Dear Prudence,
There’s a kid in my neighborhood who is about 7, who thinks nothing of wandering into people’s backyards without permission and hanging out for a while before leaving. Last week, my husband caught him in our yard. We have a Doberman who is territorial, and it’s no small miracle that he wasn’t outside when the kid showed up. Since then, we have locked our gates, but he frequently climbs over fences when he encounters gates that won’t open. Speaking to his parents has gone nowhere; they have told us and other neighbors that they can’t watch him every minute. Other households have dogs and more than a few have swimming pools. Now we always check our yard before letting our dog out. My husband says he wants to file trespassing charges the next time he shows up. Is it time to resort to that?