Advise on a possible legal matter involving hydro and dogs

[Seriak]

It may be unfair to lock them up, but it might be a better alternative to stitches and broken legs. I don't think the contractor will change what he's doing. I would try to find the person above the contractor and start phoning multiple times a day until you get definitive answers.

Good luck with everything and I am glad your dogs are alright.

[toxic111]

Did you sign anything for the access to the yard. Was there any reimbursement for damages?

You may have several legal recourses, but you may have to talk to a lawyer.

[gobytron]

Originally Posted by Seriak

It may be unfair to lock them up, but it might be a better alternative to stitches and broken legs. I don't think the contractor will change what he's doing. I would try to find the person above the contractor and start phoning multiple times a day until you get definitive answers.

Good luck with everything and I am glad your dogs are alright.

+1
It sucks that nobody seems to want to take responsibility for your situation but in reality, you have to deal with the issue as it lays.

It not your fault, but you gotta keep your dogs best interest at heart, and if being chained up until the project is done is what it takes to keep them safe, it's probably worth doing.

I sure hope you put a call into a lawyer here.
I would hate to hear you were held responsible for their vet bills.

I would look into suing for a variety of reasons including vet bills and undue stress.

[Coralgurl]

Why does the hydro company have a right to do what they've done to your property and why was this not an in/out project? Someone is accountable for your damages unless this was all agreed upon. Even if you have an easement for a utility right of way, they should have had to either provided temporary fencing or resecured your property while they were on it.

There's got to be more to this. My SIL had the town they are in take part of their property for a residential development, they had to pay, fence and replant trees/shrubs that were removed, relocated or became part of the development and make them 100% whole again. They were also paid for this portion of the land, all legals and new rpr.

I wouldn't have let them step foot on my property without some sort of agreement to protect the property and family.

[monocus]

go have a chat with your mla.they might be helpful in resolving or steering you in the right direction.as far as i remember hydro is still a public owned corporation

[Evilweevil]

I would raise a stink about the mess left and all but as far as the dogs and the vet bills they are your dogs to keep safe , if it was my dog and an yard that wasn't safe I would go thru the steps and make sure it was safe for them so they can't get hurt, sorry that's just the way I see it I do hope your doggy is alright though

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Evilweevil

I would raise a stink about the mess left and all but as far as the dogs and the vet bills they are your dogs to keep safe , if it was my dog and an yard that wasn't safe I would go thru the steps and make sure it was safe for them so they can't get hurt, sorry that's just the way I see it I do hope your doggy is alright though

+1. If you KNOW you dogs can get out. Its your fault it was hurt. Dogs don't know any better. And acerage or not, if cars go by there is a risk. A responsible pet owner would lean to a minor inconvenience over injury.

Sorry for your luck.

[Dearth]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

Why does the hydro company have a right to do what they've done to your property and why was this not an in/out project? Someone is accountable for your damages unless this was all agreed upon. Even if you have an easement for a utility right of way, they should have had to either provided temporary fencing or resecured your property while they were on it.

There's got to be more to this. My SIL had the town they are in take part of their property for a residential development, they had to pay, fence and replant trees/shrubs that were removed, relocated or became part of the development and make them 100% whole again. They were also paid for this portion of the land, all legals and new rpr.

I wouldn't have let them step foot on my property without some sort of agreement to protect the property and family.

Unfortunately it is legislated whether on private property or not any tree/obstruction on a BC hydro right of way and 50 ft to either side hydro maintains all rights of removal of any trees/obstruction but are not required to clean up either. I had my own battle with them 4 yrs ago I live right beside a hydro right of way and had a tree removed as it was higher than the hydro lines but outside the 50 foot exclusion zone but hydro deemed it a danger to the lines so they told me it was coming down the contractor took down the tree and they took the bigger stuff but I was left to clean up the branches and stump.

As to the fence and dogs I feel that you have the expectation of recourse because they destroyed private property(fence) and caused unnessecary suffering to your animals.