes a conversation is the only ethical first step in situations like this? I would go talk to both of them.
I’ve lived in many places, in many neighborhoods, as I’ve traveled across the socioeconomic spectrum. I’ve always found people to be receptive when you complain in a diplomatic way. People seem irrational to you from your vantage point, but unless someone is truly insane (I have not yet encountered), people generally want to get along and not have quarrels with their neighbors. Everything from dogs barking, to cats shitting in my wife’s flowers, to reckless driving in a neighborhood full of children on bikes and skateboards, to late night loud parties. I’ve knocked on doors for all of these issues, and I can’t think of a single time it’s ever ended badly. It’s been completely ineffective a time or two (cats and their shit, for instance), but has never resulted in any kind of escalation, and it’s been effective more often than not.
It’s all in your presentation. Coming at someone when you’re not mad is the first step; so if what they’re doing pisses you off, wait until you’ve had a cocktail and taken some deep breaths before you go over. Secondly, you don’t even have to make any demands or ultimatums; simply pointing out that they’re doing something that’s annoying you is more than enough to change behavior, for the vast majority of people.
This is basic human interaction shit. I’m a little surprised to see some of the suggestions here, where I would expect a more assertive/proactive attitude about such things.
Talk to the mom, maybe. There is no talking to someone that dangles a dog by its legs and punches it in the face.
Sure there is. If he knew someone was witnessing his crimes, I bet it would completely change his tune. He’s still a kid- it’s quite possible he’s never been confronted for cowardly shit like that before. He might remain an asshole, but it would likely give him pause the next time. Do you remember the first time you caught someone witnessing you doing some retarded bullshit? I be you remembered it again later.
If you really want to confront her about the Dog get a friend from out of town to do it for you. Let him pretend to be from your neighborhood. Let him give a false name. It will drive them nuts and this semi-fictious individual will be the focal point for all young Johnny Troubleboy’s animus and they will go nuts trying to figure out where he lives in the neighborhood.
Problem is, you can’t reason with crazy.
Dude is holding a dog by the hind legs, and using it as a speed bag.
Drunken college kids and rap music is a nuisance. Euro’s got Norman Bates living behind him.
Probably. People who don’t know enough to have basic respect for their neighbors, let alone don’t know you can’t kick the shit out of a dog like a punching bag, certainly aren’t going to respond to reasonable interaction with their neighbors.
If they were the kind of people that you could be “reasonable” with, you wouldn’t be dealing with these kinds of issues in the first place. It’s a lot like asking a group of drug dealers / gang bangers to turn their music down because it’s disturbing you. They simply won’t even be able to relate to such a request and are as likely to become offended by the request as anything else.
I bet the only thing that happens is he vandalizes your property when you are at work.
For the record, I’ve never dangled a dog by it’s legs and punched it in the face. I’ve never even done anything close to that. And if I had, I’d be deserving of everything that came my way. Nobody would have owed me any kind of consideration or courtesy for anything like that.
If somebody came up behind and pillow cased me then kicked me within an inch of my life, I would have had it coming. Calling the cops would have been letting me off easy.
When was the last time you tried? My experience with drug dealers has been that they’re just as receptive to diplomacy as anyone. It’s not a lasting solution, but I did get a dispassionate “mah bad. Won’t happen again,” a handshake, and a temporary reprieve, with no repercussions.
Don’t assume you know how people think or will react. There could be a very simple solution here - it would be a damn shame to miss it.
There’s a chance that the kid has not been diagnosed with a mental illness, and the problem is that he’s a spoiled brat who gets his way by throwing tantrums. Thus, his mother has been enabling this behavior since day 1 and is not likely to cease. If so, this nut will be more difficult to crack. I agree that he’s crazy. My background says proceed with caution because he can get away with stuff that Euro can’t should the kid decide on payback. This idiot has nothing to lose.
Nah I wouldn’t try talking it out you have no idea how many assault calls get started that way. Then when LE arrive both sides claim to be the victim and if LE has never delt with either side no one wins. I would agree if the kid was 8 but twenty yeah there is no talking he will only assault or vandalize your stuff. He may chill out but the negative outcome out weighs the good from being civil. I hate to say it but people treating people like people has almost past. The " marjority" of people these days are to self absorbed to be considerate of their fellow man. Sorry to be a negative Nancy. And I have no idea what twilight zone you are in where drug dealers are so laid back. I have seen a guy beat his own uncle with a ball peen hammer over a drug debt.
Why do you make the assumption that because some people of a certain segment can’t be reasoned with, that all people of that segment can’t? Unreasonable people will always be the minority, of any group or class of people. Most people can be reasoned with, whether they sell used cars, construction finance packages, or narcotics. Obviously the likelihood of an unreasonable person goes up, with the drug dealer; but it’s still going to be a minority. Odds are still in favor of favorable outcomes by simply making a good point.
After a few dozen times I finally caught on. Apparently the drug dealers in your state are more reasonable than the ones in mine.
And given several of my experiences with attempted diplomacy, I was forced to evaluate risk vs. reward and actions that resulted in positive resolutions. My current “standard plan” for problem neighbors is based upon all of those past experienced and the lessons learned. It’s a shame you don’t live on the block, I’d be more than happy to let you take a run at it next time I have a problem neighbor. I’d actually prefer a simple solution that doesn’t require action from me, but rarely do I get that lucky. Usually it’s a lot of freaking work on my part, and I don’t do it because it’s enjoyable…I do it because I have things to lose.
Wanna know how I know you’ve never lived in District 13, Ft. Lauderdale? Because you are still breathing. Don’t know where you live, but my advice is stay there…you have a good thing going.
The OP says he’s decided on his course of action.
This thread is not about social interaction models with unlicensed pharmacists. So let’s not take it way off track.
OP - if you need this reopened, hollar.
Per the OP’s request, I am reopening the thread for some new info.
Do keep the thread on-track when you post information to assist the OP. Consider this the only warning before I go Weapons Free on a post, if somebody engages in moar derp.
Before, I was all about letting him be. It sucks, but I had no desire to get involved.
However, the dog that he beats must have separation anxiety or something like that because it whines all day long. I can hear it through his home’s closed windows and my closed windows. It is a loud, incessant whining/barking mix that is driving me nuts. I actually have to wear ear plugs to accomplish anything. This has been going on for at least 2 weeks and happens all day while they are not home.
The city’s ordnance states this is a PD issue, and to call the non emergency line if/when it occurs. However, their response time to something like this would be no less than 30 minutes to something as long as a few hours if they show up at all.
To those of you suggesting I “talk to the guy”. A few nights ago my dog was outside around 7:00pm, and she started barking for all of 10 seconds. I mean, I literally began walking to the back door to let her inside when I heard her start barking. As I opened the door I heard crazy guy moaning and yelling “SOMEONE SHUT THAT ****ING ANIMAL UP”, and I lost my cool and said something along the lines of “Hey hotshot, your annoying ass dog barks all day long. How about you settle the **** down and worry about what’s happening on your side of the fence before worrying about mine?”
He hopped up over the wooden fence (He must have been standing on something, because he’s a short little fat boy) started screaming incoherent expletives, like, shit that didn’t even make sense. Like “****. AHH. OMG. WHAT? ****. NO WAY. ****. AHHH” and then said “I’ll kill you and your whole family and your dog and EVERYONEEEE” and then ran back inside. Weirdest, craziest, nuttiest experience of my entire life guys. The dude is off his meds.
In hindsight, I should have called LE right then.
So now I have two issues. His dog which obviously only barks when he’s not home. The neighbors are all aware of it and I’ve spoken to a few of them so it’s not like LE is going to think I’m making this up, but he obviously has no idea it happens because he’s never there. After PD warns him once, the city can fine him $163 for every barking incident that at least 2 independent non-related neighbors over 18 years old swear to on an affidavit.
And the second issue is him, who’s a certifiable nutjob and the only thing separating him and I is a 6ft wooden fence. I’ve got insurance and guns, so I’m not too concerned, but I still don’t know what to do.
Unfortunately, I have no witnesses with his little over-the-fence threat.
If someone enters your property, threatening you, how does he leave without a broken nose or a police escort? Police needed to be called after that one. That’s a clear threat and should’ve been documented. Won’t complaining about his dog just cause him to beat it more? I would think your best course of action would be to get him on video beating the dog and worry less about getting him fined because his dog is barking.
Video camera with audio set up in the backyard on a long loop record. That way if he comes over your fence again, you have it on camera, and it will keep an eye on your property when YOU are away.
As for his dog, do realize that the minute he gets fined, that dog is dead…
And consider running a hotwire (fence charger) along the top of your side of the fence. It will slow him down the next time he tries to hop the fence.