Someone Messing With My Dog

[Bees Are Awesome]

I went through a situation today that and I would like to get others' feedback.

I have a 5 year old chihuahua. He is sweet and friendly to everyone. We live in a house and we let him out into the backyard which is fully (privacy) fenced in. About 2 minutes after I let him out this morning I heard him barking a lot. When he barks we always call him inside so as not to disturb the neighbors.

I called and called him and he still barked and wouldn't come in. I don't like going outside when I am the only one home because it feels unsafe to me. I finally had to step out and see where he was but was still by the door. He was barking and jumping at the back fence. I thought maybe there was a squirrel or rabbit there until I heard laughter. I looked again and someone was putting something through the fence (between the boards) and waving it around. Whoever it was was making quiet commentary and laughing. I yelled "What are you doing to my dog?" but didn't get a reply, just more laughter. I finally got my dog to come inside after yelling a few times.

I couldn't see who was behind the fence nor could I tell what he was putting through the fence. No one lives in the house behind us but I have seen 2 guys over there painting and fixing up the place. I assume it was one of those guys.

I am so anxious and pissed off that I am shaking. I don't know what his intentions were. Maybe it was friendly, maybe not. I messaged my husband at work who is now coming home for lunch to talk to the guy. I suggested he not because I don't want any trouble but he is coming anyway. He said he wants to know why the guy did it.

Am I overreacting? Is he overreacting? What would you do in this situation?

 

[Kintsugi]

I don't know if you're overreacting, because I personally would have flipped my shit. I would have honestly called the police, described the situation, and asked what about it was illegal, because there has to be something. Even just calling it vandalism seems apt to me.

There is absolutely nothing friendly to me about this gesture. I would be completely livid.

You want me to come bring my big dog over? :sneaky: I know they wouldn't try poking him...

ETA: fences, particularly nice ones, are almost always set at least 1-2' back from a property line. Are you sure they weren't actually on your property? That's trespassing. Poking a stick through your property (fence)? That's vandalism in my book. Antagonizing your dog? I don't know what you call that, but it's a dick move.

 

[Lucycat]

I am sorry you were frightened by this, and I do understand your anxiety. It sounds like very childish behaviour on the part of the other person - could it, in fact, have been a child?

 

[iwannadeletethis]

I went through a situation today that and I would like to get others' feedback.

Hey:) @Unraveling1

That's awful!! It's a terrible feeling to have your dog messed with. Animals are so innocent and can't tell you what's going on. I'm sorry that happened to you. Especially since you yelled and they didn't respond.

Did they hear you? I would let your husband talk to them. Especially since they're workers. I don't know what kind of neighborhood you live in. I know that when I move into a new neighborhood(it's never a nice one), the first thing I do is let the neighbors "know I'm crazy". I look white and usually living alone. Sadly enough, ethnicity can play a huge role. I don't know your trauma or your neighborhood well enough to give the best advice, but I do know that standing up for yourself stops bullying. I'd say let your husband talk to them. In broad daylight and full visibility of the street. If they persist, call the cops.

Lots of luck and love <3

 

[iwannadeletethis]

I went through a situation today that and I would like to get others' feedback.

I have a 5 year old...

Hey my reply posted weird.. But it's there!! You have to click on me quoting you to open it!!

 

[TonyG]

Do you own a hose, I find that a hose works well.

 

[KwanYingirl]

I think you were completely justified to be upset by this. I have a small dog too and they are just more vulnerable in the world because of that. They need calmness but I think your dog was trying to protect you. He saw that guy invading his and his family and he was alerting you. I'm glad your husband came home to settle this. The dog is doing his job!!!!

I've had neighborhood kids cut through my yard and the dog went nuts. They were just kids being kids and taking a shortcut, but I gave them a piece of my mind and they never came by again. You know it's a vacant house, the kids are out of school and bored hopefully they'll go elsewhere for entertainment.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Maybe it was just a stupid thing that this guy did? I mean maybe he wasn't trying to hurt your dog, but wasn't exactly thinking when he was sticking things through the fence. I'm not saying this to defend him, rather I'm saying this in order to give you a different perspective so that his actions don't come across as quite so malevolent. Maybe to him it was just teasing a dog through a fence in a playful way and he wasn't trying to antagonize the dog? Then again, I wasn't there.....I do think it is a good idea for your husband to talk to the guys so that it doesn't happen again in the future. Hopefully things can be resolved amicably. I do hope that your husband talks to the guys in a calm manner, especially if those guys are going to be your new neighbors. (Yeah, they did a not so good thing, but its always a good idea to approach conflicts with neighbors in a calm manner because you don't want things to escalate.)

 

[Casey_03]

I think it's more likely that it was just harmless teasing rather than something malevolent. It's still quite rude of whoever did it, but this kind of thing used to happen to me all the time when I had a dog years ago, and it was always just someone goofing around and not realizing there was anything wrong with it.

 

[Bees Are Awesome]

Thank you all so much for your replies! I feel like I have a skewed perspective of things sometimes due to my anxiety and hypervigilance.

You want me to come bring my big dog over? :sneaky: I know they wouldn't try poking him..

Please do. We can have a doggy play date! ;)

Do you own a hose, I find that a hose works well.

Tony this made me laugh out loud. Next time I'll try that.

Maybe it was just a stupid thing that this guy did? I mean maybe he wasn't trying to hurt your dog, but wasn't exactly thinking when he was sticking things through the fence. I'm not saying this to defend him, rather I'm saying this in order to give you a different perspective

Yes it was a stupid thing he did. Thank you for that perspective too.

My husband came home with donuts and went over to talk to the guys at the house behind us. When he came home he said that the two guys are nice. The guy that was antagonizing my dog said that my dog was barking at him so he decided to poke him back a bit (with some long weeds apparently). He said it was all in fun.

My husband seemed satisfied with that answer. I'll let it go this time. I still don't think what he did was right, poking back at my dog, and if it happens again I don't think we'll be quite as "neighborly."

Dogs are family members too!

 

[Kefira]

The guy that was antagonizing my dog said that my dog was barking at him so he decided to poke him back a bit (with some long weeds apparently). He said it was all in fun.

Also about the worst way to make sure that the incident doesn't repeat.

People are stupid. I would have flipped out, but maybe if they do seem nice at least that will help if it happens again. You can still be angry but maybe it won't be quite as scary. Dealing with stupid people who don't think about others is much easier in many ways than dealing with malicious people or with an unknown.

 

[Neverthesame]

My rule of thumb when it comes to whether or not to be concerned/livid about another person's behavior in an unexpected social interaction. If you have to ask yourself what someone's intention was after the fact, it was probably something to be concerned with.

What you described was downright creepy. All he did was laugh? The hell?
Something like "Oh, I am so sorry ma'am, I just really like chihuahuas. My name is (name not laughing sounds). I have been working around here this week. I was taking a break, heard your dog and walked over to say hello to the puppy. I am sorry for bothering you. Have a lovely day." Would have been a much better way to respond to your question.

I totally understand you are hesitant to go with your gut feeling about things, same here. After all, it seems like everything and everyone is dangerous when the anxiety is high.

In my neighborhood, I can think of a few instances where someone has done bad things to one of my pets, as well as my next door neighbour's dog. I won't share the stories, some people are just savages. (Nothing permanent, both animals recovered).

Good on you for confronting the creep. Hope he is just a contract labourer, not your neighbour.