Neighbor is afraid of dogs and scaring my kids and dogs

[Anonymous]

13:33 - what is wrong with you? You seem very hostile. If you are hostile about dogs, you are likely more hostile about people. Some people do not live near a dog park, so what?

[Anonymous]

OP, can you give us a general idea of where you live?

[Anonymous]

I posted early on to ignore her, but upon reflection I realize that was insensitive. I have a small dog, a puppy actually. I love him but I do worry about bigger dogs jumping rambunctiously on him and injuring him. Because thof her breed she would be really unreliable to come back if let off leash. So I would never do it unless in an enclosed dog park. In light of the dog leash laws though, I'd say no one should ever let their dog off leash this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, the nearest dog park is 40 minutes away by car in traffic - that is not an option for us.

I do feel for people that have dog phobias, that is why we are careful to play and exercise the dogs away from the street and the other homes. My four year old is worried that the police will take the dogs away and kill them (somehow that was his take away from the incident). My daughter was trying, in her bossy way to explain to the new girl that the dogs just like to bring balls to people.

Just feeling sad for my kids, their friends and all of the dog buddies that what used to be a great neighborhood get together is now going to be a source of conflict.

I agree, OP, it's very sad--this sounded like a beautiful tradition, and fun for everyone. However, I think it's in your hands not to make it "a source of conflict." I think you should approach the neighbor and make peace, and see if there are any circumstances under which she'd be OK with you having your dogs off-leash. (I'd recommend not using the just-stay-away proposal.) But if she doesn't find any sort of compromise acceptable, you just have to keep the dogs leashed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, your neighbor is batshit crazy and is scaring her family. You might want to keep your distance and ignore her!

OP here, my neighbor is not batshit crazy. She was scared and she had a point. What all of us (five houses around the clearing) have been doing is technically against the leash law. All of our homes have steep slopes in the back yards, so we really don't have backyards, just California type slopes - hers does too. You have to take your kids down into the clearing to find some flat land. Because the closest neighbors have, up till now, sort of designated it as informal play and run area, we didn't really consider that someone would be afraid and go all legal on us.

Of course we'll try to work it out with her, but if she is truly afraid, then the good times will just be over. I'm upset, and I have to be careful to not allow my children, or the other "dog" friendly children blame her kids for it.

How I wish they hadn't moved in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, the nearest dog park is 40 minutes away by car in traffic - that is not an option for us.

I do feel for people that have dog phobias, that is why we are careful to play and exercise the dogs away from the street and the other homes. My four year old is worried that the police will take the dogs away and kill them (somehow that was his take away from the incident). My daughter was trying, in her bossy way to explain to the new girl that the dogs just like to bring balls to people.

Just feeling sad for my kids, their friends and all of the dog buddies that what used to be a great neighborhood get together is now going to be a source of conflict.

Where the hell do you live? Obviously not the DC area!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP, your neighbor is batshit crazy and is scaring her family. You might want to keep your distance and ignore her!

OP here, my neighbor is not batshit crazy. She was scared and she had a point. What all of us (five houses around the clearing) have been doing is technically against the leash law. All of our homes have steep slopes in the back yards, so we really don't have backyards, just California type slopes - hers does too. You have to take your kids down into the clearing to find some flat land. Because the closest neighbors have, up till now, sort of designated it as informal play and run area, we didn't really consider that someone would be afraid and go all legal on us.

Of course we'll try to work it out with her, but if she is truly afraid, then the good times will just be over. I'm upset, and I have to be careful to not allow my children, or the other "dog" friendly children blame her kids for it.

How I wish they hadn't moved in.

This too may pass. Initial reactions are not always final ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people have a genuine phobia of dogs. It may not seem rational to you, but it's very real to them.

Try to start looking at this with a little compassion. If you can't do that, then just obey the leash law.

Some people have been bitten in the past and it may be more than a phobia. We have a friend whose child was bitten horribly on the hand by a dog in their old neighborhood---requiring stitches...so you just don't know.

Some of the pps that were calling her crazy may not know the history.

[Anonymous]

I know you OP and I am familiar with the incident. You have quite a reputation in the community. This is not the first incident of this type. The way you raise your children leaves a lot to desire too.

Stop your costant complaining and attacking people, or please move away.

[Anonymous]

I would keep playing with my dog and let her call the police. We have an open field near us where a lot of people play with their dogs. One lady moved in across the street and hated dogs and started calling the police every time she saw a dog off leash in the lot. They would come, sometimes, and vaguely ask us to put our dogs on a leash and then go away. This went on for years and no one every got a ticket or in trouble in any way. The police do not care about stuff like this and hate when people use threats of "calling the police" to settle spats between neighbors.

The lady in our case eventually got angry and called in that a dog was attacking someone. When the police came and this wasn't the case they threatened to cite her for making a false report using 911. She stopped calling and we all still play at the lot.

[Anonymous]

I sure am glad I am not your neighbor, OP. The safety of my kids is my top priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would keep playing with my dog and let her call the police. We have an open field near us where a lot of people play with their dogs. One lady moved in across the street and hated dogs and started calling the police every time she saw a dog off leash in the lot. They would come, sometimes, and vaguely ask us to put our dogs on a leash and then go away. This went on for years and no one every got a ticket or in trouble in any way. The police do not care about stuff like this and hate when people use threats of "calling the police" to settle spats between neighbors.

The lady in our case eventually got angry and called in that a dog was attacking someone. When the police came and this wasn't the case they threatened to cite her for making a false report using 911. She stopped calling and we all still play at the lot.

Really? they did not care, vagely asked to put your dog on the leash? what jurisdictioon is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know you OP and I am familiar with the incident. You have quite a reputation in the community. This is not the first incident of this type. The way you raise your children leaves a lot to desire too.

Stop your costant complaining and attacking people, or please move away.

Troll and spammer - please learn to spell.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with dogs, I LOVE dogs. I do not love people that insist they have a right to let their dogs off-leash in public spaces. If your dogs NEED recreation and you don't have a yard, you need to take them somewhere for recreation where you can legally have them off-leash....or don't have dogs if you don't have the space for them. Everyone thinks their dog is "well-behaved" and yet, accidents do happen, especially with small children around. I hate it when I see people letting their dogs off-leash in my neighborhood's common areas. Those spaces are for people, some of whom may not like dogs, have little experience with dogs, or be genuinely afraid of dogs.

Who owns the property where you were all hanging out? The county or your HOA? Maybe they can build a dog park for you.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so you and few other families let your dogs run free in an area that is known to you guys, right? Can you talk to your neighbor, explain to her about that particular area and how it's become a "meeting place" for few dog families. If I were her, I'd appreciate being acknowledged and being told the dogs are friendly. She reacted because her child screamed, and she probably thought the child had been bitten or whatever. A simple explanation will do and you might make a new friend.