Right after I read Sally's post in April, I wrote out a long memory of Ripple, Tigger and Rocky playing together. But I guess I forgot to press Submit, because it looks like it never posted. So when I have the energy, I'll need to go back and rewrite it. 

Pretty exhausted and stressed right now because Baxter and I have had an eventful weekend so far. 

There's a house at the end of our neighborhood we walk past a lot. And that house has two big lab/pitbull type dogs. I think they're both younger than two, and the younger one is a bit more aggressive than the bigger older one. If they're outside, they come up to the gate and bark at Baxter. Over the past few months, when we approach that house, Baxter will lead me to the sidewalk across the street from the house. And then we'll cross back over when we're clear of their house. 

We were coming back from our walk Friday night, walking along the sidewalk furthest from them, when I saw them reach the gate. And then I saw them come through the open gate, galloping toward us. Pretty much my worst fear come true. Fortunately, they weren't vicious per se, but they got up in Baxter's face. And after a second or two, he gave that little "back off out of my space" growl. Only natural for him to be defensive since he was outnumbered, outsized and hindered by a leash whereas they were unleashed. The bigger one backed off, but the other one took it as a challenge. So he and Baxter start snapping at each other. I pulled Baxter back and, perhaps stupidly, got in between them. Instinct took over and I tried to assert myself as the leader and kept yelling "NO!" at the dog. 

We were along the fence of the house across the street from the dogs. The man in that house must have heard me, because he came out in his back yard and from the other side of the fence warned me that the younger dog was a "terror." He said he's told the owner he needs to keep those dogs secure in his backyard. I told him the younger dog was trying to get at Baxter and he said he'd call the owner. Of course, the owner wasn't home. After a few tense moments, the dogs walked off and went around the corner into the neighbor's front yard. I told the neighbor they had left and he suggested I go back the way I came before they came back. Well, they looped around his fence and a few moments later they were back behind us. The older dog paid us no mind, but the younger dog charged at Baxter again. I got between them, yelled some more and eventually they went back around the corner. This time, Baxter and I followed them, but where they turned around the corner, we kept going straight. Fortunately, we didn't see them again and we made it home safe and sound. 

Baxter is fine. I was a little shaken when the adrenaline wore off and I realized it could have been really really bad for us. 

Today, I drove back to the owner's house and talked to him through his Ring doorbell. I told him what had happened, and he said his son accidentally left the gate unlocked. He said the dogs are usually locked in the yard but every now and then they get out. I told him I wasn't about to go through that again and he needed to make sure the gate was locked. I told him if it happened again, I'd call Animal Control. And he said that was fine, that I wouldn't be the first person to call Animal Control on his dogs. And then the guy had the audacity to tell me he couldn't control if his dogs got out or not. I told him he could by keeping his damn gate locked. And he said he didn't appreciate me coming to his door to tell him how to run his house, to which I replied I would do just that when he and his dogs endanger me and my dog. 

Pretty frustrated and stressed right now. I guess we'll avoid going past that house from now on. But I still had some stress walking Baxter tonight. People like that guy shouldn't be allowed to own dogs. 

Needed to rant to some people who understand.