THE NEIGHBOR'S DOG

[Mark Joel Lane]

     We live in a townhouse so that any really loud noises can be heard through the walls,albeit, in the 30 years living here, there has never been a problem with noise until recently. Our next door neighbor who lives with his girl friend got a small poodle like dog .He was keeping the dog in a crate in his kitchen .We found this out after several weeks of whining and barking we can hear clearly from our kitchen and an upstairs bedroom. The dog is left alone for hours at a time. We don't see them often and I reluctantly left a note in his mailbox explaining how disturbing the dog was to us. He said he was sorry but he was "training" his puppy. Training for what I thought?

 

Anyway,he must have moved the dog to another part of the house as it was quiet for a while.We could hear his dog barking by our garage door near his living room window but at least that awful whining and barking we heard all the time ended...but a couple of weeks ago, that incessant whining and barking is back to where we hear it when they are not home and we are...constantly. The dog never stops barking.

 

I spoke to my neighbor as I was able to see him one evening and explained his dog never stops whining and barking. He said the dog has separation anxiety and apologized again. He said he had been keeping the dog in the kitchen that was gated off and would take care of the problem that was disturbing us. 

 

I grew up with German shepherds  and I know a dog might be left for a few hours alone now and then..but not every day. I understand they love the dog but this has been nuts to have to listen to his mutt whine and bark endlessly  for hours every day.

 

I've thought of suggesting a different pet they might get instead of their dog..but who am I to tell them to get rid of their dog .?  Still...why can't they get a parakeet or hamster or something else they could leave alone all day....perhaps a snake, a turtle or frog,some goldfish. even a tarantula.   On second thought, forget that tarantula. With my arachniphobia,if that creature ever got in our house, my screams would be heard across the ocean.

 

I know what they might enjoy: some nice giant hissing Madagascar cockroaches which I know are popular pets for some people. I  wouldn't be one of them.  Some pillbugs might be nice .Just give them some dirt and ventilation to keep those crustacean friends happy. If none of these aforementioned options are for my neighbors,there's always a pet rock. This fad might have died out in the late 1970s but there are books explaining the joys and benefits of owning a pet rock. Think of the money this couple can save on dog food, supplies, and veterinarian bills. They can give their rock a cute name like Rocky or they can still name it Rex or Fido. !!!