Bad dog owners ruin it for the rest of us.

[Rastoff]

No vicious dog law necessary. Simply charge the owner with the serious crime he committed; involuntary manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. This is just like gun control. No need to attack the tool, enforce the already existing law on the owner.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Chihuahua. Shih tzu.

 

[Bat Guano]

We've come a helluva long way from "a boy and his dog" days. And I don't mean that in a good way.

 

[Fishslayer]

We've come a helluva long way from "a boy and his dog" days. And I don't mean that in a good way.

Yup... That evil Pitbull Peetey woulda been rounded up quick smart.... for teh chi'druhn, ya know...

 

[chaparrito]

Tweakers renting across the creek had two pits that thought it was amusing to dig under my lamb pasture fence. Then they met the Anatolians. Rest in pieces, pits.

 

[msinc]

Here is how I solve this problem...had a neighbor with a chow. This dog was very aggressive. At the time I had my 84 year old WWII veteran father living with us and a 2 year old baby girl. This clown let the dog run at large all the time.
About the second time it chased me in my own house I paid him a little visit. I said, "I'm not stupid enough to tell you that you now have to tie up your dog, I already know you wont do it any way." To which he laughs and says "yeah, you're right, the dog was here before you." So I tell him, "here is what we are gonna do....when your dog don't come home...and you cant find it anywhere.......you know I got him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Never saw the dog again. I actually thought that this moron got rid of the dog. To his credit the dog was not seen running loose again. End of the big mystery when he moved away...he kept the dog under his house in the crawl space and wouldn't let it out.
Now that is 4th stage hillbilly....close the dog up under the house instead of building it a kennel. Needless to say, he wasn't accused of being very intelligent.

 

[CoMF]

Yup... That evil Pitbull Peetey woulda been rounded up quick smart.... for teh chi'druhn, ya know...

Miss puppy had a run in with a off-leash pittie once. It was awful, and it happened so quickly I barely had time to react. This vicious pit bull ran over to assault her with kisses, and repeatedly smacked her in the face with her whip-like tail. It took all of my strength to pull this clearly aggressive dog away from mine. The worst was yet to come, however, because this killing machine then performed a terrifying play bow followed by a sharp "Woof!" The incident culminated with several terrorizing run-by attempts at playing "catch me if you can!" This vicious dog was clearly out for blood that day.

Needless to say, Miss Puppy was not amused and completely traumatized by this horrific incident. We need breed-specific legislation NOW! Think of the Shiba Inus! Er, I mean, children!

Actually, aside from some of the weirdest growling I've ever heard (it sounded like something you'd expect to come out of a tiny Pomeranian), my dog got over the whole thing rather quickly once the pit bull gave up with a whimper and moped away.

Later, I ended up retrieving miss pittie for her owner. Without even needing to "bribe" her with treats, she actually came to me when called (unlike some OTHER dog who I'm STILL working on recall with to this day ), and cowered while giving me the saddest look when I reached down to put a lead on her, as if to say: "I'm so sorry! Am I in trouble? Please don't hurt me!" All she was guilty of was bad manners because she was never trained properly and allowed to run off-leash. I hate irresponsible owners.

 

[finesse_r]

he kept the dog under his house in the crawl space and wouldn't let it out.

Not as bad as tying a dog or chaining a dog up. Still you can't have a dog that chases people or other animals off it's own property. Nothing wrong with keeping a dog inside, but chaining a dog is about the worst thing you can do to one.

 

[CoMF]

Not as bad as tying a dog or chaining a dog up. Still you can't have a dog that chases people or other animals off it's own property. Nothing wrong with keeping a dog inside, but chaining a dog is about the worst thing you can do to one.

If memory serves correctly, there are actually two seperately introduced bills in the PA legislature tightening state laws regarding outside tethering. They include provisions such as no choke/prong collars, adequate shelter for the dog, no outside tethering in inclement weather conditions, specific times when outside tethering is barred (10 p.m. - 6 a.m.), and so on.

A back yard is no dogsitter, and bored dogs inevitably create their own "fun" activities like digging craters in your lawn, barking at anything that moves, and finding ways to escape.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

We've come a helluva long way from "a boy and his dog" days. And I don't mean that in a good way.

Good point.

When I was a kid we lived in San Jose CA. No leash laws back then. My dog Tiger, a 60lb mutt, went everywhere with me. If another dog came along they either got along or they had a fight. Kinda like us kids. It wasn't so bad. Things seemed to work out without all the laws. Just like what I described above, the real issue was havering my dog on a leash dealing with an untethered dog. Back in the day, Tiger woould have messed around with the dog for bit, looked up to see where I was, then ran to catch up. No problem.

 

[da gimp]

heck. I agree with the OP's notion of an unrestrained and aggressive dog running loose.... But the problem I do have is him returning repeatedly to that same neighborhood, phone/camera in hand... looking for a confrontation to document... We used to tell people to avoid neighborhoods on their daily jogs/walks , or other lawful activities where known thugs hung out.

It matters not on who is right or wrong when a trip to the ER for emergency surgery is needed because someone sserted their right to go anywhere at anytime... then looked for sympathy when they were assaulted...after they knew that it was a very dangerous area to frequent... yes we arrested the perp(s) & made sure he/they were prosecuted... but it did little to heal up their severely broken bones or a gunshot/stabbing when they were mugged, or beaten up just for intruding in the perp's territory...

My point is to avoid the problem area... there are other places to walk your pup... and your eagerness to mix it up with this dog's owner will do you little good if your pup is mauled or if you are mauled by the dog or his owner....Some folks often wonder why they seem to always draw trouble...

 

[OMCHamlin]

Good point.

When I was a kid we lived in San Jose CA. No leash laws back then. My dog Tiger, a 60lb mutt, went everywhere with me. If another dog came along they either got along or they had a fight. Kinda like us kids. It wasn't so bad. Things seemed to work out without all the laws. Just like what I described above, the real issue was havering my dog on a leash dealing with an untethered dog. Back in the day, Tiger woould have messed around with the dog for bit, looked up to see where I was, then ran to catch up. No problem.

It was like that where (and when) I was a kid too. My neighbors were all good working folks, they all had dogs, they all let them run loose. No big deal. No lawsuits, no cops involved, no "I'll shoot your dog" none of that BS. Geeze, I even got my young, dumb self bit once or twice, and got over it with a little soap and water, Merthiolate and a band-aid... Imagine? Of course, my pop let me ride in the back of his bubble back Barracuda and even have a sip of his beer, right out of the can (opened with a church key), so really, I shouldn't even be alive...

Frankly, I don't much care for society any more, even the best of good old American folk seemed to have slid downhill some. My uncle was not the first to say "Dogs are better then people", but he sure was right, and even more so now...

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

It was like that where (and when) I was a kid too. My neighbors were all good working folks, they all had dogs, they all let them run loose. No big deal. No lawsuits, no cops involved, no "I'll shoot your dog" none of that BS. Geeze, I even got my young, dumb self bit once or twice, and got over it with a little soap and water, Merthiolate and a band-aid... Imagine? Of course, my pop let me ride in the back of his bubble back Barracuda and even have a sip of his beer, right out of the can (opened with a church key), so really, I shouldn't even be alive...

Right. Its all part of the sterilization and "bubble wrap" (borrowed term from JSR III) laws the do-gooders have foisted upon society.

 

[CoMF]

heck. I agree with the OP's notion of an unrestrained and aggressive dog running loose.... But the problem I do have is him returning repeatedly to that same neighborhood, phone/camera in hand... looking for a confrontation to document...

Hi there. If you'll allow me, I'd like to put things into context.

My "neighborhood" is a private rural community with only one public easement going into it. Believe me, if I lived downtown and had the option of taking another street, I would just to avoid the headache of dealing with a neighbor who just doesn't "get it." Unfortunately, that road is the only way I can access the one of the main drags where I live, and my dog needs lots of exercize and stimulation to avoid being a "problem child" while I'm at work.

The reason I chose to start using a camera is 1) I cannot sustain a leash law violation complaint without proper evidence; an affidavit isn't enough, and 2) the camera is my "silent witness" in case any other shenanigans occur. When I walk my dog with it rolling, I don't antagonize; I move along, eyes ahead, and keep my mouth shut, and miss puppy does the same.

I also want to point out that having your dog under control at all times is the law in my state. These are Pennsylvania's rules, not mine. The pertinent statute says:

§ 459-305. Confinement and housing of dogs not part of a kennel
(a) Confinement and control.-- It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to fail to keep at all times the dog in any of the following manners:
(1) confined within the premises of the owner;
(2) firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other device so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is secured; or
(3) under the reasonable control of some person, or when engaged in lawful hunting, exhibition, performance events or field training.

"Verbal" leashes aren't "reasonable control" unless a dog has 100% recall, and I've yet to meet one who does. Especially when they're "caught up" in a moment.

Now, I know some people say it's not a big deal if they let their dog run free. Fine by me. What you do is your business. When an unleashed "friendly" dog starts running up to mine and she digs her heels in when I'm trying to just move along, then it's a problem. When she starts letting an off-leash "friendly" dog know she doesn't appreciate having her space entered like that, it becomes an even bigger problem. Luckily, she's not very leash reactive. Yet. And I prefer to keep it that way.

I always welcome opportunities to socialize my dog, but I prefer that it happen under controlled conditions so that all parties involved can intervene before things get out of hand. When an off-leash dog runs up to my leashed dog and she stops because she doesn't know if she's about to be attacked, that's not "controlled." If a rowdy teenager or group of teenagers started running up to you on the street, it'd raise your hackles too, would it not?

I want to avoid problems and the court system. I do not pine for the day when an irresponsible dog owner flips out on me because my normally well-behaved dog gave their "friendly" dog a nip or, even worse, stitches because it scared her and shoved its nose in her face one too many times. All I have to do if I get sued is prove in court that my dog was leashed and theirs wasn't, and that I was walking on a public easement, not trespassing. When they inevitably lose, I'll have likely made an enemy for life. Nobody wins in this scenario, and that's not what I want.

TL;DR version: I'm not doing this to stir the pot. I'm doing this because I want to be left alone. Especially since I'm not breaking the law or going out of my way to be a nuisance.

 

[da gimp]

Guy, we had a Sch II Dobe import police dog that would have earned his SCh III ranking if I campaigned him... his manners and obedience were nearly perfect off lead... but I still kept him on a 6' leather lead.. unless he was on some tracking duty where at times I used a 30' lead...

Where we live is a town of less than 1800 people, not counting the cemetaries... & we have friends in a small town Mendon , Missouri (near Swan Lake National Goose refuge, google the town & refuge) near the family farms that is way less than that... there are always ways to avoid problem areas....choose the other roads... make friends with other neighbors on other streets & tell them why you are using their streets to walk your pup... publc opinion in a small town carries a huge amount of weight... that you will be glad you have, if you are forced to shoot the aggressive dog............

Our youngest daughter & her guy have 2 part pit dogs that are love bugs...they live in a town of over 18,000 people... mandatory leash/tether for all pets........ to the best of our knowledge neither was ever in a fight after 5-6 weeks old...

there is a schmuk who brings his always off lead aggressive golden retriever down their street nearly every week/or more often... where the mutt runs thru my daughter's yard... it always confronts their two dogs, which are always on a lead or tether... so far no fighting has occurred... but my 7 yr old grand daughter isn't allowed to walk her two well trained dogs because this schmuck might have his aggressive dog running loose & we don't want her in the middle of a dog fight...so I am sympathetic to your plight...

But take your pup on a different route... stay heeled if you are CCW... and let the folks on your new route meet and get to know your pup & explain why you are using their streets now... instead of the ones that are handier.......... Sir this is excellent advice that I hope you heed..........

 

[CoMF]

Conflict avoidance is always good advice, and I do apply and appreciate it, however as I said I am constrained to use this road as it's the only exit to the main roads. Walking her along our private roads would get boring for her pretty quick, because they're short and still close to the neighbor's house, so complete avoidance is impossible. The only other "streets" available to me would require snake chaps and the daily ritual of thoroughly checking my dog for ticks before I bring her back inside. Is this really the only way to "keep the peace"?

You should also know that I have started putting a small "buffer zone" between us and said neighbor's house while I walk her past. The only problem is it requires me to walk on private property (which I have permission to be on) for a short distance. It's not "taking a different street," but it seems to be achieving the desired result for now. And please don't take this as a personal attack, but should that stop working, what would you have me do?

 

[CoMF]

Just thought I'd give you folks an update. The neighbor and I have reached a somewhat amicable resolution; he's agreed to try to remember to keep his dog indoors during the times we walk Miss Puppy in return for us agreeing not to stop or dawdle while walking past his house. Easy enough, since that's what I've already been doing. He's also agreed not to raise a stink in the event that his dog happens to be out and runs up to her, and I have to momentarily refocus my dog's attention before moving on. Seems fair. She seems to be getting a little better about that (i.e. she's not refusing to budge as much), and I haven't been having to deal with his dog at all lately.

I can turn a blind eye to a scofflaw so long as his problem doesn't become my problem.

 

[Rastoff]

That doesn't solve the problem. What about other people who want to walk by?

I applaud your efforts to resolve this at the lowest level. That is the best way to handle things and is how a community should work. I just hope he comes to the realization that his dog is a problem for more than just you.

I lost a pet of 15 years to a dog that wasn't on a leash. That dog came in my back yard. Until the owner complies by keeping the dog contained, it's still not resolved.

 

[CoMF]

That doesn't solve the problem. What about other people who want to walk by?

I applaud your efforts to resolve this at the lowest level. That is the best way to handle things and is how a community should work. I just hope he comes to the realization that his dog is a problem for more than just you.

There's a possibility he may now finally "get it." I haven't encountered his dog at all since we worked this out. Our other neighbors (some of whom are members of my family) may have expressed their disapproval of his disregard for others, but I can't confirm it.

For now, things are peaceful, so I don't want to escalate them unless it's necessary.

I lost a pet of 15 years to a dog that wasn't on a leash. That dog came in my back yard. Until the owner complies by keeping the dog contained, it's still not resolved.

No one should ever have to be in fear for their pet's life. I almost lost my previous dog to an unleashed one who was "stalking" him in our own yard. I was lucky enough to catch sight of it and scare it off before something happened. Never saw it again after that. Had he gotten killed, this ordeal would hit pretty close to home for me too.

I agree this isn't an "optimal" solution, and if our neighbor's dog at any time displayed signs of aggression or viciousness, there would've been an entirely different outcome. Fortunately, his dog's only guilty of bad manners, so I had to tailor my approach accordingly.

I really do hope he "gets it" now. I don't want to see him learn the hard way when his "friendly" dog runs up to a not-so friendly dog, or gets shot by a hunter who doesn't appreciate "free range" dogs during deer season.