Phoenix Arizona Cat Question.

[cutelittlene]

Hi im new here , Id like to introduce myself, my names Vlad and im an animal lover, especially cats and dogs. The smaller the better, because they are easy to transport in the car lol. I have had many pets my entire life and my grandparents used to own a chain of pet stores. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone knows the laws in Arizona, specifically Phoenix regarding Animal control.

My cute adorable kittens are just old enough to go outside and I have a disgusting neighbor who continues to harass me. This neighbor is trying to get my kittens taken away from me because they dont like that I play in the backyard with them and they are constantly watching me which has become extremely annoying.

This neighbor used to give me "advice" on how to take care of my animals, I dont think they know a thing about taking care of animals because their property is full of hazardous materials which could severely injury this neighbors dog. Also they have a pool which their dog might drown by accident one night. The dogs are in the backyard all night barking and its starting to get on my nerves.

Can kittens get poisoned by eating the grass? Is it a good idea to let them run around in the yard? Im trying to get them to be healthy and to grow a bit larger, whats the best food to get them to grow?

Has anyone else had disgusting neighbors who interfere in their private lives? I absolutely love animals and I am thinking of volunteering here in Phoenix at the animal rescue so that I can save some more babies. I would be interested in communicating with anyone with knowledge of animal laws in Phoenix, I have a good understanding from researching online but direct communication is better for me.

Also, I am in the process of opening a business so anyone that has business management skills lets talk. I think this community is wonderful and I think I am really going to enjoy it here.


Thanks
Vlad

[special]

Hello and welcome to pet lovers.

Cats are safest and healthiest being kept inside, but you can harness train them and take them out into your yard in harness with a lead, just don't tether them or ever leave them out there unsupervised. Stay with them at all times. Put up a fence, if possible.

Grass is not poison to cats, but you need to find out if the grass, or any grass nearby is being treated with herbicides or fertilizers, because those things ARE toxic to cats. Even if your lawn isn't sprayed, if your neighbor sprays it will drift onto your lawn, and this can be very dangerous for your cats, even if they don't eat the grass the poison will get on their feet, and when they lick their feet they will ingest it.

There are many many other common outside plants that are toxic to cats, you need to familiarize yourself to these and make sure there are none in your yard.

One place to check is the ASPCA poison control center website.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

It sounds like your neighbor enjoys being obnoxious. Ignore him, but I would be very concerned about letting my cats out, at all, even supervised, with such a person next door. Who knows what he is capable of, as far as your kittens' safety is concerned. I wouldn't risk it.

As for the dog barking all night, call the police and make a noise disturbance complaint. If you think the dog is being abused, call animal control.

[Amrita]

I've had neighbors like that. I have had people stare my dog down a few of times. It only makes it worse. The neighbor might be worried your cat will jump into their yard and get killed by their dogs (this always worried me along with not seeing a cat on the street). I also know someone whose cat jumoed into my family's yard and was finally killed by the dogs.
Watching over them isn't so bad and I don't think it is illegal although it is recommended they stay inside.

Arizona Humane Society:
http://www.azhumane.org/artman2/publish/tips/behaviorinfo.shtml
There is a PDF there on indoor/outdoor and it doesn't say it is illegal. I've also looked at the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control and the only thing I saw about laws regarded dogs being required to have rabies. I assume cats don't because many people keep them indoors or supervise them so the risk of vaccinating for rabies is uneccesary.

Yeah, you should call animal care and control. Normally I wouldn't, but if he acts like that it is a given return fire. My sister's neighbor was like that for a long time.