In the 9 1/2 years that I've lived in Hidden Forest, I cannot count the number of times lost pet signs have been posted. We live in a wooded area with many "critters" roaming at night. I have seen coyotes, deer, possums, raccoons, and bull snakes that are as big as pythons and large dogs. All of these "critters" can kill a small dog or a cat. I have witnessed a coyote climb my six-foot wood fence on more than one occasion. Deer have been known to kill small animals by kicking them in the head. Of course, we have rattlesnakes and coral snakes too during daylight hours. I have read that spreading mothballs around the outside of your fence will deter snakes from entering your yard. Of course you have to replace the mothballs after they lose their scent. Barbed wire works well if you place it against the bottom of your fence. Obviously this method can be dangerous for humans and pets.
To many of us, our pets are part of the family. To prevent our pets from meeting an untimely death, I urge you to get your small pets into your home before dark. If you have not done so, I also strongly recommend spaying and neutering your pets. Male cats especially tend to stay close to home after neutering.
Remember too that some dogs are stolen from back yards so make certain that you have sturdy locks on your gates.
Anyone wishing to register your pet in Hidden Forest can e-mail susanhawthorne@sbcglobal.net. This is a neighborhood registry of your animals. Some of our pets get out of the back yard or slip out the front door and we don't know it. Someone down the street may find the dog/cat without tags and end up taking the dog/cat to an animal shelter. By signing up for the Responsible Pet Owner's Alliance for Hidden Forest, when you find a stray, you can check the pet against our neighborhood registry.
SECURITY:
REMEDY FOR BARKING DOGS
If your neighbor’s dog is barking and disturbing you on a regular basis, or if there are any other “nuisance” type problems with a neighbor, please follow these procedures for the most expedient resolution:
Contact the HOA Office to file a complaint. A letter will be sent to the offending owner asking them to resolve the issue at once (you will remain anonymous).
You, as the Complainant, should call 311 and register a complaint so that a file can be opened at Code Compliance. Make sure to get a complaint number from the operator when you call.
Call Code Compliance a few days later and request the status of the complaint number you were given above. Please note that Code Compliance policy states that it may take up to a week to 10 days to investigate the complaint.
If necessary, the Complainant should go down to Municipal Court and swear out a complaint using the complaint number given. At this point, your anonymity can no longer be preserved. The Municipal Court will serve the Defendant with a court date. Both the Defendant and Complainant must appear in court. Multiple Complainants will carry more weight in court (if more than one neighbor is affected).
The Complainant cannot be the HOA, it must be the party being affected. Furthermore, the complaining party has the duty of “proving the preponderance of evidence.” In other words, you must prove that the dog(s), or other nuisances, are obstructing your Texas Property Owner’s right to quiet and peaceful enjoyment of your own property.
