I was thinking about the big dog, too - and how maybe you should report that the dog is off his chain often. Are there ordinances in your area? If you can't speak to the family directly, maybe you could just speak to the authorities. It isn't right for someone to ignore safety laws - I know that I have been badly bitten by dogs, and I am wary of dogs off leashes, so I am very sympathetic to your situation. I think that dog owners should realize that their dogs can be a possible threat to others - even if they don't think so.