'[Neighbors] insisted on us getting a fine': Neighbor gets petty after Karens make him pay a $50 fine because his chicken ended up on their property

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 5, 2023 2:00 PM EST

Shouldn't animal control have been able to shut down this Karen duo? The fact that they were able to intimidate animal control into enforcing a fine that would have otherwise just been a warning says a lot more about the fragile authority of animal control than anything else.

Now, personally speaking, I could not live right next to someone who keeps a dozen chickens and who always is having problems with those chickens because of raccoons and other animal attacks. That is not exactly my neighborhood vibe. That being said, if this is the norm of the neighborhood and all of this is approved, then it's not exactly something a Karen neighbor can complain about. And if you're the type of person who is just waiting to get your neighbor in trouble, you're practically asking for them to do the same thing to you in return. If these Karens really have a problem with this guy and if he's doing nothing wrong, they are just going to have to move. 

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  • 01
    "No more eggs for you"
    via James Wainscoat

  • This thread was posted to Reddit's r/pettyrevenge subreddit by u/Xerzajik, who caused some split reactions in the comments section. Some folks felt that this dude clearly was not doing a good job with his chickens and should have used this instance as a wake-up call rather than an opportunity to get some payback. Keep scrolling below for the full story. When you're done, check out this post about a suburban gardener's own form of petty revenge.

  • 02
    My Neighbor Insisted On Me Getting a Fine A few years ago, my wife and I lived in a middle-class neighborhood in the suburbs on a quarter-acre lot. We even managed our dream of owning about a dozen chickens! My five- year-old son and I would go door to door in our neighborhood to sell the excess eggs. (Mostly to teach him how to work, etc) The only problem was that we constantly battled with raccoons and stray cats that would attack and sometimes kill our birds. (We'd catch several raccoons in t
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 03
    On the other side of our fence lived a couple of female students in their 20s who were roommates. Their front door faced another street so we didn't talk to them often unless they were buying eggs from us. I'll call them Susie and Mandy. They owned two huge dogs that would run around their backyard.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 04
    One night, a stray cat attacked, and one of my chickens flew over the fence into Mandy and Susie's property. We got a call from the city to collect the chicken. I walked over and found it hiding in the corner of the property, directly on the other side of the fence. I was as polite as I could be. It seems that the sudden appearance of this chicken emotionally rattled Susie/Mandy. I explained that we lose chickens from time to time to raccoons, so it was great that the hen was alive and well. The
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 05
    Not long after, the animal control officer stopped by our house. She looked embarrassed to be there. According to the officer Mandy and Susie both insisted on us getting a fine for the mishap with the chicken. $50. The officer said that she would've been comfortable with a warning given that this was the first offense but since the offended party was insistent that there wasn't much of a choice. We took the fine.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 06
    About two months later, one of my chickens was badly by another predator. The hen was in pieces throughout the coop and at least half of it was missing entirely. I gathered its carcass in the early morning and chucked it over the fence into the neighbor's yard. My wife reported screaming and barking from that side later that day but no visit from the authorities.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 07
    Wieniethepooh. 19 hr. ago If you lose this many birds you are not doing enough to protect them. Cover the pen with a strong net. Dig in the wire fence at least a foot into the ground. You have a responsibility towards the animals you keep! 593 Reply Share
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 08
    Xerzajik OP 19 hr. ago You are absolutely right. My chickens are much safer now (new location). 210 Reply Share
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 09
    gothiclg 18 hr. ago They would have hated my childhood home. There was a dairy farm far enough away that we couldn't see it but close enough that the occasional cow that got loose would end up in our back yard. We'd call over to the dairy and a couple of hands would swing by on horseback to get them. 496 Reply Share
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 10
    Senator Bus. 19 hr. ago Sounds like you were just being a good neighbor and wishing them the best of cluck. 203 Reply Share
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 11
    TARDIS1-13 17 hr. ago Honest question, can someone force a fine just by insisting? Like wouldn't it be up to the animal control to decide? 196 Reply Share
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 12
    Lunavixen15 14 hr. ago You need a better coop or containment if your birds are getting attacked this much. You have a duty of care for your animals and a responsibility to be a good neighbour.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 13
    Your coop is causing problems for your neighbours and that is not okay. You need to make your coop animal resistant to both entry and escape, dig the posts down at least 30cm and either highly tension, or seriously weigh down the wire so nothing can wriggle underneath. If your coop doesn't have a secure roof, you need to make sure it does, chickens can fly short distances, even with partially clipped wings.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 14
    motherlymetal 17 hr. ago I hope you also stopped selling them eggs.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 15
    Excellent-Shape-2024. 16 hr. ago I was hoping this would end with you charging them a lot more for eggs and telling them you had to raise your prices to cover the fine you got.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 16
    alotistwowordssir. 12 hr. ago. edited 5 hr. ago Not sure a private citizen can "insist" that someone be given a fine from animal control.
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 17
    calicat9 19 hr. ago Cluck 'em
    via u/Xerzajik
  • 18
    29 U professorkrs 15 hr. ago I was so sure this would end "No eggs for you!"
    via u/Xerzajik

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karens neighbors chicken petty-revenge-reddit eggs neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories petty revenge terrible neighbors petty entitled reddit thread Bad Neighbor Reddit funny animals karen entitled people
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