I'm in a small town in Santa Fe . I was walking down the sidewalk with my two-year old son and my girlfriend's dog (a border collie) on a leash. I do it pretty often. The neighbors (very humble family with little money that probably live on government assistance ) have a dog they let live out in their front yard (common in Argentina) and always follow me when I walk with my son. Not my dog but what am I going to do? It always follows me. About 50 meters from my house is a some sort of business/store with a dirt driveway/parking lot about twenty meters long from the sidewalk to a chain link fence.
The neighbor's dog (super friendly, loves everyone and all dogs and cats) that is following me runs over to the chain link fence, and in an attempt to play runs back and forth parallel to the fence. Then my son runs over following the dog, and I am yelling "Luca, come back!!" Suddenly, the two dogs behind the chain link fence knock the fence completely over, pinning the neighbor's dog under the fence and start attacking the neighbor's dog through the fence in the worst way possible. Never seen a dog fight and never want to see one again, it was terrible, it was like lions on an antelope. Really gruesome, and the poor dog is screaming in a way I've never heard a dog scream.
I start yelling for help. It is a small town so one is on the street. My son is right next to this dog fight because he had followed the neighbor's dog. He is screaming and crying. My own dog is going crazy on the leash. I run over, grab my son and put him over to the side. I drop the leash of my dog, and start trying to separate these two dogs attacking the neighbor's dog but I can't. They are big. Kicking them in the head doesn't work. I keep screaming for help. Finally someone from across the street comes over and grabs my son and runs back to the other side of the street because he is so freaked out by this. One of the two dogs starts attacking my own dog, which I don't have control of anymore because I dropped the leash. It is just a mess. My kid is crying like a maniac. I am able to get my dog, I pick it up, run it across the street.
Then I run back and the two dogs are still attacking my neighbor's dog, who is pinned to the ground and all bloody. I kick the dogs as hard as I can but they won't stop. I know it is stupid but I grab one with all my strength to push it off but it just jumps back on my neighbor's dog, which I am not sure how it is even still alive. Finally I take my backpack (that I use to carry my kid's diapers and water bottle) and start smashing the two dogs over the head until they get off, and the neighbor's dog limps off. No one knows where she went, I'm pretty worried she is dead.
I take my kid and dog back. Then I go back to this business and leave a note with my phone number. Then a car drives up, it is the owner and his wife. I tell him what happens, and that if he has vicious dogs he needs to fix his fence. He tells me it isn't his problem if someone else's dog comes up to his property. I said well it is your problem when you don't have a fence in good condition and they can just knock it over and start attacking. "You can't leave your fence like that, it's a danger to everyone. What if the dogs came after my kid? Fix your fence. If you don't have the money, I'll pay for it, but don't leave hazards like this." He says, "my dogs are puppies, they won't attack people, they are friendly." Then his wife yells at me, "Why was your son on our property?" And I said, he's two years old, we live in a tiny village, he ran 20 meters in front of me. They yell at me to take better care of my kid. I respond, "My kid doesn't t deserve the death sentence from two giant dogs because he dared to step on to your front yard." The wife and husband stop talking to me and go inside their business and lock the door.
Is there anything I can actually do? Feel terrible for the neighbor's dog. I mean it is true it was his property the neighbor's dog and my kid ran on to.
I am an old man. You would not know it to look at me, but I am an old man...in spirit.
I gave up on the concept of justice or fairness a long time ago. When I was young and idealistic, I fought for such things. But now, I just try to live my simple life- maximizing my personal comfort and happiness, without causing harm to others. To the extent that I help others, it is through sharing a personal example and/or a personal show of kindness. -but less through imposing my will/advice/views of the world on others.
So, let me share a personal example of something that we can all relate to:
I was raised in a culture/community where 'noise' was considered a nuisance. A form of pollution. As an adult, I have come to be aware that not every sub-culture/community in my country of birth feels the same way. This of course can also be said for many cultures/communities around the world.
Of course, I could go and find a community where the people think in a similar way as I do about noise. However, I am single and very curious and open minded and I love to explore. I see value in living in other cultures and I try to personally cope with those few things that cause me discomfort.
So, when I go into a place where the local community does not view noise - especially late night noise- as pollution: For example folks allow their dogs to bark late night, they park cars in locations where their car alarms get tripped (repeatedly) late at night, and excessively loud music gets played late at night...etc. - I don't get mad. I look for ways to solve to problem without requiring any effort on the part of anyone else.
Would I love to give rude people a piece of my mind? Of course. But pragmatically speaking, I know it won't get me anywhere. So, along time ago I developed a travel sleeping kit. It includes a lightproof facemask, ear plugs, comfortable earbuds. Depending on the level/nature of the noise, I have several noise cancelling sound tracks that I will play on loud speaker on my iphone on the other side of my bedroom. I will then connect comfortable ear buds to a second device that plays music I can fall asleep too.
The combination of the various noise-cancelling strategies that I have developed means I haven't missed a good night's sleep due to noise in several years.
So, what is the point of this and how does it relate to your circumstance?
Well, while reading your posting, I envisioned your two-year old son basically running freely beyond your sphere on control. I imagined your child being in place of your neighbor's dog. The image in my mind horrified me and is what motived me to respond to your posting.
From what you've shared, I've gathered that you are living in a community that is different from the one in which you were raised. You have notions about how people should behave and how things should work -probably based on how/where you were raised. But now you are living in rural small-town Argentina where you are raising your child. Dogs freely roam the streets. People drive too fast. The existence of pot holes mean that those fast drivers will sometimes make erratic movements.
No driver should -nor has the right to- hit your child. No dog owner has the right to let their dog out where it could maul your child the way your neighbor's dog was mauled. But consider adjusting to the realities of your living situation: Do you want to be in a position where you are fighting for justice after your child is injured/dies in some horrific accident?
If I were in your position, I don't think I would allow my two-year old (cognitive abilities are limited at this age) to roam freely where dogs/cars are present. I absolutely do not believe in 'helicopter parenting' but I do believe in adapting my behavior to the realities of my living situation. You have your dog on a leash. Maybe when you are in certain circumstances, a child leash might be appropriate, too? (this is a random suggestion, the broader point is what's important here) Do you want your child running into the street just as a fast, irresponsible drive passes by? Or running near a dog that is out of control? Or touching/eating one of the 1000 piece of dog poop decorating the local sidewalk?
All I am saying is that you need to find ways for you and your family to live happily and safely - without requiring the broader community standards/customs to change. Be vigilant and be responsible for your own safety and happiness. Expect nothing from others. You're living in a different community. How your son is raised will necessarily be different from how you were raised.
Consider developing your own life kit of strategies to cope with the negative aspects of the community in which you are living. With a small child, your circumstance is infinitely more complicated than my personal annoyance with late night noise. But perhaps the same mindset applies.
I know your posting was about your neighbor's dog; but I couldn't get the image of your son out of my mind. That just seemed more important to me
goodluck.
