Little Kids + Unknown Dogs - Need Advice - Blu-ray Forum

Vicon · 03-17-2010, 11:13 PM

Here's the scoop. I am sitting at my desk and I hear our dogs starting to go wild. Outside the window I see two little kids. One was like 2 or 3 the other a little older. Both were messing with the dogs. I go out and they are leaving. The other kid comes back and starts poking the stick through the fence at the dogs. All this lasts a couple minutes.

I again go out and ask the parents what the problem is and not to let the kids do that. I said please, keep the kids away from the fence and the dogs. The dad perks up and says there just kids. I said, the fence is there for a reason and if the kids get bit, you're going to come after me. Keep them away.

He I guess does not like that answer and comes over to "discuss" it. He said what's your problem. I told him, my problem is the fence is here for a reason and you need to keep your kids away from the dogs. He said they were not hurting anything and they are just kids. I said until they get bit and you come *****ing at me. Keep them away.

He gets all belligerent and obnoxious now. He has a full glass of wine and is clearly intoxicated. I asked him to leave and not let his kids do that. He spouts off some more crap and I finally told him to f off. Three times to be exact. His wife said there is no need for the language and he again starts up and he nearly falls over as she is trying to pull him away.

I go back inside end of story.

Was I wrong? My language might be harsh but I have no regrets in using it. Some may have said to be more adult but it pisses me off. What parent in their right mind would allow a child, let alone two young ones, to go up to a fence, nearly 6 feet tall with 3, very large dogs barking loudly? Who would do that? Then to start complaining they are only kids?? WTF?

My dogs are not mean by any stretch, however they have never been around kids like that and I do not know how they would react. Let alone to a kid poking a stick through the fence.

Where is the common sense?

Lord_Stewie · 03-17-2010, 11:20 PM

Don't think you were wrong. But you should take further precautions like reporting it as a non emergency incident that needs to be in record somewhere. That way if something does happen you shouldn't be held accountable for the negligence which is obviously is coming from the parent.

mikejet · 03-17-2010, 11:23 PM

Can the dogs reach through the fence or would someone have to get onto the property for the dogs to get at them?

Vicon · 03-17-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejet

Can the dogs reach through the fence or would someone have to get onto the property for the dogs to get at them?

No they cannot reach through the fence. The kids were already on the property. The fence encloses the entire back of the house. Roughly an acre. The side and front are not fenced.

mikejet · 03-17-2010, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicon

No they cannot reach through the fence. The kids were already on the property. The fence encloses the entire back of the house. Roughly an acre. The side and front are not fenced.

I'd post a warning sign then it might keep them away. I don't see anything you did as wrong and they shouldn't have been poking at the dogs like that.

Hammie · 03-18-2010, 12:25 AM

I think you were in your rights. Sure the language may have been a bit too much, but it is what it is now.

Not sure where you live, but we have a No Trespassing Law in MD. You can call the police on them. They get a warning the first time, however, if they come back on they can get fined or I believe arrested.

Is this a neighbor or just a random family?

Vicon · 03-18-2010, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammie

I think you were in your rights. Sure the language may have been a bit too much, but it is what it is now.

Not sure where you live, but we have a No Trespassing Law in MD. You can call the police on them. They get a warning the first time, however, if they come back on they can get fined or I believe arrested.

Is this a neighbor or just a random family?

It's a neighbor that is 3 doors down. We don't talk to them and we don't know them. We know of them but that's about it. We talk to our neighbors closer to us but some of them we don't talk to. Not for any specific reason, we just don't. Most people like to keep to themselves these days.

I don't want to call the police on anyone and I understand kids will be kids. However, parents need to be parents. You don't allow young children to do that with anyone. Period. Especially with some random animals. It's crap like this that kills me.

Let say the child was bit. Not my fault, they were on my property and my dogs are not vicious. Parents get upset, call police/animal control, god only knows what would take place. All because they didn't do their job.

I should NOT have to explain that to an adult in his mid/late 30's. It's common sense. The only person that really did anything was the mom. The dad just wanted to be mouthy. Another reason I don't drink. Some people loose all sense of respectability.

jbig31 · 03-18-2010, 01:01 AM

Sounds like you did the right thing, and it sounds like you're a decent, responsible neighbor for both protecting YOUR property and the safety of the kids as well.
To me, it sounds like the alcohol in the neighbor was the main problem here-I mean, ideally a good parent would NEVER let their children do something like that.

Beta Man · 03-18-2010, 01:15 AM

You kept your cool better than I would have...... that's for sure.

I don't find anything you did 'wrong'

I have two young children, one being a little over 2 years old, and if he was poking someone's dog with a stick, and someone yelled at him etc..... I would be apologizing to the dog owner, and telling my son that you DO NOT do that.....

"kids being kids" is another way of saying "I'm a terrible parent"

Rob71 · 03-18-2010, 01:51 AM

I had the same problem with a neighbors kids and had a similar response. Their little hoodlums-in-training were throwing firecrackers through my fence at my 190 lb. St. Bernard. I got a good 3-4 minutes on video through a window, then shut the camera off and turned the sprinklers on. Their dad(I guessing here) came knocking about 30 minutes later threatening to call the cops. I told him I already had and asked him if he would like to see the video of his(again, just guessing) 5 and 4 yr. old tresspassing and playing with illegal fireworks. He declined. As he was leaving, I reminded him that it was against city code to have a vehicle without a tag, on jackstands in non-running condition in the driveway. It's going on 6 years, and I have not had one issue with him or his(?) kids since.

If it happens again, get it on video. I would probably also get it documented somehow like was previously posted. And about the Beware Of Dog sign. Ask a lawyer about that, because I was told by a cop that the sign can be interpreted as an admission that you have a "bad" dog. I don't know how accurate that is, sounds kind of iffy to me. It would probably depend on the judge you get if it came to that.

househead · 03-18-2010, 01:54 AM

I'm on your side but I'd report it to the police so you have it on record.

Also I'm not sure what the laws are but I'd check if there's any liability on your end if kid could fit his fingers or arm through the fence and a dog does damage to it. Sounds like a chain link (?) since the kids could fit sticks through it?

Believe me I'm with you but I've seen innocent good natured people get screwed by stuff like this. Hell, even by family members.

Vicon · 03-18-2010, 01:58 AM

Thanks for the support guys. I just wanted to make sure I didn't go overboard. Language was a bit harsh but that's just me.

We were told by our insurance company that having a sign that said "BEWARE OF DOG" is stating we have a dog that will bite and so on. I forget the wording but we were told not to put one up. We can put a sign up that says dog on premises. However that is a waste unless you are blind.

We live in a really nice, quiet neighborhood. Big houses, big yards, nice people - so I thought. Lol.

Yes a chain link fence. I will give our insurance agent a call tomorrow and see what he suggests to cover us. We were thinking of putting up a privacy fence but it will just ruin the natural look of things. We decided against it.

househead · 03-18-2010, 02:10 AM

Good way to be proactive. You are handling this the right way. The guy seems like DB anyways.

All too often I hear "kids will be kids" but guess what....."parents need to be parents" these days. Sheesh!

Good luck Vicon!

Rob71 · 03-19-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by househead

Good way to be proactive. You are handling this the right way. The guy seems like DB anyways.

All too often I hear "kids will be kids" but guess what....."parents need to be parents" these days. Sheesh!

Good luck Vicon!

+1

The "kids will be kids" excuse is used by parents who haven't raised their kids. I don't think my parents ever saaid that. Mine usually said "He did what!?" Quickly followed by tracking me down with a belt or other "punishment assisting device". My mom was partial to the Hot Wheel plastic track sections.

Porkchop Express · 03-19-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

You kept your cool better than I would have...... that's for sure.

I don't find anything you did 'wrong'

I have two young children, one being a little over 2 years old, and if he was poking someone's dog with a stick, and someone yelled at him etc..... I would be apologizing to the dog owner, and telling my son that you DO NOT do that.....

"kids being kids" is another way of saying "I'm a terrible parent"

That sums it up perfectly. These kids were on your property, poking your dogs with a stick. If anything your dogs at risk here from getting injured by the stick. I don't think your behavior was in the wrong at all.

My_Two_Cents · 03-19-2010, 03:32 PM

Typical idiot parents these days that have no business reproducing. I see them all of time, and they seem to be more of the rule than the exception anymore. The whole "my child can do no wrong attitude" is creating a generation of kids who will grow-up thinking they have absolutely no responsibilities and there are no consequences to their actions.

Just look at the schools. Little Johnny mouth's-off to a teacher and is sent to the principal's office and given detention. What do mom and dad do? They complain about how the punishment is too severe, and that maybe Johnny was justified because the teacher was picking on him (and then they'll threaten a lawsuit). When I was a kid, I would have probably received a swat by the teacher and considered myself lucky if they didn't tell my parents! Sorry, this is a subject that just pushes my hot buttons.

If it were my kids, I'd have been the first to lay into them and would have apologized to the owner.

Chordata · 03-19-2010, 03:36 PM

The only thing you did wrong is use the F word in front of his kids (if that's what happened). Aside from that, you did a better job parenting his kids than he did, and you're absolutely in the right to warn him about the dogs.

To be safe, you might want to put up a "Beware of Dogs" sign (or something more) in case his kids get hurt and he sues you.

A good lesson I learned early in my practice: "If it's not in writing, it didn't happen."

Rob71 · 03-19-2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

When I was a kid, I would have probably received a swat by the teacher and considered myself lucky if they didn't tell my parents! Sorry, this is a subject that just pushes my hot buttons.

Plenty of times I took the swats as opposed to the call to my parents.

The irony is, I made a few of the paddles in Woodshop. Really wish I wasn't as talented as i was.

My_Two_Cents · 03-19-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob71

Plenty of times I took the swats as opposed to the call to my parents.

The irony is, I made a few of the paddles in Woodshop. Really wish I wasn't as talented as i was.

As did I!

We had teachers that were famous for their custom-made paddles. Everyone knew NOT to screw-off in Mr. X's class, because his paddle was made out of 3/4" solid oak with holes drilled in it to cut wind resistance. Good times!

Dexter Morgan · 03-19-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob71

+1

The "kids will be kids" excuse is used by parents who haven't raised their kids. I don't think my parents ever saaid that. Mine usually said "He did what!?" Quickly followed by tracking me down with a belt or other "punishment assisting device". My mom was partial to the Hot Wheel plastic track sections.

Bastage! Made me LOL at at my cube.

03-17-2010, 11:13 PM	#1
Vicon Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2009 Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:278 Trading Score:39	Little Kids + Unknown Dogs - Need Advice Here's the scoop. I am sitting at my desk and I hear our dogs starting to go wild. Outside the window I see two little kids. One was like 2 or 3 the other a little older. Both were messing with the dogs. I go out and they are leaving. The other kid comes back and starts poking the stick through the fence at the dogs. All this lasts a couple minutes. I again go out and ask the parents what the problem is and not to let the kids do that. I said please, keep the kids away from the fence and the dogs. The dad perks up and says there just kids. I said, the fence is there for a reason and if the kids get bit, you're going to come after me. Keep them away. He I guess does not like that answer and comes over to "discuss" it. He said what's your problem. I told him, my problem is the fence is here for a reason and you need to keep your kids away from the dogs. He said they were not hurting anything and they are just kids. I said until they get bit and you come *****ing at me. Keep them away. He gets all belligerent and obnoxious now. He has a full glass of wine and is clearly intoxicated. I asked him to leave and not let his kids do that. He spouts off some more crap and I finally told him to f off. Three times to be exact. His wife said there is no need for the language and he again starts up and he nearly falls over as she is trying to pull him away. I go back inside end of story. Was I wrong? My language might be harsh but I have no regrets in using it. Some may have said to be more adult but it pisses me off. What parent in their right mind would allow a child, let alone two young ones, to go up to a fence, nearly 6 feet tall with 3, very large dogs barking loudly? Who would do that? Then to start complaining they are only kids?? WTF? My dogs are not mean by any stretch, however they have never been around kids like that and I do not know how they would react. Let alone to a kid poking a stick through the fence. Where is the common sense?

03-18-2010, 01:58 AM	#12
Vicon Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2009 Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:278 Trading Score:39	Thanks for the support guys. I just wanted to make sure I didn't go overboard. Language was a bit harsh but that's just me. We were told by our insurance company that having a sign that said "BEWARE OF DOG" is stating we have a dog that will bite and so on. I forget the wording but we were told not to put one up. We can put a sign up that says dog on premises. However that is a waste unless you are blind. We live in a really nice, quiet neighborhood. Big houses, big yards, nice people - so I thought. Lol. Yes a chain link fence. I will give our insurance agent a call tomorrow and see what he suggests to cover us. We were thinking of putting up a privacy fence but it will just ruin the natural look of things. We decided against it. Last edited by Vicon; 03-18-2010 at 02:00 AM.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Favorite Unknown band...	General Chat	RockChalk	47	07-25-2009 06:50 AM
Unknown Artifact Question	Newbie Discussion	Spitfrnd	4	12-07-2008 03:39 AM
Unknown Release Dates and Stock Issues for Blu-ray in Australia	Blu-ray Movies - North America	johnno1986	3	12-20-2007 01:52 PM

03-17-2010, 11:20 PM	#2
Lord_Stewie Blu-ray Baron Member since:May 2007 Blu-ray collection:396 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Don't think you were wrong. But you should take further precautions like reporting it as a non emergency incident that needs to be in record somewhere. That way if something does happen you shouldn't be held accountable for the negligence which is obviously is coming from the parent.

03-17-2010, 11:23 PM	#3
mikejet Banned Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Los Angeles, CA Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:29	Can the dogs reach through the fence or would someone have to get onto the property for the dogs to get at them?

03-18-2010, 12:25 AM	#6
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	I think you were in your rights. Sure the language may have been a bit too much, but it is what it is now. Not sure where you live, but we have a No Trespassing Law in MD. You can call the police on them. They get a warning the first time, however, if they come back on they can get fined or I believe arrested. Is this a neighbor or just a random family?

03-18-2010, 01:01 AM	#8
jbig31 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Grandville MI 4K collection:168 Blu-ray collection:590 Blu-ray reviews:1	Sounds like you did the right thing, and it sounds like you're a decent, responsible neighbor for both protecting YOUR property and the safety of the kids as well. To me, it sounds like the alcohol in the neighbor was the main problem here-I mean, ideally a good parent would NEVER let their children do something like that.

03-18-2010, 01:15 AM	#9
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	You kept your cool better than I would have...... that's for sure. I don't find anything you did 'wrong' I have two young children, one being a little over 2 years old, and if he was poking someone's dog with a stick, and someone yelled at him etc..... I would be apologizing to the dog owner, and telling my son that you DO NOT do that..... "kids being kids" is another way of saying "I'm a terrible parent"

03-18-2010, 01:51 AM	#10
Rob71 Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Florida Home Theater Gallery:13 Blu-ray collection:295 Trading Score:5	I had the same problem with a neighbors kids and had a similar response. Their little hoodlums-in-training were throwing firecrackers through my fence at my 190 lb. St. Bernard. I got a good 3-4 minutes on video through a window, then shut the camera off and turned the sprinklers on. Their dad(I guessing here) came knocking about 30 minutes later threatening to call the cops. I told him I already had and asked him if he would like to see the video of his(again, just guessing) 5 and 4 yr. old tresspassing and playing with illegal fireworks. He declined. As he was leaving, I reminded him that it was against city code to have a vehicle without a tag, on jackstands in non-running condition in the driveway. It's going on 6 years, and I have not had one issue with him or his(?) kids since. If it happens again, get it on video. I would probably also get it documented somehow like was previously posted. And about the Beware Of Dog sign. Ask a lawyer about that, because I was told by a cop that the sign can be interpreted as an admission that you have a "bad" dog. I don't know how accurate that is, sounds kind of iffy to me. It would probably depend on the judge you get if it came to that.

03-18-2010, 01:54 AM	#11
househead Banned Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Sep 2007 Home Theater Gallery:9 Trading Score:4	I'm on your side but I'd report it to the police so you have it on record. Also I'm not sure what the laws are but I'd check if there's any liability on your end if kid could fit his fingers or arm through the fence and a dog does damage to it. Sounds like a chain link (?) since the kids could fit sticks through it? Believe me I'm with you but I've seen innocent good natured people get screwed by stuff like this. Hell, even by family members.

03-18-2010, 02:10 AM	#13
househead Banned Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Sep 2007 Home Theater Gallery:9 Trading Score:4	Good way to be proactive. You are handling this the right way. The guy seems like DB anyways. All too often I hear "kids will be kids" but guess what....."parents need to be parents" these days. Sheesh! Good luck Vicon!

03-19-2010, 03:32 PM	#16
My_Two_Cents Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Wherever I may roam.... Home Theater Gallery:40 4K collection:35 Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:19 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:4	Typical idiot parents these days that have no business reproducing. I see them all of time, and they seem to be more of the rule than the exception anymore. The whole "my child can do no wrong attitude" is creating a generation of kids who will grow-up thinking they have absolutely no responsibilities and there are no consequences to their actions. Just look at the schools. Little Johnny mouth's-off to a teacher and is sent to the principal's office and given detention. What do mom and dad do? They complain about how the punishment is too severe, and that maybe Johnny was justified because the teacher was picking on him (and then they'll threaten a lawsuit). When I was a kid, I would have probably received a swat by the teacher and considered myself lucky if they didn't tell my parents! Sorry, this is a subject that just pushes my hot buttons. If it were my kids, I'd have been the first to lay into them and would have apologized to the owner.

03-19-2010, 03:36 PM	#17
Chordata Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Home of N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:1	The only thing you did wrong is use the F word in front of his kids (if that's what happened). Aside from that, you did a better job parenting his kids than he did, and you're absolutely in the right to warn him about the dogs. To be safe, you might want to put up a "Beware of Dogs" sign (or something more) in case his kids get hurt and he sues you. A good lesson I learned early in my practice: "If it's not in writing, it didn't happen."

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals