Free to Be You and Me

Is it me, or are their some disturbing individuals out there?

For example, there's the neighbor who has a 3-year-old kid and a pit bull I affectionately call the Hound of Hell. So far they seem to have managed to keep the dog and the kid apart, (no doubt saving the kid from severe mangling) but I live in dread of the day they get sloppy.

Anyway, I'm hard at work at my computer around 1 AM Saturday morning, and I hear this pounding from outside. I look out my kitchen window to see my neighbor jury-rigging some sort of containment system for the dog that consists of a metal shed, a piece of plywood, his city garbage can and what looks like a javelin. Can't tell what's being pounded into what, but the dog is going apeshit. Also can't help thinking he should bring the dog in the house and put the kid out in the shed, but I chalk that solution up to sleep deprivation.

Whatever way I look at it, my neighbor seems to be making some poor choices in regard to his child and animal care. But there's nothing specific I could point out to, say, the cops or animal control, so what can I do but wait and watch?

No wonder I can't sleep nights.