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Reiss’s Pieces
Malcolm and I have lived in our house for over 44 years and have always used the same dirt road to get to it. And except for a few additions, everything is almost the same. Except, of course, for one thing. It would appear that the tourists to the area and even new residents have found our road and decided that it is the number one place to walk and ride their bikes. This didn’t happen over night, but what has happened very quickly is a change in attitude of those who now use the road for everything except to find their way home!
Actually, about an hour ago, I had to make a quick trip down town and as I drove down the road, in front of me were four adults on bicycles, and they were riding right down the center of the road. I didn’t know if they heard me approaching or not, so I slowed to a crawl but they still didn’t move. Finally, I thought that I should give a tap on my horn so they would know I was right there and then they could move to the side. I tapped, tooted and they gave me the finger instead of moving! What really made me mad was that I didn’t honk like a crazy person or rev my motor, I just wanted to be sure that they knew that I was behind them and wanted to go past. Instead I got “the bird” and they were annoyed that their tranquil ride was being made to move.
What has happened to our world? These bicyclers were not the only ones who exhibit such rude and stupid behavior on my road. Those who walk on this road also appear to have no idea that they are on a public thoroughfare and should use a little caution and brains.
Probably 50 to 60% of the walkers also have their dogs with them. And because they are in Vermont, they assume that there is no leash law and that their dogs can run free and do whatever they want, wherever they want. Most of the poop on our front lawn isn’t from our 2 dogs or my “grand”dogs, but is left there by the dogs of visitors who use no common sense or restraint.
A number of years ago, I heard someone shrieking in front of our house. I was upstairs so I looked out my bedroom window and saw a woman screaming at our dog Oliver and throwing stones at him. He, of course, was on our lawn because we have an electric fence and he wears a collar. When I shouted out and asked her what in the world she thought she was doing, she told me that he was barking at her and she was going to teach him a lesson. Not only that, she was going to report us to the dog catcher because he always barked at her and she found it annoying.
I can’t tell you exactly what I said to her because I can’t remember, but I know it couldn’t have been very nice. I also called the dog catcher and he laughed and said that she complained about lots of dogs, all the time, and to ignore her threats. Just who in the world did she think she was? My dog was on his own property and she was taunting him, repeatedly. Again, I don’t remember what I said but I am sure it contained the words, “ Go back to where you belong,” or some such.
We have had an electric fence for years because we don’t want our dogs to go into the road and annoy anyone and we also don’t want them to get hurt. But it appears that those who use our road to exercise themselves and their dogs don’t feel the same way. Vermont means freedom and that means that a visiting dog can run on and around anyone’s property. And if this property contains dogs, well, the dogs better be careful. Does this make any sense to you? The piles of poop are bad enough but a strange dog antagonizing the dogs who live there is just too much.
I do not want to even consider making laws that would prohibit the walkers or the bikers from using my road. But what I would like is someone to let them know that although they are in Vermont, good manners and behaviors are still appreciated. And the law in Waitsfield is that you should keep your dog under your control and that probably means, leashed. And when your dog runs up on my lawn and starts a confrontation with one of my dogs, don’t worry about how my dog will behave, worry about me!
What has happened in our world today that good manners and behaviors have gone the way of the Dodo and the Carrier pigeon? We are teaching our children that they are not responsible for anything and that everything that they do and say is someone else’s fault. This was wrong when I was young and is wrong now. And as adults, we should be role models for our children on how to behave, not how to win by being a real jerk.
If you know someone who walks on a residential dirt road, remind them that cars are bigger, heavier and can do a lot of damage when they hit you. And if they feel it necessary to bring their dog, keep it leashed. Also a barking dog, on its own property is not trying to annoy you, it is just doing its job. And if you don’t like it, walk in a park that has posted rules and regulations... And be sure and pick up your poop because if you don’t you will get a fine that will shock the ******** out of you.!
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