Good Neighbors

[dkn1997]

I sort of knew this would happen eventually living in a development as I do.  I have been here for 12 years and have had very little dealings with neighbors, other than good ones.....probably because I'm more understanding than most. I have overlooked a few louder than appropriate parties that went on a little too late and only once before today have I had to go confront a neighbor about a situation...that was many years ago when the guy next door left his barking dog out all night. 

Anyway, over the weekend, I was walking through the neighborhood with my 8 year old.  I was walking and she was on her bike.  I'm about 2 blocks from my house and we happen upon one of the dirtbag houses in the area. you know the one, folding chair holding up the air conditioner in the front window, grass 2' high, tire in the front yard.  There was a group of guys and girls hanging out there and as we approach I hear a girl yell to one of the guys to "hold the dog"  I see the dog and it's some sort of half assed pitbull/boxer type, not too big.  some dude grabs it and drags it inside...then the girl looks at me and says, "oh, she's friendly, don't worry"  at this point nothing has happened so I could care less and go about my business.

so today I get home from work and my daughter wants to go out for an evening walk ride.  we approach this house again and there's nobody outside and talk about irony, I was explaining to my daughter what a dirtbag is and using this toilet as an example of how not to live when out of the garage bolts the dog.  So I jump in between my daughter and the dog (we are in the street) and the dog stops short barking and growling.  I exchanged many curses with the animal and I am stepping towards it with my fist cocked when two of the girls come running out screaming "she's friendly, she's friendly"  to thier credit, they are very nice girls and they were very apologetic. and very young too, so I get it.  I didn't say anything at the time, I just proceeded with my little evening walk.  So I dropped my daughter off at home and got in the car and headed back and asked them to come to the end of the driveway (I didn't want to go on the property in case things got ugly)  they came out and I explained that a leash is a good idea when you have a dog that will charge people and that the next guy through who gets scared like that will likely call the cops or kill the dog....I must be maturing because I was pleasant and calm.  again they were very apologetic and I appreciated that.  There was a guy there in the open garage who wanted no part of what I was saying because he darted in there as soon as I pulled up.

I don't think there are any parents around and I know I can avoid it and not walk by that house when I take my little stroll with the kids, but I refuse to live in fear and won't feel that I can't walk down certain streets in my own backyard so to speak.  I also have the feeling that this mutt is likely harmless because she backed down as soon as I yelled and got aggressive with her, but still...if you have a dog like that, put in in the back yard or on a leash.  It's not like I was hopping the fence and going in there yard. 

ok, rant off. 

[69bronzeT5]

I think 75% of our neighbours are cool. The rest are major idiots. The neighbour to our left...the guy's parent's used to own this whole area and then they developed it. They gave a property to the son and his wife when they got married. Well, the son and his wife are in their 60's now. They literally think they own the area. Complain about everything, drive down the street and stare at everyone's houses...that kinda stuff. One of the neighbours literally sucks up to them. The people across the street who are newer aren't bad but they like to complain too. Couple of the corner also get into people's business' too much. It's funny because most of the idiots live up the street. Everyone down the street is cool

[skip68]

The dog may fear you but, a child will most likely run for fear of the dog and then the dog will give chase and maybe cause a kid to crash or get hit by a car.  This could be bad.      People need to understand that we all must share common areas and a dog (even a harmless one) that can scare a child should not be allowed to run free.   You did the right thing.   

[Foreman72]

well handled dkn...well handled

[Silver R/T]

I used to live in neighborhood close to that. Even worse, I used to deliver newspapers on route such as that. I was attacked by dogs and at the time it would've been good idea to carry a gun with me. I was only 15-16 so I couldn't possibly own a gun. It came to a point where I had to use a gun but I couldn't. It's just by a miracle that I didn't get bitten.
Having a dog is fine, but you do have to have responsibility for it. There have been numerous pitbull attacks in our city, one toddler got bit on his face. Dog of course went to dog kennel and owners got a slap on a wrist as far as I remember.