Neighbor’s Shooting = New Fence
Putting up a new mesh fence around our home works for me (at least for now) . We have 20 acres completely fenced, but because of the angry neighbor have to tighten the play area for the dogs and children.
Our neighbor doesn’t like the dogs barking. About a month ago he began shooting at our dogs. We have two Great Pyrenees. They don’t bark a lot but they do bark at squirrels, rabbits, badgers, deer, foxes and other things that run in our yard frequently. This is the drawing I made to mark off the area for the new fence:
When the shooting first started DH and I discussed it and decided the best course of action would be to talk. So I went over and gave the guy our phone number and said please call us if our dogs bother you. We never met him before this. He was civil and agreed. DH went over another day to touch base and make sure he was happy. We don’t want an angry man with a gun nearby. We began tying up the dogs near the house (out of the neighbor’s vision and range).
All was quiet until last weekend. My children and hubby were in the pool and both dogs were tied in our yard but barking because the neighbor had company in his pool. Out of the blue we heard screaming “Shut those *%$#@ dogs up and shots were fired. We sent the kids in the house.
Dh and I decided we needed to report him to the police. I went to get the phone and by the time I got got back the guy drove up on a motorcycle in our driveway screaming and yelling and waving his arms like a mad man to shut our dogs up because he can’t enjoy 5 minutes of quiet. I believe he was drunk. It was 11 am. He was so wild I called 911.
If he would have called as I had asked I would have taken the dogs in the house.
He was gone by the time police arrived. The dogs never barked once while the police were here (they bark at people who shoot at them). We had a trespass warning issued (so he can’t return). BUT the police said he could shoot and we couldn’t do anything about it. He told the police he was shooting into the ground.
Once the police left, he marched up and down the fence line with a rifle shooting every few minutes. We can only hope nothing sets him off again. What if a bullet goes into my window and shoots my children? I pray for safety daily.
Tightening the area my dogs and children play in works for me for now. I also have a tripod set up on my front porch to video tape any shots fired into my property (as a deterrent). Here are photos of the new fence and front gates.
We chose mesh because we will be getting goats soon.
Hard to believe anyone would risk hurting these guys:
Works for Me Wednesday is a “blog carnival” (explained here). Be sure to check out lots of great tips on Works for Me Wednesday.
Related:
Popularity: 13% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Oh my goodness, that is just awful. I would be scared to death for the safety of my family. Aren’t there any laws about being a certain distance away from homes when shooting a gun? WOW!
Melanie’s last blog post..Fun Filled Trip
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 am
Not in the county. Its legal.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
IF he comes onto your property and shoots the gun than there has to be some sort of legal action to take. This is scary and for your children and dogs! They should feel safe on their own property!
Shannon’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Oh, DEAR! Praying for the safety of your family, including your animals.
On a lighter note, your property looks beautiful & serene (sans the gun guy!), Robin!:o) And…the dogs look as if they’ve bonded quite well…which makes me smile.
Psalm 91:9-11
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
AMEN…thank you, LORD, for your protection…
P*
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Yikes, Robin!!! Like you needed that!!! I’m sooo sorry this is happening to you. It makes me boiling mad. I’ll be praying for your family’s safety - what an aggravation.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Good heavens. I’ll be praying for you. It’s legal to shoot in the country, but it’s also legal to have animals! I figure if I move to the country I’ll encounter animals, farm equipment, fertilizer smells….the whole farming industry shebang. I hope he comes to his senses and sobers up before someone is hurt.
joyce’s last blog post..Life is a Bowl of Cherries
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
We used to have a neighbor that came outside and shot “into the ground” whenever he got mad. He actually terrorized his wife, and we did call the police on a number of occasions.
Your family and your property, including your animals, should not be threatened. I will pray the Father will continue to protect all of you.
Mara B.’s last blog post..Well, we did it
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 am
How sad that this has to happen. This man needs some prayers of release, he is definably a slave and believe it or not your dogs can sense this. We have one of the most sweetest dog in the world, but whenever we meet someone who might be troubled she has her own way of telling us, it has never failed….. Most dogs will bark, ours barks at the wind LOL.
It was wise of you to call 911 and also to have the fence. We just experienced a very difficult situation with a neighbor and yes, laying low in prayer as hard as it is, is the only solution, the results will be like pouring a bucket of ice cubes on a fire pit.
I will pray for this man’s heart to be set free.
Love and prayers,
Katia
Katia’s last blog post..Happy Fourth of July
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this lunatic neighbor! How terribly frightening for you and your family. By the way, your dogs are absolutely GORGEOUS! Did the Police do anything about him shooting into your yard, I mean you do have children? Have you tried calming talking to this neighbor and giving him your phone number and just say “Please call us anytime the dogs are bothering you?” Try to extend the olive branch so to say… Maybe a little sweetness on your part will let him see you and your family as real people and he will become more reasonable. I sure do have you and your entire family in my thoughts and prayers. Much love, xoxo-pm
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
[...] Neighbor’s Shooting = New Fence [...]
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 pm
I’m sorry Robin. To my human eyes, this is not what you need at this time in your life.
I understand it is legal to shoot in the country, we live here too and my dh and children like to fire the guns out into our 10 acres of woods. However, is this fella shooting onto YOUR property? Or is he just shooting at his own property to frighten you.
I cannot believe it is legal for him to send bullets onto your land even if he’s aiming at the dirt. There is no way. If the police you talked to told you that, I suggest getting a second opinion from someone else.
This is reckless behavior without regard for human or animal life. Okay, if he’s “shooting at the ground”, how can he be supernatural enough to be sure not one child nor hoof of your livestock will run into the trajectory of his bullet? This guy’s a flake and a menace. Please get a second opinion, Robin.
Love,
Beth
July 4th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Oh good grief! This would be so scary Robin! You can’t sit back and do nothing surely, yet you can’t run over there and possibly add more fuel to the fire. Oh dear Lord, please intervene in this situation and show Robin and her dh the correct course of action to take.
Love and hugs,
Susan <
Susan’s last blog post..Family Bible Study Guide: first 5 lessons
July 5th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I’m so God fearing til All I know is too my father. Didn’t he tell you if you hold your peace he’ll fight every battle. He’s badder
than anybody with a gun. So right now we goingto pray and leave at the alter. We request that God, intervin in this problem.
God want’s too if you’ll call him.So he can do his job. The Bible say we have not because we ask not hahahaha!!!!. so let’s be obedient too God’s word And just sit back and watch his might hand at work Ok.What you say.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I live in a rural area, too, but if someone were to walk up and down the edge of my property in a menacing fashion shooting a gun for the purpose of terrorizing me, then I would raise holy hell to the police. Your dogs are on your property, not his, and he’s doing this for the purpose to terrorize. He’s trying to control your behavior on your property.
I would contact federal law enforcement. Since 9/11, there are federal laws against terrorism.
Kim @ Up North Mommy’s last blog post..Thankful Thursday
July 11th, 2008 at 2:38 am