Troubleshooting: Need your advise urgently
I am writing this in a bit of a huff, so forgive me if I use strong words or foul language. Something very strange happened today. It has been raining incessantly for the last two days.
As a result, the dogs have been couped up inside the house for most of the time. This evening, the rain let up for a while and my dad decided to take two of the dogs along when he went to park the car. The place is a two-minutes walking distance from my home. The dogs love going there with my father, probably because they get to run alongside the car, and because they get to pick a fight with some other nearby dogs.
Today, it started raining again almost as soon they left. So I took an umbrella and walked up to the rented garage so that dad doesn’t get wet. The rain was heavy, and both dad and I, along with the two dogs were stuck inside the garage for a while until it let up a little bit.
As we made our way back home, we noticed a dead cat not very far away. The smaller dog is always a little restless, and it was snooping around as usual. So it took us a little while to take him and walk back home. As we were walking back, we saw a gentleman walk out of his home calling for his cat. We didn’t think much of it and got back home.
Then, as we sat down for dinner a young girl of about 18 years, started calling us out from the gate. We left our plates and went to check who was there. This girl started cussing us and yelling at us as soon as we made our way over there. We could make out that she was the owner of the dead cat, and since she has seen our dogs in the vicinity she thought they had killed her.
As much as we tried to convince her, she wouldn’t listen. Among other things he called by father and me liars and expressly said: “If I ever see your dogs anywhere near our house, they will not come back to you alive.”
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I usually do not lose my temper but today I did. The dogs had been inside all day and this person was making baseless allegations. Not only that, she was threatening to hurt my children. That is something I DO NOT take lying down.
Soon her father joined her. He was much more civil and although we understood the pain that they were going through— we are all too familiar with the pain of losing a pet — we do not accept threats of bodily harm to our dogs, or any dog for that matter.
This girl and her family are new in the locality. They do not know us, and although I informed them about Paws Awhile and our initiatives, she seems hell bent on hurting and/or killing every dog that strays that way.
I am gravely concerned about the health and safety of the dogs in our locality. Tell me, what should I do?
Is there any legal action we can take? Will any of you volunteer to counsel them?
Give me your suggestions. I am all ears, and I am also extremely worried about the well being of the dogs that we have been fighting for so long.
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This post has 5 comments
July 21st, 2008
Wow, that really is something, and I’m sure a lot of it really is coming from a place of pain.
I have no idea what to do, but maybe call the local humane society and see if they have any suggestions.
July 22nd, 2008
I know your dogs like to run with the car, but it is dangerous for them. They could easily get hit, or they could end up in your neighbor’s yard and be accused of something else.
I would keep your dogs in your yard or in your house. You can always walk them on a leash for them to get the extra exercise they may be missing from running around the neighborhood. Do some training with them to improve their “call back” and concentration so they come to you when called.
Also, if they are not neutered (i am sure they are but if they aren’t…), it is a good time to do it. If they are getting into a scrap with another dog, they are less likely to behave that way.
Your neighbor may just be very upset and they may calm down eventually, but in the meantime, keep your dogs close – don’t give anyone any reason to think they are wandering the neighborhood or out of your control at any time.
July 22nd, 2008
I’m not sure what recourses you have available to you, but here’s what I can think of right now.
Let your neighbours meet your dogs, perhaps when they’ve calmed down a bit. It’s a lot harder to go through with a threat to kill when you’ve met the animal and discovered that it is actually friendly.
Ask a vet to autopsy the cat. Dog victims generally have teeth marks, tearing injuries, internal bruising from being shaken and sometimes are just torn up. If his by a car, there’s usually one impact and the associated fractures/crushing/bleeding.
If you’re unsure, warn other dog owners about the event. If you se meat left own on the street, dispose of it in case it has been poisoned.
I will return if I think of more.
July 22nd, 2008
@lala
I agree with you. Being a pet owner myself (I’ve owned cats as well), I understand the pain of losing a pet. But the expression was a little overwhelming for us, not to mention, extremely embarrassing because of the public nature it took.
@ Chris
You’re right, we should put them on leash. They are usually very well behaved but yes, there’s no reason for others to take our word for it. In fact, that is what we are doing now. And yes, they are neutered. We always make sure we get all the dogs that we rescue, are neutered.
@ Ferox
Thank you so much for your concern. You hit the nail right on the head.
In the past, we have come across instances of dogs being poisoned by humans because they “bark too much” (yes, the level of awareness about animals, and people’s attitudes towards them is very poor here). It isn’t too difficult to slip in something through the gate when someone is not looking.
In fact, Avik Noronha, who is a frequent guest writer on this blog lost one of his dogs when someone slipped a biscuit laced with poison through the gap under the door to his apartment.
It’s difficult to stay calm under the circumstances.
July 22nd, 2008
I’m not making excuses for her, I’m not. But given her age, she does seem pretty immature. Her father should try to reign her in, for sure.
Some people are either cat lovers or dog lovers with no-in betweens and she sounds like she’s not really “into” dogs on any level.
I hope you can find a way to resolve the situation and much luck to you in doing so.