This is for Dog Lovers and Those Who Dislike Them
Being neighborly is simply being friendly, kind, and considerate to those in your community. Considering there are approximately 90 million dogs and 134 million households in the US, the odds of you having a neighbor with a dog are high. Whether you love dogs or dislike them, it is essential that we all get along and be neighborly.
Unneighborly Cases 1 & 2
A friend with a new rescue dog was taking his dog for a walk in his neighborhood when a neighbor’s dog charged out of a yard into the street and began barking and lunging at my friend and his now-very-frightened dog.
An elderly woman is afraid to walk on her own street because one of her neighbor’s dogs has charged her many times. She is afraid to take a walk in her own neighborhood. That is unacceptable.
The owners of the dogs in the incidents above were not only failing to be good neighbors but also failing their dogs, and, most seriously, threatening public safety and violating the law.
Maine "Dogs at Large" Rule (7 M.R.S. § 3911) - Definition: It is illegal for any dog to be "at large," which means off the owner's property and not under the control of a person whose presence and attention reasonably control the dog.
In both cases. The dogs charged off their property in the presence of their owners and had to be physically returned by them. Therefore, the dogs were clearly “at large” and not under reasonable control. Also, under (7 M.R.S. § 3907(12-D)) both dogs could be considered to be a “dangerous dog” (A dog that causes a reasonable and prudent person (who is legally present in a public or non-trespassing area and acting in a non-aggressive manner) to fear imminent serious bodily injury by assaulting or threatening to assault that person or their domesticated animal). If someone believes a dog could cause them or his dog serious bodily injury and reports it to the police, the threatening dog may be legally declared dangerous.
If you have a reactive dog, you have a responsibility to keep the community safe by keeping your dog on a leash or by ensuring your dog is contained by a secure, escape-proof enclosure on your property. A reactive dog is suffering emotionally, and you also have a responsibility to seek treatment from a veterinary behaviorist or veterinarian to help your dog feel better.
Unneighborly Case 3
In the example below, the person with the reactive dogs is on public property.
A client who was walking his puppy in one of Bangor’s parks was charged by two large, off-leash dogs, and their “owner” was at least 100 feet away, casually approaching while his dogs were lunging and growling at the puppy and her guardian.
The owner of these two dogs was also in violation of Maine's "Dogs at Large" Rule (7 M.R.S. § 3911), as both dogs were off-leash and out of control. A good neighbor would have kept both of their dogs on a leash, as they were in a public space. They would have also sought help for their clearly unsettled dogs.
Your Neighborly and Legal Responsibilities if You Have a Dog
If you have a reactive dog, you have a responsibility to keep the community safe by keeping your dog on a leash or by ensuring your dog is contained by a secure, escape-proof enclosure on your property. If your dog has been legally determined to be dangerous, you may face additional requirements. A reactive dog is suffering emotionally, and you also have a responsibility to seek treatment from a veterinary behaviorist to help your dog feel better.
Additional Ways You Can Be A Good Neighbor
Whether you like dogs or not, please understand that not all dogs like being approached and petted by strangers. Always ask before approaching or petting any dog, and if the person with the dogs declines your interaction, accept it and cheerfully move on. If they do accept your offer to let you interact with the dog, remain stationary and allow the dog to decide if he wishes to approach you.
The booms and bright flashes of fireworks can be extremely distressing to many people, pets, and wildlife. The neighborly thing to do is to forgo fireworks at your home. Instead, go to the fireworks display put on by your community.
Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) and the founder of ForceFreePets.com, an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). A Pet Professional Guild (PPG) member, Don serves on the Board of Directors, Steering Committee, and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition. The opinions in this article are those of Don Hanson. ©2026, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved