*This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events I witnessed firsthand; used with permission.
Who has more rights: the man who likes to stay up all night playing video games and then sleep all day, or the dogs who bark all day long next door?
That's the question being raised after a man carefully typed up a letter to his neighbor to complain about the neighbor's dogs, slipped it into an envelope, and crept onto his property in the dead of night to place it on the windshield of his car parked in his driveway. He did not sign the letter; he preferred to remain anonymous. After reading the letter, you can see why.
To Whom It May Concern: I work the third shift, and I sleep during the day. You leave your dogs out in the yard unsupervised, and they bark for hours. I've spoken to several other neighbors, and they are all upset about the ruckus raised by your barking dogs. Please keep your dogs indoors if you cannot keep them quiet. If your dogs continue to bark outside all day, I'll be forced to call the dog catcher.
Although I almost hate to admit it, I dated the man who wrote that note to the neighbor. Did the neighbor's dogs bark during the day? Sure. They were cute dogs though, just doing what dogs do, and doing it during daytime hours.
I wouldn't have complained.
My ex-boyfriend delivered that letter in the middle of the night in a rainstorm so he wouldn't be seen. He was a little concerned about the rain ruining his letter, but as it turned out, he didn't have to worry.
The neighbor received his message loud and clear. He didn't do anything about it, but he received it.
Within days, my ex's dad blew his cover. He was exchanging pleasantries with the neighbor one day when the dog owner mentioned receiving a baffling letter about his two dogs barking during the day.
"Oh, yeah, that was my son," my ex's father said without a second thought. "He likes to sleep during the day, and he likes to complain a lot. That sounds exactly like something he would do."
My ex, who was listening to this exchange through his open bedroom window, was livid. He knew he'd been caught. His plans to write a second note or even to contact animal control didn't have the same luster now that he knew the neighbor would know it was him. He knew when he was defeated.
The dogs continued to bark and disturb his sleep. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say the neighbor left them unattended outdoors even more after he received the letter.
Can you blame him?
What would you have done? Comments are welcome.
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