Q: We live on a one block street and neighbors take much pride in their lawns. However, a couple of times a day we have a neighbor who allows his two very large dogs to walk across the neighbors' lawns. The dogs not only do their toilet business, but also get frisky and the grass is wet and easily pulled up with their romping. The same neighbor takes the dogs out around 10:30 to 11 p.m. and they bark, bark, bark. Very strange, because they don't bark during the day. Many of us have spoken to the dog owner, who laughs at us and mimics us. Very strange and frightening behaviors.
A: Don't mess with this lug. Dealing with strange and frightening human behaviors is the province of the police. One brush with the law might put this irresponsible dog owner in his place.
Q: I've got a problem with a neighbor who seems to think that I'm not doing my duty picking up after my pup. On more than a few occasions I've noticed this woman standing at her front door as my dog Blue and I have approached her house. I thought maybe it was just coincidence, but yesterday as Blue and I were standing across the street from her house I heard a male voice call out accusingly, "I hope you have something to pick up after your dog." I turned and saw a younger guy (probably her son) poking his head out the front door. I indignantly replied, "Of course!" He replied "Good."
I was more than a little offended and had to resist the urge to stop by the house at the end of our walk to show them the three bags of poop I was carrying: two from Blue and one from an unknown dog that I'd picked up from another neighbor's lawn just because I had an extra bag. Believe me, I've stepped in more than my share of doggy doings on our walks to know not everyone in the neighborhood takes their civic responsibility seriously, but I resent the implied accusation that I'm one of them.
Blue does tend to sniff around a lot near this woman's house because she lives at the end of a dead end street where lots of garbage, leaves and dead critters build up against the fence, presenting all sorts of intoxicating aromas, but Blue rarely does her business there. Should I try to set the record straight or am I better off just ignoring this woman? My concern is that she's going to tell her tales to other neighbors and Blue and I are going to get a bad reputation.
A: Don't ignore her. Pretend you're a mutt missionary and you must convert her. The next time you spy this woman remark on the lovely spring weather and say something chatty to the effect: "Blue and I wish everybody did their part to clean up." Maybe she needs to vent, which your entrée will allow her. Everybody does not like dogs and some dog people can be so reckless by leaving stuff behind for others to step in. You should be a shining example of good breeding, a doggy diplomat beyond reproach. Be nice to her so she'll have no choice but return the favor.
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