Ride 59: Muggy, Meanie, and Many Moggies
Aug. 25th, 2011 07:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judifilksignSchool was a good day for everyone. I taught emblematic poetry and textspeak techniques, and the students were really into it.
Today's ride happened late this afternoon, with Sparkle getting out the bike helmets and clomping one down on my head as I was checking out my webcomics. This is for Sparkle, a subtle hint. I'm sorry to report that it was a hint unheeded until my darling husband prodded me to get it in gear.
Once on the bike, we did in fact get it in gear, and the bike seat was stable. While the temperature was quite reasonable, it still felt like wet felt outside after the rainstorms this morning.
This afternoon was the day of the Moggies, starting with our neighbor's two cats in our driveway, who watched us leave with cat-like interest, and even trotted after us a bit to see where we were headed. They had a quick wash to make sure we knew they didn't actually care, though.
Sparkle asked urgently to ride around the block. I said I wanted to ride the bike trail. She repeated her request to ride around the block, in a sweet, overly reasonable voice, very clearly trying not to whine. Sighing inwardly to myself, thinking I was in for a "short-short" ride, I made the turn.
We passed a little black cat on the back of a wagon, a grey tabby cat peering out from under the Community Club stage, an orange cat in a garage looking at us, and a white and grey cat behind the tipped over unconnected fire hydrant yard ornament. The neighbor's cats were behind their horse fence watching us as we came around the block.
Since Sparkle did not ask to go home, I then proceded with our usual ride to the bike trail. We went up the shorter, steeper slope, and this time with me standing and pumping, and Sparkle pumping, we made it up the hill! Hooray! At the top of the hill was lazy sleep-in-the-middle-of-the-alley cat.
One block down, we saw a heap of kittens sleeping in an open live trap cage, with a mama cat stretched out on top of the cage asleep.
We passed a house where we heard barking, and a guy opened the door, and his two dogs tore across his yard and smashed against his fence, slavering and yowling and biting at each other as they jumped up and down trying to get at us. Sparkle screamed in surprise. This guy laughed an ugly laugh at us. I can assure you that a number of expletives went around my head, and were close to being said in my out loud voice.
Instead, I heard myself say, "It's okay, baby. Did the dogs startle you, too? Remember, dogs like to warn us to stay out of their yard." My voice had that fakey, sing-song Snow White voice assumed by annoying preschool teachers I hated as a child. I recognize this voice in myself as the one that I use right before I snap, rip off my own head and become Grendel's Mother. My boys, when they hear that Snow White voice will move heaven and earth to do exactly what I say, for experience has taught them I'm hanging on by my fingernails after the thread has already snapped. Sparkle appeared to take it at face value tonight though, for she calmed down. The man sneered at me. I mean, like, one side of his lip curled up exactly like a dog snarling as he jerked his head up at me. Noted in passing was that he was in a sleeveless dirty white T-shirt, was smoking, and had a cheap beer can in his hand.
I have a couple of thought trains looping. One is: avoid this stretch of alley, because this guy is sick. He took pleasure in our fright, laughing openly, and showing his scorn. I don't know whether he'd let his snarly dogs out at us at a later date. Bringing Sparkle past this house might habituate her into feeling safe enough to do so by herself later, when it isn't.
The other is: the alley is a public street in our townlet. He's in his yard, didn't say anything to us, his dogs were contained, and if he sneers at us going past, it means he's an idiot, but we shouldn't be intimidated from using a public thoroughfare in our own neighborhood. There is a far cry between someone laughing at his dogs barking and scaring us, and someone who would actually sic his animals on anyone. (I hope.)
I would very greatly appreciate my friends list sounding off about this topic. I need some outside input to make a decision about what we're doing on future rides here. Thank you.
We continued our ride down the path, which was actually shady, a circumstance that surprised me far more than it ought to have. A black cat watched us get on the path from a fence post. We've seen this cat before. Sparkle said, "Hi, JiJi!" That's the cat from Kiki's Delivery Service voiced by Phil Hartman. It's been a long, long time since we've seen that video, so I was surprised to her her use the name. Usually, Sparkle will say something like, "That's a black cat. Hi, black cat!"
Along the rail road tracks was a white cat with gray splotches, sitting on the nearer rail, blinking in a sunbeam.
The squirrel was gone. I don't know if he was cleaned up by the park rangers or a cat, a person walking their dog or by one of the vultures.
There was a parade of cars crossing the first street. We stopped to wait, but car after car after car after car went by. Since it was about five thirty, five forty five, I think it was all of the workers getting back from town. Sparkle suggested that we drink our water and go home.
On the way home, we saw a brown fluffy tabby cat looking with interest into the clear ditch water. At the bottom of the puddle of water was a frog, blowing bubble. The cat had her paw hovering over the water, but would not put her paw in. I was reminded of the picture from Peter Rabbit where the white cat watches Mr. MacGregor's koi swim in the pond.
We did the convoluted cross the tracks, stop at the stop sign, turn, cross the tracks, turn left down the hill route. We stopped at the stop sign for a five or six car passing wait. We got started again (UP hill, ugh! ugh! ugh!) and over the tracks, and signaled left. Glancing back over my shoulder to make sure no car would thunder over the tracks and kill us, I was pleased to see Sparkle copying me by pointing left too. I have not directly discussed hand signals, I just do them. Looks like Sparkle is picking up on them.
Going down the hill, we saw the orange cat again trotting fastdidiously across a grassy field, paws high.
We took the final curve home at speed. Sparkle had been pedaling hard down hill, and we were veering left, and I felt control go a bit, so remembering what my grandfather said about cars being easier to control around curves with power to the wheels, I pedaled a bit, and we stableized. Sparkle laughed with delight.
The neighbor's cats were on their porch as we pulled in, and the neighbor's dogs all went "woo-woo-wooooo," from lying down as we came up. So cute. The neighbor's boy was driving a load of horse manure back from cleaning up the pasture. I have no idea what they do with the end product of their horses.
I think we saw fifteen cats in all.
Today's ride happened late this afternoon, with Sparkle getting out the bike helmets and clomping one down on my head as I was checking out my webcomics. This is for Sparkle, a subtle hint. I'm sorry to report that it was a hint unheeded until my darling husband prodded me to get it in gear.
Once on the bike, we did in fact get it in gear, and the bike seat was stable. While the temperature was quite reasonable, it still felt like wet felt outside after the rainstorms this morning.
This afternoon was the day of the Moggies, starting with our neighbor's two cats in our driveway, who watched us leave with cat-like interest, and even trotted after us a bit to see where we were headed. They had a quick wash to make sure we knew they didn't actually care, though.
Sparkle asked urgently to ride around the block. I said I wanted to ride the bike trail. She repeated her request to ride around the block, in a sweet, overly reasonable voice, very clearly trying not to whine. Sighing inwardly to myself, thinking I was in for a "short-short" ride, I made the turn.
We passed a little black cat on the back of a wagon, a grey tabby cat peering out from under the Community Club stage, an orange cat in a garage looking at us, and a white and grey cat behind the tipped over unconnected fire hydrant yard ornament. The neighbor's cats were behind their horse fence watching us as we came around the block.
Since Sparkle did not ask to go home, I then proceded with our usual ride to the bike trail. We went up the shorter, steeper slope, and this time with me standing and pumping, and Sparkle pumping, we made it up the hill! Hooray! At the top of the hill was lazy sleep-in-the-middle-of-the-alley cat.
One block down, we saw a heap of kittens sleeping in an open live trap cage, with a mama cat stretched out on top of the cage asleep.
We passed a house where we heard barking, and a guy opened the door, and his two dogs tore across his yard and smashed against his fence, slavering and yowling and biting at each other as they jumped up and down trying to get at us. Sparkle screamed in surprise. This guy laughed an ugly laugh at us. I can assure you that a number of expletives went around my head, and were close to being said in my out loud voice.
Instead, I heard myself say, "It's okay, baby. Did the dogs startle you, too? Remember, dogs like to warn us to stay out of their yard." My voice had that fakey, sing-song Snow White voice assumed by annoying preschool teachers I hated as a child. I recognize this voice in myself as the one that I use right before I snap, rip off my own head and become Grendel's Mother. My boys, when they hear that Snow White voice will move heaven and earth to do exactly what I say, for experience has taught them I'm hanging on by my fingernails after the thread has already snapped. Sparkle appeared to take it at face value tonight though, for she calmed down. The man sneered at me. I mean, like, one side of his lip curled up exactly like a dog snarling as he jerked his head up at me. Noted in passing was that he was in a sleeveless dirty white T-shirt, was smoking, and had a cheap beer can in his hand.
I have a couple of thought trains looping. One is: avoid this stretch of alley, because this guy is sick. He took pleasure in our fright, laughing openly, and showing his scorn. I don't know whether he'd let his snarly dogs out at us at a later date. Bringing Sparkle past this house might habituate her into feeling safe enough to do so by herself later, when it isn't.
The other is: the alley is a public street in our townlet. He's in his yard, didn't say anything to us, his dogs were contained, and if he sneers at us going past, it means he's an idiot, but we shouldn't be intimidated from using a public thoroughfare in our own neighborhood. There is a far cry between someone laughing at his dogs barking and scaring us, and someone who would actually sic his animals on anyone. (I hope.)
I would very greatly appreciate my friends list sounding off about this topic. I need some outside input to make a decision about what we're doing on future rides here. Thank you.
We continued our ride down the path, which was actually shady, a circumstance that surprised me far more than it ought to have. A black cat watched us get on the path from a fence post. We've seen this cat before. Sparkle said, "Hi, JiJi!" That's the cat from Kiki's Delivery Service voiced by Phil Hartman. It's been a long, long time since we've seen that video, so I was surprised to her her use the name. Usually, Sparkle will say something like, "That's a black cat. Hi, black cat!"
Along the rail road tracks was a white cat with gray splotches, sitting on the nearer rail, blinking in a sunbeam.
The squirrel was gone. I don't know if he was cleaned up by the park rangers or a cat, a person walking their dog or by one of the vultures.
There was a parade of cars crossing the first street. We stopped to wait, but car after car after car after car went by. Since it was about five thirty, five forty five, I think it was all of the workers getting back from town. Sparkle suggested that we drink our water and go home.
On the way home, we saw a brown fluffy tabby cat looking with interest into the clear ditch water. At the bottom of the puddle of water was a frog, blowing bubble. The cat had her paw hovering over the water, but would not put her paw in. I was reminded of the picture from Peter Rabbit where the white cat watches Mr. MacGregor's koi swim in the pond.
We did the convoluted cross the tracks, stop at the stop sign, turn, cross the tracks, turn left down the hill route. We stopped at the stop sign for a five or six car passing wait. We got started again (UP hill, ugh! ugh! ugh!) and over the tracks, and signaled left. Glancing back over my shoulder to make sure no car would thunder over the tracks and kill us, I was pleased to see Sparkle copying me by pointing left too. I have not directly discussed hand signals, I just do them. Looks like Sparkle is picking up on them.
Going down the hill, we saw the orange cat again trotting fastdidiously across a grassy field, paws high.
We took the final curve home at speed. Sparkle had been pedaling hard down hill, and we were veering left, and I felt control go a bit, so remembering what my grandfather said about cars being easier to control around curves with power to the wheels, I pedaled a bit, and we stableized. Sparkle laughed with delight.
The neighbor's cats were on their porch as we pulled in, and the neighbor's dogs all went "woo-woo-wooooo," from lying down as we came up. So cute. The neighbor's boy was driving a load of horse manure back from cleaning up the pasture. I have no idea what they do with the end product of their horses.
I think we saw fifteen cats in all.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:20 am (UTC)While it is a public space and he would (hopefully) not be sick enough to sic his dogs on you out in the alley, it sounds like there are plenty of other alley ways to take that would keep you away from that awful man. I'm not sure I'd make a big deal about it (nothing like "we don't go down that alley," just try to plan trips that use alternate paths.
(Or, if you're worried that you're acting intimidated, wait a few days and go that route again to see what happens. But be prepared in case the same thing does happen!)
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:00 am (UTC)Thanks for the input!
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:24 am (UTC)It sounds like this part of the area isn't a regular part of your ride. So you could avoid it if you want.
On the other hand, as long as the fence is in pretty good shape, the dogs are unpleasant, but not really dangerous.
You could check with his neighbors, see if the dogs have bitten anybody. That would actually be useful to know, since it sounds like they're not all that far from your house. If they have, it might be time for the neighbors to band together and complain to animal control.
I don't want to frighten you, but I think it would probably be a good idea to tell Sparkle not to go there without you, if you think she would understand without over-reacting. The two of you together could probably manage if the dogs got out of their yard, but Sparkle alone might be in trouble.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:55 am (UTC)But that could change in the next year or two, as there are girls her age and younger over there nearby that she's waved at.
I think checking with those girls' mom about this guy would be a good idea.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:55 am (UTC)And... *hug*
I hate it when dogs jump out at me. Even if they are behind a fence.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:53 am (UTC)He is on the "far" side of the loop of our neighborhood, so we don't come into regular contact with him by any means.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:09 am (UTC)I think of the small town I grew up in. It was known by all the kids (and the adults) that there were some houses that you just avoided.... Crossed the street and rode your bike along the other sidewalk past that yard, then back across the street again if you wanted (yes, we did ride bikes zig-zaggy across the streets, but that didn't mean we were unsafe enough to go anywhere near XXXXX's house.)
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 02:07 am (UTC)Still, it wouldn't hurt to do some research to find out whether there have been any previous problems with him.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:03 am (UTC)This guy already knows he has to keep his dogs fenced in or he is in big trouble. Make sure you know his name and address, and be sure he knows you know it. Check with local law enforcement(informally if possible, you may get a better discussion) to see if there have been any problems with this guy.
If there have been no problems with this guys dogs escaping, I would use the alley when you need to and warn sparkle to stay back from the fence.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 03:57 am (UTC)I'd have to say based on your description of the dogs' behaviour, I'm not too sure I'd trust a fence to keep 'em in, nor trust the owner to be able to control them (if he even wanted to - he sounds like the sort that thinks a "real man" needs to keep big, nasty, aggressive dogs to prove himself).
Hm, another thought. Do you have your own veterinarian? You might ask them for contacts in animal control/humane services.
Actually, talking informally with the official (police and/or animal control) might result in the occasional cruise past the place in question, just to keep an eye on things. I can't say that would be a bad thing, y'know?
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:58 am (UTC)Since we were riding a bit past five instead of around eight, we may just have caught him fresh home from work on a lousy day. He came in, took off his shirt, got a beer, and let the dogs out.
But also, since days are getting shorter, our rides will be earlier. Perhaps I need to make sure they happen right when I get home from school, well before five if we take that alley.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:24 am (UTC)However, if you do have to go that way.
Carry a camera, snapping pics of people acting ugly will usually make them back off.
Or carry an Air Horn, if the dogs (or any dogs) start chasing you, a quick blast will make them back off.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 02:00 am (UTC)I do have a camera phone, if that becomes necessary. Good thought.
Better to avoid trouble than escalate it, though.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 09:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 10:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 12:10 pm (UTC)Sparkle has a history of being traumatised fairly easily and thoroughly, so I think avoiding potential dangers until she is more able to cope with them is an important strategy.
Speaking to your local police officer/animal control person would be a good thing (as well as to the neighbours) - if he's usually grumpy-but-ok that's one thing, if he has a history of intimidating people that's quite another.
If you're on your own, and feeling up to it, cycling past his house to see the extent of the problem (just at certain times of the day) etc might be an option (depending on what you learn about him); with Sparkle I'd try to avoid it for a bit.
You might also want to think about how you are going to explain him and your actions to Sparkle - 'the grumpy man with the loud dogs'? = so that if you go past again, she'll be better prepared what to expect, and how to act (keep quiet, keep away from the fence, etc)
This is a very tricky thing - you don't want her to be afraid of strangers (or dogs), but OTOH she's better off giving them a wide berth.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 11:34 am (UTC)I agree that for a bit that if I do pass the house, it will be on my own instead of with Sparkle.
I also do intend to rehearse dog expectations with Sparkle. She's only just recently decided that all dogs aren't the scariest thing in the world, and has been socializing with them. I want to give her the tools for making good decisions about them.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 08:39 pm (UTC)I've volunteered @ CAHS, so here's some info
Date: 2011-08-27 02:13 am (UTC)If the dogs appear to be of "pit bull" breeding, by law, the owner must have a $100,000 insurance policy, and specific fence height. Because of their behavior, this may be a concern for the police, rather than the humane officers (although they are considered peace officers under Ohio law).
If there appears to be any neglect or abuse of these dogs, you may call and leave a message regarding your concerns, too. Look for ribs, feces everywhere in the yard, lack of shelter, lack of water or food.
If the property and buildings appear to be in unsanitary (feces everywhere, junk, etc) or failing condition (gutters falling off, missing shingles, broken steps), this may be reported to the housing code enforcement types.
Re: I've volunteered @ CAHS, so here's some info
Date: 2011-08-27 11:56 am (UTC)The dogs appeared to be of no particular breed, and were smaller than pit bulls.
The fence is typical chain link, about high enough for an adult to comfortably lean over for chatting if there weren't snarling, jumping dogs behind it. It's right at a height where under normal circumstances, I'd think it enough to keep the dogs in, but excited or determined dogs of their size could get over it with repeated effort.
Up until a year or so ago, this was an abandonded property, with junk and wildly overgrown. I have noted the yard getting mowed, and cleaned up, and the house and outbuildings getting repaired. There has been clean up happening. The dogs look well-fed. I haven't noted feces everywhere.
Would the Humane Officer have access to information as to whether an owner had previous tangles with the law? I mean, does our area law enforcement communicate with the humane society, or is it only cases that the humane officers themselves have filed?
One of my other neighbors has a dog that appears to be a pit bull. Ironically, this dog is one of the best-behaved canines I have ever met. I wonder if they know about the insurance, though. I shall have to ask. They also do not have a fenced yard that could contain dogs at all, although the dog is never out alone, but always with family.
But back to the original dogs and owner, unless there are previous incidents somewhere, I think that it's more of a matter of the owner having a nasty attitude (for at least that day) than any neglect or abuse. Someone being snarky or rude in his own yard is not actionable, (nor should it be, as long as no one is hurt.)
But you've given me another way to follow through, and I appreciate it.