A woman has been living in fear after her neighbour allegedly began harassing her and her dogs for using their own garden. The ordeal, which has lasted 10 months, has left her constantly on edge, avoiding her neighbour and worrying every time she lets her two young dogs outside.
Sharing her experience on Reddit, the homeowner explained that the problems started when her neighbour built a makeshift patio just a foot away from the shared fence. This proximity means she can hear every conversation, and the neighbour's dog regularly barks along the fence line. Her own dogs, still in training, occasionally bark back, but she insists she is working to correct the behaviour.
However, the real issue is the neighbour's reaction. She claims he has repeatedly shouted at her dogs to "shut up", thrown objects and rocks through gaps in the fence, and sprayed her and her dogs with a clear liquid several times while they were in her own garden. She also alleges hearing him mutter "f***ing dogs" whenever her pets are outside.
Police Involvement and Continued Harassment
Initially, she avoided confrontation due to her dislike of conflict, but after being sprayed herself, she reported the incident to police. Officers visited, but the neighbour did not answer the door. He later claimed it was his children playing with water. Months later, the same thing happened again, with the neighbour insisting he was only emptying pool water, despite knowing she and her dogs were on the other side of the fence.
Her husband later spoke to the neighbour, explaining the dogs were in training and asking him to stop throwing objects. The neighbour appeared to agree, but within days, his children were again throwing rocks through fence gaps while her small dogs were nearby. Fearing for her dogs' safety, she asked the children's mother to intervene.
She noted that living in a neighbourhood involves accepting some noise. "Their kids make noise, their dog barks and my dogs bark sometimes too," she said. She argued that by building their patio so close to the fence, they cannot expect complete quiet when she uses her garden.
Ongoing Garden Harassment and Advice Sought
The woman now warns she will call the police if another incident occurs and has already filed one official report. However, without security cameras covering that side, she worries she lacks evidence. She only lets her dogs outside for brief toilet breaks, supervises them constantly, and redirects them away from the fence.
Despite her efforts to avoid confrontation, the ordeal has left her on edge. She said: "I genuinely try to be considerate. Their noise doesn't bother me - it's their attitude that they can be loud but I can't."
Now she is asking others for advice on how to stop the harassment and feel comfortable in her own garden. In response, one user suggested: "Plant thorny bushes on that side. Or install a privacy fence there. I'd also get a survey done and make sure the fences are in the correct place. He may need to move the patio." Another added: "Get a camera up and record what they are doing. Then report the harassment to the police with evidence."
