James came home for the weekend after dropping off a student in Joplin. It was BEAUTIFUL today- mid 70s and we just had to get out and enjoy the weather! In the morning, I opened all the windows and turned on the attic fan to air out the house while the whole family worked on getting the house tidy. The house was scrubbed down, including the three kid rooms (which are always a disaster) and we deep cleaned the living and family rooms, and caught up on the laundry. Then James and I took the kids bowling, went for a bike ride (I walked with the littlest two around the neighborhood for an hour but James took the bigger two on an eight mile ride down the bike path). And then we came home to yummy chicken and dumplings in the crockpot! Good stuff!
The down point of the day……… I got into an altercation with my crappy neighbors about their crappy snappy barky dog. Yesterday, I was just trying to get from the car to the house and it came charging up behind me, barking. James said its hackles were raised. I’m afraid its going to bite someone, but I am also afraid of starting a fight with our neighbors. Which is why I haven’t done anything but call animal control once, even though this has been going on for months. This dog is always loose, and constantly in my front and back yards. It seems to consider our property part of its territory. It hangs out on my porches and growls and barks at us through the freaking windows!
The problem is, at first the dog just barked and would run back to its own yard when we came out, it was just a nuisance. I have said something to the neighbors a few times, but they never do ANYTHING. Now its getting more and more bold and aggressive and I am starting to get scared of it! Its scary to be chased and barked at just trying to get in the house. I don’t like it. What happens when I’m trying to get a little baby in and out of the car in a few months?
I meant to call animal control again today, but we were out all day and I forgot. When we got home from a bike ride, guess who was there to bark and chase the kids into the house? Ugh! Two guys from next door must have heard me yelling at the kids to get in because they came into our front yard to try and catch the dog. One guy, the older one said that it wouldn’t hurt anyone it just barks and there is no problem. I told him that there was going to be a problem if they didn’t keep their dog on a leash and out of my yard. I said that it barks and chases my kids and scares them and scares me and we have a right to be in our own yard and not scared. The guy didn’t say anything to that. I have social anxiety, but apparently I was angry and mama bear enough to yell at the neighbors.
When James took our dog out a few minutes ago…. Their dog was STILL out and loose.
This is seriously starting to piss me off.
What would YOU do?
Since the dog has gotten progressively more agressive (which it sounds like he has, since he no longer runs off and now chases), I would definately call the animal control Every Time that he chases one of your family members.. that way, if the worst happens and he attacks someone, they have documentation that he has been a neusence (sp) and that the neighbors haven’t done anything to stop it.
Likewise, DON’T run from the dog, this makes you prey, just keep a small paddle, rolled paper or something in your hand, and when he charges stand firm and in a loud firm voice to stop it and go home, if this doesn’t do anything, pop him on the nose with whatever you’ve kept in your hand for this purpose..
Definately call the authorities though, for every occurance.. it can only help.