My neighbor's cattle have taken down my electric fence...AGAIN. I just finished restringing it today in the cool and unafflicting 107 we had... AGAIN. I really am at a loss about what to do with these cattle. We have anthrax in S. Texas....I want to keep them off my property because they eat my rear guard Boo's hay and drink all of his water, and demolished my dewberry harvest. Otherwise they are fine.

All of my irritaion is compounded by the fact that this neighbor had called me and asked to lease my back four acres for his cattle as he didn't want to spend money on a fence. He paid me one time. That was two years ago. I have called him a few times, and he doesn't return my calls. Arrrggghh. So it looks like I have to bite the bullet and spend the money for the fence. Oh bother.

Otherwise everything is just fine and dandy here! How are things where you are?

-- (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), July 22, 2001

Answers

You may actually have some recourse here. After they break through your fence would they be able to get out on the road? If so they are a public hazard. If you call the sheriff a few times to put them back in...after several times they can seize the cattle(at least they can in TX). Check with your local sheriff. There are often laws on the books concerning the containment of cattle. If nothing else you can take him to small claims court over the damage. Even if you really don't care about the money...just want him to keep his cattle contained.....folks will generally get on the ball when it can hit them in their pocket book. You'd be amazed at the amount that most courts will give you for different types of damages. Did they damage a tree? A neighbors bull once distroyed a tree in my granny's yard.....it cost the neighbor several hundred dollars too.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), July 22, 2001.

No, they can't get on the road, as I have my front half very well fenced and I have cattle panel between the rear guard and the rest of the little world here. I don't want to go to court....It's all pretty rough back where they are eating all my goats hay, it just doesn't seem right to let your animals run on someones elses property and not even try to take care of the problem, nor keep the arrangements you have made that would make it not a problem. Since I have the t posts up I will just have to find out what I can get the fence for and maybe try to get him to pay for some of it.I could very easily let my dogs out to run them off, but they have a lot of calves and I wouldn't want them to be hurt weven though they are where they shouldn't be. Thanks for your info, though!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), July 23, 2001.

I'm very sorry you have such a neighbor like that . . . people owning livestock should have the courtesy to make sure that their animals stay on their own property.

Would warning the neighbor that "hazardous" conditions (numerous gophor / badger holes?)on your property may hurt his trespassing cattle have any effect? Would laying cattle panel sections along the shared fenceline would be out of the question, a la cattle guard? Cattle hesitate traveling on a hazardous trail, sometimes "dumb" cattle aren't so dumb.

I hope your neighbor gets some manners soon.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 25, 2001.

Well I have decided that I will call him one more time and then I will call the Sheriff and see if he will call the man. The main problem is them drinking my goats water. It's to dang hot to have him be without water while I am at work. Wish me luck.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), July 26, 2001.

What are the laws there about fencing? What defines a legal fence? In Minnesota you have to have a three wire fence for a legal fence. Hot wire just doesn't cut it? Also, here if it is a fenceline in common, the neighbor has to pay for the righthand half of this fence by law, otherwise the expense will be added to the real estate taxes and you will be compensated by the county. Check into your legal rights and see what recourse you have. Hope this helps.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), July 29, 2001.