Pets of the expanse!

I've lived here 29 years and have always had dogs that I walk through the neighborhood. These past few years houses have changed ownership and younger people have moved in and unfortunately that means it isn't as safe anymore. Not in terms of crime but they let their dogs run loose and that creates problems. One in particular is large and aggressive so we avoid that area entirely.

Pie is 12 and can't do the full 2 mile loop anymore and in any case, we've abbreviated her walk considerably to just stay the hell away from certain areas. When your dog is on a leash and encounters another dog anything can happen, you can't predict the behavior now matter how sweet you think your dog is. Between my hip and left shoulder I just don''t have the physical capacity to fend off dogs anymore and believe me, I've had to plenty and even been badly bitten several times as a result. I now carry a canister of bear spray for that reason. That and the fact we actually do have black bears wandering right through here, its not that uncommon.

Right down the road there's a blind turn that cars like to go through much too fast through, in fact there used to be (emphasis on used to be) a big tree there that absorbed a few that failed to negotiate the turn. So when we go through there I pull Pie way off to one side to get a clear look and stay out of the way.

Yesterday we're walking Pie at that spot and another couple came toward us in the opposite direction. They're in their 50s, small dumpy Chinese woman and her blubbery biker husband. He doesn't have a motorcycle but dresses like Easy Rider. For years at most its just been a quick hello but I'd never describe him as friendly. She had a tiny little dog on a very long lead. I pulled Pie way out of the way up on someone's lawn to avoid them because Pie was barking and snarling and clearly ON about that dog for dog reasons, I have no idea why. Because dogs, that's why.

She lets her dog out about 20' on the lead right across that blind turn and is headed directly toward Pie. I pulled her away and said 'please don't do that' and walked away pulling my dog clear . Talk about thoughtless. Suddenly he comes over and is pointing and ultra angry and fortunately I can't hear a word he said but he's pissed. Something about he can do what he wants yada yada yada. A fucking head case. Apparently I'm a bad person for trying to keep his dog from getting hurt. Prior to this in the past several weeks he's taken to yelling at us as we walk past his house and again, I can't really hear or understand him which is probably for the best. I gather he's concerned for the weed patch lawn he has, the house is a mess. We don't let her go on his lawn, period, so I have not a single clue what this guy's problem is. They've been there about 12 years and never said a word.

So, now when I take her for her morning constitutional I can't help but wonder what fun and games are in store. He can rage all he wants but now I have to worry if he'll actually do anything to my wife or my dog. If wants to take a poke at me believe me, FAFO but Jesus who needs that? I doubt it but fail to understand the sudden aggression. Maybe a little bear spray will help - and probably get me arrested or at least visited by the sheriff. WTF is it anymore? Has the whole turned just turned up the stupid dial or what?

Unfortunately it makes me think that years hence we won't be getting another dog as its become so *****d up. Or, maybe a very large dangerous one. Hmmmm, that's a thought.
 
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Those two stinkin' pusses have fallen in love with my Corvette seats. Fortunately they never, ever scratch furniture or anything like that but I'll have to peel them off when I put them back in, maybe call in a veterinary grief counselor. They spend entire days on them.

So, no furniture scratching ever plus I feed them twice a day on a schedule and pick up their food when they are done. They come running at meal times just like the dog. How I accomplished THAT next-level puss wrangling I don't know but it works :)

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I was walking my 20 month old 140 lb. Great Pyrenees down our road today and during that walk I realized just how huge this dog is...He was walking a few feet in front of me, never pulls on the leash but will gently tug when he wants to step up the pace...We walked past a few neighbors down the other end of the road, they were outside busy amongst themselves, but waved hellos to which I responded in kind...

And here is Aven, taking glances at them but strutting in full display, his mane proudly fluffed out, head up in guardian mode, he walked almost at my side but slightly ahead, his tail slightly curled and fluffed out, but up and alert...He never barked, he never stared, lots of side eyeing and slight turns of the head glancing and quickly facing back forward...lol

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'There Aren't Bad Pets, Only Bad Owners,' Explains Woman Out Walking Velociraptor

Lifestyle · Aug 7, 2026 · BabylonBee.com
Image for article: 'There Aren't Bad Pets, Only Bad Owners,' Explains Woman Out Walking Velociraptor



SOUTH BEND, IN — The debate over dangerous pets heated up again after a woman took her pet velociraptor out for a walk and declared, "There aren't any bad pets, only bad owners."

Sarah Orton took her pet velociraptor named Bandit around the neighborhood to prove her point that her happy dinosaur pal was perfectly safe due to being raised properly with lots of love, care, and good training. Critics have argued, however, that modern-day velociraptors have been "bred to kill" by the InGen Corporation, utilizing experimental cloning techniques that heavily rely on splicing with amphibian DNA.

"You can't bring that thing around my kids," said one concerned neighborhood mother. "These InGen-bred velociraptors are 200 pounds of pure muscle, tooth, and claw, and no one knows what they are capable of when kept around human beings."

"Oh, that's just anti-velociraptor propaganda," said Orton as her velociraptor began playing with some nearby children. "Raptors like Bandit are perfectly safe to be in the home, around children, and out in public anywhere. Anyone saying otherwise is basically a dinosaur racist."

When presented with facts on the annual number of velociraptor attacks on humans since they were brought back to life on Isla Nublar, Orton replied, "You don't want to be racist and discriminatory just because of some statistics or one-off events, do you?"

At publishing time, Bandit, the cute and cuddly velociraptor, had mauled 13 humans in the park, including Orton.
 
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