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Aggressive Dogs!!

OleBoy

Charter Member 2015
My family has lived here in our home for over 13 years. We live in a very rural area with little to no houses. Where we reside is 23 minutes (to give you an idea) from any emergency response getting here if needed. I have three neighbors. We were the newcomers to the area, then we got new neighbors that bought the home and property across the highway. As neighbors we got along well and helped each other out if we could. We socialized all the time. Two years ago my neighbors got a male pit bull mix pup to add to the rest of their pack of house dogs. As the dog was growing up he has grown to be a very muscular dog, and friendly whenever we went to the neighbors. Being a pup still he wanted to play whenever we arrived. He loved to jump up on you and want you to wrestle. His way of being playful. Problem was, jumping up on me and getting me all muddy was not going to fly. The owner told me to knee or kick the dog in the chest to make him stop. Due to no other method working, I did just that. After a few more visits the dog still had the urge to jump on people. I wanted nothing to do with it and told them unless they control their dog we would no longer visit.

Those neighbors have had a LOT of theft by people stealing things that the neighbors left outside or unlocked. Boat motors right off the back of the boat, batteries out of vehicles etc...you get the picture. We, as neighbors always watch out for one another, taking notice to any strange vehicles or people walking down the road. We are all heavily armed for if..and when the need arises as it has come to that situation.

Our property is completely fenced and posted no trespassing and beware of dogs We have six.
...Our fence keeps our animals secured with plenty of room to romp and play without any supervision. Exactly the way we want it to be as we love out pets and don't want them getting hurt or ran over by an unsuspected vehicle.

Back to the story

My kids use to catch the bus every morning, as the neighbor put up a little bus shack for their kids. The neighbors told us that our kids could also use the shack while waiting for the bus. It worked out very nice as the kids waited in a dry area until the bus came.

One day my wife walked across the street to get the mail out of our mailbox. Our mailbox has been right next to the entrance of our neighbors property for many years prior to us buying our home. Anyway, my wife walked to the mailbox, opened and went to reach for the mail. When the neighbors Pittbull lunged at my wife and attempted to bite. It scared the bejesus out of my wife even though the dog got her pant leg and not her leg itself. My wife called the neighbors and chewed their butt. Read them the riot act and told them to keep their dog on their property. Our mailbox is on state right-of-way.

Things eventually settled down and the troubles with the dog stopped. Mind you their property is not fenced.

About 2 months ago my kids were out waiting at the bus shack to catch the bus just like any other morning. The neighbors kids were there also. The the dog showed up. The first thing he did was approach my daughter with teeth showing aggressively and hair standing up. The dog got closer to my daughter and she clobbered it with her back pack full of books. The dog went away.

We called across the street to the neighbors, told them what had happened, and they again contained the dog until after the kids all got on the bus. That worked fine for a short while.

About 2 weeks ago my daughter had a friend spend the night. The next morning they all went across to the bus shack to catch the bus. Again the Pitbull showed aggression towards them and wanted to bite. Not only my son and daughter but my daughters friend also. My wife called the county animal enforcement and filed a complaint. The officer arrived and we filled out the standard forms and explained what had happened. The neighbors were told that they have to keep the dog on their property by tying it up, installing a fence (right, for 5 acres) or install an invisible fence and a shock collar on the dog to keep in inside those areas. That hasn't happened.

This Pitbull challenges us almost every time we go to get our mail. Afraid to turn our back as we walk away. I called the neighbor once again ( a waste of time as they felt they were right in their doings no matter what ) I firmly told them that IF their dog challenges me and get close enough for contact, I WILL bash it's skull in with my police baton. They just hung up on me. Night before last the Pitbull was very close as I got the mail out of the mailbox. He lunged towards me several times. The neighbor was out on her porch listening and watching. I then sternly told the dog to bring it on ( loud enough for the neighbor to hear ) I WILL drop you in your tracks! As I walked away I got across the street. Aggressive barking got closer as he stopped at my mailbox in some form of challenge. Again I stated, "come on you ***...come on!! The neighbor called the dog and he went to the house.

Last night I sent my daughter to the freezer out in the garage to get some carrots. I'll be damned, that Pitbull was on the other side of our fence, on our property, challenging my daughter. I grabbed my 30-06 and went out the door. Lucky for the dog he had enough sense to get out of there.

I got my camera and took pictures of the dogs tracks as whatever useful evidence it might be.

This morning I went out the back door of the house with my dogs. That Pitbull was on the back side of my fenced property..again challenging me and my dogs. Once again I got the camera and took pictures of the tracks. What would be better is to film this happening.

Our local laws state as follows

16.08.070. Dangerous dogs and related definitions


Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 16.08.070 through 16.08.100.
(1) "Potentially dangerous dog" means any dog that when unprovoked: (a) Inflicts bites on a human or a domestic animal either on public or private property, or (b) chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury, or to cause injury or otherwise to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals.
(2) "Dangerous dog" means any dog that (a) inflicts severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property, (b) kills a domestic animal without provocation while the dog is off the owner's property, or (c) has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a human, the owner having received notice of such and the dog again aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans.
(3) "Severe injury" means any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
(4) "Proper enclosure of a dangerous dog" means, while on the owner's property, a dangerous dog shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top, and shall also provide protection from the elements for the dog.
(5) "Animal control authority" means an entity acting alone or in concert with other local governmental units for enforcement of the animal control laws of the city, county, and state and the shelter and welfare of animals.
(6) "Animal control officer" means any individual employed, contracted with, or appointed by the animal control authority for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of this chapter or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, control of animals, or seizure and impoundment of animals, and includes any state or local law enforcement officer or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal.
(7) "Owner" means any person, firm, corporation, organization, or department possessing, harboring, keeping, having an interest in, or having control or custody of an animal.
Going based on the above, these are extremes that must be reached for legal action to be enforced. I don't want to hurt the dog. I would rather hurt the owner...lucratively. All I want is for the dog to be kept on the owners property to do the job he is given to do. Our local Sherriff and animal control has stated that the dog is allowed three strikes. That disfigurment, stitches, broken bones or facial lacerations that require plastic surgery are the time that the dog will be considered a dangerous dog!!! I don't want to go to those levels


At this point I am seriously thinking about opening the gate to my property to let the dog in. Once in...it would be all over. Problem solved. Though I would rather not go in that direction.


WHAT ARE MY CHOICES?
 
We've got a neighbor with two dogs they let run out, a German Shepard and what they claim is a coy-dog (coyote half breed). The GS was on our place up in the field near the pond and got shot by a shotgun a few weeks ago. They came down and wanted to know if we shot their dog. I told them that if I had shot their dog, I'd have used my deer rifle and he wouldn't have come home. I haven't seen the GS since.

But that coy-dog keeps coming around and they won't do a thing to contain it. We have Min Pins that we let out to "do their business" and they stay in our yard and I'm with them while they're out. We're rural too and have had problems with people moving out here and thinking they can just let their dogs run loose because it's in the country. One neighbor had to go to court and pay my wife's uncle almost $3000 for a registered black angus calf that her darling black lab that wouldn't hurt a flea killed. Tennessee has double indeminity for restitution if your dog kills hurts livestock.

Unless you catch that dog on your property, I don't think there's much you can do except keep calling animal control when it threatens you or your family. If you can catch it on your property, all bets are off.
 
I also live rurally, I run in the neighborhood several times a week... I'm on the lookout for Mountain Lions and bears but loose dogs are the main menace.

4 weeks ago I was bitten by a Doberman, he reached through his fence and got me while I was (wisely) waiting for his owner to come to the gate...

My 2 cents... Shoot the damn thing before it injures you, your children, or your well contained (read easy prey) animals.

pied
 
Let the owner of the other property ("neighbor" doesn't apply here) see you carrying a sidearm. If the dog approaches you, let that person see you draw that sidearm in self defence. You have every right to protect yourself, especially on your own land.
 
....For now, I'd keep it as diplomatic as possible. I would keep ALL authorities well informed (daily if possible) on this dog's activities that infringe on you and your family safety. If you need to be a pain in the butt with the local authorities..... that's fine,....continually keep them abreast of the situation. Your neighbor's don't seem to give two figs about their dog's comings and goings. Besides photos,...I'd keep a daily log on this pooch too.
 
My grandfather had a problem exactly like this once. The neighbors had a dog that ran free all of the time and became a problem and attempted to attack my grandfather while he was changing tires on a car, he beat the dog away with a tire iron and called animal services. He asked about what could be done about the dog and the answer was it could be killed if the owner was paid a reasonable amount for the dog, (this was in the 60's) he shot the dog and paid them the $75 for it and that was that.

If it attempts an attack again I would shoot it so nobody gets hurt, once somebody gets bitten by the dog it can't be undone.
 
I was in hopes that people would respond to my dilemma. As I am wanting to be civil about the whole ordeal. I have some serious thought to put into this..as to my actions to resolve it. Not an easy situation at all.

Thanks to everyone who replied thus far. Your input is appreciated
 
Hi OleBoy,

Have you tried non-lethal means such as pepper spray?

Personally I'm with the rest of the guys but if you want to remain diplomatic about it maybe if you shoot a jet of pepper spray in the dogs general direction a couple of times I'll get the message and buzz off.

I wouldn't walk this line for too long though. Not when there are children involved.

Could a vet not advice you on this?

Regards,
Stratobat
 
An update to the situation

The animal control officer went to my daughters friends house to review her statement and speak with her about the confrontation with the pit bull. The control officer called and told us that she was going to the neighbors house to see if they had the fence installed as per the agreement. Come to find out the fence was not installed. That's when the officer wrote them a warning citation and noted to the owners of the dog it was now the 2nd strike due to failure to comply to the previous agreement.

During the officers visit, she mentioned of the tape that the owners said they had of my kids intimidating their dog. The officer asked for the tape. Problem was it had nothing of my kids teasing the dog as the owner had mentioned but, showed their dogs hair standing up on it's back and showing teeth in aggression towards them as it walked up to them.

Also, my photos I took of the dogs tracks on my property were asked for to put in the complaint file. Since then I took things a step further. I have a camera now monitoring 24hr surveillance at the entrance to our property and a few other places. If the dog confronts us at our gate again in a challenging nature, it will be evidence used against the neighbors not containing the problem. If and when the pit bull is caught on tape on my property again, the dog will be euthanize'd by the Sheriffs department at the owners expense. IF I don't put it down myself, of which I was handed a legal document signed by the county stating I have that right if it comes with aggression or steps foot on my property again.

My thoughts, I just want the dog to stay on it's own property and the problem is over.
 
I have an aggressive dog... but he weighs 12 lbs. ( yorky-poo ).

But I keep him on a leash at all times outside, and inside I use a 'bark-off' device to control him when guests arrive. He is my responsibility, and I take it seriously, even though he is so small.

I do report dogs that are aggressive to either me, my family, or my dog if they are unrestrained.

Dick
 
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