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Not all responsible pet owners are good neighbors
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You've seen the headlines "Hung Jury Forces Couple to Give Up Elderly Pets", "Couple battles Dallas' order to get rid of their family of 17 rescued pets ", and "They did everything right and still the City is taking away their pets!".
All these articles describe a situation in which the City of Dallas has ordered an East Dallas couple to move their pets out of the their home following numerous complaints from an intolerant neighbor, failed attempts to negotiate a compromise between the neighbors, and two citations for noise and odor. The couple is described as responsible pet owners who did everything right, rescued all their pets, and had them all registered, vaccinated and spayed or neutered. And in a rural environment that may be enough. From an animal welfare standpoint, it would seem that it is. But in an urban or suburban environment, being a responsible pet owner also includes being a responsible neighbor.
Each and every property owner, animal lover or not, is entitled under the law to the "quiet enjoyment" of their land - whether a tiny apartment or condo, a contemporary loft, a suburban tract home, or a mini-mansion. If we interfere with our neighbor's quiet enjoyment, either by creating smells, sounds, pollution or any hazard that extends past the boundaries of our property, then we are guilty of being a nuisance.
All municipalities have laws to ensure peaceful co-existence between residents. There are ordinances against loud noises from radios and TVs, bright lights from neon signs, fireworks, construction noise, lawn maintenance crews, and odors from dumped trash, stagnant water and idling cars. And there are ordinances against barking dogs, unsanitary yards, and pet-related smells.
Our neighbors have the right to enjoy a quiet afternoon in the yard, sleep late on Sunday, or step outside our home for a breath of fresh air. Being a pet owner and pet lover doesn't exempt us from bring a responsible neighbor and respecting those rights. It is our responsibility - just as it is our responsibility to feed, water,and care for our animals - to make sure they do not compromise our neighbor's rights.
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