Neighbors Complained About Our Rabbits

[LillFilly]

Sooo, yeah.

We have 5 rabbits. They have a decorative fence pen, with a wooden hutch, and a separate pen with a blue plastic house for the one male. We have straw down for them, scoop their poop for our composte, etc. We've moved the pen around because we're doing yard work. Right now it's at the very back of our yard, near the chain link fence and bushes separating us from the back neighbors.

They came over yesterday and asked how long we're going to have the rabbits. They complained that the rabbits 'annoy' their dog (a small fuzzy white mop type that barks at the wind) and make him not listen to them when its time to come inside. We offered to move the pen closer to the house, but I think he'll still be able to smell them. They then said that if we're keeping the rabbits that they'll be putting up an 8-foot privacy fence. Hey, that's awesome for us, we've been growing bushes along the back for privacy ourselves. We gave their fence builders permission to come into the yard if they needed to work from that side. So, a win situation for us I think!

But geeze, over rabbits?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I like how their lack of control over their dog is somehow the rabbit's fault.

[AccountingDrone]

I live in rural Connecticut, you know ... *farm land* [me looks at the barns on the road, and the cows, and the fields of corn] so this jackass has about 5 acres, groomed [he has a yard crew come in twice a week, and they even removed the underbrush and put down tanbark in their woods ]

My husband was active navy, and going on deployments and me being gimpy does not do yard work. My whole yard is about 60 feet by 60 feet, with the 20x40 house plunked down in the middle of it. About one third is actually gravel driveway. It is in a 3 acre area of woods and fields, so the yard itself is under 5% of the total land use. The neighbor complains and gets us/me cited for not mowing the lawn under a town based ordinance for vermin control. Please note there are no junked cars nor garbage laying around.

So I go to court, and discuss with the magistrate how we have 3 acres of unmowed farmland, as we are zoned farmland. And exactly how tiny the yard is, and that what is growing is the same mix of wildflowers and grasses that is in our fields. That there are no junked cars nor any garbage laying around. The magistrate did not realize when he wrote the ticket that it was zoned farmland, and the unmowed area was so tiny. He threw out the ticket and told the guy to back off, if he didn't want to live in a farm zone, he should have bought property in a suburb.

When Rob got home, he fenced in the yard and I started grazing my sheep in it once a week The jackass glares at us any time he is in his yard now. <this was over 10 years ago ... he really needs to get over it.>

Did I mention that I got guinea fowl because of the noise they make all day?

[Kara]

Yeah, rabbits are annoying.... because... they're... um... so cute and fluffly? I had rabbits for nearly 10 years, the only noise they make is when they stamp their feet, which is really funny when they're letting you know they're mad at you.

[CalyCoRose]

You know, bunnies can wriggle their noses. And that will send anyone into a rapture of cuteness. And when that happens, you'll just stand there, drooling, looking at the bunnies all day and all night. And umm ... Well .. Yeah. I don't have anything.

I'd be more annoyed at the dog barking and not listening to its owner than bunnies. But that's just me.

Good on you for telling them they can do whatever they want on their property. BTW, what did they expect you to do? Say: "OMG! Don't build an 8 foot privacy fence! Then I won't be able to see you or Fido Fluffykins anymore! *cry, cry* Let me get rid of my bunnies!"

Some people.

[protege]

I'd be more annoyed at the dog barking and not listening to its owner than bunnies. But that's just me.

You're not the only one. The people who live behind my parents...have about a half-dozen yippy, annoying, little dogs. They're constantly barking at damn near everything.

[DaDairyDruid]

FMA_Fanatic and I live in a townhouse complex, where we have patios separated by a privacy fence. On nice days when we are home we will open our patio door, leaving the screen closed so our Kitties can enjoy the smells. Our elderly neighbors have a couple of small dogs (cocker-poos or something similar) which they will let out on their patio from time to time. The problem is they can see in our patio area, and go crazy when they see our cats in the door, or see us sitting in our living room. He actually had the gall to say that our Cats were antagonizing their dogs, and could we please stop them?

Um, yes, our cats sitting quietly at the door enjoying the breeze and your Dogs BARK at them for no reason, and its the Cat's fault. We told them that WE had cats BEFORE they had dogs, so its not like we are the ones being antagonistic, as its not like the cats hiss and growl at the dogs first. His jaw about hit the ground at that. Besides in a fair fight Our Big Cat (Aiva) could probably take down one dog

[LillFilly]

Did I mention that I got guinea fowl because of the noise they make all day?

They look like they're wearing little skull helmets! The basis for one of those Pokemon perhaps?

And yeah, never mind that this neighbor drains his pool into our yard, in violation of Town Codes.

[Skeen]

I once had a neighbor angry that one of my cats would sit in the window and glare at him when he mowed his yard.

Really didn't know how to handle that one.

[Elspeth]

What is it with people and bunnies lately? Were they given nightmares by Monty Python's Holy Grail?

And I think we need pics of said bunnies to make sure they aren't evil :P

[LillFilly]

And I think we need pics of said bunnies to make sure they aren't evil :P

Clockwise are Asphalt, Basil, Melon, Patch & Mercedes. I'm fairly sure Mercedes was the ringleader in the organized breakout that happened a few days ago too. Asphalt is the male; he's a Silver Fox, also known as an American Heavyweight Silver (he's a good 12 lbs) The girls are Flemish Giant crossed with New Zealand White; Basil looks exactly like their mom.

[Elspeth]

*squee* I see no evil bunnies!! I see cutie widdle bunnies that need to be fed carrots and snuggled. Oh sorry you had to see that. Cute makes me say strange things

I miss having bunnies. Probably why I have more then a few plush bunnies.

[Sonoma]

*squee* I see no evil bunnies!! I see cutie widdle bunnies that need to be fed carrots and snuggled. Oh sorry you had to see that. Cute makes me say strange things

I miss having bunnies. Probably why I have more then a few plush bunnies.

Me too - except our last bunny was afraid of carrots

How on earth can a rabbit be afraid of a carrot? He'd only eat them if they were shredded & placed in a bowl.

[CalyCoRose]

Those are adorable bunnies! I have no clue why your neighbors are being butt heads. Let them throw up their privacy fence! XD

A few weeks ago, we were at an autism walk, and there were bunnies in a makeshift petting zoo. Daughter loved, loved, loved the bunnies there. There like 3 or 4 of them. She liked the all white bunny named Snow. XD

[AccountingDrone]

They look like they're wearing little skull helmets! The basis for one of those Pokemon perhaps?

And yeah, never mind that this neighbor drains his pool into our yard, in violation of Town Codes.

They actually look like very small boring colored peacocks. I think they actually may be related to peacocks. If you look at them both, they both have the same comma shaped body and the little frondy topknot, and make metal rending screechy calls. They get along well with the other birds, so it is fun watching them all pottering around the yard and fields together.

Clockwise are Asphalt, Basil, Melon, Patch & Mercedes. I'm fairly sure Mercedes was the ringleader in the organized breakout that happened a few days ago too. Asphalt is the male; he's a Silver Fox, also known as an American Heavyweight Silver (he's a good 12 lbs) The girls are Flemish Giant crossed with New Zealand White; Basil looks exactly like their mom.

Cute, though I am getting dinner and all I can think about is hasenpffeffer ...

Me too - except our last bunny was afraid of carrots

How on earth can a rabbit be afraid of a carrot? He'd only eat them if they were shredded & placed in a bowl.

Hm, he knows the rule about never eating something bigger than ones head?