Aggressive dogs - what to do?

Okay, I figured I'd bring this up as an actual question, since any pet/animal forums see a lot of posts like this...

Say there's an aggressive dog in your neighbourhood, what do you do? Why?

I live across the street from an old lady that sells coke. No, seriously, now... everybody in town, including the cops, knows about her and what she does. Aside from that, it's not really a bad neighbourhood.
She has a fence around her house, and used to have a dog, Wicca. She looked like a great dane mix, possibly with boxer (I knew someone else in town that had a great dane/boxer, so it makes sense that she could have been another of the pups from the litter) and like the other one I knew (who was VERY friendly) she was dark red/orange and black brindle. She was VERY aggressive, but she would back down to anybody that knew to yell at her... kind of expected from a coke-house guard dog, right? As you could imagine, she was an absolutely gorgeous dog. I loved her, thought she was amazing... but hated having her in my neighbourhood, especially after she learned to jump a SIX FOOT FENCE. I was mostly scared for my dog, if she got out while I wasn't home and tried to hurt him, because I knew that I just had to yell at her to get her to stop.

So, she'd jump the fence. Being a housewife, and VERY concerned/caring towards strangers, I got to the point that I would watch out my window, right next to the front door, every time I heard her barking. I'd stand there with one hand on the doorknob, just waiting to see if I had to go flying out the front door to yell at her, and I usually did. The people she tried to attack ranged from kids walking home from school to older folks in walkers or wheelchairs. One boy was luky that he had a skateboard with him, to block her when she charged, because it took me a few seconds to get to the door (I heard barking and screaming, and went flying across my house to the front door). He jumped back when my dog came running out to greet him, and I asked if he was okay and everything before he wandered off (the lady had Wicca back in the yard by this point). One day, I heard a guy yelling, and it was a middle-aged man walking two golden labs. He was trying to kick her away from his dogs, because she was trying to attack them. Once again, I ran out, grabbed her collar and shuffled her back through the gate. There were several similar instances, and even one where I got home from work, heard her barking (as soon as I got in the door) and waited at the window. This time, it was an old lady, must have been around 80 years old, clinging to her walker with a little white fluffball on a retractable leash. As soon as I saw Wicca jump against the fence, I went flying out the door to stop her, and managed to run right between her and the old lady as she was, once again, charging at an innocent victim. She jumped up, and I shoved my knee into her chest (it's my auto-response when dogs jump, to put one knee up and knock them back) and once again shuffled her back into the gate.

I still felt bad when I called the cops on her, and they just gave the lady a warning. But a few other neighbours must have also called the cops, because it wasn't long before the bylaw officer and one of the vets were over there, shuffling Wicca into the back of a truck. I would have offered to take her in, if she hadn't harmed anyone... but I also didn't want her hurting Kodos, and he ALWAYS comes first. I don't know if she was put down or put up for adoption in another town (we don't have an SPCA here). She WAS very well-trained, so I couldn't see a problem with placing her in another home... but she was also very well-trained as an attack dog, so they might have just put her down.

Anyway, just a little story (tell yours, too) to go along with the poll. So, what would you do? And perhaps the story will somewhat change your mind about "sparing the dog's life"... I didn't WANT to report her, I didn't WANT to see her put down (I don't know if she was) but I also didn't want to see anyone else get attacked, and I sure as hell can't play 'neighbourhood watch' all the time, I couldn't ALWAYS be there to stand in her way when she tried to attack someone.

 

I would warn them to take action before calling anyone official. At the end of the day, it's about public safety, so I wouldn't hesitate to call the RSPCA/Police if the dog was attacking somebody. There was a story on the BBC website today about a 4 year old boy being mauled by an American Pitbull. The lad had to have over 200 stitches to his face.

 

Xanax Burgers

 

i think the spca should be called there is no reason for dogs or cats to be out of hand. I know its not the dogs fault but still if a child was in the way there would be a law suit going to court. not fair for either parties....

 

I live in a 8 plex and there are supposed to be no dogs i know that landlords can't help that but the aptments arew way to small for dogs period where i'm located. The other month the girl in the front of the building was walking (the dog lives in the back) and the dog attacked her while she was walking from her car... When we (my husband and I) lived below the dog we heard (sickem) get em get her get em. Thats so not right. Finally the police were involved and thre Spca and the dog had bitten 2 other people. My dad was over and the dog had lunged at him as well. my dad said to the owner whats he going to do his response was "waiting for you to do whatever your going to do" my dad said he better not touch me ( i had informed my dad prior to his visit he bit) And than when i went to my car my husband was coming out of our door the guys wife bent down into the screen door and yelled out BITCH to me because i got them evicted and they have to inconviently move because of their aggressive dog. I told my husband hes like their so stupid. They let their dog poop all over our tires theres 10 cars in the parking lot and pee on our BBQ finally we had to call the landlord like 50 times and he's evicted them . And i get BITCH out of it. I think the SPCA should be MORE involved and the humane soc that way there HAPPY families get a chance to be involved w/ disgusting families like the one i just discribed

Thanks for reading such a long story
Teri

 

A friend of mine was riding his bike through a neighborhood not far from his home. He was in the street, not the sidewalk. A shepherd mix jumped the fence of its yard and took him off the bike and attacked him. Now this is not a small man we're talking about. John's about 6'3", but the dog didn't even hesitate. John was hospitalized and in a wheelchair for over a month with severe leg and arm injuries. He couldn't work and had to move back to the Southwest so his folks could take care of him while he was recuperating.

When the cops came to pick up the dog (any dog attack that severe on public property is a death sentence for the dog), the woman who owned the dog tried to get the dog to attack the cops! But unfortunately, only the dog was put down. The cops didn't even charge her.

I'm an exotic animal fan. Every once in a while legislation comes up in my home state trying to ban all "exotic" animals as being a hazard to public safety. But I did some research and discovered that when you compare the ratio of dogs to tigers in the US, a person is actually no more likely to be hospitalized by an incident with a tiger than with a dog. Yep. The mortality level is about double with tiger attacks, but considering the numbers of dogs vs tigers, and how dangerous everyone thinks tigers are, it's rather shocking to think that you're as likely to be attacked if you encounter "man's best friend" than you are a Bengal tiger.

 

Heh, well... it isn't always the best way to solve things. But honestly, we *almost* considered taking such action for coke-dealer Granny's dog.
One day she was out just as my husband's cousin Robbie was pulling up to the house. She'd just jumped the fence to go after a pedestrian. Robbie was going to hit her with his truck. We considered various ways to off her because she was such a threat to the entire neighbourhood... shooting, poison, and a few other ways that we could have killed her (and had access to the things to do it with).
Our one HUGE problem was that, as a coke dealer's dog, if we had killed her we'd have a lot of people after us. So I just kept calling the cops and complaining, and they kept me (and other neighbours that called about her) completely anonymous.
Fortunately, "Granny" just got raided and is probably going to be moving somewhere soon, though probably just somewhere else in town so the cops won't know where she's living... for a few months, anyway. We'll be glad to have her out of the neighbourhood... I think she just got a new rottie pup (or a rottie mix, it's the right size and colours), and I hear the poor thing whining and crying ALL the time.

 

Find your local underground dogfighting ring, and you can probably enter the dog into exciting world of dogfighting.

 

In our area leashes, rabies shots and rabies tags are required. I have nothing against Pit Bulls who are sweet and well controlled. Our next door neighor has had them, and they were all sweet animals.

But, a year ago a huge Pit Bull got into our acre. We have a fence, he must have jumped it. He BIT my dog, who was a puppy at the time, and was acting very aggresive and scary. I got my pup into the house, called the Vet (who said he was protected as my dog has had rabies vaccines) and then called Animal Control. They told ME to "confront the dog, leash it, and bring it to us." I freaked out. I am NOT going to approach ANY unknown dog, much less a HUGE Pit who is acting aggresive and BIT my dog. I reminded them that they HAD to come out for aggresive animals, so they eventually showed up after several calls and after)the dog had gone into my neighbor's yard and was after his Golden Retrieiver. He refused to call the Animal Control (some people won't take action no matter what, cowards) they realized the dog had no tags, no collar and looked a little underweight.

I have no idea what happened to this dog. But people need to be responsible for their animals. I don't beleive certian breeds should be outlawed, but if you decide to get a known Agggresive Strong dog, take care of it, feed it, keep in IN your yard, vaccinate it, tag it, collar it, and if it gets out of the yard LOOK for it.

My assumption is that the dog belonged to one of the neighbors who may have been illegal aliens. My guess is they never bothered to get that dog any Vet care, no tags, no collar, nothing. I also am supposing they never showed up at the Control Shelter (where the dog would be held for Rabies Watch for 10 days) if the owners don't show up, and the dog has a history of aggression, they cannot be adopted out.

That dog could have made someone a good pet. Irresponsible people condemned that dog to death.

I am glad my dog was vaccinated, and we got his bite taken care of. Never was able to find the "owners" of the Pit to pay for the Vet bills for our puppy, though. Assholes.

 

Animal control told YOU to confront/try to leash the dog?!
Okay, don't get me wrong. If it was my own yard, or even a neighbour that called or came over for help, even when it comes down to my husband or myself, I would be the one to take on an aggressive dog to protect myself/my dog, husband and roommate... or a neighbour (if it was in their yard, not mine). I can't tell you how many times I heard barking, watched the window, and went running out the front door to grab Wicca (that was the dog across the street's real name...) and take her back to her fence.

But still. Animal control asking you to try to leash an aggressive dog? That's just plain ridiculous. Especially if you TOLD THEM that it had bitten your puppy, and/or if they were informed that you have KIDS around that could have easily been bitten instead of the pup. I'd probably either call the cops and see if they would deal with it, or tell them, "If you don't come get this thing and it doesn't leave, I'm going to kill it." If it's aggressive and you claim self-defense, what are they going to do?

On a lighter note, I came home once to find a massive pit bull (purebred American pit bull Terrier, no Staffie) sitting on my doorstep. As I walked towards the door (I don't back down) the thing CHARGED across the yard and started jumping on me.. nipping and licking at my hands with that huge pittie-smile on it's face, tail wagging like it had been cooped up for years and I just grabbed a leash and said "walk?" or something. I went inside, put my stuff down, and then went back out. It was still there. This thing sat PERFECT on the doorstep, watched me mow the lawn and sweep the driveway/walk ways, everything. It even played with my dog at the time (I lived in Florida with my dad) and they got along REALLY well. We guessed that it was an escaped hog hunter's companion/hunting buddy. Unfortunately, we couldn't keep/adopt it (it had lost it's collar w/ tags and everything) because those stupid fucking laws on homeowner's insurance covering people/families with "dangerous breeds". This was possibly one of the friendlist, most well-trained strays I've ever come across.

 

Your sick!! trust someone to come up with that comment

 

I agree i dont think pitbulls should be a banned breed their loving dogs just like all the other breeds!

I think that people over esstimate certan dogs because of their size and strengh!