Cactus Village Community

“ALTERNATIVES TO CONFRONTATION”

Jul 20, 2003

Well, here we are, it?’s a New Year. We?’ve had a long day at work, been to the mall, the kids are fed and bathed and you?’re ready for a good nights?’ sleep - But, that darned dog won?’t shut up. It seems that it knows when you need some extra rest, some simple peace and quiet.

You?’d think that the resolution would be simple. The dog?’s owner will come out and quiet the dog and everything will be once again quiet and peaceful - yea, right! Reality is not always as kind to us as we would like to think we are entitled. While most animal owners are good, hard working, responsible people, there are a few that don?’t much care about your peace and quiet. They seem to be immune to the noise of their own animals. That?’s where the problem begins. How do we fix the situation?
There is a ?‘Barking Dog?’ phone number (602-534-2166) which will offer you some help - some choices. But this is Not the best First choice.

Meet your neighbor, face to face, and explain to them your perception of the problem - not in anger. If you go over there ?‘angry?’, all you?’re going to do is complicate the problem. They will become defensive and there goes any hope of reason. Most dog owners will be happy to work with you to resolve the problem.

They might consider keeping the dog inside, obedience training or even a ?‘Bark Collar?’. In any case, you?’ll be more apt to resolve the problem if you approach it in a calm. positive manner. If not, well then there is always mediation and, as a last resort, Small Claims court or the (ever-hateful) Law Suit.

Conflict Resolution is a skill (I do not often possess). I?’ll seek advise from the professionals and print tips in the future, in the hope of sparing us all some of the anger and frustration that surrounds it. For the time being stay as calm as you can, speak with the neighbor with which you have a problem, doing so in as positive a manner you can, and pray.

PAINT BALL GUNS
On October 19 we had 5 homes hit with paint ball gun. Damage was reported, but fortunately, no one was hurt. Since then, several other attacks have occurred. Enough is enough. Let?’s stop the foolishness.

PLEASE PARENTS, if your child has one of these ?‘weapons?’, be sure you know when they are taking it out of the home. THESE ARE WEAPONS, CAPABLE OF INJURY and EVEN DEATH, IF MISUSED. They are not a toy...It is clear that one or more of our youth are not responsible enough to posess such a weapon. . . ☻