Hey Lady, That Was Dangerous!

What is wrong with the neighbors?

Please tell me if I’m over-reacting to some neighbors’ behavior. I hate to be unkind, but why do people seem so willfully ignorant these days?

Here’s the sitch

Early mornings, I take our two dogs for their first walk. This is usually uneventful as we see few walkers and only a driver or two headed off to the salt mines. I live on the corner of a cul-de-sac and tend to stay in the circle rather than venturing farther afield.

Bad Neighbor #1

Recently, a female jogger dressed in tight purple athletic wear came up the crest of the hill and caught my dogs’ attention. She appeared to be headed straight for us, but the three of us stood and watched briefly. I hoped against hope that she’d hang a right down the side street. But no, she kept running up our street even while the slightly crazy dog I’ve written about before started barking and straining against her leash.

I couldn’t believe she kept on toward us. In that moment, I felt rather possessive of that span of asphalt. This is my street, lady! I know, I know, free country and all.

What possessed this unknown woman to continue toward a barking dog who had assumed a fairly aggressive stance? I and the other dog stood still and stared at her too. All the while, I was hoping our positioning would warn her off. Nope. She kept coming.

Bad Neighbor #2

Also recently, a neighbor’s visiting relative went walking with her dog in the early morning. As she crested the same hill, she and her dog came right towards us without a single stutter in her step. My dogs reacted as I described before. She didn’t know me or my dogs, but she confidently walked her dog toward us. I was astounded by her ignorance.

I dragged my very “interested” dogs back to the house, muttering all the way. Loud enough for the lady to hear probably, which admittedly wasn’t nice.

What is wrong with people?

One must wonder, do these situations occur because people are oblivious to what’s going on around them? Is this a product of our entitlement culture that people think they can go where they wish, and the consequences are someone else’s problem?

It seems in both circumstances there was a serious lack of situational awareness. Strange dogs? Hmm, how should one react? “Turn, turn, turn,” as Mary Hopkin sang in the Sixties.

Here is some great advice from CBS News on how NOT to approach a strange dog:

Running toward an unfamiliar dog.

Getting eye-level, very close, and smiling.

“Surprising” a dog

Ignoring a dog’s warning! If a dog barks ferociously or growls when you approach his territory and you continue.

Inappropriate touching: Dog’s generally don’t like their ears, tail and feet tugged.

Good neighbors do what’s right

We live in a very litigious society. Dangerous dog laws exist in many states. But humans are the superior creature on earth, therefore much is required of us.

If I could, I’d legislate a little common sense. Just a little, please.