For sure!! Thanks girl!

Yes, definitely make sure your babies aren't home alone when those maintenance people come back. It just makes me so ANGRY when people look at our dogs and see $$$. To us, they are priceless because of our love for them and the unconditional love we get in return, not because of what they cost.

I agree it does sound suspicious, but I would like to say something as a wife of a maint. person. My husband has worked as a maint man for almost 30 years at the local university apartments. He has seen about everything in the apartments he has taken care of. Not all maintanence people are untrustworthy. Most are honest people making a living. Once a student asked that he be the only maint man allowed in their apt. cause she did not trust the others. My dh might ask what type of animal is in an apt (they are not allowed though) and might even ask other questions about the pet, mostly to be friendly. Please do not be putting all maint men in the same book. Take precautions and be there if repairs are needed. If you are going to have them in, do not leave laptops and other items like that in plain sight. I agree with putting your pets in other rooms. We did this recently when we hat att uverse installed.

I wasn't referring to ALL maint. people, just the OP's maint. people given his curiousity in her dog. I was just giving a personal example as to how it can happen. I'm sure there are good people out there, I don't disagree with that.

I would be worried too! They seem very sketchy! Is there any way they can break into your house? I'd be worried that they steal the dog when you're not there...

We have known these maintance guys, we have been at the condos for a while now. Dh tslked to them and everything. I dont think they are going to do anything when we are not home. Maybe if i called for a maintance call and we werent there... MAYBE they would try, but I dont know I just worry. They do not have permission in our house wothout us there, and DH talked to them...so I think we will be ok.

Sorry for typos, on my phone!

I don't think anyone was talking about all people . Your husband is probably very trustworthy and I am sure there are a lot more that are then that are not I mean trustworthy :D With any profession you got your good and your bad ...

Follow your instincts.

Sorry, I am touchy about dh's job. He gets no respect from most tenants. But they could not do without him and his crew. Some people, when they find out what he does for a living, turns their nose up at him. He is underpaid and overworked. The stories he can tell about the tenants and the things they do.

I don't believe it was the OP intention in maligning maintenance employees in general, her fear is for her dog. She does live in the Southern California area and the maintenace people she was speaking too appear to be hispanic (and no offense because that is my heritage). Southern California is a high drug traffic area, L.A area not far from the border. Yorkies are very expensive here and do bring a high price and are stolen from peoples homes very regularly just because of their value.

I don't know why its always an issue. Someone always has to pick apart a thread.

My main thing was I was scared that the maintance guys would try to take my dog when I wasn't home, By the way they were acting that's how it seemed to me. I wasn't saying all maintance people were bad in general, I was talking about these two that were in my condo. If they were cable guys or carpet cleaners it wouldnt have mattered. I know there is bad people all over the world. Dh does construction and he had a job at a dealership, well he wanted his truck washed and someone stole his Ipod and GPS, does that mean I think all the car wash guys are bad, No but I know some are, and giving the chance they would take something that doesnt belong to them.

Asking me how much I paid for my Yorkie, isnt a " friendly gesture" to me. It is being nosiy and knowing that Yorkies are $$ it's not something I would ask a stranger unless I had cruel intentions. A friendly converstation would have been " how old is your dog".. or something like that. As soon as he asked how much I paid for him was my Red flag, and I know others would agree.

You don't have to stick up for your DH in this thread, MY thread had nothing to do with "maintance workers" it had to do with the two men that I was dealing with.

I don't think she was referring to you. I believe she was referring to me because she quoted my post specifically...see my post above.

J, no worries. I completely understand :)

Still, people don't need to be so sensitve.

It's just like they say when you think you are being followed turn around and face the person and scream. The worst that can happen is the person meant you no harm and thinks you are crazy.

Change your lock and don't give a key copy to the condo association. We did that when we lived in an apartment complex and they raised a big fuss and we told them we didn't care. We thought we knew the maintenance guys but we came home one night and our door was standing open. Both locks were unlocked. Nothing was taken and we had our pup with us but it was obvious someone with a key did it and got scared off or something. Don't take a chance.

I am totally sympathetic to what you say. I do not judge people by what they do for a living , the color of their skin, their religion, etc. but by how they act and what they actually do. I sometimes think if the people with jobs like your husband went on strike for a week or two they might get some respect and people might see their jobs are a lot more important than previously thought.

With that in mind I don't think anyone meant to demean handymen in general. I will openly admit I kind of have a thing against Wall St. traders and Hedge Fund Mgrs. right now. I'm covering my ears now in preparation for the barrage of replies.

I really did not intend to make anyone upset with my post. As I said I am just touchy about it. I will be honest the sentence "I wouldn't put it past the maint. people for a minute! " by ORLNURSE was what leapt out at me. I did not mean to attack anyone either. I just wanted to point out not to auto assume it was the maintanence men. Anyone in the office has keys to all the homes. SORRY!

As I also sd do not take chances. I just sd to my daughter the other day, locks only keep out honest people. If I came home and one of my dogs were missing I would be crazed. Fortunetly most of our neighbors are family. When we have workers in for any reason, my hubby is always here for the appt. So please forgive me.

You definity have every reason to be concerned, you wouldn't let these people alone with your children either and unfortunatly some people will do anything for money. Have you considered voicing your concerns to management at your complex or telling them that you overheard them talking about your dog that way? The office may need a client to voice a complaint before they can take action....just a thought to help save other dogs who's owners may not realize who they are letting in their home.

I understand, I see what you are saying BUT there is bad in everyone it doesn't matter what they do. I wasn't trying to offend your DH in what he does. I was upset and mad about the two men in general. Any job in my eye ( if it is legal) deserves respect, bc no matter what it is you are out there working, and not sitting at home collecting welfare or w.i.c.

So lets just forgive and forget here. Me, personally have mood swings b/c of my pain, ( i am working on that) so I never mean to be mean to anyone or hurt anyones feelings! We are a family here!


On another note, DH talked to the office and talked to the maintance guys. Dh said his honest opinion is they wont try anything. Before all this happened the morning of DH was leaving and ran into the manintace guys coming to our place ( i was sleeping) DH gave the guy 20 bucks and said thanks the maintance guy said " no you don't have to do that" and DH said no putting a water heater in is hard work.. just get lunch on me!

So DH doesn't think they will do anything. Maybe I was over doing it, but it just didnt sound right.. I don't know.. I am reallllly overprotected over my baby (pnut) he is my everything, if I were to loose him I would a mess! So the thought of someone taking him urked me, that is all!!

I think you did the right thing do not let them in if you are not there. I don't let Patches out of sight.




Patches & Winnie