Trespassing

[Xandra]

We get people in our yard looking at our animals. We have a relatively short frontage but the lot is deep so they end up walking past our house, around about 200-300 ft into our yard. Often they bring children. Some guy just came carrying his toddler. They don't knock or anything they just stroll around. The animals aren't really visible from the street so I don't know how so many people even know they're there.

We also get people who try to use our place as a shortcut. We had one guy jog right past us, we're like "Hello?!?" and he's like "Oh, just trying to get over there" and didn't even wait for a reply, just kept going. Well you can't get through to the other side so he had to jog back.

This happens usually once a month, more now that it's summer.

Part of me says "it's something they don't see every day and they're just curious."

The other part of me is somewhat outraged and wants to let the dogs go to scare the pee out of them.

What do you think?

Do you get trespassers and how do you handle them?

 

[JennSLK]

I would let the dogs scare them. What animals do you have that people are trying to look at? Is it obvious that they are in your yard??

 

[Xandra]

Llamas and they are just barely visible from the sidewalk if you're looking at the right angle and they are standing right against the fence at the uppermost corner of their pen.

I feel kind of cruel letting the dogs scare them, especially since they usually have kids and the majority of them are not very good with English. Also there's always the potential for being reported and I don't want to bring that on my dogs.

 

[JessLough]

We used to have a big problem with kids throwing their balls over the fence into our backyard, and then helping themselves to go get it, and leaving the get open so Rosey would run out. It's stopped though, probably cause those kids grew up the new kids knock on the door and ask, or make sure they close the gate.

 

[JennSLK]

I would post signs, and then if the dogs bark at them, on YOUR property the people tresspassing can shove it.

 

[AliciaD]

A nice "Livestock/Property Guarded by Dogs" might work.

I'm surprised this is happening. I think I would be amused at first, but after a while I might turn violent. I understand you may want to play nice because a lot of them have kids. Sorry that's happening! It would drive me crazy and I'd probably go screaming after the jogger. It's one thing if they get lost and stumble onto your property, but to just help themselves is annoying.

 

[Saeleofu]

Do you have signs posted? There's a bison farm around here and they have signs plastered all over the pasture fence.

 

[Miakoda]

I'd be furious. And don't forget about the liability as once they step onto your property, you are then responsible for their well-being or you get to pay them.

I live in a neighborhood that was designed for homes with horses. We are one of those homes. And while I was a little girl once and can remember wanting to go visit the neighborhood horses, I currently have "NO TRESPASSING" signs on my fences. I'm concerned about my horses, but I'm also concerned about being sued by some ignorant person because he/she attempted to feed or touch a horse and got bitten in the process.

It's not worth it.

I have had people stop and ask me about the horses, and I've invited them to come meet them. But I also explain how if, in the future, they'd like to see them again, just come knock on the door.

 

[JessLough]

I'd be furious. And don't forget about the liability as once they step onto your property, you are then responsible for their well-being or you get to pay them.

I live in a neighborhood that was designed for homes with horses. We are one of those homes. And while I was a little girl once and can remember wanting to go visit the neighborhood horses, I currently have "NO TRESPASSING" signs on my fences. I'm concerned about my horses, but I'm also concerned about being sued by some ignorant person because he/she attempted to feed or touch a horse and got bitten in the process.

It's not worth it.

I have had people stop and ask me about the horses, and I've invited them to come meet them. But I also explain how if, in the future, they'd like to see them again, just come knock on the door.

This.

I was going to suggest signs that say something along of "Please ask my people before trying to see us", but if they come by often, that may get annoying.

I would just stick up "no trespassing" signs and call it a day.

 

[Xandra]

We don't have a sign because my dad thinks a "no trespassing" sign will attract people who think we've something of value back there. But I'm thinking I may just do it anyways and I guess if we start getting a load of creepers we will have to take it down lol.

I'm not sure how much good it'll do because these people already know they're trespassing, make no mistake. But despite the fact that they just seem to knowingly "help themselves" (that's a good way of putting it Alicia), maybe they'll sense the latent indignation and hostility through the sign and F off lol

I wouldn't put a livestock sign up because this is a residential area in a decent sized city. Most of the street is townhouses and there are high rises at the far corner of our block. Not really a livestock area so I don't want to advertise it

I wonder if these people aren't telling their friends or maybe they were just having a good wander through the yard and discovered them, because it's quite rare that you see them from the street (and you'd only see a part of one if you did). That's the other thing, I wonder just how many we don't "catch." It's probably like rats, you see one and you know you have many many more.

And while I also feel I would be in the right to at least let the dogs get their jollies with the ones trying to take a shortcut, I just really don't them whinging at the bylaw that they were aggressively charged or some such thing.

 

[Xandra]

I'd be furious. And don't forget about the liability as once they step onto your property, you are then responsible for their well-being or you get to pay them.

I live in a neighborhood that was designed for homes with horses. We are one of those homes. And while I was a little girl once and can remember wanting to go visit the neighborhood horses, I currently have "NO TRESPASSING" signs on my fences. I'm concerned about my horses, but I'm also concerned about being sued by some ignorant person because he/she attempted to feed or touch a horse and got bitten in the process.

It's not worth it.

I have had people stop and ask me about the horses, and I've invited them to come meet them. But I also explain how if, in the future, they'd like to see them again, just come knock on the door.

Yes I have thought about liability too. Though I'm not sure if its as crazy where I live (Canada), I think my father said the homeowner's insurance would cover something like that but I may be wrong.

Once I had a woman knock with her two children wanting to see them, I got the llamas out on halters and brought out a bucket of grain etc. I totally get wanting to see them and show your kids farm animals up close etc, city people don't get the opportunity very often, but the helping yourself thing gets under my skin.

Another time the pit bull of the people across the street chased a cat into our yard, one of the couple went to the door to inform us, the other went back to fetch the dog. I was happy to help, I offered a leash, treats, etc. (not that think someone must knock if their dog is currently loose but it was a nice gesture, ya know?).

Not these others, it's like they consider it public property.

 

[Kat09Tails]

Get the no trespassing sign - and a camera and press charges where you can. You have a reasonable expectation of privacy at your own home fence or no fence and you are under no obligation to have a petting zoo for the public just because you happen to have animals. I once got the PUD lady fired because she opened the door to my barn and was inside taking pictures of my rabbits. I walked out and said "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!" After she sputtered and made a hasty retreat to her van I called the PUD and raised holy hell.

 

[MericoX]

You have llamas, and there are no pictures?? WWHhhaatttt???

 

[JessLough]

You have llamas, and there are no pictures?? WWHhhaatttt???

This.

 

[Xandra]

ha ha Kat that last sign is good! I'm in Canada so any funny gun signs are OUT lol

I don't have many pictures of them, here's one (old photo), his name is Oscar, he's an ornery 16-17 year old gelding.

I have female I'll photograph soon.

 

[AliciaD]

So cute! Are they companions or do you keep them for fiber or work? You should totally burn their poop on those cold winter nights! :yikes: I want a llama now!!!

 

[Teal]

We used to get kids coming up through the park onto the property to look at our animals. One day, a woman was out there giving a tour of my animals to a small child... when I went out there and asked if I could help her with something, she said, "Oh no, just looking, thanks!"... Um, you're on private property ma'am! She had to get through a chained gate to get where she was! Luckily, we haven't had the problem in years... but it was pretty ridiculous for awhile.

 

[CharlieDog]

Ha, we just got one for our fence that says "No warning shots will be fired" and one to go next to it, that says "If you heard the bang, you weren't the target"

I rather like being in the south sometimes.

 

[twobadfish]

Can't you shoot people that trespass onto your property? Jk.. sort of

 

[AliciaD]

*GASP* You should put up a sign like "Nudists Here" or "Nude Colony on Premises"

That will deter some trespassers (although it may just open a whole other can of worms).