With so much going on with my family within the last few months I have shied away from writing a blog post. To be quiet honest, I try my best not to air my negative aspects of life for all to see. But my heart has been heavy, from stress, and from grief. But I came to the realization it's my truth. If it can help someone else, out there struggling then it's worth putting my story out there, My hope that others aren't alone and can find something that could work from them.
It wasn't too long ago I shared that my family was having troubles with new neighbors. Unfortunately that too has continued, but before that messy business lets delve into a few sad moments. Shortly before Thanksgiving we lost an extended family member on my husband's side. It was quite unexpected as most are. So my family decided to do something new for the Holiday season. Our children are getting older, we only have a possible 4 years left with our oldest at home, so we wanted to start our own family traditions for the kids to come home to with their friends and one day families. For the first time we had Thanksgiving at home. Since I was a kid I've always watched the Macy's Day Parade, but I gladly accept the very different and soothing, serene day with my most beloved family and no hassle of having to travel and the unneeded stress the Holidays bring with complicated family matters. It was amazing!
The First week of December we had the unfortunate incident with the dog next door and the duck we rescued getting killed. It weighed heavy on my heart that someone could care less that they could let their dog loose to hurt itself or others, or their property. So I started the downward spiral of purchasing cameras to protect ourselves from any incidents, We didn't want the dog getting hurt on our property and having to face legal actions. We also live in a house that has so many blind spots. Our living Room is a closed in garage. So on one side of the house, which coincidentally the neighbors live on we have no clue as to what happens next door or between the properties. I found it fitting to place cameras which could be beneficial to us in knowing when the dog next door was out, unsupervised seeing that it wasn't a concern to our neighbors. After putting up the camera I came to the sudden realization, our Holly bush, honeysuckle vines, and a few trees that covered the fence line blocked the view of the next door dog being out. I didn't want any blind spots that could jeopardize a possibility of not being caught on camera and incase the dog had another way into the yard I could immediately fix it. So all my beloves had to go. The older boys and I chopped and raked and cleared the yard all day. The line of site was clear but the view was depressing. But it was for the safety of the livestock. I kept telling myself. Later that evening the neighbor came home and wanted to know what the issue was. I calmly told her and we came the the agreement the dog would be watched. The mother later took off in her vehicle and the kids were left home. As I and my oldest were taking the last few branches to the front we noticed the oldest boy nextdoor be surprised by our presence. Phone in hand light on. Caught in the act. No the first time the kids nextdoor has tried to shine lights at the dogs to get them to bark. Hide, then shine, then bark again. After he saw us he went to sit by the front of their house. Not ten minutes after my son and I had went in, I started dinner, letting the dogs finish their last nature call for the night. When the dogs began barking. I walked out to see the cause and sure enough their was the neighbor flashing his light starting the barking again. The next door dog stayed inside. Lasted two days. Then the dog was out unsupervised yet again. Christmas Morning I woke to find feathers in the yard. One Coop with damage. and lots of digging. Another dead duck and a few injured hens. A great way to start Christmas morning with your kids.
Now let me take a moment to backtrack. Two weeks before Christmas. My family found out my Grandmother had suffered a stroke and had an accident while driving. A weeks stay in the hospital and lots of calls back and forth things were beginning to look up. Then came the week before Christmas my mom text letting me know my uncle had passed. Again a sudden and unexpected shock. My parents left Christmas morning to head up north to attend the funeral. Look into options for my grandmother and make arrangements with the estate and other family matters. With things already stressful at home leaving wasn't an option, were anything could happen in my absence I stayed home. Along with caring for my parents home and dog. We had our Christmas get together with my parents Christmas eve. We found a few years ago that separating the two in law Christmases just worked better for us. No having to rush to one, leaving early just to rush to the next, plus Hubby has an early rise the next day so We've stuck with it. So My family get together is generally the Eve, then we follow up with Christmas at Hubby's the next day. But again seeing how well Thanksgiving worked out, having papers the morning before, and Hubby's early work schedule, we again decided to keep the Holiday to ourselves. I've never had such an enjoyable Christmas. No upsetting my folks with arriving late and leaving early. No waiting around just to leave for hubb's. The kids actually got to open and play with their things. We had a nice little Dinner and enjoyed the evening. The next door We had our share of Christmas with the other Grandparents. So the kids lucked out on three days of Christmas spread even between all. It was amazing getting to see the kids play with cousins.
Now jumping back to the dog Christmas Morning I went through our video footage on my phone and realized the dog had been let out after we had filled the stocking for the kids and had ourselves went to bed. The dog next-door had been left outside, to where the dog decided he wanted out. For over five hours the dog wandered between the yards back and forth. There was a time gap between the dog entering the fence, and leaving the fence. The only thing to come and go other than the dog was a bunny. Now I've never met a killer bunny that likes to snack on livestock so naturally the only conclusion we could come to was the dog next-door. So I left a message with both the police department and the local shelter. Figured I'd get a call first thing when the opened. Christmas day the kids spent time indoors and out. The older boys driving rv cars. The littles just happily running. Suddenly the neighbors threw something onto their back porch and started yelling. Took a moment for us to realize they'd thrown the dog crate outside, with the dog inside. Then began hosing the crate and dog. I take it the dog had gotten into something from the night before that had caused him to make a mess. Now this isn't the first time we've watched or heard the dog being treated roughly. We've seen the neighbors, hit and kick, and generally use flip flops to hit this dog. I've called the shelter before and nothing had happened. We called the police but they told us it was an animal control issue. I called the shelter again. Again waiting for a call. The call never came. So I arrived at the Shelter first thing Tuesday morning to make my statement and submit the footage. That's it. Nothing happened. I didn't get footage of the dog being thrown or hosed, so in their books nothing happened. After New years the Last camera arrived. So I went out to put up the last camera and adjust the rest so they piggy backed off each other with no blind spots. Took a bit but managed with my tallest and oldest. We went inside to start chores before my husband came home. I sat down to start crocheting when I kept hearing loud voices outside. So naturally I peeked out the high windows of the Livingroom to see police cars and the neighbors talking to the officers. So I text my husband and told him I was sure they'd be at our door shortly. Upon conversing with the officer he stated the neighbors were concerned with our camera and wanted to know what was going on. So I explained. He informed me we were allowed to have the cameras and was doing nothing wrong. The footage we had could be anyone flashing lights at our dogs, and anything concerning the dog was to be handled with the animal shelter. Nothing he could do but did inform us that the neighbors stated we were harassing them with the cameras.
A few weeks went by then we got news of another passing on my Husband's side. Another sad unexpected end. Another shock. Still dealing with things that are still ongoing from my uncles death. Neighbors, dog, I had decided not to check the video footage on my phone that Thursday the 13th trying to enjoy time with my family. It's so rare to not have my phone in my hand to make sure the dog isn't out to escape and snack on more livestock. It just felt good until I grabbed my phone and saw and ongoing clip. My heart drooped. The kids nextdoor had ran between the houses and started beating the dog with their shoes. The first video proof and it was of the neighbors kids laughing and hitting, and kicking the dog. I watched and rewatched the footage. I called the cops, they wouldn't come because it was an animal issue. The shelter was short,staffed didn't come. So I emailed the shelter the footage and waited. And Waited...That night the older boys were on the back porch smoking. I though nothing of it until heard the dog yelp. Upon closer inspection saw the boys were chasing the dog kicking, and what looked like trying to burn the dog. So I decided to ask for advice from the Nextdoor app. Nothing was happening, No one would show up. Nothing. I went to bed that night with many messaged asking for a location and worry for the dog. The next morning Still no call. I couldn't believe it. No one cared. After lunch the shelter arrived due to someone leaking the videos to the news stations fearing a story. The shelter told us that due to the dog being a banned breed they had 15 days to relocate the dog. That's it. Shortly after the shelter leaving officers showed up. Informing us to lower our cameras, we were invading privacy. Our cameras are on our house, on our property and show the fence line in the backyard. That we were harassing. Nothing mentioned on the kids or family abusing the dog. Another officer told us the cameras were in our rights, they show no inside footage and were legal. The police again told us they could do nothing due to the kids being minors, and that detectives would review the case and make a decision. But mostly the shelter had the jurisdiction. Nothing happened. A few days passed and the temperatures dropped I worried if the now outside next-door dog would be brought inside. We figured the dog must have destroyed something in the house and was now to be an outside dog. Temperatures dropped below freezing, the dog stayed at the backdoor, whined, scratched, paced the yard, the fence. Luckily three hours later the dog was finally brought in. Because it was lightly snowing. Both my husband and I were surprised but took it as a small blessing they had brought the dog in. I sent the footage of the dog in the rainy cold temps to the shelter. Nothing happened. I called the shelter the next morning. Where they stated that as long as the dog has a doghouse it was legal for the dog to be left out. This dog has never used the dog house. Besides pacing the fence, jumping out from the provided wire dog crate keeping the fence secure from opening, or sitting upon it looking over the fence. The dog sits and sleeps on the back porch. With temperatures 32 degrees with a wind facture dropping the temp to 22 degrees. The dog whining and scratching endlessly at the door I called the Police at 1 am to check on the dog. I thought surely they'd something would be done. !:13 the police showed up, !:15 saw the dog light in hand, 1:17 the police had already driven to the dead end turned around and had left the neighborhood, no knock on the door nothing. I called the Shelter first thing and again they could do nothing as long as there was a doghouse. My heart dropped again. No one would co anything for this poor dog. This dog was going to die the next night when the temperature's were to drop in the teens. Surprised the shelter did show later that day, the dog was left out all day, but surprised I was to find the dog had been brought in that night. No sooner did 5 am come than the dog was let back out with the high for the day being 27.
Having a bit of a late night quieting my thoughts down before bed. It's been a stressful week. First time this week I've gotten to sit down to crochet and it's while the family slumbers. The kids must have really known I needed an easy day. We sat down and watched a few shows together, while I did absolutely nothing. Okay the mom in me still did the cooking, dishes, and laundry...besides that nothing...for me that's a big thing. Kids solely did the animals and a great job with their independent studies and chores. The last few months has been a very rough patch dealing with neighbors, dogs, several personal family related events. Generally when I feel down I love to take a look out of the backdoor to watch the chickens, kids, and dogs. I love taking random walks through the yard watching the chickens doing their daily scratching and working on my garden. Now the shrubs, honey suckle vines, and bushes I love are gone. The kids and dogs aren't running around playing like they use to. Sadly the chickens are tucked away in their coops which has only saddened my mood. But it's for their safety I have to keep telling myself. I haven't even started planning the garden this year. Yet I'll start the luffa next week regardless. I need some kind of normality starting next week. With the nonstop drama from nextdoor and all the family troubles I'm running on empty. Even my crochet and knitting has taken to the back burner. I really should be in bed but, here I am thinking about everything the last few months has dealt to our family. I'm hoping this rough patch eases up soon so the dragon can advance, so the dragon can conquer. Right now I'm just taking life a stitch at a time. Nothing more, nothing less. having little to no hope, hanging on by a thread that something will happen for this dog. As I sit to type and share this horrible list of events the dog has 9 day left before being relocated to another breed banned city to family of the neighbors.
Kommentare