Can't We All Just Get Along?

OK, so the dog drama on our street has intensified since my last post.

I'll try to keep this short, because it borders on the ridiculous. Two days after meeting up with the off-leash lab, we were out for a walk with Biscuit and Baxter. Across the street, we see a woman walking calmly behind her unleashed dog. I commented to Jenny, something to the effect of, "here's another dog being walked off leash."

All of sudden, the dog darts across the street making a bee-line for us. He went for Baxter first, and I quickly pulled Bax back with his leash and stuck my leg in between the two. I was able to shove the other dog back with my leg.

This dog then turns to Jenny, who has already Biscuit picked up to protect her. The dog (I kid you not) lunges into Jenny's chest and bites Biscuit.

Jenny screams and the attacker gets spooked, running back across the street towards the owner, who has only made it halfway across the street by this point.

Luckily, Biscuit wasn't hurt. This dog only got a mouthful of fur, which she tore out of Biz's tail.

Jenny and I lost it, and we marched across to confront the neighbor, each with a dog under our arm. We really unloaded on this lady, to the point where we both felt quite guilty later on.

She explained to us that the dog had gotten loose on accident, and that she wasn't able to run after it because it would only run faster. That's why she was calmly walking behind the dog, trying to catch it.

We really caused a scene, and several neighbors came out of their houses to see what the commotion was about. All in all, the dog owner and her husband, who showed up soon after, were very apologetic. We all calmed down and moved on.

So, after this all happens, we're left feeling pretty shaken up. Suddenly talking the dog out for a walk seems like a full-contact sport.

I decided to try talking face-to-face with the folks who own the lab down the street. They were very friendly, and when I asked them to consider walking their dog on leash, he told me that he had already asked his wife not to walk Reese off-leash in the neighborhood anymore. He told me three other people had also complained. We left things on a very friendly, neighborly note.

Well, since our talk, we've heard reports that the lady has been out since with the lab off-leash. OK, so her husband was shining me on. I didn't have a lot of faith that they'd change their behavior, but I had been encouraged by how well our chat went. In fact, yesterday the husband stormed down the street to yell at our next door neighbor for asking his wife to keep the dog on a leash.

Can't we all just get along?!

This has turned into some serious junior high drama. The lady across the street is spreading rumors that she's been sent to court for letting her dogs run amok. Some other neighbors are telling people that someone's sending around a petition regarding the leash law. I mean, it's all way out of hand.

At this point, we've thrown our hands up. In a perfect world, everyone would agree that walking your dog on a leash is the best way to keep everyone safe and happy. But, we all know the world ain't perfect. And I can't help but think ... If this is how fellow dog owners interact, I am truly frightened to begin dealing with fellow parents.