A Reddit user turned to the community to ask if they were in the wrong after choosing not to forgive their neighbor for treating their family dog cruelly for years.
The Neighborhood Layout
The Original Poster (OP) has resided in the same home for 18 years and shares a neighborly proximity with a couple named “Stan and Maureen”, who are in their 50s.
A Sad Loss of a Pet
When OP moved in, her neighbors “Stan and Maureen” had a dog named Ginger. At the age of 16, Ginger fell ill and had to be put down just two months after OP adopted her puppy, Savannah.
She Had a Well Behaved Puppy
OP’s property was fenced in with a doggy door leading into it, which Savannah used to move around freely.
With Ginger’s less-than-perfect behavior, Stan would remark that Savannah was better-behaved and quieter.
Her Neighbor Disliked Her Dog
However, OP learned that Maureen disliked Savannah after Ginger’s passing.
OP tried to be understanding, acknowledging the difficulty of returning home after putting down a beloved pet and seeing a new puppy next door.
She Shouted at Them Over the Fence
OP observed that Maureen’s handling of the situation was poor as she frequently shouted at Savannah over the fence.
Maureen would become upset even if Savannah went outside while she was out, claiming that the dog would stare at her.
She Also Complained to Op About Her Children
Additionally, when OP’s children played with Savannah outside, Maureen complained that they were making too much noise.
She Sprayed the Dog With Her Hose
On one occasion, while OP was on the back deck with her children, Savannah was playing in the yard and approached the shared fence to investigate what Maureen was doing in her garden.
Maureen responded by spraying Savannah with a hose.
A Well-Deserved Lecture
In response, OP directed her children to go inside and reprimanded Maureen for her actions.
Maureen claimed she only wanted Savannah to move away from the fence, but OP pointed out that the dog was simply sitting there and there were other ways to handle the situation.
They Stopped Talking for 10 Years
Shortly after, a new fence was erected, and OP and her family ceased communication with Maureen.
Even after a decade, it was evident that Maureen still harbored ill feelings towards Savannah, making remarks and even admitting to having no valid reason to dislike the dog.
A New Puppy
OP and her family recently welcomed another dog, Harriet, into their home.
However, their other dog, Savannah, unexpectedly passed away a few weeks later, which was a difficult experience for everyone.
The Neighbor Also Gets a New Dog
One week after Savannah’s passing, Maureen adopted a new dog, Frankie, and immediately tried to resume conversations with OP’s family, acting as if nothing had occurred.
She Ignored Her Past Behavior
This behavior irritated OP, as just the week before, Maureen had been making negative comments about Savannah.
Now, Maureen seemed to want to ignore what had happened and move on.
Acting Like It Was All in the Past
Maureen always seemed to emerge outside whenever OP and her family were in their yard.
This would not have been an issue if Maureen did not attempt to distract Harriet or engage her in conversation.
She Didn’t Want to Talk With Her
When this occurred, OP would often take Harriet for walks to avoid Maureen.
One day, Maureen expressed her desire to join them on a walk, but OP was not in the mood to socialize and allowed Maureen to walk alone.
“You Were Cruel to My Dog for Years!”
Maureen questioned OP’s anger, to which OP responded with frustration, “You were cruel to Savannah for 10 years! I’m not going to forgive that just because she’s gone and you want to act friendly now.”
Maureen tried to explain that she always resented Savannah and that OP had to understand how she felt.
It Was Difficult to Move Past It
However, OP argued that although it was difficult to see Maureen with Frankie after Savannah’s death, they would never yell at or spray Frankie with a hose.
Suggesting They Move Past It
OP’s husband suggested that she move past the situation, as neither of them were planning on moving away.
OP responded by saying that while she would maintain a polite demeanor, she had no intention of being Maureen’s friend. OP’s husband believed that her attitude was petty, prompting OP to question if she was in the wrong.
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The post Her Neighbor Held a 10-Year Grudge Because She Got a New Dog, Now She Wants to Be Friends Again and Pretend Like It Didn’t Happen? first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
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Source: Reddit