We have, as people who read my Saturday posts know, a dog. She's a Scotty dog, a small, noisy dog, who has a small pen inside the back yard (which wouldn't hold an arthritic basset hound, with how many gaps there are).
We also have nosy neighbors. Nosy neighbors who have twice called the cops out of "concern for the dog's well-being."
The dog hates being inside. Hates it to the point where she's not trustworthy outside her crate. She's smart, and she believes that if she's obnoxious enough (i.e., can chew up enough furniture, kids clothes, rugs, toys, and/or clothing; can piss or shit on the carpets while staring right at us; can chase the cats and/or the kids enough) she gets put out into her pen, where she's happy. Her favorite thing to do is to pretend to be Snoopy and sit on top of her house to watch everything that goes on.
She has a double dish that I keep full of water. I refill/wash out as needed. I bring her inside, happy about it or not, when there's no more shade in her pen, and don't put her back out until she has shade.
However.
Somebody has called the cops about her pen. Twice. And this latest prick told us that refusing to let him in the house was obstruction.
Guess our dog is going to have to go live with my mother until we can find a place out in the country. And I guess I can't let the boy go outside and play by himself anymore, since we won't have our noisy alarm system in place.
4 hours ago
Yep....move where your nearest neighbor is a mile away. Works for me
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan, but it will be a few years.
DeleteHe may have told you that not letting him in was "obstruction" but without probable cause he has nothing.
ReplyDeleteTell him to show his probable cause IN WRITING, or to come back with a warrant.
or go outside next time and close (and lock) the door behind you.
Cops will lie about the law and push to enter in order to find something to charge you with. Don't let 'em. Say no.
My favorite phrases when dealing with cops: Probable cause?, warrant, and lawyer.
Makes most of 'em back down.
This guy was young. Very young. Probably had just been let off the leash. We did bring that up. He didn't back down. Odysseus is contemplating emailing the city police chief, expressing concerns, and asking to be left anonymous.
DeleteYeah, I did eventually go outside and shut the door behind me. The cop said he found that "suspicious" too.
DeleteThe ironic thing is that if he'd said it was about the dog while I was still behind my locked storm door I would have come out to talk with him and show him the dog was happy and had water.
That is just plain sad... All I can say without using four letter words...
ReplyDeleteLet's just say nobody would be confusing me with your book's protagonist.
DeletePeople , a as general rule, suck. This is an example of why I don't , won't , can't live around other people. They have to stick their snouts into your business, and there are those who delight in causing others trouble. It makes them feel empowered. There is a difference between city people and rural people about this kind of thing. In the countryside, there would be repercussions for calling the cops on someone. In the city, your ability to even the score is much more limited.
ReplyDeleteThat cop was playing you. You don't have to let them in the door unless they have a warrant. Point, period, exclamation mark. However, holding the line on that may not be to your advantage, because if you get a Napoleon Complex guy outside the door, he may make it his life's mission to harass you if you don't "comply" with his god like demands.
A guy named "Hayduke" wrote a book I have found to be useful from time to time over the years. It's called "Strike from the Shadows." I think you can only get it from Paladin Press.
I have definitely reached the point of gaining the "neighbors can go screw themselves" attitude, and wanting to get out to the country. And we are fully aware of what our rights are, and will not pay attention to those who say otherwise. This was written fifteen minutes after it happened, and the outrage and anger was still very fresh.
Delete