The topic brought up an issue from my own life, a difficult story for me to tell.
Content warning: harm to a pet
Living in Florida I was well aware of the stories of shooting at strangers at the door. My roommate and I didn't know the neighbors too well. We'd never spoken to them, but noticed that there were often loud arguments and that the husband was clearly drunk a lot. Mostly we just steered clear.
The neighbor's house had two things that were the source of trouble on this occasion: a backyard above-ground pool, and a small dog. We worked late shift, so it was common for us to be outside chatting quietly late at night while my roommate smoked. Must have been about 2 in the morning, we faintly heard sounds of splashing in the pool. Naturally worried that their pet was having a mishap, we discussed what to do. We did not feel comfortable pounding on their door at 2AM. So instead we took what we thought was a responsible action, phoning the police emergency line.
They took the report, and we waited. Growing increasingly uneasy as the splashing sounds continued. We tried calling again. Apparently there was a large fight elsewhere in the neighborhood that was tying up most police resources. By the time a squad car finally arrived to alert the homeowners, it was too late.
I heard the splashing stop before the police could arrive. I heard her scream in grief when she found out her pet didn't make it. That will haunt me forever. Because we were too scared of our neighbors to knock on a door for an emergency in the middle of the night. I've carried guilt for that ever since.
Years later the loudmouth drunk husband was gone and I was on better terms with the same neighbor. So things eventually smoothed over, but I remember anyway.
