Crazy Dad Update: OMG!!!!

[Deleted]

Admit it! You were expecting something sensational if you remember that DH verbally attacked CrazyDad's son and then CrazyDad verbally attacked me.  Plus, both CrazyDad's wife had an outstanding warrant that necessitated a lot of police power, etc.

You are going to be disappointed.  Crazy Dad (or his father-in-law who lives there and whom we like) started cleaning the yard a couple of weeks ago.  The broken trampoline . . . gone.  The broken playhouse . . . gone.  The two toilets stored against the house for a couple of years . . . gone.  Exciting, huh?  Their backyard faces our frontyard, but the only issue we have ever raised was the dogs off-leash attacking our dog and DH.

They BUILT A FENCE!!!!  I know a lot of you guys told us to build one, but no one builds a fence in their front yard.  Well, you might if you had tons of property, etc.  This is their backyard, though, and it is AWESOME!  They even had it professionally built, which totally surprised us because they had a run built for other dogs several years ago that fell apart within six months. 

It is ugly (chain link) and awesome!  I feel like Looney when I say this, but it is so ugly and awesome that we joke about how we would be willing to help them pay for it.  Of course, their four dogs are outside 24/7 now and howling at the idea, but that will go away.  Our dog can't hear well (lost an ear canal) so all is well!

Life is GOOD in Ms. Susana's Neighborhood.  I think I will buy a sweater!   

[busymom]

Nice!

Can you plant some bushes or something, so you won't see nothing but chain link fence? 

[busymom]

Double post. 

[Deleted]

Why the sudden change in attitude? I mean I'm happy for you but why now?

[Virgil Showlion]

I'm probably the only one wondering this, but:

1. Aren't most chain-link fences 90% see-through?
2. If the 10% of the fence that isn't see-through is ugly, is it really such an improvement?
3. Is the fence awesome because it's ugly? Are you using "awesome" in the sense of inspiring a sense of fear and dread?

Other than that, count me with laterbloomer. If my neighbours erected an ugly, monolithic chain link fence in my front yard and stuck their howling animals just behind it, I wouldn't exactly be clicking my heels together.

[Jaguar]

I'm happy for you Susana, now get some shrubs and whatnot and plant them, so you see nada.

[toomuchreality]

Are you happy cuz it keeps the stuff out of your yard? Is that it?

In any case, ENJOY!

[Deleted]

Nice, enjoy!

I will take ugly yet peaceful vs all the previous drama.

[Deleted]

sounds great for you....especially since you don't have to look at their trash anymore or worry about the dogs (unless they learn to climb the fence)....but do the dogs have adequate shelter and food and water?  if not, you need to get animal control out there.

[moon/Laura]

I was going to ask the same thing about the animals being well kept.

[Deleted]

I live in a rural area.  There is actually a one-lane paved road between us.  Also, they didn't fence in their entire back yard, only a large portion.  The house itself forms one side of the fence and dictates the width of the fence. 

The change in attitude may have several sources.  It could be because there is a leash law and DH threatened to report the dogs.  It could be because I talked with the realtor.  It could be that other neighbors complained about the yard, particularly the one whose house she is trying to sell for almost $600,000.  It could be because the dogs have gotten HUGE, particularly, the Great Dane, and there are now FOUR dogs.  It could be to provide a safe place for the two young girls to play.  We don't know why and really don't care.

Why now probably has to do with money.  A lot of people do things in the spring because they get an income tax refund.  I don't think CrazyDad paid for the fence, though.  He doesn't own the property.  I think the realtor did because she was over there while they were putting it up.

The fence is ugly because it is chain-link.  But privacy is not the issue on our side.  We have two decks and a sunroom that face the backyard.  The issue is that we should be able to exit our home by our front door.  We never even complained about the toilets propped up against the house although we are certainly glad that they are gone now.  The fence is awesome because we now have control of our own front porch.

I'm sure the dogs are fine.  They put a doghouse out there.  Yes, one doghouse for four dogs isn't ideal, but it is shelter from the heat, etc.  It is raining today, and the dogs aren't out there. 

[moon/Laura]

Is the doghouse actually big enough for all of them to lay down comfortably, etc? If not, I still think I'd report it.

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2014 11:22:59 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

Is the doghouse actually big enough for all of them to lay down comfortably, etc? If not, I still think I'd report it.

No, it is a single doghouse.  But that's not abuse as far as I know.  Many people have no doghouses.  Shade and shelter are important, but you don't have to have a doghouse to provide that.  Plus, the dogs weren't out when it was raining today. 

I'm not looking for fights with the neighbors when there is none. 

[moon/Laura]

No, you don't HAVE to have a doghouse to provide that, as long as there are other ways for them to seek shelter and shade. I was simply saying that if there is only one doghouse (and no other options), it's reasonable to expect it to be large enough for all 4 dogs to be comfortable. and if it's not, it IS abuse, to me.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

You can purchase vinyl slats or weave to make a chain-link fence into more of a privacy fence - and it wouldn't look so much like a - well, chain-link fence:

www.fencesource.com/fence/privacyslats/feather-lock-privacy-slat.aspx

www.menards.com/main/vinyl-coated-chain-link/accessories/250-chainlink-fence-weave/p-94470.htm

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2014 16:45:06 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

You can purchase vinyl slats or weave to make a chain-link fence into more of a privacy fence - and it wouldn't look so much like a - well, chain-link fence:

www.fencesource.com/fence/privacyslats/feather-lock-privacy-slat.aspx

www.menards.com/main/vinyl-coated-chain-link/accessories/250-chainlink-fence-weave/p-94470.htm

it's not my fence.  It is located across a single lane paved public road from me.  I don't think my neighbors would appreciate it if I started redecorating their fence. 

I'll pay attention to the dogs (well, my dog always pays attention to them), but if they weren't out in the rain today, it is a good sign that they are being taken care of.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

No, not for you to buy & put onto their fence - but you can always plant the idea into their heads.

[Deleted]

My dogs didn't have a doghouse. They only went outside to do their business or when we took them out to play with them. When they got done doing their business or tired of playing and were ready to come in, the big one would bang on the door and the poodle would bark at the door. We'd obey and let them inside. They were never outside if no one was home. If I could avoid letting them outside while it was raining, I did. Wet dogs stink.

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2014 17:18:13 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

My dogs didn't have a doghouse. They only went outside to do their business or when we took them out to play with them. When they got done doing their business or tired of playing and were ready to come in, the big one would bang on the door and the poodle would bark at the door. We'd obey and let them inside. They were never outside if no one was home. If I could avoid letting them outside while it was raining, I did. Wet dogs stink.

Glad to see you passed obedience training, Pink Cashmere. 

[Deleted]

LOL!

[Sam_2.0]

Our dog doesn't have a dog house, but she goes under the deck for shade. It's pretty rare for her to be out while we are gone, and even then it's only on nice days. Someone called animal control on us for it and the only thing they told us to do was make sure she was wearing her collar with tags even in the yard, and left it at that (she was outside after her bath & I hadn't put the collar back on yet). But asshole neighbor moved and we try to get the dog in as soon as she starts barking so she's not a bother to anyone.

[Deleted]

They put a larger doghouse in today while keeping the other one.  So that's two houses for four dogs.  There are two small dogs (one is a Chihuahua), a medium size bulldog, and Great Dane.  I'm sure they'll buddy up nicely! 
 

[whoami]

My dog doesn't have a doghouse either. She is very much an indoor dog. When we let her out in the summer, the door stays open till she comes in. It gets very hot here and we don't want her out for more than 10-15 minutes. For whatever reason, she loves to go sit on the patio on the afternoon, 105 degrees and suntan. We have to drag her back into the house. She never does it in the winter which in Texas isn't that cold.

[Deleted]

Mar 24, 2014 19:48:10 GMT -5 @patstab said:

Our dog now lives in the heated basement in winter up here, he was a Texas dog. But I put up a kennel for him and he has a doghouse in it for when we are gone in the summer. We have a summer camp across the road and the kids like him, but the camp managers said no.

Otherwise we live in the middle of nowhere and he runs free. Now when I leave, only in warm weather, I say kennel, in he goes and either sits there wagging his tail while I shut the gate or goes in his doghouse. He is a good dog.

runs free as is off leash and not in a fenced yard?

[Deleted]

Mar 24, 2014 21:28:24 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

Mar 24, 2014 19:48:10 GMT -5 @patstab said:

Our dog now lives in the heated basement in winter up here, he was a Texas dog. But I put up a kennel for him and he has a doghouse in it for when we are gone in the summer. We have a summer camp across the road and the kids like him, but the camp managers said no.

Otherwise we live in the middle of nowhere and he runs free. Now when I leave, only in warm weather, I say kennel, in he goes and either sits there wagging his tail while I shut the gate or goes in his doghouse. He is a good dog.

runs free as is off leash and not in a fenced yard?

Not many fenced yards in the country.  Except for cattle...

[violagirl]

I live on a couple of acres and have small dogs. I didn't think I would need a fence. Until the morning I was in my purple robe in the middle of a busy road trying to round up dachshunds with a death-wish. And when the snow comes and they can cross the brook - they are gone. If I had the money I would fence my entire yard, but didn't have that kind of cash. I fenced a sizeable amount. On the other hand, it makes it easier to find any poo. If they had 2 acres to choose from I wouldn't know where to begin.

Right now we have to go dig out a section of the fence because the snow is almost over the top and another storm is coming this week. They haven't figured out yet that they could escape if they wanted to. 

[whoami]

Mar 24, 2014 21:31:43 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Mar 24, 2014 21:28:24 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

runs free as is off leash and not in a fenced yard?

Not many fenced yards in the country.  Except for cattle...

The dog we had when I was growing up was never fenced and rarely tied.  We have 200+ acres and she was pretty good about staying home.  The only time she was ever tied was when we went to school.  We had to walk down our very long driveway and she would follow....so she was tied (unless she was in the house) till we were gone and then let loose. She didn't like being inside at all (especially in the winter with the wood stove going), and would go out to the barn or hang out in the yard somewhere.  She did have a doghouse that the cats used more than her.  She was always around.  

The dog we have today would split in a second if someone opened the front door.