My home has become a source of constant anxiety
I genuinely feel emotionally wrecked right now and need to vent.
My upstairs neighbors’ dog has now lunged at me and my dog THREE separate times. The third incident happened while I was sitting on my own patio.
I heard the dog upstairs barking/yelping to be let out, and instead of checking whether I was already outside, they opened the door and let the dog out unleashed and unattended. It immediately came charging down at us.
What’s upsetting is that they are fully aware this dog is reactive and not friendly toward other dogs, yet they still continue letting it outside with absolutely no regard for the fact that I live directly downstairs in a shared backyard space in a major city.
I do not know this dog. And honestly, it was terrifying.
A close friend of mine was mauled by a dog, so maybe I’m more sensitive to this than some people would be, but I genuinely am not interested in becoming a lesson in why people should responsibly manage reactive dogs.
After the third incident, I finally called animal control because I honestly didn’t know what else to do anymore. To their credit, they responded quickly and already left a notice for the tenants.
Ever since then, things have felt extremely tense and uncomfortable. I can’t fully prove retaliation, so I’m trying to stay factual, but the timing of several things afterward has left me deeply unsettled.
My work phone number and work email were suddenly added to healthcare marketplace and moving quote sites, and I’m now getting flooded daily with calls, texts, and emails. I’m talking 40+ interruptions a day at this point, and it’s actively affecting my ability to work.
My landlord told me he will not renew my lease and that it would probably be better for me to move because the situation has become so toxic.
I just have this extreme guilt, but if not me- I am so afraid a child or senior in this incident. I just don’t know why I have extreme guilt. Everyone saw this video of the dog lunging and saying I’m valid but idk. They got in my head.
I feel anxious constantly, my nervous system feels shot, and I’ve become so uncomfortable there that I left to go stay back home because I genuinely could not emotionally handle being in the apartment anymore- I’m trying to move… I know it’s the best move.
I’m just really sad and overwhelmed right now.