We have an elderly female pitbull with a bad eye problem in one eye up the street. She's named Vanessa ... &nbnp; ;-)   she's a total snugglebunny but between her conventionally fierce appearance (and she's brindle, too) and that icky looking eye, most people won't pet her.

Interesting about the more, er, interactive nature of your current neighborhood. I wonder what the difference in demographics is.