My crazy neighbor...

Back in April, I wrote a blog about how I met one of my new neighbors, and how they threatened to shoot my dog. Now that I have lived and worked in town for a while, I have heard other things about this man to solidify my original suspicions that this man is crazy. Here is my own personal example:

After the incident with the dog, I called the Police the next day and advised them about what had happened. I told the Officer everything that happened, and it was all the truth. She said that I had 2 options at that point. That I could charge the man with uttering threats, or I could allow her to give him a call, and find out his side of the story. Because we were so new to town, I didn't want to stir things up too much, and allowed the Officer to give him a call, and find out what he has to say. When she called me back, I was a bit surprised to hear that he stated that he was terrified of dogs. I mean, if its true, then fine. But it didn't seem right to me. The officer also told me that she advised him that he cant make threats or else he could be charged, and reminded him that if he sees an animal in his yard, to call animal control.

Now, it has been a while since this has happened, and I haven't seen him for a couple months. Just recently however, I have seen him out and about, tending to his yard work, and whatnot - but only because I walk to work, and have to walk past his house - although I do cross the street. Normally I see him with his leaf blower, blowing the dirt and gravel off of the road in front of his house... Why? Who knows! (He's crazy, remember?)

Today I work a closing shift at work so I dont leave until the afternoon for work, and during the day, I like to tie the dog up outside so he can have some fresh air, and chew on his bone. Around 10:30 this morning, the dog started barking like crazy, and normally, when someone pulls into the driveway, the dog barks like crazy... So I went to go see who was here - but no one was. I walked outside, and all I could hear was a weed eater... The crazy neighbor was whacking my weeds!

Mikey just finished cutting the lawn the other day, and here is the crazy neighbor cutting the strip of grass between the lawn and the curb... The dog is going crazy!! Then I hear the weed eater die off, and the crazy neighbor is actually barking back at my dog! (yeah, I'm so sure he's terrified, or else he wouldn't have come near my lawn knowing that we have a dog, and he definitely wouldn't be mocking or teasing it) He cant see me of course, because the front porch is secluded by the large tree out front, but I can see him. (I should have taken a picture... shoot!)

I really wanted to walk over to him and tell him to get the Eff off of my property, but with a weed eater in hand - I'de rather keep my distance. he finally walked back, but came back once again with a lawn mower, to mow out the same edge. I don't know what he is trying to accomplish, but coming from him - I don't appreciate it. I don't know if I should call the police again, and ask the officer to give him a call and let him know that he shouldn't be on my property, or what.

What would you do?

Meeting the neighbors!

Yesterday, after Mikey came home from the fire, I will admit that I left the front door open, and Colt (the dog) ran out. Other times when Colt has made a dash for it, we usually find him down the alley hanging out by a fence, visiting with our friends dog Bowzer. Mikey needed to have a shower, and Colt wasn't in the yard, so I decided to walk down the alley to see if he was in his usual spot.

Not our immediate neighbor, but the second one over, was in his driveway watching me walk by, calling for Colt. I continued down the alley until I got to our friends yard, Colt wasn't around. There is another dog down the way, and I could hear him barking, so I thought he may be further down. But just for good measure, I looked back to see if Colt was running back to the house already. The neighbor man was standing in the middle of the alley way, looking at me, so I thought maybe he was waiting to tell me that he has or saw my dog.

I decided to walk back and see what he had to say - if anything. I walked up and he said "Looking for your dog?" I nodded, and he said "My name is Jack, and I live in this house right here." He pointed to his house, and I said "Oh yeah?" and he turned and looked at me, and said "...and if your dog is ever on my property again, I'll shoot him."

I was a bit thrown off guard, but did a quick observation... he was a bit swaggery... and had a beer in his right hand! OK, its Tuesday, noon-o' clock, and he has a beer - so hes probably a drunk. Anyways, I looked right at him, and without even flinching and I said "Why would you do that?"

He continued on saying my dog of attacked him twice in his own yard. I was blown away by these accusations! Colt is a 2 year old Lab, and only wants to be everyone's friends! If you have hands, that means you can scratch his belly, therefore, he's you're best friend. The only time I have ever seen him snap at someone, was when our friends 2 year old daughter yanked on his tail. But he simply warned her, and moved on. So... unless this guy was provoking him or trying to grab him... but I never saw anything, heard anything, there were no marks on this guy, and he was probably drunk.

Anyways, he told me to come into his yard to look at something. (Creep alert!) I asked him what it was, and he replied "Just come here and look!" in the kind of tone as if I were his disobedient kid or something. I said "Why, do you have my dog or something?" and he said no, and pointed towards my house and said "He ran off over that way." I turned and looked over at him and said "Well thank you, for being such a nice a friendly neighbor" and walked home.

When I got in the door, Mikey was out of his shower, and I was getting very upset, I asked Mikey if he saw Colt. He said, yes, that he ran in all scared and then hid a few minutes ago.... I couldn't hold it back, and just burst into tears. I told Mikey that some guy named Jack just threatened to kill Colt. I sat down on the front porch, and told Mikey where I was and what happened. Mikey decided to go over there and talk to him. I went inside and yelled at Colt, he just curled up under the coffee table, and stayed there all night. He didn't even eat his food (weird).

When Mikey got back, I was still distraught. Mikey told me that he accused Colt of shitting all over his lawn, said that when we are gone during the day, everyone complains that he barks day and night, and of course told him about how he "attacked" him. There were a few other crazy accusations/stories. Mikey said to him "We'll, that's funny. Because our dog in an indoor dog, doesn't run free, my girlfriend is always home during the day, and if he is outside, he's always tied up. Not to mention, if we leave, he normally comes with us. Oh, and my dog would never "attack" someone."

Seriously - what a jerk. I was so upset for at least an hour, and we were supposed to go into Edmonton, but we never made it. Instead, we just got to Drayton Valley, and bought some new patio furniture, but I'll talk about that another day! So all in all, I hope to NEVER have to deal with this guy again. If there was a strange dog in my yard (and there has been) I've just yelled at it and it has either run away, or just kept moving on. Colt also has his name and our phone number on his tag. There is no reason (not to mention its illegal to shoot a gun in town) to shoot my dog.


My innocent Colt-eee (awe)