Right I could get flamed for this by anyone who has had a nuisance or negligent neighbour and thinks that I am one of those, but here goes.
The background to this is as follows.
We moved into a new build village in February.
We rent because (not that I should feel the need to explain I know) my dh has his own company and needs another year of accounts before we can buy.
We and our neighbours moved in at the same time and through the same letting agent/manager, they are lovely.
We are the middle of 5 houses who have dogs.
We did not have a dog when we moved in.
This is a very noisy street.
Next door the other way (owners) have very very screamy babies ( I think they're using some form of self sooth technique which clearly isn't working) and a yappy dog who goes mental every time I go into my garden.
I have NEVER complained about their noise as the lady seems to have alot on her plate with the dc and dog etc and I figure they must hear us living our ives so let them live theirs.
Next door (owners) have complained to letting agent about next door (tenants) parking and got them in trouble. (my reason for pointing out owner rentor will become clear lol)
The man next door makes me feel uncomfortable as he comments on everything. 'There's a smudge on your windscreen' 'Your living room curtains were left open last night' 'there have been alot of different cars on your drive this week haven't there' I feel watched. I try to be friendly but as a couple hey just seem awkward, but I figure thats just the way it is. The lady next door 'accidently added me on Facebook after searching for me (how I don't know) and then deleted immediately.
ANYWAY back to the issue.
We recently got a puppy :-) The puppy trainer had concerns that we weren't leaving her enough or for long enough as I work from home atm, but i will be going back to the office.
He pointed out that so long as she had food, water and toys and was safe, we should try leaving her for a couple of 3 hours stints a day, ready for when I return to the office. So we did, for a couple of days and all was well. Life officially back!!
At the weekend my dh and I were child free and left her for around three hours in the afternoon from 12.30, returning to find her asleep. We had a nap (getting old) and a wash and decided to go for a drink with friends around 9.30 returning at 12.30 am, again finding her asleep. During the evening while we were at home a dog was barking round the back of the houses, ours was playing with us!
Our letting agent has forwarded a complaint to us which states that we
'left at 12.30 pm and returned at 12.30am.' (we returned mid afternoon until 9.30pm.
'That our dog was barking for 12 hours straight and prevented them from eating in the Garden at Dinner time' We were home with her at that time, she certainly wasn't barking.
'That they are sick of having to complain about tenants and the homeowners association will act if they cant find appropriate people'
'we have discussed this with other neighbours' (it wasn't discussed with our other direct neighbours who rent)
'what sort of normal person would leave an animal in such warm heat'
'we are considering calling the RSPCA'
'yours, a frustrated homeowner'
Now my husband just finds this laughable, but I think its more serious. We are in the process of adopting and I worry as to what a report however unfounded to the RSPCA will affect this.
We have a clean, tidy home, we don't do anything that would disturb them or ruin the look of the street, their home, we don't have parties or listen to loud music. Goodness we are boring!! In short, we are not nuisance neighbours.
Its really upsetting to think that we have been 'discussed' with anyone.
Of course the puppy will have barked for a few minutes when we left, but no more than anyone else's does on that street everytime a car pulls up or in the case of their dog, someone pegs their washing out!
Its worrying that he know the time we initially went out and the time we ultimately came in.
What do I do?
What if this escalates into bigger complaints? I don't want to be reviled by neighbours, this was not our dog barking and we do not neglect anyone in our home.