I am so fed up with people harassing me for walking my dog!!!

[BattyDem]

For the second time in a month, some idiot started yelling at me as I passed in front of his house with my dog. Both times, Ozzy was properly curbed. He was not in the middle of the sidewalk and he was not on anyone's front lawn. He didn't even poop (but I had "poop bags" with me, just in case). The first time, he was just sniffing and today, he stopped to pee.

Apparently, these people think the public sidewalk/curb is their property and no one is allowed to walk their dogs on it without permission. Both times, I tried explaining that the sidewalk is, in fact, owned by the town, even though they are required to maintain it. I also showed them my canvas "poop bag" holder and assured them that I ALWAYS clean up after my dog. Didn't matter. Apparently, a woman with a cane, walking a small dog is an easy target for their anger.

It's bad enough to be accosted when you're not doing a damn thing wrong, but what concerns me is that Ozzy gets upset and barks. To a dog, a stranger yelling at Mom (and him) is a threat. He has NEVER tried to bite anyone and he is not the slightest bit aggressive ... but who knows what he'll do if someone comes too close to me while yelling? He's a dog! His instinct is to protect me.

I swear ... if it happens again, I'm pulling out the cell phone and calling the police. There is no reason why I have to be harassed and/or my dog has to be provoked by some jackass with an attitude problem! :grr:

Thanks for letting me vent. :-)

[lukasahero]

1. Wow - I'm so sorry you had to go through that

I guess I'm pretty lucky - we don't even have sidewalks so most drivers slow down and give dog walkers a comfortable berth. Everyone around has dogs so it's hard to find a house to pass by that isn't dog friendly (and even those that don't have them now, had them once upon a time.) And trust me, my Bella isn't the easiest dog to present to the world (she'll bark and growl at just about everyone - and then hide behind me). I've asked people on the street help us socialize her and they've always been very accommodating.

Sorry to hear you have such dog-unfriendly neighbors. I think people in general are just getting meaner.

[elleng]

2. SORRY!

Where are you? Daughter in NJ, thinking about buying house and getting dog{s!}

[mopinko]

3. is your dog on a leash?

if you aren't following whatever the local laws are, you are going to piss people off.

[BattyDem]

4. I'm following every law.

Dog is on a leash, his license tag is visible, he's walking along the curb and I carry "poop bags" to clean up after him, if necessary. As a matter of fact, the first time this happened, I ran into a cop about a block away from the confrontation and I spoke to him about it. He assured me that I was doing everything right. He even admired the bag I had hanging from the leash handle, which holds the poop bags, treats and a small bottle of water with a bowl. :-) He also told me the same thing happens to him when he walks his dog. Of course, he's not wearing his uniform while walking, so people have no idea they're yelling at a cop, LOL!

People seem to be pissed off solely because I'm walking my dog along "their" curb. They think they own the entire sidewalk! The first guy who confronted me actually had the nerve to tell me that I was walking on the "wrong" side of the curb. He said I was supposed to walk on the street side of the curb ... in the street. Of course, he had no answer when I asked him how that was possible when there were cars parked on the street. He then told me he would "allow" me to walk my dog along his curb, just as long as Ozzy stayed on the actual curb (the four inch wide piece of concrete). Apparently, he thinks all dogs are Olympic-class gymnasts who can walk a balance beam with no problem. :eyes:

[jschurchin]

5. Next time

Just yell at him/her, "Your proctologist called my house, evidently he found your head."

[BattyDem]

6. ROFL!!

:rofl:

Thanks .. that's great! :hi:

[Zoigal]

7. Have had that happen to me, too.

Maybe we're just easy targets ie older females. I assume that some other dog/ their owner has given them
problems and they were just taking it out on the next one that came by. People come by our house
often walking their dogs evidently carrying no pick up bags because the sidewalk (and even our
front lawn) often has poop on it. Don't have an answer. My empathy though....z