Saturday, December 29, 2012
DISCORD
I got in a shouting match with "the crazy lady" today.
It has been a long time since the last one.
I do not call her "the crazy lady" but others do.
Fact is, there is something wrong.
She has three dogs, one over the maximum for a unit here, and all three are nasty barkers. Not just at me but at anyone who crosses their path. Canines. Maybe people too but I haven't seen that. I always have a canine with me.
Booker is good about it. He has a considerable composure around crazy unsocialized dogs or women.
He just moves on. As I normally do. Take an alternative path. Hold him back for awhile as they get ahead.
No dice today. She was out for a confrontation. She came out of her house ahead of us, crossed the street and was right on an alternative route but stood there mesmerized as he dogs went nuts on us.
OK.
We walked inland a little deeper and passed. Next thing I know, she is right behind us.
I take another detour into the big grassy area on Hermosa. They pass.
I can tell that Booker is losing his composure. He gives one "woof", not a real bark, and sort of feints a lunge in their direction.
We walk in the grass and give them some time and by goddam if, when we come out and round the corner, blind, there she is with the three dogs, feet away.
Booker loses it. I lose it.
I said something like "Goddammit, can't you walk faster or take another route". He barked. She shouted something back and I just did a version of ya ya ya ya ya ta ta over the rant I knew was coming my way. Something I know had that this was all my fault and she does her best and, and, and.
Having had enough and knowing a kick me sign when we see it, Booker and I retreated up the lawn into the back path and away from it.
I am not too proud of myself but, shit, she has it coming. What? Do I think she is processing this as a normal human? No. Would I? No. It ended badly and while it is not really bothering me it is worth writing about as I just completed a little post about people who are unfeeling and do things which are not good. But she is not a turtle.
The dogs are not at fault. They are not socialized. We had just encountered another one earlier. A spaniel. The guy has no control whatsoever and when the spaniel sees another dog it yaps as long as we can hear it.
There are a couple of dogs down the street that do the same from their own courtyard. They have garnered many complaints from neighbors so the woman comes out and scoops them up. But they have never been outside that yard, never exercise and, I would wager, have never been given the time to know and learn about being with another dog.
I won't see the "crazy lady" again for awhile. We only went through the complex today because it was raining when we left. In the cooler season we take all walks out of the park.
But they will be waiting for us next summer and any time she sees us out there. They will come out and stand and bark while she shooshes them.
Life in the closeup of condo living.
