What a Nuisance!!!

I should be doing revision type stuff but I am so damn peeved right now and if I don't get it out my system I shall most likely explode!!!

We got home from work today to find a letter addressed "To The Occupier" in our mailbox. Now, usually we don't open these because generally it's junk mail about roller blinds, fascias or invalidity scooters (OK, the latter not so much these days!!) but for some reason I decided to open it – maybe it was the postmark that was on it – makes it less random mail-shot and more something with a purpose. Anyway, open it up I did and guess what. Someone has decided to make a complaint with the dog warden about our kids making too much noise during the day. Now, I'm not about to sit here and defend noisy dogs …… OK, maybe I am a bit, but there is a reason.

As you know we have 2 dogs, Bubba and Twink, and they are big dogs – you couldn't really describe them as anything else. Now, when I was working at "that place we know longer mention" I came home every lunchtime to check on them, let them out and make sure they hadn't killed each other. All was good in the world and then when I became an unemployed they had company all day. At the time they were still 24 hour house dogs, but as you know, Belle's getting a bit old now and so her plumbing doesn't work as well as it used to. So unfortunately, when I started working again, and after a couple of weeks of scraping crap (the literal kind) off the sofa and coming home to a smelly house where Belle had tiddled without realising it, we made the decision that we should get them an outdoor run, both for their sake and our embarrassment. So we got them a nice big run, we kitted it out with cushions and such to make it comfortable, a few toys, and made sure they had water and started putting them out there while we were at work and bringing them in at night because we are firm believers in Dogs being part of the family and therefore having as much right to be in the house as we do.

All was going swimmingly. No-one complained to us that they were noisy. Of course they're still on guard – protecting their territory and the like so they would bark if they heard a noise or thought their home was being invaded, but we never got any complaints – if we had we would've tried something different – we're not vindictive by any stretch of the imagination. Unfortunately, Mum decided we needed help to get the house back to some semblance of tidiness and normality so she decided to hire a cleaner – and we think this is where the problem came about. Serena is a lovely lass and she comes in for 4hrs on a Monday to help us out, but the dogs don't know her. She's only been twice so far and of course if they see someone unusual in their house cleaning windows they can see from where they are they are going to protect their home and people. We've never had any problems before. Mum hired a gardener and for the first few weeks they barked until they were used to them …… they were 24hr housedogs at the time, but they still barked. When the window cleaner started coming they barked for the first few weeks …… then they stopped. Again 24hr house dogs at the time. When we had to be rewired they barked at the Spark, again same thing, but the Spark was indoors too, as was the tiler. They barked, they got over it, it was part of life – but they weren't planning on using a vacuum cleaner. They hate vacuum cleaners and we can't expect Serena to take charge of them while trying to clean. Aside from the fact they would bark at the Vac, Boycie is also likely to mug her cleaning stuff – chemicals and puppies would never mix. There are plenty of 'Tradesman' that would vouch for their behaviour – Mum actually phoned the Gardener earlier to ask about the noise level when they came just before Christmas – no bad there. Barked when they got there but settled down after a little while.

So we got a letter from the Dog Warden for trying to do the best by our dogs. If they could let themselves in and out during the day that would be fine. Unfortunately although they're clever kids they're not THAT bright! The run gives them the chance to have an indoors for keeping warm and a covered outdoors for doing their 'business'. They're not neglecting by any stretch of the imagination (unless you count Boycie not thinking he gets enough cuddles despite getting them whenever he asks – mainly because he doesn't give you any alternative!!) and that could be evidenced by our vet – special diet and £500 of antibiotics (and the rest) included!! They're outside from about 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday (sometimes a bit later but not often), and indoors the rest of the time aside from when we need to go out anywhere during the day – that seems to be when Boycie's at his most destructive!! If Mum's bell ringing and I'm at my class on a Monday evening they're inside and they have company the rest of the time.

We're a bit "rock and a hard place" right now. We think we know who's done the complaining, but of course we won't be able to get a name out of the Warden, but suffice it to say we have our suspicions that it's our neighbour to the right who is IMO a twat anyway!! He doesn't help himself by trying to shout them down himself – they don't know him from Adam …… although if his Grandson told them to be quiet strangely enough they do. Mum said he once complained that Boycie was a menace because he put his head through the fence near his back door, so she's said if he brings that up she will happily put a piece of fencing in that spot, but make it clear that he has actually un-dog proofed our dog proofed garden when he had his garden revamped and demand he puts it right. She's also said if he threw cold water on them when they barked they'd stop …… and she's right. The shock'd knock them right off kilter!

She's gone bell-ringing tonight and she's going to bend the ear of one of the ringers who specialises in law relating to animals, but she's looking worst case scenario and is fretting about being told we have to get rid. It's playing on my mind a bit since she said that – she's never been one for sugar-coating it and living in denial – you wouldn't think it to speak to her but she can be a bit of a pessimist. Besides, I think before that happens she'll decide to can Serena's visits and bring them back inside. Mum's phoning the council tomorrow to talk to the Warden and we'll see what happens next. Give it a couple of weeks though and they're likely to have company all day again anyway! ;)

So I guess I'm defending my kids and anyone would, but I could understand if it was all day and all night non-stop, or constantly late at night waking folk up, but it's not. It's them guarding their territory while their family aren't in. Right now they're inside and fast asleep in the other room. We think he's developed some kind of vendetta about our hedge not being the height he'd like (but still under 6ft) which Mum said she would rectify in the New year and which she has arranged to sort next week, but unfortunately if he's going to complain about the barking she may have to cancel. As I said, we'll see what her conversation with bell-ringing lawyers and Dog Wardens bring. But we'll be damned if we get rid of our kids!! Ain't gonna happen!!! We'll relocate first!!