Dear Tiffani,

In my Livingston subdivision (which shall remain nameless) there are quite a few dog owners who let their pets roam to do their business in other people's yards. I called the City, but there's only so much they can do — and it's hard to track down the dog owners who aren't being very good neighbors. What can be done about irresponsible pet owners?

Signed, Exasperated 

Dear Exasperated,

Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where everyone was thoughtful and respected each other? But alas, that’s not reality. People not only have widely varying opinions about appropriate pet behavior, but we all tend to be too busy and distracted to implement ideals of neighborliness. It is certainly frustrating to see dogs roaming and messing up yards, and normal to want to do something about it. 

I spoke with Livingston’s wonderful Animal Control Officer, Judy Roy, and she sympathizes with your problem. You can call her at 406/823-6011 when you see dogs wandering in your subdivision, but she can only issue a ticket (of $45) for a Dog At-Large after the owners have been issued a first warning; either verbal or written. Plus, the trick is that she herself has to physically see the dog out before she can issue this ticket. Even if the offending dog owners receive a ticket, that is no guarantee they will keep their dogs at home.

What to do? Try to diplomatically talk to the owners; let them know their dog is wandering, they may not be aware of it or the problem it causes. I recently heard a story from a woman who had no idea her dog had been escaping to romp in a nearby park because the dog returned home before she did; she was shocked but grateful when a concerned neighbor told her about it. By emphasizing your concern for the dog’s safety instead of the problems he is causing, you have a greater chance of gaining your neighbors’ cooperation. If you do not know where the dog lives, follow him home, or ask other neighbors. Video taping is another way to identify an animal and demonstrate proof of problem behaviors. 

If the animal appears to be a stray or in danger, it can be brought into the Shelter either by the Animal Control Officer or a citizen. When the animal is reclaimed, we issue an I.D. tag for easy future identification, and attempt to educate the folks on the importance of containing their pet. The owners are required by the City or County to pay a fee to reclaim their pet and this can be a great incentive to control their animal; especially for repeat offenders.

If you’ve already tried to speak with your neighbors and seem to be getting nowhere, here are a few suggestions. You may need to fence your yard. While this may not seem fair just to keep other people’s dogs out, it is a proactive way to prevent problems. In addition to various fencing options, sharp rocks are good physical deterrents. (This could be a great opportunity to beautify your yard with interesting new landscaping!) You can use aversives (humane ways to deter unwanted behavior) to make your yard unattractive to wandering animals. Certain scents such as citrus odors, cayenne pepper, aloe or insect repellents (check first that it is safe for pets) around the perimeter of your yard may repel them. Do not use poisons. Not only is it illegal and inhumane, you don’t know who may ingest the poison – there have been many tragedies with people’s own pets or children when poison is used. A surprise such as a motion detector that makes a loud noise or squirts water may startle animals away. If you see unwelcome pets come into your yard, you could humanely use a low-powered squirt gun, a loud air horn, whistle, or shaker can ( a soda can full of pennies, pebbles or beans) to warn them away.

Remember to not take the animal’ behavior personally. It is natural for dogs to roam, and to relieve themselves where they smell other dogs have been. It is their person’s responsibility to contain them. 

I am personally grateful for the relaxed attitude and love of dogs most Montanans demonstrate and hope that increased communication and education will help folks be more aware of the importance of containing their pets. Thank you for raising a question that many people struggle with, and all the best in changing your yard from a public restroom to a personal oasis! 

Best of Luck, Tiffani

Tiffani Zimmerman is the Behavior Specialist at the Stafford Animal Shelter, Humane Society of Park County. Email questions to her at behavioradvice@imt.net or call 222-1312.