How a Dog Attack Led to an Unexpected Friendship

How a Dog Attack Led to an Unexpected Friendship

House and pet sitting in San Miguel de Allende always brings a dose of charm and the unexpected. This time, I was staying in a quiet neighborhood watching over a lovely home, for a wonderful couple, and their sweet dog, Frida. Before leaving, the homeowners had given me a heads-up about the house, neighborhood, neighbors, their car, and out of some of the issues they thought I may face.

I didn’t think much of it—after all, I was just there temporarily, walking Frida through the cobblestone streets and enjoying the rhythm of daily life.

But then came Mother's Day.

Frida and I were on our usual walk when a large, unfamiliar dog suddenly came charging at us. My heart leapt, but instinct kicked in—I jumped between Frida and the dog. After a tense few seconds, it backed off. Shaken but not hurt, we finished our walk.

When we returned, I scanned the street carefully. No sign of the dog. I leaned in to unlock the gate—and that’s when I felt it. A low growl. I turned to find the same dog coming toward me again, only this time it was angry. Before I could react, it lunged and clamped onto my shirt, yanking me off balance. As I twisted to face it, it bit into my shoe and my foot, then ripped my shoe clean off and shook it like a chew toy.

While the dog was distracted, I managed to get Frida safely inside the gate. I turned to see it drop my shoe and continue barking at me, hair raised. I grabbed my phone, captured some quick video, and watched it retreat into an open gate—across the street.

I took a breath and texted the homeowners, asking for the neighbor’s contact info. “I’m afraid You might not get a response,” they warned. “I want to try and also to assume positive intent,” I replied. I used Google Translate to craft a message:

I let him know who I was and what happened (in a very objective way) as well as offering “I watched the dog go in to your open gate and assume you did not know it was open”

To my surprise, the neighbor responded. He was deeply apologetic, explaining he and his wife had been at work and a young girl was watching their kids. He assured me he’d spoken with her and that it wouldn’t happen again. He even asked if there was anything he could do.

I thanked him for his kind and compassionate response, and—since he had asked—I suggested something that felt healing:

“I’d love to meet you and your dog in person so I’m not afraid of her, and so she knows I’m not a threat.”

He agreed, and we planned to meet that afternoon.

But, SMA had more surprises in store.

After a beautiful afternoon in town, I returned to the parking lot to retrieve my car. It was locked in. Thankfully, I knew the lot owner and reached out. Her husband came to unlock the gate. I breathed a sigh of relief—until the car wouldn’t start. Again.

I had needed a jump earlier that week, so I assumed it was another battery issue. But no luck this time. I messaged the neighbor explaining the delay and said I’d be taking a taxi instead.

He was gracious. When I arrived, he greeted me with a big smile and a warm handshake. Again, he apologized and reassured me that the situation was being handled. He brought out the dog—who, to my surprise, looked sheepish, almost like she knew she’d crossed a line. I slowly approached her. She wagged nervously, and after a moment, we both relaxed.

The neighbor introduced me to his family and thanked me for the respectful way I handled the situation. Then, he offered something I didn’t expect:

“Let me help you with the car tomorrow.”

And he did. The next morning, he met me early. After inspecting the car, he determined the problem wasn’t just the battery—it was the alternator and transmission. He got it running just long enough for me to drive it back to the house. The next day, he took it to a shop, had it diagnosed and fixed, and delivered it back to my doorstep. The price? Unbelievably fair.

A few days ago, I was warned about the neighbors.

Now, we’re making plans to meet weekly to practice English and Spanish together.

What began with fear and misunderstanding turned into mutual respect, kindness, and connection.

And thanks to a dog, a shoe, and a car that refused to start, I made a new friend in San Miguel.