Dear Neighbor:

I know you are a very kind-hearted man who cannot say no when people as you to watch their dogs. You had 3 of your own. Then you took in your sister's two ancient dogs. Then your son's fiance brought over her puppy mini-dachsund. And they are all very well-behaved dogs, and even though you are two over the limit, I love them all and have said nothing.

But when you took in your son's fiance's parent's daschunds for the week while they are on vacation, you crossed the line. There are now 8 dogs at your house. But these two aren't fitting in. Not that I dislike the dogs themselved, as I'm sure they are fine pooches. However, they are extremely barky. And everytime I let my dogs out, your guest-dogs run to the fence and begin barking. Which gets my wolfhounds going. Ok, so I have a bark collar on one of them, so she isn't actually barking.

Because I respect ALL my surrounding neighbors, when this occurs, I bring MY dogs into the house. They are half responsible for the noise. Could you at ANY time afford us the same courtesy? Because frankly, neighbor, it has gotten so that I cannot let my dogs out AT ALL. Because you leave your dogs in your garage with the door open 24/7 so they always have access to the backyard. There are NO times, day or night, that I can let my dogs out for any exercise - because you are either not home to bring yours in when they bark (as I do) or you ARE there and seem to not notice the noise that will get us all fined at some point. All I'd like is an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening - your dogs can have the rest of the whole d**mn day outside for all I care....

(thanks for the venting forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)