We sometimes like to blame our neighbors for all the woes of the world – from the lack of parking to the garbage that blows in our yard. And sometimes they deserve it.
Proof Sawyer is sweet and doesn't deserve to be attacked/Ryn Gargulinski
After all, it is my neighbors’ fault my arm still hurts.
Sawyer, Phoebe, my beau and I were returning from our evening riverbed dog romp. The dogs were leashed and sauntering nicely.
The narrow path back to the house is crammed between a ditch full of thorny trees and a solid brick wall.
We were on that crammed path when we encountered the neighbors and their two dogs, whom we shall call Dumbo and Bimbo.
Dumbo and Bimbo, who are no small puppies, have a long history of distaste for Sawyer and Phoebe. The feeling is mutual and the dogs like to lunge at each other when we pass across the street. Everyone is leashed and the end result is lots of noise but no injuries.
But this time Dumbo and Bimbo were not on their leashes. And I ended up getting bit.
We rounded the corner to find the neighbors and their horror hounds, with enough time for the neighbors to leash up Dumbo and Bimbo. But they didn’t. They just stood there and watched as Dumbo approached us, acting dumb enough to merit his nickname, and set off a growl fest.
Bimbo, whose head is the size of a basketball and jaws are as wide as Montana, soon joined the fray.
Proof Phoebe is sweet and doesn't deserve to be attacked/Ryn Gargulinski
Sawyer, Phoebe, my boyfriend and I had initially moved towards the brick wall to let the foursome pass. Now were cornered against it by Dumbo and Bimbo while their owners stood back in the distance. Please note the dog dad was no small puppy, either, and could have at least attempted to restrain at least one of the hounds.
Dumbo was trying to sneak up on Sawyer’s hind end while Bimbo was going for Sawyer’s throat. Sawyer and Phoebe were still leashed and couldn’t really maneuver.
Yet Sawyer still attempted to defend himself while big, bad, barking machine Phoebe hid.
My dog mom instinct kicked in and I did I really dumb thing.
I stuck my arm out to push Bimbo away and ended up with my arm clamped in a dog jaw.
Once Sawyer realized it was my arm in his mouth, he let go immediately. But not before a nice pain set in. The pain was accompanied by a fine red mark that was only later alleviated by a pouch of frozen vegetables.
Dumbo and Bimbo were eventually restrained and led away by the neighbors, who didn’t even bother to apologize.
And I’ll bet it’s their garbage that blew in my yard.
Eager for input – please take the poll.
[tnipoll]
What do you think?
Do you have inconsiderate neighbors? What’s the worse thing they’ve done?
Have you been accosted by their dogs, cats, blowing garbage or children?
Although banging on the neighbors door and telling them there idiots and jerks sounds good it wont get you anywhere. I would say maybe going over there and explaining to them there is a leash law and if they could kindly put Dumbo and Bimbo on one it would be kindly appreciated! But i keep in mind they didnt even apologize the there dogs were running free nor did they try and call them it sounds to me like they are rude people… WHO DOES THAT????? Sorry to hear that…. especially being that they are your neihbors…..
Hi Victoria, thanks for input. yeah, being kind – or at least polite! – will go a lot further than calling them names. but you’re right, if they didn’t bother to apologize when it happened, there is prob. less of a chance they’ll care now. i, too, thought that was dang rude.
i was esp. annoyed as they KNOW that these dogs have a history of not liking each other and they saw us coming in advance but did nothing.
Ryn, sorry you got bitten by “Bimbo”. Call Pima County Animal Care Centerl at 243-5900 today and report your bite by that neighbors’ dog which was off lease. He might bite someone else, like a child next time. Good luck.
hey carolyn – it was sawyer who bit me! which just made it all worse. he clamped down accidentally when i was trying to push bimbo away. it was my own fault for sticking my arm in there, but instinct took over before the thought process kicked in.
Sorry, I didn’t understand, but those two neighbor’s dogs should be on leases, or this incident wouldn’t have happened.
yes, wholly agree the lack of leashes was the main cause. esp. since those dogs are not really your cute little oh how cuddly puppy types.
Some neighbors you’ve got there, Ryn! They should have known better, and I agree that they should have at least apologized for causing such a ruckus!
yeah, really GREAT neighbors – haha. so great i want to blare my boombox and have wild parties into all hours of the night just to thank them for being so considerate!
Mornin’ Rynski. Dumbo, Bimbo and co. all should be on a leash, especially if there is a history between your dogs and theirs. Pet owners are people too Rynski, therefore the potential for stupidity is always there. Glad to hear you weren’t seriously injured. Was Dumbo dad related to Michael Vick?
mornin’ radmax – you’re right – pet owners are people. sigh. i often forget and automatically assume that just because someone owns a pet they know how to be responsible. or at least polite. i’m glad i wasn’t seriously, injured, too – and for future reference, mixed vegetable fiesta with kidney beans makes a mighty fine ice pack!
Ever heard of pepper spray? Whip out your can and threaten the dog and I guarantee the owners will come running. Having your dog on a leash is the law, and your neighbors should be reported to Pima County Animal Control. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect myself and my dogs – and I never walk without my trusty pepper spray. I’ve never had to use it either, but I’ve been ready to use it several times.
ohhhh! i like it, christy, thanks!
i’ll be digging out an old one i have and forgot about – and then buying a new one when it probably doesn’t work. best answer yet!
That’s actually not a bad idea! Threatening the use of pepper spray would have made those pesky neighbors think twice about allowing their devious pooches off the leash. 😛
There is a leash law. I would advise the jerky neighbors of that and would also advise Animal Control of the violation. I also always carry pepper spray, though have been advised that in some situations it does not have any effect on a really agitated animal. I have been advised to carry one of those expandable batons. It is like a nightstick but is easier to carry while walking the puppies. Sorry you had a bad experience.
Hiya linda, thanks for chiming in. i should def. advise the nabes of leash law. i’m wondering if i’d have to prove somehow the dogs were off-leash if i did report to PACC. too bad i didn’t have my camera…but then it would prob. have gotten broken in the tussle anyway.
also like your baton advice. where can i get one around tucson..or should i go online?
I believe you can get one at a smoke shop (as silly as it sounds). Check Moon Smoke Shop on Broadway/Kolb, as I’m 99% sure they sell them there. There are a few other Moon Smoke Shops around town, which I’m sure would have them as well. Not sure on what the price is though. 🙂
thanks, jennatoolz. i’m actually heading to Moon later this week. it sounds like you have an inside source there to know all this info (haha)!
Certainly do! The boyfriend is one of the managers. 😉
By the way, he says the DO sell them (now I’m 100% sure) and they’re $25.00. 😛
yes, i remember you saying your boyfriend worked at moon when i ran the photo of the guy with the smiley face tattoo on his bald head and he was standing in a moon smoke shop (the tattoo guy, not your boyfriend).
thanks for updated info – i’m in!! hope they come with skulls on them!
That’s right! I remember that now!
Not sure about the skulls thing though. I think they’re just black, so you might have to go Gargulinski on it. 😉
even better! the gargulinski-ed folding baton. i’ll post a photo when it’s done (haha).
Sorry to hear about the emotional situation the neighbors forced you to deal with, The pepper spray, with a warning that it’s coming, is a great idea.
My back sliding glass door was getting egged every so often and it took me forever to figure out it was the neighbors kid right next door to me. I figured it out when I saw the side of my house egged and nobody could’ve possibly done it unless it came from their backyard. They are the only neighbors I hadn’t talked to. They keep to themselves, and let the place look really crappy with weeds and random trash. Luckily, Christmas will be here soon, so how convenient that they never took their lights down from last year.
Anyway, talking to people about their kids (or pets) can be touchy, since we all think ours are perfect. I went over to their house and invited them over for coffee or a drink to talk, and then tried to approach it in a way that made it seem like it was something I was willing to help in, and work together with them.
Come to find out, he’s a foster child and they now wanted to adopt him. They had to go to these parenting classes one night a week, and that was the night he was pulling stuff. I offered to help them if he needed supervision on that evening, etc.
I haven’t had any problems since.
thanks, azmouse, for your sympathy. also thanks for such a level-headed idea. so glad to hear the egg boy was cured!
to even attempt such a maneuver, however, i think i’d need to let the anger simmer down….
you sound like a good neighbor!
also glad the next door people’s christmas lights will soon be back in season hahahaha.
It’s hard to be ‘the nice guy’ sometimes, especially when you’re angry. I want to live in my house the rest of my life, and I assume at least most of my neighbors feel the same way. It’s better to keep things as civil as possible, for the long term benefit. There are some crazy people out there! Upset the wrong ones and next thing you know one of your precious pets is poisoned or your house gets graffiti on it. Angry neighbors kill each other at an alarming rate, so even though it’s sooo hard, civility equals safety.
I’m home alone allot, and I want all of us on my street to look out for each other, even though we all aren’t best buds.
I just hope they can be more responsible than they’ve proven so far. Betcha the whole incident scared the bee-jesus out of your beau.
For the record,
If I was that lady, I would have been over to your house that night with a cake and a bottle of wine as a peace offering, along with a huge apology and a promise that it would never happen again. 🙂
like i said, az, you’re a good neighbor!! haha.
you are so right about keeping things civil – and folks killing each other or pets for stupid reasons. i do not need that. my uncle’s dog was once poisoned. what a heartbreak. i shudder!
the graffiti, however, may just blend in with my yard art (haha).
oh! and i forgot to add no, my beau was not scared.
in fact, he’s angrier than i am right now. he was fending off dumbo while i was fending off bimbo and phoebe was hiding and the leash was wrapped around us as sawyer was lunging and i guess it would have been comical – if it had been anybody else but us – haha.
Wasn’t implying your stud-muffin beau is wimpy or anything!!!! Those things happen so darn fast that sometimes it takes a minute for the shock factor to wear off before you can react.
Ryn’s beau,
Didn’t mean it in a bad way. I’m sure you’re quite chivalrous and protective of your beloved! 🙂
A sturdy walking stick is always a good idea.
Having pepper spray will leave an indelible but harmless mark on the animals brain. Have one in the area that my wife trained, five +years ago, still avoids her. The spray will work on a really agitated animal, it was originally developed in AK by game and fish dept, for their officers against BIG bears. Also works really well against the Human agressors. Kind of a dual purpose tool.
thanks for more pepper spray info, james. it sounds better every minute. good for your wife for having it on hand when needed – and to fend off an animal that now leaves her be.
okay – my wife would tell you that I am more likely to escalate a situation more than anyone else she has known… she says I have the restraint of a rogue rotweiller… that having been said…
in general, people with big dogs that are aggressive and unrestrained are themselves aggressive and unrestrained. anything I have read above only plays into their hand and escalates whatever agenda (domination) they might have.
here is the hard part – one which I only occasionally have the sense to do – next time you encounter the neighbors with or withoug their dogs, turn and go the other way. As soon as you see them, just find another way to your goal. They’ll think you are sissies and be less likely to prove that their dog is bigger than yours. Anything else continues the impasse…
no – i can only be the voice of reason when I am not involved…
Good, solid advice Mike. Still, sounds like the ahole deserves a good butt whippin’.
radmax,
couldn’t agree more… unfortunately, whether i’ve ended up the whippee or the whipper, it never makes things better. the fantasy is great – the reality sucks
You are probably right Mike, with my luck, I’D get sued.