Last Saturday I called the Animal Control line, which is the non-emergency number for the county sheriff. I told the competent phone-answerer lady about the attack dog next door that throws his body at us (at the fence) whenever he hears us moving about the yard. He barks as if we are stray little chicks that would make a tasty treat for an otherwise-beautiful golden retriever.
There is a slim gap in the fence at the corner, by my corn, where the dog snarls and menaces and thrusts his snout, sharp teeth protruding at the novice gardener mooning over the silky corn tassels. We spray him with water if we’re watering, and one day I sprayed him with spider spray. That was after he was so vociferous in his attack that he got a splinter in his jaw from the wood fence, which bled red dog blood all over, and stopped him not at all from his mission of denying us peaceful enjoyment of our domain, making us feel as if we are the encroachers, the invaders, the unwelcome.
So I called Animal Control last week, after marching next door for the third time in two months to talk to our neighbors, who never answer the door when I march over to complain. Maybe they are not home, I told the dispatcher, but I was pretty sure they were, since I hear them tapping on the window (which is not, by the way, an effective cease-and-desist command). I explained, repeatedly, that I didn’t want to make trouble for anyone, didn’t want to see them fined or anything, I just want to be able to gloat over my sweet basil in peace.
She asked if I was willing to sign a complaint, and after a swift soul-searching, I said yes. Yes, I am willing to sign my name to a piece of paper that may make the people I plan to live next to for a very long time angry with me. Because I have done enough to feel that a formal declaration is my only recourse. She said in that case she’d send out an officer right away.
As soon as I hung up I felt sick.
We are not perfect neighbors, after all. My girls squeal and laugh and cry and whine in the backyard. They jump on the trampoline and run through the squiggly sprinkler and fight over the swings. Sometimes their mother shouts threats from the kitchen window to them in a not-very-pleasant voice. We didn’t take over neighbor gifts last Christmas.
But I hate that dog.
One day as I tried to pound in a stake to block the gap in the fence, it scared me into stepping back carelessly, onto one of my tender corn plants in the last row, the corn I planted months after my gorgeous, strong, might plants, baby corn plants that, instead of a serenade of growth-enhancing classical music piped in from a loving master gardener get the mean, angry, martial growl of the belligerent canine.
That was the day I called.
But as the sheriff stepped out of his conspicuously-macho county cheriff blazer and walked to my door in his brown uniform with large gun strapped to his hip, I blubbered. He stepped back cautiously as my voice quavered: I just want them to control their dog and make him stop attacking us, I said. I don’t want to make trouble. He was kind. He didn’t bring out a scary document for me to sign. He said he’d just go over there and have a talk with them, leave a note if they weren’t there, everything was going to be okay, please don’t start crying, Ma’am.
He was over there for a long time, and he came back the next day for awhile. The dog has been quieter this week. He still barks, but his owners seem to be more responsive, more aware. I don’t know if I’ll have to call again or if things will continue to get better.
Today as Susan and I walked to the gas station for a treat and a Mountain Dew, I told her about George Washington on her dollar bill. And I realized that the United States of America wasn’t exactly founded by people who were afraid to make a stink.
Those men and women, faced with a dilemma much more serious than mine, signed a document (okay, only the men signed, because the world ain’t perfect, even in America) that put everything they had and were on the line. I wonder if they felt slightly queasy just after the ink dried. Did they agonize over the outcome? Did they mourn for the dead who would surely follow such a treasonous declaration? I feel certain they did. And I appreciate them even more.
Jane
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Good luck with the dog. I’ve been lucky so far to never have crazy neighbors or angry dogs living next door. I wonder if that means I am the crazy neighbor? I hope not. It is a tough call, but hopefully you can enjoy your backyard now. Love how you related it to the Declaration of Independence. I am also very grateful for their brave decision. It’s hard to remember that they didn’t know at the time if we would win and they’d be heroes or lose and be villians.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I know it was a *bit* of a stretch to relate it to the declarer-ers.
(We have had some truly horrible neighbors — drug pushers who shot into our house, so really I should be thanking my lucky stars here.)
NTS-Bring bb gun to your house for attack dog target pratice. ;-P PETA is gonna hunt me down now.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I think BBs are perfectly legal — abt the same as an airgun, right? ;P
Steph Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I guess someone could get their eye poked out. But that’s what goggles are for.
Maybe I should take my own advice for my neighbors 7 or 8 barking dogs. ugh!
I gotta say, I just love your attitude about life, kids, and yes, even mean dogs! You must not yell too loud, ‘cuz I can’t hear you down here! Hint: try jerky treats; they work wonders. Of course, you may have to THROW them to (or at) him at first! Good luck!
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
This would be the “catch more flies with honey than vinegar approach”? Tom wants to know if the dogs won’t just demand more and more treats until half of our grocergy bill comes from THAT aisle?
I think the jerky treat idea is a good one. Our friend, a street over, takes the treats with her on her walks and shares them with grumpy hounds along her route. I think that has quieted them right down! And, if it makes you feel better, I believe several neighbors have called about those dogs!
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Yes, strength in neighborly crankiness. ;P
Good for you! I am NOT a dog fan, and it’s not exactly something you want to take a chance on.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Yes. My dad called on a dog that bit him on a walk near his house recently. It was actually the second time the dog had bit him, and the police were angry with my dad for having waited to call. Because what if it had bitten a child?
Now that’s talent–to draw the line from dog attacks to our country’s founding!
By the way, my parents have had problems with their neighbors calling noise control on their dogs for the last ten years. And while I really don’t see any problem with the dogs (especially since they were debarked four years ago) their relationship is amicable. No flaming dog poo. I think people can be really forgiving of one another for the sake of good relations. But maybe you could work on the fence together? Good fences make good neighbors.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I swear I heard somewhere that Frost’s poem has been misinterpreted for years — that he was being sarcastic or something, but it sure makes sense to me that good boundaries help with all relationships!
I totally was not expecting that ending. Lori’s right – it does take talent to connect two things that are so different. You did it beautifully, though.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Talent or extreme self-importance, maybe ;P. (thanks!)
Listen, if we all minded our own business and did nothing to correct the wrongs in this world where would we be? I’ve reported neighbor kids who were partying while their parents were gone. I’ve called the police on drivers that were driving erratically. Does it make me nervous? Do I feel bad? Yes, of course I do. On the other hand I think; “if that were my kid I’d want the neighbor to call and bust them for a party that I didn’t condone” or “what if that person is drunk and hits somebody else and I could have stopped them?” What if that perfectly fine dog is not being responsibly cared for and busts through the fence and bites a little child – a child that is not yours? I love dogs. I really, really love dogs, but everybody should be a responsible pet owner and a snarling dog is a sign of a neglectful owner.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
YES! I would want to know if my kids were getting up to something!
And, I’m lucky that my kids aren’t afraid of dogs, but I could see them getting a real complex about this one. Already they have learned to say “I hate that dog” from me.
We had problems in our last neighborhood with people who would leave their dogs in the front yard without a leash. The dogs were not always friendly, otherwise it would not be such a big issue. Now in our current neighborhood there are some people who have scary dogs in their front yard, and most of the time they are on a leash. But they scare me so much I cross the street. I have not called animal control yet, but after reading this I am considering it.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I don’t like being scared — it makes me not only scared but mad and resentful, etc. And those feelings are just not pleasant at all. And I think about — what if the dog attacks a child?
Beautiful entry! As the owner of an over-protective dog, the dog owners were in the wrong. As much as I love Sid, I call him into the house the second I hear him barking and I NEVER leave him outside when we’re not home.
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Sometimes I think it’s a bit silly when people pay as much attention (and money, etc) to their pets as they would to a kid, but really, maybe that’s how much time and energy it takes if they (the pets and their people) are going to be good neighbors.
I agree with Laura. The owners should have at least had the nerve to open the door and listen to your complaints. That’s pretty cowardly.
I appreciate that you tried at least a few times before calling on them though. I would hate to be called on at the first annoyance. Have one over-protective dog and one over-friendly dog, and they are never out front alone (back is fenced and there is no one to bark at ). But I’m worried about one set of neighbors that give me the evil eye when we are out and the two dogs are wrestling with my 3-yr-old (never leaving the property). If they have a serious complaint, come talk to me first.
Of course I am too chicken to ask them to tell their teens to slow down when they come roaring up the cul-de-sac…soooo yeah I probably won’t be founding any countries soon!
Jane Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Yes, I hated it when they didn’t answer the door, and I also didn’t feel good about calling AC until I’d given them a fair chance to discuss it with me.
Abt the speeding teenagers — I’d have to talk to them, because my kids ride their bikes around our street; luckily, our neighborhood is VERY kid-oriented. We all watch out for kids on the sidewalk when we’re backing out, etc.
My next door neighbors decided to take in a stray dog about two weeks before she and I had babies. I didn’t notice nor much care about their new dog for those two weeks. However, once our babies arrived, I was woken up as was my newborn on two or three occasions by a barking dog. I let the dog bark for 30 STRAIGHT MINUTES each time before politely walking down my stairs, opening my front door, walking over to their front door and ringing their doorbell four times in a row and pounding on their door with my fists. I walked back home and within a minute the barking magically stopped! About two weeks after that the stray mysteriously ran away after said neighbors left their backyard gate open for several days in a row. A dog is great, but if you have neighbors and want to be friends-TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOG OR MOVE TO THE COUNTRY AND BUY 10 ACRES.
Wow Jane, how you can turn a perfectly normal and frustrating situation into a chill-inducing patriotic message is amazing to me. But you did it. I still hope that dog will leave you alone.
By the way, a couple weeks ago in RS we had a lesson where we talked about the constitution and amendments and she was asking us if we remembered what they were. Well, I piped up saying of course the 19th amendment was the most important, thinking they would laugh since we were all women, but they all just stared at me. The lady giving the lesson then said, do share, what is the 19th? I hope the gals in my new ward know.
Was it really a golden retriever? I thought those were kind of mellow, family dogs. Whatever it was, I think you did the right thing. I am not a dog lover due mainly to years of bad experiences with neglectful dog owners. Why get a dog if you just tie it up in the yard and let it bark all day? Why do they think this is acceptable? We have two “rotties” across the street from us that bark a lot. The neighbors who have their bedroom right next to the dog’s lair, have called the owners repeatedly and yet they continue to let them stay outside and bark. These are nice people, so I just don’t get how they can ignore the complaints of their neighbors. We had a dog once and someone called the po-po on us for it barking. I think it was a mistake since it was an inside dog and there were many dogs in the hood. Still I felt horrible and wished someone had talked to me first. I made damn sure that dog never barked for more than a few seconds again. My favourite thing is when dog owners tell me that “There dog would never hurt anyone.” I don’t care if you think your pit bull is a cuddly teddy bear, dogs are unpredictable and there is nothing keeping it from ripping my kid’s face off. Anyway, kuddos to you!
I mean “their” dog. I’m going to hang my head in shame now.
I have two dogs – big GSPointers – and I am VERY sensitive to them barking and would never let intimidate anyone like that.
They’re both very gentle dogs but that doesn’t mean much if you’re not a dog person or have a long-held fear of dogs from a bad encounter.
My neighbor to the rear of us isn’t too keen on our dogs (despite having one of her own) so I don’t let them out if she’s working in her yard or if they’re on their patio unless I’m out with them and our kids. Then all they do is chase bubbles — the dogs and the kids!
And our dogs are house dogs as well, meaning they don’t get left out for longer than it takes for them to do their business and woof at the back door.
You did the right thing to try to approach your neighbors again, Jane. That’s what I’d want someone to do if they felt my dogs were a nuisance in any way.
And as for Golden’s being a gentle breed, you can’t ever be too careful with ANY dog; my brother in law was bitten by his neighbor’s yellow Lab, another “gentle” breed. Each dog has a unique temperment and can/will react differently in different situations. I consider myself very good with dogs but I’m still very cautious around dogs I don’t know, especially if they’re in a “territorial” mode (like fenced or worse, tied out).
Best to you and your corn!
I always agonize about what to do with obnoxious naighbors too. I’m not perfect, and they could easily call me out on a thing or two.
I liked this post, but didn’t comment till now ’cause it doesn’t show up right on my laptop (can’t scroll down all the way for some reason). Don’t think it is a stretch at all to compare signing the Declaration with a formal complaint. Thanks for the bbq and come and see us any time!
I commend you for reporting the dog and the owners. My sister was attacked by a dog a few months ago. She is very animal-savvy. The dog bit her hand and held on for several minutes. She was lucky that she wasn’t younger. Unfortunately, the owners had signs in the past that the dog wasn’t as friendly as they thought, but ignored it, to my sister’s detriment. She suffered several puncture wounds on her hand and had to go to the emergency room. But really, she was lucky that it wasn’t her throat that the dog decided to go for.
I think it is important to speak out when things aren’t right. I liked that you tried other ways first.
I love it, Jane. You always find the wisdom in everyday experiences and it encourages me to think more deeply about my world and my role in it.
- Lauren
PS – so sad we didn’t get to hang more at the MWMI conf.! I was in and out all day and never really got to sit and just “be” much.
Hopefully we’ll run into eachother again soon!