Life before 2008 10 May 2007 07:41 am
Claus-tro-pho-bia….
Living in the suburbs, houses that were 15 or so feet apart made me feel too enclosed. Maybe a corner lot would have better, but I spent most days wishing we had more room to move around. Space was a large part of my “homestead dreaming”. I can hardly even stand to look at neighborhoods full of “McMansions”, for lots of reasons really, but one is that the houses are often an arm’s reach away. The side windows look out to…. the neighbor’s side window!
Then we went *really* confined, into a tiny apartment. Strangely, in some ways, this felt more spacious. The only windows looked out over the mountains and the sky filled my patio door. It occurred to me that there is a tolerable way to live in town, especially if there is greenspace nearby. Even better would be a large park with winding trails and kind neighbors.
And that’s the make-it-or-break-it criteria. Kind neighbors. Sometimes we’ve had them, sometimes we haven’t. Adults that can’t tolerate the sight of children seem to be everywhere we go, in at least one house in every situation. All the ones who love them can hardly seem to make up for one baddie; the baddie always seems to have so much influence over how things will go.
Weak on outreach and extending myself, I tend to aim instead for “live and let live”. They want to be left alone? That’s fine by me…I’ll respect that. Just also, leave me alone! I’d prefer we get together, chat over the fence, and swap plates of cookies. But silence is better than antagonism. So where there is a problem, I reign in my kiddos, even if they were doing nothing wrong, and seek to not provoke anyone’s anger. The problem is when they’re hellbent on finding an issue to pick; you can’t be invisible enough for people like that. And here comes the claustrophobia.
The kids rollerblade in circles in our driveway now instead of down our extrememly quiet, dead-end street. They only go down the road when I’m jogging and am nearby. They go to the public play are across the street only during certain hours, and when I can watch from the porch, which in some ways really defeats the purpose of sending one’s children out to play! No more creek exploring, no more train watching. This, in addition to being watched by those driving by, those whose houses are higher on the hills than my little valley spot, has made our “footprint” very small. It’s worth it if the neighbors realize the effort and back off.
But today? Today Herr pit bull has returned. The vicious dog on a heavy chain with just a broken, rickety fence between our yards; the one that bites his owners and gets loose and chases into our yard. The one that attacked Red Fox and dislocated his leg; the one that chased me into my shed while I was hanging wash.
We’ll call the landlord again and beg them to make their tenants remove the dog again. I’ve called the police; unless it comes into my yard they can’t do anything, and of course when that happens there is no time for phone calls. I could carry a loaded gun while I hang wash and plant my garden…..NOT! But that was a suggestion they made.
For now, we have no use of that entire side of our house. It’s the largest side, the side that gets the most play, the most work, the most use. It’s the side the kids use to leave the yard and go to the playground so they don’t walk near the blind intersection. The side I hung 9 loads of wash on over the past 3 days. The side our back door opens to.
So life out in the country isn’t always so expansive. Lesson learned. What would you do?
on 10 May 2007 at 8:44 am 1.Queenofthehill said …
My mom would suggest throwing the dog some poisoned snacks! My sister and her children were penned helplessly in their yard for years by her neighbor’s pitt bull — and her neighbor was our first cousin! (He later used the fence between their houses as one side of a pig pen, but that’s a story for another day.)
For some reason, I thought there was some legislation passed on these dogs? I thought you had to have a certain amount of liability insurance to be able to own one?
Why not call Senator Finney and ask him what to do? He’s always looking for input — maybe he could pass some “vicious dog” legislation, if I’m wrong and there isn’t some already. He could at least research it for you.
on 10 May 2007 at 9:05 am 2.Tia said …
Who is Senator Finney and how does one contact him? I supposed there is a line of people in front of him to communicate with first? I will try anything…
on 10 May 2007 at 9:49 am 3.Mary said …
Oh, Tia! I’m so sorry.
on 10 May 2007 at 9:49 am 4.Erin said …
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
Go to this website and pull up his info. It is a very good idea to contact him, if nothing else than to get him to look into it.
on 10 May 2007 at 9:53 am 5.Erin said …
It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to look up information about legislation that may be on your side regarding how often your kids are outside/homeschooled/etc. So often ignorance of the law is the kicker and if you can arm yourself with the proper law against those on the hill, you can have something in your back pocket should they call. It could also be a question for your Senator or Representative.
on 10 May 2007 at 5:48 pm 6.Susan said …
I would find a way to build a tall, sturdy fence that the pitt bull can not get through. I am so sorry, Tia! To be trapped in a small space in the country is just not right. “It aint fittin, it just aint fittin”, as Mammy (from Gone With The Wind) would say.
Also, if you have to move and want to stay in the country…find a house on top of the hill, so no one can look down on your with their magnifying glasses. argh!
Hugs,
Susan
on 10 May 2007 at 6:02 pm 7.Queenofthehill said …
I’d just call him, but here’s his email address: sen.raymond.finney@legislature.state.tn.us
Here’s his w”informational” website: http://www.raymondfinney.com/
District Address
2119 Middlewood Drive
Maryville, TN 37803
Phone: 865-984-1424
Nashville Address
320 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243-0208
Phone: (615) 741-2427
Staff Contact: Deana Guenther
on 10 May 2007 at 7:01 pm 8.Kyra said …
You can try one of these:
http://www.safetygearhq.com/dogchaser.htm
or you can try this:
http://www.safetygearhq.com/canine-mace.htm
Once you have used bought one of these items, you need to a) inform you neighbor that you have one and will use it if the dog comes anywhere near you, your children or your pets (in writing is best, and make sure it is witnessed, if possible) and b) inform the local police that you have these items to protect yourself.
Then if you ever have to use them you have protected yourself by declaring that you have them…and then you can file a police report against your neighbors for endangering you or your children if you have to subdue the dog.
You can also file a report against your landlord if there is any harm done to your family since he did nothing to protect his property from attack by even talking to the neighbor.
Godspeed, hon and I hope that nothing happens to your or the kids or pets in the meantime.
on 11 May 2007 at 1:27 pm 9.Deborah said …
Check local and state ordinances, make log (date and time) of every past and future “event”. Take pics, get statements from witnesses. Mayor, animal control, State Rep, local media.
I am an animal lover and have owned many breeds of dogs, including pit bull. This is not acceptable, especially with small children playing. This breed doesn’t do well on a chain, needs constant companionship and much exercise, sounds like getting neither.
The landlord must take action. In the unlikely, hopefully, event that the dog escaped and harmed you or your children, the landlord, the dog owner, and your family will have your lives irreparably changed for the worse.
Good luck.
on 11 May 2007 at 9:12 pm 10.weesma said …
Please don’t poison a dog unless you have something that works quickly. My daughter’s dog was poisoned with antifreeze when we were on vacation. She died writhing in agony. My daughter’s best friend, who was watching the animals for us, had to be the one who found her. Someone in our neighborhood poisoned several of the dogs that ran loose. There had been no complaints, just execution. Our dog died because she was an escape artist. We left her in her kennel (6 ft. high), but she climbed out.
I second the motion of going over the local authorities’ heads to the state level. We had experience with this at the DMV in Blount Co. My daughter sat for 2 hours with the testing machines sitting empty and no explanations. A friend of one of the workers came in and was processed immediately. I left her there and went to my car to use my cell phone. I called the governor’s office and they routed me to the state dept. which oversees driver’s licensing. They called the DMV office and lo and behold, when I returned inside my daughter was taking her driver’s test.
I pray you’ll find a solution. Being a “prisoner” in your own home is no fun!
Joanna
on 11 May 2007 at 10:14 pm 11.dalimama said …
I can only say I am sorry. If you know you are staying in your house for any amount of time, I’d say erect a large fence like Susan suggested. I’d even ask the Landlord to pay for it stating that if that dog did come into your yard and do any damage or injure anyone or animal that they’d be he (the landlord) and the renters would be liable for all damages and losses. Really.
And, you’re right about the apartment vs. suburbs. I loved our loft. It did start to feel a little too boxed in when there started to be drama within the lofts but it was still so much better than my suburb experience. I could walk to the local park, walk to the fruit and veggie stand, walk to the dollar store, the pizza place, the water ice stand, you name it. Of course, we lived in Philly so I couldn’t let my kids walk to the park alone or anywhere else but I might’ve let them when they were older walk to a few of the stores. Once my friend’s twins got out of her apartment in the main part of the city, crossed a busy street and went into the local corner store. Luckily the owner recognized them and walked them back… they were probably about three or four years old at the time… talk about nice neighbors… there was no big to do over it.
on 24 May 2007 at 11:31 am 12.Tammy S. Grimes said …
Hi, we’re an organization working to bring dogs into the home and family. A pit bull or any other large breed on a chain is a ticking time bomb, which you already realize, as he can all too often break free, or injure anyone who does come within the sphere where he lives. Please visit our site at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org for more info, and please e-mail us the dog’s address at info@dogsdeservebetter.org. We will mail a letter and a brochure attempting to educate the caretaker about leaving a dog chained outside for life.
For your safety I really do recommend installing a fence at least along the side where he is chained, if the neighbor’s won’t do the right thing.
Tammy S. Grimes, Dogs Deserve Better
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