Got my first goats and now a complaining neighbor

Silky ma

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Need help! Bear with me looong post!!!!

Prior info- neighbor was estatic we were living our dream- getting goats- cant wait to hold them-etc...
Then we are done with fencing wirking on structures and then comes across with-
Hey hun... not so sure about you getting goats... they make smells. Make noise.
We will see how it goes- her words!
Now
—:-:-
Just brought home 2 does-1 year old. Neighbor messaged me this:

We don’t need to talk to my goat buddy because your now our closest goat buddy! Her Goats are not next to her house. They have their pens away from where their home is on their property. And no one else is bothered by their crying. Because their neighbors aren’t next to their pens either. Don’t get me wrong, I like the little goats! We just don’t want to hear them crying right out our back bay window doors at night. We’ve had peaceful nights for 31 years here and We’d like to continue enjoying the sounds and quiet of natural country. During the day we’ll have to put up with it. Goats especially Nigerians can be talkers and noisy. So how are you working with them at night? Are you closing them in or leaving them loose in the pen? They did quiet down once we went to bed We didn’t hear them. Of course you still need to bring home the babies. Like i said before Anne, it was a big concern of ours that the pens were right behind our Bay window doors and we keep them open at night to let the cooler air in for the summer.
I hope this arrangement you set up for them there will work out for both of us. It’s bad enough we have to put up with Pearce’s barking dogs. They haven’t tried to do much about that and don’t seem to care either. But your goats are right behind us. Our Horses are very quiet! They are not noisy. Unless one gets out and then we know by them neighing. So they are not disturbing the natural sounds of the country around us or bothering the neighbors.

I returned with this- i went line by line and responded:

Her-We don’t need to talk to my goat buddy because your now our closest goat buddy!
Me-/Really - buddies don’t treat other buddies like children.Buddies don’t go half cocked on said buddy’s husband


Her- Her Goats are not next to her house. They have their pens away from where their home is on their property.
Me-/Guess what we did the same!!

Her-And no one else is bothered by their crying.
Me-/Guess what again other neighbors don’t have a problem!

Her-Because their neighbors aren’t next to their pens either.
Me-/You are not next to my pen!

Her-Don’t get me wrong, I like the little goats!
Me-/Good to know!

Her-We just don’t want to hear them crying right out our back bay window doors at night.
Me-/They quiet down at night, we have our windows open at night and dont have an issue.

Her-We’ve had peaceful nights for 31 years here and We’d like to continue enjoying the sounds and quiet of natural country.
Me-/Guess what? I hear Coyotes,I hear sheep, the guard dog going off. I hear horses. I smell horses/ goats/ sheep- every day! And night! My Goats too are part of country living!

Her-During the day we’ll have to put up with it.
Me-/Oh -so nighttime when your sleeping you don’t hear what i hear???The sheep/ barking dogs/ the coyotes, the crowing??
Thats called selective hearing!

Her-Goats especially Nigerians can be talkers and noisy.
Me-/Guess what sheep are more so!!!

Her-So how are you working with them at night?
Me-/Like any other caregiver!!

Her-Are you closing them in or leaving them loose in the pen?
Me-/What do you think?? Im an idiot?? Of course they are snuggled tight in bed- safety first!! We are following all county rules and regulations. They are fussed and treated better than most people treat their pets!

Her-They did quiet down once we went to bed.
Me-/So what the hell is the problem???

Her-We didn’t hear them.
Me-/ok- again neither did we.

Her-Of course you still need to bring home the babies. Like i said before Anne, it was a big concern of ours that the pens were right behind our Bay window doors and we keep them open at night to let the cooler air in for the summer.

Me-/Again they are not right behind your bay window! More than 50 feet- from the property line-which is required by the county!!

Her-I hope this arrangement you set up for them there will work out for both of us.
Me-/Its working out just fine!

Her-It’s bad enough we have to put up with Pearce’s barking dogs.
Me-/ I rarely hear his dogs and i am next door!

Her-They haven’t tried to do much about that and don’t seem to care either.
Me-/They must care for their pups for they just built new fence enclosure and the pups no longer get out and i don’t hear him yelling or beating his dogs do id say he cares a great deal.

Her-But your goats are right behind us.
Me-/They are on our property- 50 feet as required county code.
Your horses are on your property and right behind us! Structures don’t follow the county 50 foot rule!!

Her-Our Horses are very quiet!
Me-/Noises are part of country living- they have their moments like any animal.

Her-They are not noisy. Unless one gets out and then we know by them neighing. So they are not disturbing the natural sounds of the country around us or bothering the neighbors.
Me--/Again goats are part of country living. We live in the country , we have goats.

What am i up against for the future????
 

Silky ma

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We went to county before we even started this endeavor! Followed their rules!
BUT there is a noise ordinance.
 

CntryBoy777

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I'm not familiar with such rules and ordinances in the country there, but here in Mississippi there are none and if ya own, or are buying the property, ya can do as ya wish to and have all the animals ya wish to have. As for the vocals of the goats....I'd have to ask her if she thought they were battery operated and had a synthasized sound maker inside them. Then, I'd tell her that before long she'll get used to it and once ya get tired enough, ya can sleep thru a whole lot of goings on. If she continued, I'd tell her that there wasn't a clause in my deed that demanded me to cater to her wishes, wants, and desires. As long as ya are abiding by all laws and ordinances, she hasn't a right to attempt to control what ya are doing on your own property. Ya might want to keep a good supply of aspirin on hand tho.....then ya can tell her ya are thinking about getting some of those dogs....she'll like that idea....:)
 

Silky ma

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Thank you! I am the type of gal that tries to keep the peace but i knew after talking to ger a third time that she was odd. I had no problem answering her qs about some if my plans- id answer the questions i wanted to and ignored the rest. But now she is acting entitled- that crap doesnt fly with me!
She asked me when im getting my other goats and ignored her.
My neighbor across from us has 2 sweet boer bucks and says my set up is fantastic- the two gals are cuties and if the county gets called she will go to bat for us.
 

Bruce

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Good luck! Sounds like the houses are pretty close together for "country".

I will say that 50' isn't very far as noise travels. We hear the neighbor's dog 400 yards away. Barks a lot during the day. If your neighbor has a problem with noise coming from your direction, maybe she needs to put up a fence that will block some of it.
 

Genipher

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Honestly? I think your responses might make the situation worse. I know the righteous indignation that makes me want to be snarky in my responses...I used to have a similar (awful) back and forth with my sister. It took years for us to mend the rift our (written) words caused.

Personally, I would write up a letter (not a text) listing the laws and how you are in accordance. Maybe subtly remind her that her barn is not the required feet away. But keep it brief and matter-of-fact. Don't bring up any personal issues. Mail her the letter certified, so you have proof she got it.
Make sure to make a copy of the letter for yourself. Then if any legal issues come up, she can't say you didn't "talk" to her.

Sound ordinance is tricky. It could come down to her word against yours. I'm wondering if it would be possible to put a recording device near the area she is complaining about so you can tell if she can really hear the goats? Or maybe a baby monitor that you can record as "proof" that the goats are quiet?

Has she responded since you texted back?
 

Bruce

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If it is only 50ish feet, she can hear the goats. But the zoning regs presumably took that into account when they decided on the 50' setback.
 

Genipher

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I've been thinking about this and realized if the city has done nothing about the other neighbor's noisy dogs, I doubt they'll do anything about the goats.

Also, it would behoove the neighbor to suck it up since she isn't up to code with her horses! It would be foolish for the neighbor to say anything when it could draw attention to herself!
 

Bruce

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Yep. And while I've never had nor lived near goats, I do know that people's dogs can go on and on and on and on and on. I doubt the goats do.
 
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