shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
This morning my 9-year-old, 15-pound rat terrier was taking me on his daily morning patrol of the perimeter--I live in an apartment complex for seniors that is surrounded by large grassy areas and big, fine oak and maple trees, and Moose loves to scout all the way around it a couple of times a day.
There is a young family renting a house on one corner of the property (same owners as the apartments), and they have two large dogs in a tiny fenced yard from which they can escape. One is a young male hound mix, probably fifty pounds. Used to be an amiable pup. The other, which joined the family later and is very aggressive toward small dogs, is a big female Lab-pit cross. poorly socialized, which is pure poison and is teaching the pup bad habits. Usually these animals aren't out when I walk Moose, but this morning they were and I didn't know it in time. I veered away to a park-like area on our property where my dog likes to make his AM deposits.
No joy--the hound (thank God it wasn't the female Lab-pit mix) shot out under the fence, hit Moose at a run, knocked him on his back, and was full-length on top of him and looking as if he was going for the throat.
I walk with an aluminum cane, and began belting the hound with it. Until the third lick, a solid whack on the head, it wasn't making an impression; but with the head blow the pup rolled on his back in a submissive position, then headed for home as his master came after him. I headed away with Moose, and the kid called after me, "Sorry about that, Mike." Over my shoulder I answered, "You need to be, that's not acceptable." I might have been more receptive of his apology if this had been the first time there had been a problem, but it's not. I've asked the kid to fix the fence and he says the owners won't let him do it. Yeah, right. The female dog viciously attacked a neighbor's little Pomeranian a few weeks ago, then came after Moose and me as we stepped inside, and tried to get into my apartment. On that occasion I told the owner of the mutt that if she had gotten into my place I'd have shot her.
If the hound hadn't given up when he did I'd have shot him, but in the melee Moose would have been in danger. I hate to hit a dog, and would feel terrible about killing someone's pet, but I will protect my little guy.
The family has apparently been told they have to move because of the dogs, but the young man thinks we shouldn't walk our dogs on our property when his are out. After this fracas this morning, when I was almost home the kid came after me, furious, saying, "You know what happens when you walk your dog past my fence!" I told him to fix the fence, got the usual answer, reminded him that the law here says the owner must control his dogs, and walked away. Then I talked to the manager and had her leave a message for one of the apartment owners to call me.
I'd hate to call animal control, with the likelihood that the hound pup would be put down. I think he could be salvaged if they got him away from the Lab-pit. But if they aren't out of here soon, and if there is any recurrence of this, I won't hesitate. I'd rather do that, given a choice, than shoot another man's dog and agitate my elderly neighbors.
There is a young family renting a house on one corner of the property (same owners as the apartments), and they have two large dogs in a tiny fenced yard from which they can escape. One is a young male hound mix, probably fifty pounds. Used to be an amiable pup. The other, which joined the family later and is very aggressive toward small dogs, is a big female Lab-pit cross. poorly socialized, which is pure poison and is teaching the pup bad habits. Usually these animals aren't out when I walk Moose, but this morning they were and I didn't know it in time. I veered away to a park-like area on our property where my dog likes to make his AM deposits.
No joy--the hound (thank God it wasn't the female Lab-pit mix) shot out under the fence, hit Moose at a run, knocked him on his back, and was full-length on top of him and looking as if he was going for the throat.
I walk with an aluminum cane, and began belting the hound with it. Until the third lick, a solid whack on the head, it wasn't making an impression; but with the head blow the pup rolled on his back in a submissive position, then headed for home as his master came after him. I headed away with Moose, and the kid called after me, "Sorry about that, Mike." Over my shoulder I answered, "You need to be, that's not acceptable." I might have been more receptive of his apology if this had been the first time there had been a problem, but it's not. I've asked the kid to fix the fence and he says the owners won't let him do it. Yeah, right. The female dog viciously attacked a neighbor's little Pomeranian a few weeks ago, then came after Moose and me as we stepped inside, and tried to get into my apartment. On that occasion I told the owner of the mutt that if she had gotten into my place I'd have shot her.
If the hound hadn't given up when he did I'd have shot him, but in the melee Moose would have been in danger. I hate to hit a dog, and would feel terrible about killing someone's pet, but I will protect my little guy.
The family has apparently been told they have to move because of the dogs, but the young man thinks we shouldn't walk our dogs on our property when his are out. After this fracas this morning, when I was almost home the kid came after me, furious, saying, "You know what happens when you walk your dog past my fence!" I told him to fix the fence, got the usual answer, reminded him that the law here says the owner must control his dogs, and walked away. Then I talked to the manager and had her leave a message for one of the apartment owners to call me.
I'd hate to call animal control, with the likelihood that the hound pup would be put down. I think he could be salvaged if they got him away from the Lab-pit. But if they aren't out of here soon, and if there is any recurrence of this, I won't hesitate. I'd rather do that, given a choice, than shoot another man's dog and agitate my elderly neighbors.
