i noticed that my dog hasn't been eating her food recently, which i've left outside for her. of course, first thought i had was that she might be sick. however, i noticed that there was a another bowl of food on the other side of my yard near the fence door. i asked my mom if she put the food over there. she said, "no", but suggested it might be one of our neighbors. she then explained that the neighbors would sometimes give the dog my sister used to have food, treats, bones, etc.

first thing i did was to return the neighbors' food bowl by leaving it on their porch. i figured this would give them a hint without me actually having talk to them. that was about a week ago. i checked later on in the day and the next morning to make sure the neighbors didn't bring more food over. they didn't. however, my dog didn't touch the food i gave her at all. in case you're wondering, i have fed her purina one since she was ~3 weeks old (1 year old now). she's never had a problem with it, and i would say she liked it. it's not some cheap dog food or anything either. i figured she had just gotten used to the other food, and would start eating the purina stuff again. i don't know what they fed her, because the bowl was empty when i first discovered it.

after about 2 days, she finally ate the purina again, but didn't finish her servings. and there wasn't any sign of the neighbors bringing food over. the next couple of days, it was the same thing - she'd eat some of the purina, but not all of it. then, yesterday afternoon, i noticed they had brought some food over again. it wasn't eaten yet though, since my dog was inside the house, and i was able to intercept the food. what i found was somewhat odd. they were feeding her a LARGE fucking bowl of some oatmeally stuff with about a cup of unknown dog food on top. i, of course, became pretty fucking irate and paranoid (at wtf they were feeding my dog), and i immediately went over to the neighbors. they weren't home though, and i haven't checked this morning yet (it's raining right now).

now, these are really old folks, and they've been my parents' neighbors for over 15 years. as far as i know, there hasn't been any problems in the past. because of that, i'm not planning on cursing them out. i figured they'd get the hint when i returned their bowl though. however, that's really besides the point.

i don't understand 1) why the fuck they're feeding my dog; 2) why the fuck they're feeding her some oatmeally shit (they're german immigrants, and my guess it's some german thing); 3) why the fuck they're feeding her so fucking much; 4) WHY THE FUCK THEY TOOK THE INITIATIVE WITHOUT EVER CONSULTING ME!

how should i handle this? some methods i've been pondering while i'm waiting for the rain to stop:
1. i could politely ask them to stop, and see if they do this again. then, take further action.
2. i've already inexplicitly told them to stop by returning their bowl. therefore, i'd be justified by being very stern, and maybe even threatening, in my tone.
3. just fucking curse them the fuck out.

let's say after i go over for a chat, and make it very clear they need to stop, and they continue with their actions, what should/can i do? is there some legal action i can take - a restraining order or something?

i also have to consider the food i've had to throw away because my dog didn't eat it. purina one is $17 for a medium sized bag, not exactly cheap dog food. my choice in food brand was a very deliberate one, as are the supplemental food and treats i give her. the neighbors are not only costing me to waste money, but they've complete fucked with my dog's diet. i have her on a specific schedule, and i feed her a specific amount. both of which were advised by my veternarians. i'm not really worried about my dogs health, since i doubt the neighbors are trying to poison her or something. still, i'm really fucking pissed about all this.

on top of all that, they're trespassing onto our property. it might even be a more severe charge since the neighbors would have to open the fence gate, and enter my backyard.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:35 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 12:31:46 PM

why don't you just talk to them?

it sounds like you could have solved this problem a long time ago if you had just talked to them.

7/6/2006 12:34:07 PM

ask them not to.

as a human, you have the ability to communicate and interact with others through various mediums, including, but not limited to conversation, gestures, letters, message boards, and physical aggression.

7/6/2006 12:36:34 PM

i'm definitely going to talk to them. how should i talk to them though. i don't think they're intentions are bad, but i feel they've completly overstepped some boundaries.

should i be uber-polite, or would i be justified in bashing them?

^ well, if they weren't like 90 years old, i would probably have tossed their food on their front door.

Quote :

"let's say after i go over for a chat, and make it very clear they need to stop, and they continue with their actions, what should/can i do? is there some legal action i can take - a restraining order or something?"

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:38 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 12:37:10 PM

how? do you really not know how to talk to people?

why worry about whats going to happen until you talk to them?

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:39 PM. Reason : df]

7/6/2006 12:38:44 PM

Quote :

"i figured this would give them a hint without me actually having talk to them."

hahahah that sounds like such a stereotypical wolfweb response

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:39 PM. Reason : good luck tho, tyrone]

7/6/2006 12:39:31 PM

just feat your dog scraps from the table

7/6/2006 12:41:54 PM

Quote :

"how? do you really not know how to talk to people?"

this is an unusual circumstance, atleast to me. i not sure of what tone i should be taking. i don't want to overreact, and blow this up into something more than it is.

i also have to consider legal issues about all this. what if they really were doing something malicious? for what reason, i don't know, but people do crazy shit all the time. if my dog gets sick, it would be handy to have evidence on hand. good evidence would be to capture the neighbors feeding my dog on film, and i could keep the food as samples. let's say the neighbors stop after i talk to them, and then my dog gets sick. now, if it's found that she gets sick/dies because of what she's been eating, then i wouldn't ahve any proof it was my neighbors.

Quote :

"why worry about whats going to happen until you talk to them?"

i am going to talk to them in a minute. the rain has about stopped now, and i see the neighbors' van in the driveway.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:46 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 12:43:54 PM

my parents neighbors feed our cat, and now our cat hangs out in their yard more than our's. He only comes over when I'm in town.... they generally dont care.

7/6/2006 12:46:09 PM

Quote :

"this is an unusual circumstance, atleast to me. i not sure of what tone i should be taking. i don't want to overreact, and blow this up into something more than it is."

no, it really isnt....imo, you are arleady overeacting. why haven't you talked to them yet? its extremely easy to walk to their door, knock on it, and say "hi, it looks like you have been feeding my dog lately.....i have a special diet that i like to keep him on, so would you mind not feeding him anymore? thanks!"

its nothing novel...its basic human to human communication.



[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:47 PM. Reason : f]

7/6/2006 12:46:12 PM

again, it's raining. might sound trivial, but i'd rather wait 5 minutes.

7/6/2006 12:47:28 PM

if they are going in the yard to feed the dog you could call the cops and complain. they would just send an officer over there to talk to them and he would probably tell them to stop. that should end it.

i dont really beleive in involving cops unneccesarily so maybe you should try knocking on the door and talking about it with them yourself.......you could probably do that in less time than it took to type this thread.

7/6/2006 12:47:59 PM

Yeah I'm sure these people will stop feeding your dog if you just ask them to. It's amazing what communication can do.

They are probably a nice old couple that like to spoil grandkids/pets.

7/6/2006 12:48:51 PM

^^^can't you just call and leave a message?

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:49 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 12:49:04 PM

well, i'm not calling the cops. i agree that would be ridiculous for something like this. and as i said, i will be talking to them. they weren't home yesterday afternoon, so i'll be seeing them in a minute.

7/6/2006 12:49:05 PM

Quote :

"again, it's raining. might sound trivial, but i'd rather wait 5 minutes."

im not talking about going over there this exact second. it sounds like this has been happening for a little while. if this bothered you, i don't understand why you didn't approach them immediately, rather then just letting it happen and allowing yourself to get pissed off about it.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:49 PM. Reason : df]

7/6/2006 12:49:22 PM

i didn't realize my neighbors were the reason for my dog not eating till about a week ago. as i stated in the initial post, i figured that returning their bowl would give them a hint. i acknowledge that was a lazy response on my part. however, i figured they have to know they're being out of line here, and that they would understand. i mean, why else would they have stopped feeding my dog for the 4 days following? they just fed her again just yesterday.

i thought they had gotten the hint, but apparently not. i figured the issue was resolved. i mean, i didn't expect them to have taken my initial response as "hey, don't feed my dog for 4 days. after that, you may start feeding her again". that's what's my confusing to me about all this. it seems like they're being defiant about it.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 12:55 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 12:51:33 PM

can't...bite...worm...

7/6/2006 12:54:04 PM

^^how the hell are they supposed to know anything unless you talk to them? its not rocket science.

7/6/2006 12:55:13 PM

make a post about it on TWW!!!

7/6/2006 12:55:39 PM

i knew you'd have something to say, sean.

7/6/2006 12:56:20 PM

Where I used to live we had a guy that would even go so far as to let my dog in his house. We would go fucking looking for her and could not find her at first. Some people just like dogs and any dog that wanders by they want to feed/make friends with.

It got pretty annoying because after a while as soon as we let our dog out and looked the other way she would be like 5 houses down and through the woods and over at his. I had to ride my bike over there to get the dog a million times. It got really old and finally we asked him to stop or at least call us when he had our dog at his house so we would not think she was lost/run over. He took the hint, really he just liked our dog and our dog liked to play with his was all it was. Really not a big deal to talk to him about.

7/6/2006 12:57:31 PM

Quote :

"^^how the hell are they supposed to know anything unless you talk to them? its not rocket science."

Quote :

"i thought they had gotten the hint, but apparently not. i figured the issue was resolved. i mean, i didn't expect them to have taken my initial response as "hey, don't feed my dog for 4 days. after that, you may start feeding her again". that's what's my confusing to me about all this. it seems like they're being defiant about it."

explain to me why they would stop feeding my dog for 4 days after my initial response, only to resume it just last night? that doesn't strike you as odd in any way?

and like is said, the first opportunity i had to speak with them was yesterday, and they weren't home. the next opportunity would be today, and i'm waiting for the rain to stop.


alrihgt, the rain has stopped. i'll brb.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 1:00 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 12:58:59 PM

maybe they went out of town. maybe the didn't see the dog during those days. maybe they didnt think he looked hungry. i have no idea, and thats not the point.

the point, is that you had talked to them, instead of being so timid about the issue, it would already be resolved.

7/6/2006 1:00:59 PM

and they're not home.

i don't see how i've been timid. the issue hasn't been going on for months, or weeks. it is less than 24 hours old, and i haven't been able to catch them at their house. what should i do, sober? hunt them down, wherever they are in fayetteville?

7/6/2006 1:09:21 PM

they're stealing your dog!!!

7/6/2006 1:16:10 PM

Quote :

"i don't see how i've been timid. "

you brought the dish to their door and thought that it would correct the problem. you avoided contact with them. at the very least, even if they weren't home, you could have left a note explaining why you brought their dish back.

it doesnt sound like the issue is less the 24 hours old if 4 days elapsed since the last time your dog was fed.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 1:20 PM. Reason : df]

7/6/2006 1:19:06 PM

Your dog is cheating on you =)

7/6/2006 1:23:35 PM

maybe they were doing something over the fourth of july weekend

7/6/2006 1:26:12 PM

You should obviously go tell them that your dog has a very sensitive stomach and you only feed her a certain brand for her own well being.

Ask them not to feed the dog, but encourage them to continue with bones, toys, treats, or whatever.

Then, stop being such a bitch about it...for God's sake...you damn cockface

7/6/2006 1:27:46 PM

well, they left food yesterday (the 5th), so i assuming they're in town. i can only try to catch them later on i suppose. they could be out for lunch or something.

Quote :

"Then, stop being such a bitch about it...for God's sake...you damn cockface"

aha, i appreciate your candor.

the main points of this thread were:
1. accounting what i'm taking as peculiar behavior.
2.

Quote :

"let's say after i go over for a chat, and make it very clear they need to stop, and they continue with their actions, what should/can i do? is there some legal action i can take - a restraining order or something?"

3. and i needed to talk to someone about this, since i can't find the neighbors.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 1:32 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 1:28:45 PM

Since there are two of them and they are elderly, it is certainly possible that one of them figured out you don't want them feeding their dog while the other one has no clue. Or, maybe they are so old they just forgot you returned the bowl. Probably they think they are just giving your dog a "little treat" and have no clue.

My Mom has always given our neighbor dogs an occasional milk bone biscuit. She doesn't mean any harm by it, but I can see how someone would be annoyed.

I think you should be nice about it.

Quote :

" "hi, it looks like you have been feeding my dog lately.....i have a special diet that i like to keep him on, so would you mind not feeding him anymore? thanks!" "

And, by the way, consider how much worse it could be. We had a psycho neighbor once who trapped our cat (in a small animal trap) and then kept her in his house overnight until we came knocking on his door looking for her the next day. Apparently he didn't want her in his yard. He even showed us the trap. I'm pretty sure she never ventured into his back yard, because he had an outdoors only pit bull name CoCoa back there (the start of my moms biscuit giving; she wanted CoCoa the vicious to remember her as the nice biscuit lady if he ever got free.) Well, there was no leash law for cats in our town, and we lived on 1/4 acre lots in the burbs, so he must have trapped her in his "side yard" as there was about 10 yards between our exterior walls.. We did not have any other bad history with this guy, and no one disputed that he simply had a screw loose, so we just tried to keep her indoors until he moved away.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 1:38 PM. Reason : .]

7/6/2006 1:30:54 PM

As far as legal actions if they absolutely refused to stop, I could see putting up a no-trespassing sign and then charging them with trespassing.

7/6/2006 1:38:05 PM

Quote :

"the start of my moms biscuit giving; she wanted CoCoa the vicious to remember her as the nice biscuit lady if he ever got free"

hahaha good call

but what if she was without biscuit???

7/6/2006 1:40:53 PM

We were pretty sure that a neighbor was letting our childhood dog loose - there was no other explanation. But fortunately you know for sure what's going on, so you can talk to them. If they for some odd reason rebel against your wishes after you guys talk, then I'm sure you could talk to a cop or something. Or you could start to keep your dog indoors except for daily exercise.

7/6/2006 1:57:12 PM

If they are Germans then they are probably Nazis so just shoot them and explain later... at least we could Fark it then.

7/6/2006 2:01:09 PM

Just email them a link to this thread.

7/6/2006 2:01:56 PM

Continuiung with the Nazi them... photoshop them into some holocaust pics and start posting them around the neighborhood. Be sure to get the ADL involved for some public outreach too.

7/6/2006 2:05:26 PM

i don't suppose the dog is a german shepherd....

7/6/2006 2:12:58 PM

Quote :

"only to resume it just last night?"

maybe the dog was whining and they thought to shut it up they would give it some food again.

Since you keep missing them at their house, leave a message on their door, or call and leave a message- it's not that big of a deal.

7/6/2006 2:15:09 PM

annie doesn't whine, and she has no reason to. like i said, she's well fed and sheltered. she's always had a clean bill of health, and i've been praised a number of times by my vets. so, i don't want anyone to think the neighbors have been feeding my dog, because she's being mistreated. the only noise she makes is barking at people.

i considered leaving a note this morning, but decided against it. if they didn't get the hint before when i returned their bowl, then i doubt a letter is going to do anything. i just gotta try and catch them.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 2:25 PM. Reason : ]

7/6/2006 2:21:34 PM

-paper bag
-m-80
-profit

7/6/2006 2:32:10 PM

ya know they could've thought you were just returning the bowl so they wouldn't have to walk over there to fill it up again

so now they think you're encouraging them feeding your dog

7/6/2006 2:34:30 PM

^ ya know what? i didn't even consider that ... doh!

7/6/2006 2:41:04 PM

how about


wait outside( do a bunch of yardwork) until they try to set the bowl out again


then you can see them and be like


what are you doing? they will be like im just feeding your dog some oatmeal


you be like no thanks old timers







OR you can throw a bunch of your own dogs feces where they usually put the bowl

most dogs wont eat where they shit so he might just the bowl

7/6/2006 2:42:09 PM

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar...

7/6/2006 3:20:19 PM

I caught a lady giving my dogs milk bones one day. she lives no where near the house, and was just walking by.

i yelled at her pretty good, maybe even some cuss words, though i cant remember

havent seen her since

7/6/2006 3:23:52 PM

if anyone feeds the lou dog they get beat down... 90 year old or not.
that goes for dubbers too...

get your grubby ass k-mart food away from my hound

7/6/2006 3:25:11 PM

Quote :

"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar"

he's not trying to capture the old people.

7/6/2006 3:29:03 PM

next time it is out there empty the bowl and put depends undergarments in them hopefully they'll be offended enough not to do it.

7/6/2006 3:34:07 PM