Our city used to have something like that, where you could pay an extra yearly amount to be allowed to have more dogs, but they apparently did away with it. Thankfully though, it looks like we should be Ok after all, due to Chica's status as a Service Dog In-Training, over the last 6 months.

__________________

Ours literally stalk us, looking in the windows. We also believe they trespass on the property when no one is home and harass the pets. We know they throw stuff over the fence at my horse under the guise of feeding him. (it's weeds and they are often wilted, poisonous, or just plain indigestible) then yell when we throw them back onto their side. Once I was outside brushing my horse near the fence because it was hot and there's trees in that area, and one of my hens got excited. She started to sing (they "sing" when they lay eggs for a few seconds then stop) and he yelled very loudly, within sight of me, "KILL THOSE CHICKENS." They are gossipers and have sprayed pesticides over our fence line (we do not use poison here at all and grow organic fruit and veggies, we do get weeds sometimes but horses love dandelions). Also we think they killed our bamboo. We planted it and then the neighbor started yelling about the bamboo and less than a week later the plants just stopped growing and started to look sick.

He's threatened the birds and me more than once and everything about them is just abhorrent.

I'm glad yours aren't that bad, but still be careful.. some people can do unthinkable things without even a thought.

Ever since adopting Chica, I've always felt like the furkiddo part of our family would be complete once we had a 2nd chi. With Squirt and Rascal being so close/having eachother as best bros, it just doesn't seem fair to us that Chica doesn't get to have her own little friend/sister. I actually wish I didn't know what the laws were either, as that would have made all of this apparently unecessary worry (as long as what I've learned is correct, and I pray that it is), all for nothing.

__________________

The animal control employee I talked to before (I didn't leave my name, nor did she ask thankfully) had said we could foster this little one, just not actually adopt her, but having been through so much loss while trying to build our family, I know myself well enough to know that I could never bond strongly with such a sweet little thing, and then handle giving her up! I really admire people who do foster shelter animals, but I'm just not emotionally cut out for it, after all of the heartbreak I experienced over those dozen plus years of trying to become a mom, through both pregnancy and adoption. Thankfully we are now blessed with 2 wonderful children through the miracle of adoption, but the road to parenthood was an incredibly difficult journey!

__________________

Woops, LS, I'm not sure how I missed your post, as I was going through these! Middle aged brain lapse apparently! That's actually kind of funny that you should mention moving, because it's an idea we've thrown around off and on over the years (usually in regards to my husband's work). I wish I had family who would have been willing to help me adopt this little girl, but while my Mom and I are quite close, she never would have agreed to it, as mentioned in previous replies.

__________________

Do you ever get the authorities involved? You should consider installing security cameras. Your neighbors sound crazy! I'm sure you could file allllll kinds of reports against them. What if they seriously harm your animals one day?

Omg! I kno how you feel...


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

__________________

So I mentioned in one of my replies, about realizing something interesting late this afternoon. While thinking about this little chi, and how much I wanted to add her to our family while still following the law, it occurred to me that, since Chica is (and has been for the last 6 months+) a Medical Alert Service Dog In Training, she legally is not considered a family pet. Per federal ADA statutes, a service dog is more akin to a wheelchair or a cane, ie the trained service dog is a tool (an adorable, snuggly little tool but still a tool) to help mitigate the handler's disability. For ex: Say, I lived in a place that didn't allow pets, Chica would still be welcome. If I was in a place that did allow pets, but charged extra rent for them, that couldn't be charged. Well I had a bit of a "Oh wow! Wait a minute" type of moment when all of a sudden it occured to me that I am almost 100% sure this has to legally be the case in my situation as well. A maximum of 3 dogs per household means 3 dogs per household, but a service dog should not legally be included in that maximum. I tried to find additional information specific to this online, but couldn't, but the general info. I did find (i.e. that service dogs aren't pets, etc.) only reinforced my realization that I probably had nothing to really worry about to begin with.

So, armed with this new legal perspective, I drove to the shelter, spent time with the sweet little chi they had dubbed Sue Lynn, and adopted the final member of our furkid pack! who is now sleeping peacefully beside me as I type. She is such a little sweetheart, and I truly believe she was meant to be ours. The name of the street the shelter is located on is Ella Rd., and since we really like that name anyway (it seems so feminine, as is our new dainty little girl)...and also in honor of all of the people who work so hard there to help rescue animals, we decided to name our new family member Ella.

She looks SO tiny to me, compared to Chica, but they're only about 2 lbs difference (Ella-5, Chica-7). Chica was quite intrigued when I brought Ella home, but Ella--understandably not as much. She of course needs time to settle in, before starting to make friends. I will post some pictures when I get a chance. Thanks again, everyone, for your guidance and encouragement!

__________________