r/raleigh • u/Unusual-Horse-7709 • 28d ago

Question/Recommendation Anyone else live very close to a large homeless camp?

I hope this post doesn't get too controversial, but it's getting to a point where I no longer want to work in my garden when I'm home alone. More people have been approaching our home lately. Me, my partner, and even his mom on separate occasions have been asked for things. We've had multiple things stolen, mostly small, but with kids things get left outside.

Do you have a homeless camp within a block or two of your home, and if so, how do you deal with it?

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u/Unusual-Horse-7709 28d ago

I wish I could. I looked up electric fences and various rescues for such breeds. I just can't afford another pet.

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u/FroyoStatus9876 28d ago

The dog doesn’t have to be real, maybe just get a sign that says something like Beware: Large Dog on Premises

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u/Zippered_Nana 27d ago

And a sound of barking

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u/katikaboom 27d ago

Could you maybe foster, or even just dog sit for fosters? If you foster through a rescue they'll pay for the vet and food, pretty much everything but water. Dog sitting for dogs currently being fostered would allow for you to be able to handle ones that are tested around children. 

And my experience is you don't need to look for only big dogs, unless you want company in the garden. Smaller yappy dogs are still a deterant. 

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u/Unusual-Horse-7709 27d ago

I have thought about it. My 19 yo foster cat is sponsored. I have another very senior cat that's deaf and is absolutely terrified of dogs, and a very bossy and active senior cat that's fine around dogs. Maybe after the two oldest go, a dog would work. It's just not realistic for us atm.

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u/katikaboom 27d ago

More than fair. A device that has a motion detector and then has a recording of a dog barking might help for a little while. I would recommend pepper spray or something that you can easily use but also keep away from your littles when you don't need it for when you're out in your yard, especially if you feel unsafe. 

I'm sorry you're having to grapple with this. It's clear you empathize with the unhoused and don't want to have this conversation, but your family has to be your priority. 

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u/Unusual-Horse-7709 27d ago

I do have the foam spray but haven't felt the need for it. The kids want to make something that barks and shakes the bushes around the house. They "watched" home alone for ideas lol. Thankfully TV doesn't really hold their attention so they quickly moved onto designing and brainstorming ideas. They don't like that a porch pirate took so many of "their" things.