A woman has been left living in fear after her neighbour began harassing both her and her dogs for simply using their own garden – throwing rocks through the fence and spraying them with liquid.
In a lengthy online post, she detailed the situation which has been taking place for more than 10 months. To avoid confrontation, she now keeps her distance and is anxious about letting her two young dogs outdoors.
The source of the dispute
Posting on Reddit, the homeowner explained that the difficulties started after her neighbour built a makeshift patio just a foot from their shared fence. Due to its proximity, she can overhear every conversation, while the neighbour's dog frequently barks along the fence line.
Her own two young dogs are still in training and occasionally bark in response, but she says she is making efforts to address the behaviour. However, the real issue is how the neighbour has responded.
Harassment and reporting
According to the woman, the neighbour has repeatedly yelled at her dogs to “shut up”, hurled objects and rocks through fence gaps, sprayed her dogs with a clear liquid multiple times, and even sprayed her while she was in her own garden. She also alleges he has been heard muttering “f***ing dogs” whenever her pets are outside.
Initially, she did not challenge him as she dislikes confrontation, 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.
Several months later, the same incident occurred again. The neighbour maintained he had been draining pool water, despite knowing she and her dogs were on the other side of the fence.
Confrontation and continued behaviour
Eventually, her husband confronted the neighbour, asking him to stop throwing things. The neighbour appeared to comply, but just days later the woman claims his children were again hurling rocks through fence gaps while her small dogs were nearby. She approached the children's mother and asked her to intervene.
The woman acknowledged that living in a neighbourhood means accepting some everyday noise. “Their kids make noise, their dog barks and my dogs bark sometimes too,” she said. She argued that because the neighbour chose to lay their patio directly alongside the fence, they could not expect total quiet when she used her garden.
She has now warned the family she will contact the police again if another incident occurs, and has already lodged one formal report. Without security cameras covering that side of the property, she fears she has scant evidence.
Ongoing anxiety
She only allows her dogs outside briefly to relieve themselves, monitors them constantly, and steers them away from the fence. Despite making every effort to prevent conflict, she remains perpetually anxious.
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.”
She is now seeking advice on how to stop the alleged harassment and feel at ease using her own garden again.
In response, one user said: “Cameras are guaranteed to escalate this further. I'd say put up a privacy fence or plant a climbing vine in a trellis to block the view/provide some sound privacy.” Another added: “Your husband doesn't sound very supportive. Go buy the cameras and install them yourself.” A third suggested: “Get a camera and document everything, it'll help if you have to report them.”
