Comments on: Tattler’s Remorse

By: Lauren @ SuperMom Central

Lauren @ SuperMom Central — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:30:50 +0000

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!

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:30:19 +0000

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.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:23:38 +0000

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!

By: Rebecca is Thrilled by the Thought

Rebecca is Thrilled by the Thought — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:12:55 +0000

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.

By: Marianne

Marianne — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:37:43 +0000

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!

By: Shea

Shea — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:53:43 +0000

I mean “their” dog. I’m going to hang my head in shame now.

By: Shea

Shea — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:52:41 +0000

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!

By: Steph

Steph — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:14:04 +0000

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!

By: Sharla

Sharla — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:35:41 +0000

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.

By: Audrey

Audrey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:06:21 +0000

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.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:35:19 +0000

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.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:32:49 +0000

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.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:30:07 +0000

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?

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:28:27 +0000

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.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:27:07 +0000

Talent or extreme self-importance, maybe ;P. (thanks!)

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:26:12 +0000

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!

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:25:08 +0000

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?

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:24:09 +0000

Yes, strength in neighborly crankiness. ;P

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:23:44 +0000

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?

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:23:02 +0000

I think BBs are perfectly legal — abt the same as an airgun, right? ;P