Neighbor is afraid of dogs and scaring my kids and dogs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turning it into a dog park is not working it out. So I guess you are going to overpower her with your HOA status. Well, I guess that's all you have. Must be nice to have such a simple life. How old are you, 15?

How can you both be against off leash dogs and against turning the area into a dog park? How is this not working it out since the problem was off leash dogs not the use of a sloped wooded area? I'm not the OP, but it seems like this is being constructive instead of being pointlessly negative about the situation.

Given OPs description of the area, this seems like the only good place for the kids to run around and play. She now wants to dedicate that area to the dogs.

[Anonymous]

I thought the OP said right up front that it was a dog and kid play area? That her children and other children were playing there with their dogs? So, the solution seems reasonable, legal and sounds like fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am most offended by the title of this thread. It should say "my dogs are scaring my neighbor".

I agree. It should be titled, "I'm breaking the law, and my dogs are scaring my neighbors and her children."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the OP said right up front that it was a dog and kid play area? That her children and other children were playing there with their dogs? So, the solution seems reasonable, legal and sounds like fun.

Yes, and those kids who thought they'd be able to play there but are afraid of dogs? Screw them.

[Anonymous]

Does your HOA have the $ to fence in the space? Also, how is the rest of the community going to access it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our new neighbor has two kids the same age as mine - 4 and almost 7. I take my kids and our dogs down to a cleared area in the woods behind the house every afternoon to throw balls for our dogs. We all have a great time. Other kids also come down and play and there are some days where there will be a couple of moms, three or four dogs and a pack of kids playing and throwing balls and running around. It is one of the things that I love about the neighborhood. Yesterday the new kids came down (think they moved in at the winter break) to play and things were fine until one of my dogs tried to bring a ball to the new 7 year old. The little girl screamed and the Mom, who was just coming down the path, went NUTS. Started yelling about the leash law and calling the police and vicious animals. My kids started crying, our dogs started barking and hiding behind my kids, and I just stood there kind of apologizing and trying to get everyone to calm down. I know that we are technically "breaking the law" by letting the dogs get the balls, but it's become such a nice meeting and playing time for the rest of the neighbors that I can't help but be upset with her. I'm still upset about this because I feel guilty, but I also feel she overreacted because she doesn't understand dogs.

That says it all. You're breaking the law. You scared a young child (and her mother).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turning it into a dog park is not working it out. So I guess you are going to overpower her with your HOA status. Well, I guess that's all you have. Must be nice to have such a simple life. How old are you, 15?

How can you both be against off leash dogs and against turning the area into a dog park? How is this not working it out since the problem was off leash dogs not the use of a sloped wooded area? I'm not the OP, but it seems like this is being constructive instead of being pointlessly negative about the situation.

Given OPs description of the area, this seems like the only good place for the kids to run around and play. She now wants to dedicate that area to the dogs.

That's not at all what the OP said. She said that they took their dogs down there because it was the only place away from houses, the street, and other people where letting the dogs off leash was not bothering any one in the past because nobody used the secluded and hard to reach area. My guess is that most of the flat, easy to reach land is already covered with playgrounds, playing fields, and other amenities for children. Why not let the dogs have the scrap land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turning it into a dog park is not working it out. So I guess you are going to overpower her with your HOA status. Well, I guess that's all you have. Must be nice to have such a simple life. How old are you, 15?

How can you both be against off leash dogs and against turning the area into a dog park? How is this not working it out since the problem was off leash dogs not the use of a sloped wooded area? I'm not the OP, but it seems like this is being constructive instead of being pointlessly negative about the situation.

Given OPs description of the area, this seems like the only good place for the kids to run around and play. She now wants to dedicate that area to the dogs.

That's not at all what the OP said. She said that they took their dogs down there because it was the only place away from houses, the street, and other people where letting the dogs off leash was not bothering any one in the past because nobody used the secluded and hard to reach area. My guess is that most of the flat, easy to reach land is already covered with playgrounds, playing fields, and other amenities for children. Why not let the dogs have the scrap land.

Agreed. Some of the posters here have started to comment on what they think was said, rather than what was said. How can so many people read the same posting and come up with so many different versions?

[Anonymous]

Wow OP you have really shown your true colors. My husband was head of our HOA and he would never and I repeat never try to get a rule like that going..not fair. If she is smart she will work to get this overturned if you somehow sneak this buy..on liability alone it's a bad idea. I can't believe a mom would do something like this. I am the person bit by a dog and I would be horrified to have a dog park on my little development..awful. Shame on you. Maybe said mom will read this thread and be onto you.

[Anonymous]

Sometime I feel our kids are running out of areas to play because of people like you OP. And then they talk about obesity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turning it into a dog park is not working it out. So I guess you are going to overpower her with your HOA status. Well, I guess that's all you have. Must be nice to have such a simple life. How old are you, 15?

How can you both be against off leash dogs and against turning the area into a dog park? How is this not working it out since the problem was off leash dogs not the use of a sloped wooded area? I'm not the OP, but it seems like this is being constructive instead of being pointlessly negative about the situation.

I'm always struck that the same people leading the outcry about off-leash dogs often seem to also be opposed to dog parks. They say they're not against dogs per se, just off-leash dogs on the streets, but they often actively oppose official neighborhood dog parks. It's a little like the people who gripe about bikes on the bike paths, but then have a fit if a dedicated bike lane is put in on a street. Dogs aren't going away, dogs and the community they live in are better off if the dogs get regular, off-leash exercise and it would be in everyone's best interests to find ways to make that happen. Sounds to me like OP is making a rational choice -- work through official channels to create a safe zone for dogs that people can go to or avoid as they choose so neither she nor her neighbor find themselves at odds. Why in the world would someone condemn OP for that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometime I feel our kids are running out of areas to play because of people like you OP. And then they talk about obesity.

I think the obesity epidemic stems from too few dog owners. If everyone had a big dog and walked it daily as a family (on leash, of course), think of all the pounds they'd lose, fitness they'd gain and family time they'd enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow OP you have really shown your true colors. My husband was head of our HOA and he would never and I repeat never try to get a rule like that going..not fair. If she is smart she will work to get this overturned if you somehow sneak this buy..on liability alone it's a bad idea. I can't believe a mom would do something like this. I am the person bit by a dog and I would be horrified to have a dog park on my little development..awful. Shame on you. Maybe said mom will read this thread and be onto you.

As a person who has been bitten by a dog, you should want there to be a dog park in your neighborhood. If dogs are playing in a fenced area that is separate from where kids (and non-dog owning adults) play, what exactly do you think is the danger to you?

[Anonymous]

Unleashed dogs are dangerous to people and to other dogs.

[Anonymous]

I just don't understand why the OP would buy a house with a crappy yard if she has large dogs. Or get large dogs if she lives in a house with a bad yard.