This morning as I was taking Boomer out, our neighbor downstairs (who is Italian) stopped me and told me that I shouldn't be taking Boomer out to "use" the common area. His reasoning was because his child and our other neighbors child (who are both under the age of 2) use that area to play.
I told him I understood that reasoning, BUT we don't have a yard as we live on the second floor. He told me I could take him out on the street.
Here are my issues with this whole thing.
1. This neighbor and the other neighbor who have children, both have yards. Front and back yards to be exact. Is that not enough room for their children to play in?
2. Their children don't EVER play in the common area. Not once. So that excuse is non-valid in my mind. Besides the common area they are referring to is two 10X10 areas of dead, dry grass on either side of the entrance to the complex. It's not like I'm letting Boomer use their sandbox or a place where they have toys set-up.
3. How is Boomer going in the street any better? There are actually children who play in that street, so I'm not sure how that option is any better. Plus Boomer won't even go in the street. And I find it ridiculous that I should have to take my dog into the street everytime he has to go out.
4. I pick up after Boomer every, single time he goes out.
I admit it, I cried when I got back upstairs. Mainly because I was so frustrated. I already feel bad enough that Boomer doesn't have his own yard and now our neighbors are saying we can't let him use the common area?
Sean says I should go to housing on Tuesday and explain to them the situation and see what they have to say. I do plan on doing this. Housing has told us before that if we are picking up after him there is nothing they can say to us, but I'd prefer if they could call the landlord and have him put up a sign saying we can or something to that effect. I just don't want our neighbors hating us for the next three years, but I don't think I should have to give up using the common area either.
What do you ladies think? Am I being unreasonable? Or do I have a reason to be upset?
