‘She doesn't own the streets and I will walk whatever street I want’: Dog parent refuses to give up pup’s favorite walking route despite a resident’s protests and keeps walking through her neighborhood

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Nov 7, 2025 8:00 AM EST

Nothing tests suburban law and order like a dog walk that pokes a local's sense of control.

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  • AITA for continuing to walk my dog in a neighborhood I don't live in even though I was asked not to by one of the residents?

    You don't own the streets.
    via Truecreatives

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  •  You wander through a neighborhood, some lady is still shaken up about something your previous dog did way back, and now you’re stuck on her personal blacklist. She greets every stroll past her place like she’s head of a one-person HOA, ready to remind you this is her street in spirit, if not in law.

  • A few years back I was walking my dog in a nearby neighborhood and a dog that lived in that neighborhood who was off leash came running up to my dog and my dog nipped him.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • I apologized to the owner and she shrugged it off and didn't seem upset. My dog then passed away and I got another similar looking dog.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • When I walked that dog through the neighborhood the woman was angry and told me not to bring my dog into her neighborhood ever again since her dog was traumatized and changed by the encounter with my previous dog.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • I told her this is a new dog that I've got so her dog shouldn't be traumatized by him.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • Cheezburger Image 10571494400
    via StockMediaSeller

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • You could pick any route, but as soon as someone tries to dictate which sidewalk is off limits, it plants the urge to come back like clockwork. There’s always that neighbor who takes it as a personal betrayal if her dog can’t have closure from that one drama three years ago. Meanwhile, your new mutt just wants a sniff and a sunbeam, but every lap past her mailbox turns into amateur theater. She’s got an endless supply of warnings and zero interest in letting things go.

  • She told me to walk my dog in my own neighborhood and stay out of her neighborhood.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • For the most part I will walk my dog in my own neighborhood, but I will sometimes (maybe once a month) walk through her neighborhood.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • When she saw me walking by she came out of the house screaming at me and said I was an a hole for continuing to walk through her neighborhood even after she told me I can't.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • I flipped her the bird and told her she doesn't own the streets and I will walk whatever street I want.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • Cheezburger Image 10571494912
    via Dusan Petkovic

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I suppose it is kind of passive-aggressive of me to continue to walk in her neighborhood since I have many options regarding where I can walk my dog, but I feel she is wrong to tell me I can't walk on the street in front of her house.
    via PangolinStriking2471

  • You wave, she yells, you keep walking because giving her control over public pavement feels like giving up to internet comment sections. Letting other people’s need for control shape a simple walk is one more thing that’ll drive you crazy if you let it. Sometimes the only way to win is to keep strolling, ignore the porch saga, and appreciate how a little stubbornness can turn dog walking into a master class in not giving in to someone else's power trip.

  • Am I being an a hole? What would you do?
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • 5PeeBeejay5 I would exclusively walk my dog in her neighborhood. Heck I might organize a group of friends. for communal dog walks...
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • OP PangolinStriking2471 Lol! Don't encourage me!!
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • BitterDeep78 Are you driving to get to this neighborhood or is just a different walking route than you normally take? If its in walking distance and just along a different path, id say it is still your neighborhood, just.not your street/block in the neighborhood and she can kick rocks. NTA
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • OP PangolinStriking2471 I can easily walk to it in less than 10 minutes.... You do have a point. It is my neighborhood-just not my street!
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • mind_the_umlaut NTA. Where was this? You can walk a leashed dog just about anywhere public (where dogs are not specifically forbidden like wildlife sanctuaries) as long as you pick up after him.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • OP PangolinStriking2471 This was a public street in a town where I own property. It's not my neighborhood since my house is actually in another neighborhood nearby. This woman has "no trespassing" signs all over her little yard and I don't come anywhere near her property-I was walking past on the opposite side of the street. Her dog began barking wildly at mine and my dog began barking right back so I picked up the pace to quickly get out of there when she came out yelling at me. I don't routine
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • hellabob420 Her dog was loose, her dogs 'trauma' is her fault and her problem. Walk your pooch where you like.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • sirhackenslash I would be walking my dog past her house at least twice a day for the rest of eternity. I might even start a dog walking service
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • thegeoffey 1. If her dog was loose, it's her fault it wasn't under control and ran up to your dog (in my city, Dallas, it's always the fault of the person with the off leash dog - even at a dog park) 2. She isn't queen of her neighborhood and doesn't have the right to exile people from it. If it's a public street, why can't you walk you dog there? NTA
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • parodytx Of course NTA. I'd have my phone ready and if she comes out screaming and especially if she threatens you simply record her and call the police and demand a report be filed. You are absolutely allowed to walk on any public street you wish as long as your dog is leashed and under your control.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • Where WeretheAdults NTA. As long as you stay on public access, she has exactly zero say on where you and your dog are. My town has leash laws. Her dog getting nipped is her own fault.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • akcmommy Who cares even if she's driving across town to walk in this neighborhood? Public street, public sidewalk. So long as she's not breaking any laws, she's free to walk wherever the public is allowed.
    via PangolinStriking2471
  • Pikes Pique NTA, unless it's a gated. community with a sign saying no trespassers. Otherwise, it's not "her" neighborhood. As a practical matter, I'd walk on the other side of the street or skip her street entirely.
    via PangolinStriking2471

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