Hi guys,
Long time no talk here (I'm on BYH much more often now as I only have ONE chicken these days and a ton of rabbits but I knew I could come here and get some support and advice on how to handle a cruddy situation I'm in.
Our neighbors moved into the house next door last Oct. they are renting, as are we but we are 3 years into a rent to own agreement and are about to take over the mortgage on the place.
They are homeschoolers like us, own a local pet grooming salon, have 6 children, and have 2 dogs and a cat.
The parents are nice people I think. We've only talked a few times but they were sweet people, just really busy while they revamp their inherited buisness (the grooming salon).
Here is the low down:
They have 4 kids at home, an 18 year old daughter, and three younger kids.
Mom and Dad work Monday-Saturday 6-6 and while they do the oldest girl raises and schools the other kids which I think is horrible but that is outside the scope of this...
They have two large dogs, a GSD and a Standard Poodle which they let out off leash several times per day. Mind you, we have acreage here but there is still a leash law.
When they first moved in, my kids used to play with their younger kids during the day. Everytime they went over the dogs had to be locked away because they are too agressive.
It made me nervous so I kinda stopped letting them over there.
Now, in December my son was delivering Christmas cards to the neighbors like we do every year. He was smack in the middle of my front yard when all of a sudden both dogs charged him (I saw it happen) on my property and the GSD grabbed him by the pantsleg and nearly knocked him down. My son got away and ran into the house. It all happened so fast. The older girl called the dogs off and they ran right to her and into the house. This happened on a Sunday when the entire family was home and no one ever came and apologized to us or ever brought it up.
My son is 9 and is now afraid to play outside unless he's carrying a stick and won't check the mail. He was extremely shaken up. Hindsight is 20/20, I SHOULD have called the cops and animal control as soon as it happened. I didn't. Stupid me was trying to be nice and figured we would just settle this between us.
Lately things have gotten worse. The dogs are let out and nearly every morning I can see them running ON my property in my pastures. They eventually wander back onto their property. I have 3 kids, my youngest is 4. If that dog goes after her, I don't even want to think about that...
Yesterday my kids were outside playing and my daughter was talking to the oldest girl, the gaurdian. For whatever reason the girl told my daughter to "Shut Up" and "Get away from her lawn"...
The GSD lunged at my 4 year old yesterday over the fence while she was talking with their 4 year old.
When my son asked her if the dogs were inside she told him that she "couldn't tell him where they are because it's a secret".
Both kids said she was acting really mean to them. My son would never make up something like that.
My husband and I know we need to talk with the parents NOW. We're thinking tonight after they come home. But I need some advice on how to word things and what to say. I don't want to get overcome with emotion and start a fight. We need to be calm and cool headed here.
What do I do? I have anxiety disorder. The thought of a confrontation of any kind makes my throat close up... I'm scared to death but my need to protect my kids far outweighs that.
Long time no talk here (I'm on BYH much more often now as I only have ONE chicken these days and a ton of rabbits but I knew I could come here and get some support and advice on how to handle a cruddy situation I'm in.
Our neighbors moved into the house next door last Oct. they are renting, as are we but we are 3 years into a rent to own agreement and are about to take over the mortgage on the place.
They are homeschoolers like us, own a local pet grooming salon, have 6 children, and have 2 dogs and a cat.
The parents are nice people I think. We've only talked a few times but they were sweet people, just really busy while they revamp their inherited buisness (the grooming salon).
Here is the low down:
They have 4 kids at home, an 18 year old daughter, and three younger kids.
Mom and Dad work Monday-Saturday 6-6 and while they do the oldest girl raises and schools the other kids which I think is horrible but that is outside the scope of this...
They have two large dogs, a GSD and a Standard Poodle which they let out off leash several times per day. Mind you, we have acreage here but there is still a leash law.
When they first moved in, my kids used to play with their younger kids during the day. Everytime they went over the dogs had to be locked away because they are too agressive.
It made me nervous so I kinda stopped letting them over there.
Now, in December my son was delivering Christmas cards to the neighbors like we do every year. He was smack in the middle of my front yard when all of a sudden both dogs charged him (I saw it happen) on my property and the GSD grabbed him by the pantsleg and nearly knocked him down. My son got away and ran into the house. It all happened so fast. The older girl called the dogs off and they ran right to her and into the house. This happened on a Sunday when the entire family was home and no one ever came and apologized to us or ever brought it up.
My son is 9 and is now afraid to play outside unless he's carrying a stick and won't check the mail. He was extremely shaken up. Hindsight is 20/20, I SHOULD have called the cops and animal control as soon as it happened. I didn't. Stupid me was trying to be nice and figured we would just settle this between us.
Lately things have gotten worse. The dogs are let out and nearly every morning I can see them running ON my property in my pastures. They eventually wander back onto their property. I have 3 kids, my youngest is 4. If that dog goes after her, I don't even want to think about that...
Yesterday my kids were outside playing and my daughter was talking to the oldest girl, the gaurdian. For whatever reason the girl told my daughter to "Shut Up" and "Get away from her lawn"...
The GSD lunged at my 4 year old yesterday over the fence while she was talking with their 4 year old.
When my son asked her if the dogs were inside she told him that she "couldn't tell him where they are because it's a secret".
Both kids said she was acting really mean to them. My son would never make up something like that.
My husband and I know we need to talk with the parents NOW. We're thinking tonight after they come home. But I need some advice on how to word things and what to say. I don't want to get overcome with emotion and start a fight. We need to be calm and cool headed here.
What do I do? I have anxiety disorder. The thought of a confrontation of any kind makes my throat close up... I'm scared to death but my need to protect my kids far outweighs that.
