We love our neighborhood. We really do. Since we built our house seven years ago, we couldn’t be happier with the subdivision. Many of our neighbors have become friends. We “driveway sit” and chat as our kids play.We go out for dinner and sometimes meet for coffee. They’re good people.
But, then there are the other neighbors. The ones that don’t show up at the block party. The ones who don’t wave. The ones who turn their back and pretend they don’t see you when you walk by. What’s with those people?
Yesterday I came home from work to find a piece of paper posted on our front door. While I was away we had a visit from the police. Turns out an other neighbor reported our dog barks too much for her liking. We weren’t the only ones hit. Both my neighbors on either side who also have dogs got a visit too.
I’m pretty upset about it because our dog is not a “frequent and habitual barking dog” as the notice says. Sure, she barks every now and then–like most dogs do! But, when she does we bring her inside. We’re not the type of people who leave our dog unattended in the yard all the time. She’s in the house most of the day, including yesterday when the police stopped by.
As far as our neighbors’ dogs, I wouldn’t call them habitual barkers either. Sometimes all the dogs will get excited and start barking at each other. But I think we’re all pretty quick to quiet them down or bring them inside.
I know exactly who called, and the revengeful side of me wants to hurl a flaming bag of doggie poo at her house. She has a dog herself who occasionally yelps or barks. There have been a couple times when I’ve heard her in the backyard yelling at the poor thing. I don’t know what her problem is? I just know she’s some kinda crazy.
For now, I’ll just ignore her and continue to make sure my dog isn’t barking above the norm. But, if you want total peace and quiet, move to the country. Not a subdivision! What’s next? A notice that my kids are habitual outside screamers?
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6 thoughts on “Love Thy Neighbor?”
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This is stunningly similar to a post I wrote last summer, except my issue was length of grass (Disclaimer: Making my yard look like a putting green has never been a priority). My control-freak neighbor is actually the one with the dog problem – his has bitten three of four members of our family.
For some folks, the rules are the rules are the rules and any perceived tiny violation is going to spur them to land on the alleged violator with both feet. The irony in my situation is, this neighbor violates local ordinances right and left, including watering restrictions. Hellooooo! We’re in a drought here.
And I don’t understand folks like that. Live and let live, people. We all have things going on in our lives that aren’t always visible on the surface. Carping at each other isn’t helping anyone.
Sadly, I expect such problems to get worse, because when some people are stressed and pressured – as a lot of folks are in this economy – their reaction is to lash out.
Turns out, that’s exactly what was going on with my neighbor. A few months later, the bank showed up to change the lock on his door.
This neighbor is a control freak, too. They keep their lawn and landscape looking impeccable all the time. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until we hear that our yard isn’t up to their standards.
And, yes I think it’s a definite sign of stress. They’re miserable in their own life so they lash out. That’s why I’m choosing to ignore it. Let her stew in her own misery.
I vote for flaming bag of poo!!!
ROFL…
Sorry to hear you’re dealing with jerky neighbors.
I’m not really one for acts of vengeance..per say..though the flaming bag of poo would be funny. But I would say you are completely in your right to equally complain the next time her little yapper dog lets out a yap. Or maybe capture it on a video camera on quite a few occasions – to show to the police next time they show up at your door.
The way to go with flaming poo is a variation on the ding-dong ditch. You light the bag of poo on fire as you hit the bell in hopes that the neighbor will stomp out the fire (thus pooing up their shoes).
Flinging flaming poo is just dangerous (and hard to explain at the ER).
We got anonymous hate mail and phone calls from a neighbor over the length of our grass. It made me want to hire ChemLawn to super-fertilize the place and put some cars on blocks out. Mowing was simply not my first impulse.
Thanks for the safety advice, Adrienne. 🙂
Yes, the ding-dong ditch is probably a better tactic.