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Location: Essex UK
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,424
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Well... Update
Selkie seems to be loving her Kennels... Second day there today and she was much happier when I went to pick her up. The kennel owner said she had been for a potter about his garden and had had a few treats through the day.
Unfortunately Selkie can't really be walked anymore, her bad hips and legs make anything more than a gentle potter about in the garden, or just round the corner for a snoof about the local field a bit too much for her. The other two on the other hand want to go on long rambles and sometimes Kismet and I go racing on the walkydog and bike! But then it's not Kismet and Pharaoh that are the issue, they are both happy, well exercised and are quiet all day. But when we go for a trip to the woods or a race, Selkie can't come too...
So... I took Smokeybear's advice.
I just popped over with a bottle of wine as a peace offering and sat down and had a long chat over a cup of tea. My neighbours are a retired couple, a shouty big man who is always seeming to have a go at somebody over something (it was car parking places and where people but binbags last) and a lovely quiet lady.
It seems they had made some assumptions about me (I have tattoos and a penchant for horror props, I do Halloween every year in a big way) so they had assumed I was badly treating the dogs and wouldn't care about their complaints. They had let themselves get very wound up and distressed and had made up all sorts of stories in their heads about me for the last year and gosiping with other neighbours... What a terrible person imaginary me had become... It seems a bit bizarre though as they have been my neighbours for the last 8 years and I always thought we got along fine... Always said hello over the fence, Christmas cards, I always bring them a bottle of wine back from my holidays and have shared BBQ over the fence before, which is why I was so distressed that I had made him so upset... they even feed Kismet biscuits and asked me to set up a table so she could reach her head over to them for cuddles....
But apparently this was because they thought I was a terrible person?! They had thought I was leaving the dogs every day from 9-6 as they had made assumptions about my work schedule and for some reason they thought I locked Selkie in the hallway which is a very small space. I assured them Selkie has the run of the house, she just prefers the hallway. They didn't think I walked the dogs, as they clearly haven't spotted me taking them out every day... How had I become such a monster in their minds and what must the other neighbours they have gossiped with think of me??? I live in an area that is mostly retired couples home all day.
Sigh...
So, I invited them over.
I have showed them the dogs beds everywhere. I have showed them Kismet's access to the conservatory all day and her bed and toys and told them to pay no attention to her lies that she is not fed and locked in just the garden all the time, or that I beat them with sticks. I demonstrated the terrible screaming is me brushing Selkie, she's such a drama queen! I have showed them where Pharaoh sleeps on my bed and Selkie's three beds in her favourite spots and copious water bowls. I have explained her exercise needs and why she can't always come with us and showed them Kismet with the Bike and pictures of my poor abused dogs at the beach, at the woods and in the fields...
They were very sorry (or at least so they said). They also had no idea I was a teacher! I think they had it in their heads I was some sort of hells angel or tattooist!
After our chat and tour.. I have explained the new plans; Selkie will still go to kennels when I am at work and I will do everything I can to keep her with me or take her to my Mums if I need to go out after 10pm. If I need to be out in the day I have promised it will never be for long. I have given them my mobile number in case of any problems and assured them if there is a problem I can get someone over to the house within an hour. Or in an emergency I have reminded them they do actually have a door key of mine I gave them 5 years ago when I went on holiday so they could sort the alarm!
Lets hope that is the last of it.
I'll keep the thread posted if there is any more! :P