Is it the dog or is it my neighbor?

Your Neighbor Generally speaking, I don’t really believe so much in “anonymous” opinion articles because, well, AN opinion belongs to A person. However, in this case, I have decided to make this anonymous because I believe this situation occurs in many neighborhoods throughout Vicksburg, in Warren County, likely many places in Mississippi and, no doubt, it is widespread across the country. My point: this happens everywhere, all the time and most of us are too polite to knock on the neighbor’s door and say anything. Several months ago, my neighbor and his family got the cutest, sweetest little lab puppy—but, then, aren’t all puppies cute and sweet? Of course, over the last 6 months, that cute, sweet puppy turned into an energetic, rambunctious, friendly, vocal full grown Labrador Retriever. Apparently, my neighbor was not so skilled at training and disciplining the dog so he began tying him up on the deck, which is just yards from my bedroom window. Coincidentally, the deck is on the opposite of the house from my neighbor’s den, which means the dog cannot be heard by my neighbor. Promptly upon securing the dog to the deck, he begins whining and does not stop—EVER! If I am able to go to sleep, it is only with my TV on to drown out the whining of the dog. If I happen to wake up in the middle of the night, I hear the poor creature whining. Mostly, I feel sorry for the dog. He is lonely, he is tethered to a 15 foot chain, he has no company—and we all know that labs like their people tremendously. Please, Mr. Neighbor, for the sake of the dog and your tired neighbor, please take the dog inside or find him a home where someone will play with him, train him and let him be part of the family. If this shoe happens to fit you, if you are tying your dog up outside for hours and hours, please find another home for the animal. Puppies are cute and fun to play with, dogs need a home and someone to love them…tying them up outside is not love—that’s neglect. Your neighbor needs some sleep and your dog needs some company.]]]]> ]]>