Sorry this will be long. For background I live next door to a couple with a very yappy dog, it barks constantly for no reason and they have never made an effort to stop it or apologise to anyone. The more time has gone on, the harder it has been to live with it. For example my children are woken during the night by its barking, and again very early in the morning cutting their sleep short as they can’t get back to sleep before school. At the end of my tether I banged on the wall each time it barked, passive aggressive of me I know, but my anger got the better of me. We were sitting outside having a picnic recently and the dog was barking and growling at us, I swore loudly and they eventually took it inside slamming the door behind them. This has been going on for years. I have never spoken to them about it as we don’t talk or see each other due to work timing/school runs mainly, and I know it would become very aggressive if I did (I’m a single mum and the ‘man’ is very intimidating and nasty to women, his wife included)
I was speaking to my mum on the phone recently, I didn’t know they were sat outside listening but they heard me tell her how I am fed up hearing their dog and not getting any sleep. Since then they have been blasting music, slamming doors and talking very loudly to disturb us even more. They know I am working from home at the moment which makes it even harder. I feel like I’ve provoked them by ‘starting it’ and reacting to their dog.
Now, we live on a really small road where all the neighbours are cliquey and get involved in each others’ lives. I’m not part of that as I’m a private person and stick to hellos and good mornings. I witnessed the man from next door talking about me to 4 other neighbours, calling me names for not being happy with their dogs’ barking and how selfish I am. Apparently they are now having to muzzle their dog from fear they will be reported and lose their dog. The neighbours were discussing how vile I am for putting them in this situation and how they should make my life hell for revenge. I’m gobsmacked that they think it’s acceptable for people to be disturbed by a barking dog when the owner has the option to train said dog and not disturb anyone. Suddenly it’s my fault. I’m now second guessing myself and wondering if it’s something people are supposed to accept as part of living in a busy city, and that it counts as day to day life? That I’m the problem for being disturbed as opposed to them being at fault for causing a disturbance. I’m really hurt that people are discussing me like this when all I want is for us to have peace in the evenings and mornings without hours of barking. I have no issue with normal, reasonable day time noise I certainly don’t expect silence from them or anyone. I’m worried it will make our life here unbearable and that we will be treated badly for it. I’m now considering moving house despite being happy here (before this) as it’s social housing it will mean organising a mutual exchange but there isn’t any property available within 10 miles. My children have just started a new school this week so I’m not happy to uproot them again. Can anyone give any advice on how to block out the gossiping or anything I should do now? I don’t feel comfortable speaking to them and I certainly wouldn’t apologise now. A lady I usually say hello to has blanked me this morning so I’m feeling pretty down. Tia