Neighbor ripping down my "DOG ON PREMISES" signs!

[cjrdh]

Last week I noticed one of my two hard plastic "beware of dog" signs ripped in half. We had one nailed on each gate going into our backyard on either side of the house. I took them down, bought new "dog on premises" signs. I nailed them into the gates this weekend. Today they are completely ripped down. The nails were even removed from the gates! They had to have planned ahead and brought a hammer!

Why would someone do this?

You can't even see the gates from the street given the angle of our house, so they're not an eyesore. We don't have any neighborhood teenagers that I've seen (we're in a new community). The immediate neighbors around us like our dog-and us :) We're really quiet and stay to ourselves pretty much all of the time. We do walk our dogs (yorkie and rottie) several times every week and the rottweiler is in the front with us when we do yard work and stuff. So, he's visible to the neighborhood in that way.

I can't imagine why anyone would do this. They left the signs on the ground, too, as if to make a point.

I called the police, they came out, I filed a report. I'm going to cut the letters out of the sign and spray paint the lettering on the gates now! I'll show them. Tacky-I know.

I am worried about my dog being in the backyard now.

Obviously people are insane!

[harleychik66]

Originally Posted by cjrdh

I'm going to cut the letters out of the sign and spray paint the lettering on the gates now! I'll show them. Tacky-I know.

Obviously people are insane!

I would make sure to go with either flourescent green or day glow orange:)

And yes I ask myself every day what makes some people tick.

[moz205]

I wouldn't worry about tacky, probably a neighbor. Knowing me, I would be spray painting big as day! You'll be the new graffiti artist in the neighborhood!
Also, I never leave my dog in the yard by himself. It's a pain sometimes but never know what nuts are around who would want to do something to him. Also, I have found bones in our mailbox- thankfully not thrown in the yard, by a well meaning neighbor only they were cooked.

[fbkeays]

This is would freak me out! I would also get some "No Tresspassing" signs and post them on the edge of your property. This way you are giving notice. The law is not as kind to tresspassers when on posted property.

[TrinaJ]

How rude. I am shocked that someone would actually do that. Perhaps you could screw the sign to something.

To me it sounds like teenages on a prank, but you never know.

[GypsysMom]

Some adults as well as teenagers do stupid things and this is crazy, I dont talk to my neighbors either I like keeping to myself, I have one lady to the North of me, she lives with her son and daughter in law and she HATES rottweilers, so I can imagine what she was saying when I got Cash.. She was afraid of Lady my shihtzu that only had a few teeth, I told My husband if we got the privacy fence I was going to have someone paint Rottweilers all over the outside of the fence lol, but this old lady can stare evil through you... Its good that you made a police report so they are aware people are coming on your property and damaging things.. Maybe invest in an inexpensive security camera that looks like a light, when I decide on getting a Nanny for my kids for a few days a week Im getting that nanny cam... Yes Im a paranoid person

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by TrinaJ

To me it sounds like teenages on a prank.

That's what I thought...

[juniata302]

I know how you feel. I had metal Rottweiler crossing sign nailed to a tree in my front yard. It was hung at eye level. Came home one day and it was stolen. I was sooooo pissed. I felt violated. It was nailed to the tree pretty good. Who would go to the trouble to take that down in broad daylight no less. They cost like $9.99 on the Internet. It wasn't the cost, it was the fact that somebody took it! I'm gettin angry just thiking about it again.

Too bad you can't rig up a hidden camera and catch the person in the act.

[fostermom]

FYI, my sister (who has worked in the insurance industry for about 25 years) told me to NOT post a Beware of Dog sign...that it infers you know your dog is dangerous. The Dog on Premises signs as your heading on your post indicated would be better (I have a Rottweiler Crossing sign posted on my gate). I'm assuming this is a wooden gate? What if you took some strips of wood and fastened them over the top and sides of the sign with bolts (the kind with a rounded head that you can't use a screw driver to remove) and ancor it securely on the inside of the fence with large washers and nuts? I also thought of spray painting, LOL. I also have a lock attached to my gate so NO-ONE can open the gate but me. In my neighborhood, I can't keep anything in the side or front yards or kids will come and "steal" it...already had a hose and reel stolen, the neighbors even had some Christmas decorations stolen....I have a feeling you're right about kids being behind this.

[Kawakaze]

Good idea about the camera. Why dont you make a sign your self. Make the background black with anti vandal paint (also sold as anti-climb paint), use white vinyl letters. You will know who rips it down because their hands will be stained black for weeks. If it persists I would consider getting metal signs and an electric fence battery! Just kidding, but if you spray paint the sign to your fence it will just get painted over.

Maybe someone is letting you know they dont approve of your dogs, or even the breed itself. Good idea calling the police, if someone gets injured by your dogs and no signs are up, you are liable. Also keep the reciepts for the signs they arent cheap, and make the fool pay you back.

[RottieGirl86]

It depends on the state.

And besides the 'Dog on presmiss' sign is not stating the dog is a threat. It just says you have a dog. /shrug

My stepmom has a 'my German shepard loves strangers... says they tatse like chicken!' sign. No problems the last 5 years she's had it.

[GypsysMom]

I have State Farm and I asked about the beware of dog sign and they said that was fine.. at least Im letting people know not to enter my home without permission.. I like them because they dont have a breed restriction unless you have a bite history for any breed.. I want a Rottweiler crossing sign, my breeder has one and I found a real nice one online made from all pine it was $65 I think you can have your address engraved on it to

[missingmarley]

Like the OP said, it makes you worry about what's going on around your house when you're not there. I would definitely not leave my dogs outside unsupervised - who knows what the sign vandals are capable of, and they're obviously not worried about coming onto someone's property to do damage - and it only takes a second to throw something harmful into the yard. i'd be policing my area, too, to check to see if something's been tossed over the fence or whatever. sometimes i just hate people.

[cerulean]

Originally Posted by fostermom

NOT post a Beware of Dog sign...that it infers you know your dog is dangerous. The Dog on Premises signs...would be better

Many years ago, in Oregon, my hubby had a burglar in the house, who tried to beat the dog, and the dog bit the guy badly. Later, the burglar sued, and the judge asked Rich if he had a "Beware of Dog" sign... which he did not. The judge awarded the case to Rich because, if he HAD a "beware" sign, then it implies that he knows his dog is dangerous.

Rich also had the police come out and evaluate the dog (whether it was well-trained, controllable, or dangerous), and they were so impressed that they called their buddies out for a demonstration of the dog's skills.

Anyway, the point of my long-winded story is, yes, a "Dog On Premises" sign may be better in your state.

[trish603a]

The best thing you could do right now is go around the "neighborhood" door to door and tell people that there is someone coming onto your property taking down your signs. Also ask if anyone else has had anything stolen/damaged while you are going door to door. It is amazing how many times stuff like this that seems random, turns out to be happening to a lot of people in the area. We have a neighborhood watch in our community and it has deterred crime in our area. By going door to door you will also now have more sets of eyes that might see something when just driving or walking by your property!