So, on Saturday night I took my dog Tiny out to pee one last time before bed. Suddenly, I heard a rushing sound and I found myself with my dog in my arms. Tiny had leaped into my arms because he was afraid of the great big dog that was rushing at him. Talk about trusting me- I was a bit afraid of that dog, and I’m not afraid of dogs in general.

But this one, y’all, he was rushing at us, teeth bared, growling. Yikes. I reacted without thinking, I kicked at the dog (didn’t connect, thankfully- I would feel bad about kicking a dog) and shouted, "NO! NO! NO! GO HOME!"

Just then I heard my neighbor across the street. "Buddy," she said languidly. "Come here." Then, "Is that my dog?" I sighed a shaky sigh of relief. It was Victoria, my neighbor across the street and her dog Buddy, who is not usually mean.

"Yeah," I said, "It’s Buddy. He doesn’t seem to be too cool with my dog being in my own yard." Again, she said, "Buddy," and Buddy dashed back across the street to Victoria. I shouted back across the street and said, "Would you mind leashing him while he’s out here? This isn’t the first time he’s come over here." But, I thought, this was the first time he’s tried to attack my dog.

Fortunately, ever since Saturday Victoria’s kept her dog on a leash when she’s out there with him. But I just don’t get people that go outside with their dogs but don’t put them on a leash. Especially in my neighborhood where people drive way too fast and you could lose your pet in a second. This episode almost makes me want to fence my yard in. Almost- my yard is irregularly shaped and on a steep hill and it would be a nightmare to fence. But man, that would make taking my dog out a million times easier.