After He Unleashes a Dog Defense Against Unrelenting Neighborhood Kids, a Possible Legal Blowback Ensues.
In a struggle for peace and tranquility, the Original Poster (OP) contends with the escalating mischief of his neighbors’ three unsupervised children. As the situation pushes OP to the brink, he utilizes his well-trained, protective dogs to send a clear message to the intruding boys, sparking a neighborhood controversy.
New Beginnings
OP and his fiancé move into a new house with their 1-year-old son, hoping for a peaceful life. Their neighbors are a family with three boys, aged 9, 12, and 14, who at first seem to be typical energetic kids playing in the neighborhood.
Unwelcome Intrusions
Suddenly, the boys start to inch closer to OP’s property. The oldest boy initiates the intrusion by leaving trash in OP’s yard, such as wrappers and empty cans, forcing OP’s fiancé to consistently pick up after him.
An Escalation of Mischief
The situation quickly escalates as all three boys start digging holes in OP’s yard, knocking on his door, and even trying to pick the lock to his house. This disturbing behavior has been repeated several times, causing growing concern for OP and his family’s safety.
A Mother’s Dismissal
OP approaches the boys’ mother to express his concerns about their behavior. He finds out that the boys are often left unsupervised, and Child Protective Services (CPS) has been contacted several times before. Despite this, the mother dismisses OP’s concerns and refuses to address her son’s actions.
The Threat of Consequences
Fearing for the safety of his family, OP warns the boys’ mother about his two big dogs trained to protect against intruders. He tells her that if her sons enter his house, they could get hurt. Unmoved, she threatens to have OP arrested, and his dogs put down if her children get hurt.
Taking Matters into His Own Hands
Feeling pushed into a corner, OP decides to take action. One day, as the boys are sneaking around his yard again, he waits until they approach the front door.
The Great Chase
At OP’s command, he opens the front door, and his dogs bolt out of the house, barking and growling. The boys scream and flee back to their house, getting wet from the lawn sprinklers on their escape route. The dogs end the pursuit on their own law, as they have an underground fence to keep the dogs on the OP’s property.
The Calm After the Storm
After the incident, there’s a brief period of quiet. The boys stay away from OP’s house, and for a few days, OP and his family experience the peace they originally sought in their new home.
The False Accusations
Suddenly, the boy’s mother and the police show up at OP’s door. She accuses OP’s dogs of biting her children and labels OP as a danger to the neighborhood.
The Power of Evidence
OP counters the false accusations with security footage from his doorbell camera showing the boys trespassing and his dogs’ reaction. This causes the situation to largely simmer down, as the video evidence supports OP’s side of the story.
A Lingering Battle
Despite the clear evidence, the boys’ mother refuses to drop the issue, keeping the case open. However, OP feels he has done nothing wrong and that his actions were purely defensive.
Deciding Justice
With the reality of the situation becoming clearer, OP informs the police about the boys’ attempts to break into his house. Although the evidence is clear, he opts not to press charges, empathizing with the boys’ unfortunate circumstances due to their neglectful mother.
Not So Fierce Protectors
As a humorous endnote, OP describes his supposedly aggressive dogs: Maybel can’t sleep unless she chews on her blanket repeatedly, and Robbie, who is scared of spoons. Despite their protective instincts, these quirks reveal a softer side to the intimidating dogs, adding an unexpected layer of the dangerous ‘guard dogs’ in question.
The Journey Ahead
While the current situation seems resolved, the journey isn’t over. OP prepares himself for future challenges that might arise from this complicated neighborhood dynamic, whether it involves the neglected boys, their dismissive mother, or his beloved dogs.
Was The Man’s Behavior Appropriate?
The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:
Forum Responded
One reader said, “They were trespassing and harassing you. Their mother is useless. Now you should take the footage back to the police and say you’d like to press charges for breaking and entering, trespassing, etc. No way should those kids get away with it scot-free.”
Another responder wrote: “You let your trained dogs out into your own yard? What a criminal. And you let them bark at children? You’re just a monster, aren’t you?”
A different person states, “Absolutely press charges. These kids are criminals.”
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on their actions?
What would you have done in this situation?
This story is inspired by this thread.
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