‘The Dogs Came Charging Right At Me’: What Would You Do? [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — Block Talk readers, a fellow follower of this column needs your help. “Concerned Auntie” said in an email to Patch that her niece is struggling with what to do about a neighbor’s dogs that, although friendly, rush and jump on anyone who’s in her front yard.

That includes two young children, who like to play in the front yard, where the dogs also freely poop. The children’s parents have asked the neighbor to keep the dogs confined, and have posted signs. Still, the dogs rush visitors like a canine Welcome Wagon.

In the dogs’ defense, Concerned Auntie said, they think it’s OK because the previous owner of her niece’s house tolerated their behavior.

Not long ago, Concerned Auntie was greeted by the dogs.

“I was all dressed up — nylons and all,” she said. “The dogs came charging right at me as soon as I got out of my car and jumped up on me, all the while the neighbor is yelling at the dogs to stop. If they did that to a child, they would be knocked over.”

She admits she didn’t handle it well, and wants to do better next time.

“Uncharacteristically of me, I screamed at this neighbor. I told her this had to stop. Who did she think she was?” the reader wrote. “She kept saying, ‘I’m sorry,’ but the dogs still run free and think my niece’s yard is a fine place to do their business.

“I would love to hear some suggestions on how to get this to stop and for these rude neighbors to understand that what they are doing is wrong,” she wrote, “They have created a hostile environment in the neighborhood. They are making my niece and her husband out to be the bad guys.”

How should Concerned Auntie handle this? What would you do? Just fill out the simple form below — and no worries, we do not collect email addresses.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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