Dear Pay Dirt,

Our next-door neighbors were really welcoming when we first moved into our new home. Within weeks, though, they started complaining that our son was too loud and that he was “bothering” their dogs. He’s 5 years old and rambunctious, and he’s attracted to furry animals, which makes it really hard to keep him away from fun, furry floofs!

We tried talking it out with our neighbors, but they lodged a complaint with our HOA, presented us with a massive bill for repainting their fence after our son drew on it with chalk, and twice called the police because he was “trespassing” on their property (he entered their garden uninvited to play with their dogs).

We’re at our wits end. We are seriously considering selling up and moving, as we can’t reasonably expect a child to forever remain indoors. But it will result in a loss we cannot afford.

Is there any way to fix this situation? We feel like we’re being bullied out of our home, but our neighbors are operating well within the law and their rights.

—Homewrecker

Dear Homewrecker,

The problem isn’t your neighbors, their fence, or their fluffy dogs. The problem is you and your belief that your darling, rambunctious 5-year-old has the right to run into other people’s yards, play or tease their animals, and draw on their property.

He doesn’t. Find a way to keep your son in line, even if that means fencing in your yard and keeping the gate locked so he can’t get out without you unlocking it. Explaining why he can’t run wild in the neighborhood will teach him about respecting other people’s property, a lesson that will stand him in good stead throughout his life.

As the cliché goes, good fences make good neighbors.

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