My print column about a family of six that is being told that two have to go is up.
The place: Sharon Hill
The family: James Patterson, Donna Lauria and their four Doberman Pinschers.
James and Donna are selling their home instead making a Sophie's Choice.
Their neighbor, Shelli Towey weighed in this morning with this e-mail:
Hi Gil,
Just wanted to say a few words about the family with the four dobies. I live next door to James, Donna, Romy and the other three boys. I own the adjoining twin. When I found out my new neighbors were going to have 4 dogs my only concern was the back yard wasn't fenced and I worried as I have cats. The new fence went up before they moved in.
I have to tell you that I feel really bad for this family. They are great neighbors and these dogs don't bother me. They are quiet, well cared for and you don't even know they are there. They are never left outside unattended and James is out there cleaning up after them as soon as they go back in the house. I don't feel anyone should complain about something if it doesn't affect them. There are lots of dogs in our town that might get free, run in traffic or just bark a lot.
I feel for this family. They where looking for a nice place to live and thought they had found one. I wish they didn't have to move.
I've lived in this house for over 20 years and was so happy to have nice people move in next door.
PS. My cats don't seem to mind the dogs either!! They find them entertaining to watch!
Moving out because of dogs?
ReplyDeleteDog-gone dumb.
Just "sell" the dogs to their neighbors for a dollar. Then have the dogs over all the time for "play dates" and "dog sitting".
By all accounts the dogs haven't bothered anyone. So the complainant must just be a dog-hater or a whiny stickler for rules. In either case, NIMBYs need to MTOFB and learn to STFU.
ReplyDeleteBREEDISTS BE DAMNED! You can bet your pension 9what's left of it) that if there were four Poodles or Cocker Spaniels, this would never be an issue.
ReplyDeleteI have owned and loved Doberman Pinschers for 20 years. The are an immensely loveable, highly-intelligent, clean and very trainable breed. This Sharon Hill couple certainly sounds as though they have done the work in order to make their canine kids good neighbors. And it is an utter shame that they have to move because of some moronic and ignorant RAT of a neighbor who was too COWARDLY to have a mature Q&A with the couple.
They don't have to move, pea-brains!
ReplyDeleteBesides fake selling their dogs to a neighbor, the cost of moving far exceeds taking the township to court.
With the right councilmen in their pockets, they could get a waiver or change the ordinance. Councilmen in Delco come cheaper than moving.
Hell, they could probably get a ballot question to overturn the ordinance.
Dumber than their dogs if they move.
why would they want to stay? Even if the boro decided they could stay,would you want to stay?Also,I wouldn't want to make the choice about which one of my pets i would keep! Pets are not meant to be disposable!They trust us to take care of them and love them!
ReplyDeletePets are disposable. Bought. Sold. Dropped off at the pound. Buried in backyard or flushed down toilets.
ReplyDeleteI guess if an advance civilization tried to determine the species in charge, they might pick dogs because they have people following them and picking up their poop.
I love dogs as much as anyone else. I've owned pound dogs for the past 40yrs, until the passing of my last dog 4 yrs ago. Now I spoil other peoples dogs. Max is my all time favorite, and I would take that dog in a heartbeat. But four dogs? I have a problem with someone who lives in the city, and for some reason needs to own four Dobermans. It's stupid and self indulgent. I might even be able to understand it if these dogs were rescued from a pound. You know, the desire to save an animal from certain death. But living in the city, and purchasing four Dobermans from a breeder? Are these people nuts? I could even give them a pass on this if they lived on a farm, and had several acres. And I dont care how well trained these animals are, there is always the danger of a pack mentality, where the dogs go after another animal, a neighbor, or their owners. Then there is the issue of someone who needs to buy a breed of dog, known to be agressive. People who buy Pit Bulls, Dobermans, and Rots quite often buy these dogs for the wrong reasons. These people need to take some of the money that they spend on their pets, to get counceling. How many of us would want to live next door to four Dobermans, Pit Bulls or Rotweilers? The people we should be feeling sorry for, are the people in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI said pets are not meant to be disposable.If you don't like animals don't get them.But If the people who live near the dogs don't mind them,why should other people care. I guess some people are bitter with their lives and just need to make others unhappy. It looks to me like the neighbors on either side of the family have no issues with the dogs being there,so why should anyone else Some.people are too cold hearted.
ReplyDeleteAnon - These people are doing exactly the right thing in this situation. Looking for another place to live. They were rejected from one neighborhood because they had to many dogs. Common sense should have told them to check Sharon Hill code before buying there. The other option would be to contest the code, but I don't think the poeple of Sharon Hill are going to go for that. Some people are to cold hearted? What about people who buy large dogs and keep them in cramped conditions? I think thats cold hearted. The codes are there for a reason. If you make an exception for one family, get ready for a big problem.
ReplyDeletesome people are bitter with their lives and just need to make others unhappy.
ReplyDeleteThis guy used to post here. His initials are DDD He was mad at our president for hurting him feelings. There're others...
I'd likely be bitter any unhappy if I'd wasted my time reading Bob's rant up there. Lol...
Who's Randal think he's kidding? He reads and hangs onto every word that I write. I just wish he would learn how to spell.
ReplyDelete