Neighbors.....again...

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inkjunkie

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Ernestina seen them leave something on the table outside our gate. I was working on my truck in the garage when she came in laughing. Ernie said the neighbors wanted to talk to us about our dogs...
Prior to Ernie & I putting up our fence, which is a wire field fence common in rural areas there was a rickety fence on the property line. Ernie & I decided to put our fence up about a foot from this...with having dogs we figured the 2 fences a foot or so apart would be a great buffer.
Back to today...note says our dogs are creating a problem on all 4 sides of OUR yard. This got Ernie fired up. She called Butch, the guy behind us. She asked Butch if he had a problem with our dogs...he just laughed at her. He said he will often start howling at them...just to fire them up. On east side of is is Jims empty parcel. When Jim is home and feeling up to it (he just had a quadruple bypass) he will often spend a few ours a day riding his ATV. Will make several passes close to the fence...with our 4 dogs in pursuit. When he turns from the fence the 4 will sit and wait for him to come back. South side is the road.
Ernie met the idiot at the fence. This past Sunday there little dog made it thru the fence...2 of ours grabbed it. Neighbor fired his 12 gauge into the ground...our dogs took off running. There dog went back thru the fence.
Ernie told him to stop for a second. She asked him why he took down the rickety fence that was acting as a buffer. He needed to "repurpose" it.
She told him to just hang on a second. She reminded him of the goat that hopped the fence...she then asked him if he had put up the electric wire that he said he was going to. Nope...She then reminded him of the goat that stuck his head thru the fence...and how he said he was going to put up a second fence to act as a buffer zone...in essence replace the fence that he "repurposed". Ernestina said he was speechless at this point.
While I am sure some folks will be saying that I am to blame neither of us see it that way. We put our fence up a foot of the existing fence, to act as a buffer. He took it down. He knows how big the openings re on the field fence. Getting a dog small enough to fit thru them...and allowing he dog to be unsupervised near the fence is simply stupid.
Do my dogs hang out near the fence? Sure do. Back when the hounds were puppies e observed their kids sticking their hands thru the fence to pet them. First we seen of it we met the kids...and thier folks at the fence..asked them to pet the dogs...didn't ant them to get in the habit of getting attention at the fence. Every time we caught the kids we would ask them to stop. Next time we seen the parents mentioned the kids still petting the dogs.
While I am sure some folks will still say we are to blame...we both feel that we are not..
I am allergic to stupidity. Couple this with 0 tolerance for stress...stress causing a manic episode...manic episodes for me often result in black out rage...so glad my wife is good at dealing with this crap...
Apolgies for the rambling length....
 
I wish I knew of a med that would fix stupid or at least sheild you from gettingbent up due to stupid. I'd be Trump X's Trump squared rich overnight!
 
Far as I see it, your dogs are in your yard, behind your fence, doing dog stuff.

Leave em be.

You were more than gracious to build the fence back a foot. You are giving up land and space in order to make things safer for your neighbours. Had they done the same, this would never be a problem. If they can't see that, well I imagine its because they spend most of the day look at the back of their teeth.
 
No problem. We all need to vent every once in a while. Better like this than what you've experienced.
 
I think those are very good words to tell them!
 
By putting your fence in a foot, he gained a foot of property by taking down his and letting yours be the new boundary...

Put another fence up outside your "new" one along the property line to keep the property lines "correct" and then he can't ***** about a fence on your property.

If he don't like it, tell him to build himself a buffer fence one foot inside the property lines, or his little doggie may end up as lunch someday.... Won't be your fault - he knows the risk he's putting his dog in.... He's just trying to blame you.... :icon_fU:
 
Exactly what I was thinking Karl.
OR build a moat?? Now that would be cool.
By putting your fence in a foot, he gained a foot of property by taking down his and letting yours be the new boundary...

Put another fence up outside your "new" one along the property line to keep the property lines "correct" and then he can't ***** about a fence on your property.

If he don't like it, tell him to build himself a buffer fence one foot inside the property lines, or his little doggie may end up as lunch someday.... Won't be your fault - he knows the risk he's putting his dog in.... He's just trying to blame you.... :icon_fU:
 
Well, a positive is that they came to you with their problem first instead of being total cowardly buttheads and calling animal control or the police in private. Those types are the worst.

Hope it works out.
 
Sure! Build a new fence right down the property line 1/2 way with out a buffer.
Not sure how it works where you live, but here in Ohio, TWP trustees handle fence disputes. Courts rarely do.
The answer is usually "if party A wants a fence built then the cost is split 50/50 on that side of the property line. The other 3 are also 50/50 splits with remaining property owners. Party A cannot force a fence on the remaining 3 sides. The fence must be placed on the property line and any deviation will result in the expense becoming the requester's burden. Party A cannot infringe upon Party B's property line. (neighbor can't decide to build fence 1 foot onto your property and if the fence goes anywhere but surveyed line, neighbor foots the bill 100%)
Learned this a couple years ago when a neighbor wanted me to build a fence on at a rental home I own. This ended up backfiring due to the fact there was a 14' alley between the 2 houses. I knew about the alley as it was a serious point of contention between my grand father and the city when they annexed 10' feet of yard in the 80's to create the alley in the 1st place. The alley has always been open but never paved. So the neighbor couldn't force the 50/50 on me, he would have had to get the city to do it. The city didn't want to build a fence nor did I so the matter was dropped. The neighbor tried to have the alley closed, then learned that if closed, I get 10' back. 10' of yard he was using as his. His property has little frontage which is why there was only 4' taken from that parcel back in the 80's. I basically told him I was all for closing the alley, then he was going to have to tear out his driveway because it would be on my property at that point.
Neighbor got pissy about the situation, but never heard about it again, until he sold, then new owner thru a fit when someone drove a tractor down the alley to access the lot behind his house to mow.
People need to survey when they buy.
 
Sounds like our neighbor who yells at any dog in the neighborhood to shut up if it barks. Then in the winter thinks it's ok to hook up his plow under our bedroom window at 3 in the morning.
 
So this rickety fence he repurposed...who built that in the first place? If that came with your house, then that's an issue right there. If I was in your position, I would walk next door and end the issue once and for all. Flat tell him that your dogs are contained to your property. Any and all animals he allows to cross onto your property, and then further cross the wire fence, will be killed and consumed by your dogs. As a courtesy, you confined your dogs, and purposefully created a buffer to mitigate any problems. By removing the property line fence, and then allowing his animals to cross onto your property, and further cross the containment fence, he is responsible for any and all damages/injury to his animals AS WELL AS YOUR animals, and your property. Goats can do incredible damage in a heartbeat. I would tell him that if his animals continue to come onto your property, you will have no choice but to persue legal action.

Obviously this would be a 100% different issue if your dogs were getting out and causing the issue, but that's not the case. It seems like that is the way they are reacting though. Victimhood and lack of accountability at it's finest.
 
Sure! Build a new fence right down the property line 1/2 way with out a buffer.
Not sure how it works where you live, but here in Ohio, TWP trustees handle fence disputes. Courts rarely do.
The answer is usually "if party A wants a fence built then the cost is split 50/50 on that side of the property line. The other 3 are also 50/50 splits with remaining property owners. Party A cannot force a fence on the remaining 3 sides. The fence must be placed on the property line and any deviation will result in the expense becoming the requester's burden. Party A cannot infringe upon Party B's property line. (neighbor can't decide to build fence 1 foot onto your property and if the fence goes anywhere but surveyed line, neighbor foots the bill 100%)
Learned this a couple years ago when a neighbor wanted me to build a fence on at a rental home I own. This ended up backfiring due to the fact there was a 14' alley between the 2 houses. I knew about the alley as it was a serious point of contention between my grand father and the city when they annexed 10' feet of yard in the 80's to create the alley in the 1st place. The alley has always been open but never paved. So the neighbor couldn't force the 50/50 on me, he would have had to get the city to do it. The city didn't want to build a fence nor did I so the matter was dropped. The neighbor tried to have the alley closed, then learned that if closed, I get 10' back. 10' of yard he was using as his. His property has little frontage which is why there was only 4' taken from that parcel back in the 80's. I basically told him I was all for closing the alley, then he was going to have to tear out his driveway because it would be on my property at that point.
Neighbor got pissy about the situation, but never heard about it again, until he sold, then new owner thru a fit when someone drove a tractor down the alley to access the lot behind his house to mow.
People need to survey when they buy.
So if I were your neighbor and you wanted a fence between us, I have to pay for half of it? That sounds like your city has to much power! Damn I'm glad I don't live in Ohio!
 
So if I were your neighbor and you wanted a fence between us, I have to pay for half of it? That sounds like your city has to much power! Damn I'm glad I don't live in Ohio!

No no. I think you gotta read it again. From the way I understand it, if the fence is to be built, it is split 50/50, but they can't force a fence on anyone.

The answer is usually "if party A wants a fence built then the cost is split 50/50 on that side of the property line. The other 3 are also 50/50 splits with remaining property owners. Party A cannot force a fence on the remaining 3 sides.

They also mention:

The fence must be placed on the property line and any deviation will result in the expense becoming the requester's burden. Party A cannot infringe upon Party B's property line. (neighbor can't decide to build fence 1 foot onto your property and if the fence goes anywhere but surveyed line, neighbor foots the bill 100%)

So basically if you want a fence built, but the neighbour doesn't, you can still build one entirely on your side of the line, 100% your cost.

Obviously with an outside part to intervene and mediate as well it's probably something that ends up going very smoothly for the most part. No need to drag things to court. Although I could be misunderstand everything there lol. It's been known to happen.
 
No no. I think you gotta read it again. From the way I understand it, if the fence is to be built, it is split 50/50, but they can't force a fence on anyone.



They also mention:



So basically if you want a fence built, but the neighbour doesn't, you can still build one entirely on your side of the line, 100% your cost.

Obviously with an outside part to intervene and mediate as well it's probably something that ends up going very smoothly for the most part. No need to drag things to court. Although I could be misunderstand everything there lol. It's been known to happen.
Basically what I learned was,
If a fence already exists, and is in a state of disrepair, if one party wishes to press the issue, then yes, you are financially responsible for 50%. If no fence exists, then it cannot be forced. Unless it's an agricultural situation where livestock are involved. I also learn that the TWP trustees will file a lien against your property to cover the cost. They will foreclose on you. Livestock should be fenced regardless.
Keep in mind, most of the time when the complaining party finds out they're on the hook for 50%, that's usually the end of it. It's also not automatic, there will be a hearing held. Say you've got a fence line that is in disrepair, but it's been that way for years, you decide you want to replace it to sell your home. You can't stick your neighbor for the 50/50 split.
Its pretty much a common sense process.
 
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Well if I live in said^^^^^ community and I wanted the fence replaced, I would put in a new fence and pay for it! Period! But wait if I raise hell with the city about it, Their going to demand that I only have to pay for half while my neighbor pays HALF? Do I have it right? Hell sign me up! I'll get a fence for half price?
 
Fences and neighbors...
I don't live out in the country, but right here on my 7-house cul-de-sac in Orange County we also had a fence war.
Next-door neighbors who didn't like each other. Neighbor1 wanted to build a block wall to fence in part of his side yard. City code said he could build it from the existing fence line at the back of his house toward the street as far as the front corner of his house. He approached Neighbor2 about building it right down the property line and splitting the cost.
Neighbor2 didn't want the fence so told Neighbor1 to stuff it.
Neighbor1 then built the fence entirely on his side of the property line - all legal to city code. Neighbor2 couldn't do a darn thing about it.
Neighbor2 hated looking at the block wall so contracted and built a vinyl fence on his side of the property line to mask the block wall.
Now you drive into our cul-de-sac and see two walls not more than 3-4 inches apart...

Oh yeah, both have since sold and moved out of state...leaving the walls behind!
 
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