Vicious Pit Bull in the neighborhood (sorry, long)

[StarryNite]

I have a friend who lives 4 doors down who I recently met. We met because of our dogs, I have a black GSD and she has two tiny little mix dogs, Sadie and Hannah, from the same litter (cutest little things you ever saw in your life, I need to get a pic and post it of them, never saw little dogs so cute! I want one!). Lulu loves their dogs and we agreed to meet in the soccer field now and then and exchaned phone numbers, since then we have met on many occasions at the soccer field and let our dogs off leash and chatted it up while our dogs run and play, is a funny sight, Lulu running and playing with their two tiny little girls They get "upset" with Lulu and Lou just looks at them and smiles and keeps trying to play

So she calls me tonight in tears, telling me about how one of the neighbors pit bulls got loose and charged Hannah and attacked her, had her pinned down on the ground in it's mouth unprovoked apparently Hannah is okay, no wounds, but my friend was a wreck trying to get the dog off and the owner came running down the hill saying the dog got off the leash. My friend was so upset and the guy said to her "I said he got off the leash, don't you see the leash in my hands?". I guess they had a few words and then the guy says to her "Next time I'll let him free so he can kill your dogs!!!!". Isn't that a direct threat?

I know this dog, about a year and a half ago my daughter, 4 at the time, was playing in the back yard and this tan pit came running right at her, I about had heart failure and ran to my daughter. I do think the dog just wanted to play as he reached her first and nothing occured except the owner running and saying "he's friendly, he just gets out now and then". I am sure any parent would friek when a pit you don't know is running full speed towards your baby! I was still irritated that he let his pit get out and run around off leash. I also saw it off leash a few weeks ago in the front. I own a GSD, I know about preconcieved notions about aggressive breeds, and if Lou ever accidentally got off lead and did what this dog did (which she NEVER would do that even if she did get off lead) I would be appologizing to the ends of the earth and worrying about the other dog, and taking full responsibility for my dog's actions.

Anyway, my friend is asking me what she should do since she is terrified of him retaliating if she reports it. And she works for the sheriff's office! I told her it's easy for me to say but in her place I am not sure as well. I told her she needs a paper trail and to file a report with animal control at the very least and that if I, myself, ever saw the dog loose again I would call them as well and report the dog being loose. I am a bit concerned for my daughter as well now after this incident as she is always outdoors right where this dog gets loose.

Keep in mind my 5 year old daughter plays out front every single day where this dog has been seen running around and NOW attacking a little dog who was on lead with no confrontation from the little dog With the owner's attitude and what he said I am thinking this is a vicious dog

I thought I would put this here as you all are great at giving advice and I wasn't sure what to tell my friend as she was so scared that this guy would either poison her dogs or retaliate in some way if she reported him... I can't say I blame her.

What is crazy is that we live 9,000 feet up in the mountains to get away from people like this and the city life! I guess you can't get far enough nowadays! makes me sad...

[weber1b]

The incident needs to be on record. How many do you go before you report? Hopefully it is an isolated incident but..............

[StarryNite]

That is also what I told her, Weber, that we can't let fear get in our way of reporting these things, but to think of her own safety first. I told her that if something like this happens again with that dog that there needs to be a paper trail for action to be taken.

I just felt so bad because she was so scared for her dogs safety she was in tears, she loves those little dogs SO much!

[BowWowMeow]

I hope the little dog is ok. I can understand your friend's fear. "People like this" tend to live exactly where you live. I lived in the foothills of the Sandia Mts. in New Mexico for several years and had more terrifying incidents (with people and dogs) than I've ever had in Buffalo or any other city I've lived in. That included escaped convicts hiding out, SWAT teams raiding neighbor's homes, hearing domestic violence, a gang murder and aggressive loose dogs (in my case it was a german shepherd who attacked my german shepherd), coyotes, etc., etc.

When Massie was attacked by another german shepherd I called the police and made them go with me to the home of the person whose dog it was so that I could see proof that the dog was vaccinated, etc. I also wanted it on record.

And, for the record, pit bulls while sometimes dog aggressive, are very, very rarely people aggressive.

[StarryNite]

Ruth, ever hear of the Texas 7? they found them about 3 blocks from where I live right now so, yeah, maybe you are right.... In fact my mom had contact with them on several occasions while they were hiding out here!

I don't think this dog would be people aggressive, from what I have seen, and though it is obviously dog DOMINENT, it def. could have hurt her dog if it wanted to so not sure is intending to hurt or kill her dog, what worries me the most is what the owner said and his reaction which could lead to an aggressive dog...

Is not the dog's fault in my opinion, I feel sorry for it, but still, can't have that dog running loose for any reason...

[Debbieg]

Sounds like the owner is more dangerous than the dog.

[nbkvig2]

heh I agree with Debbie. I do understand your friend's situation, and I believe we all know what the correct action is, however sometimes its harder said than done. If it was up to me, I would do what I gotta do which is file a report and follow the correct procedure. I mean who is to say whats gonna happen if the owner bumps into your friend on the street? Maybe he WILL let the dog loose. This kind of case, it's lose lose situation no matter how you look at it. Having a dangerous dog in the neighborhood, living in fear is not exactly winning, and knowing someone might be out to get you is not winning either. So under all these circumstances, perhaps doing the right thing would help your friend feel a little better in her conscious. Because I wouldn't want to have it on my conscious when the dog gets loose again and hurt another animal, or child perhaps. From the description of the owner, it would be safe to assume this situation will more than likely happen again.

[big_dog7777]

Report the incident. Buy or find two things... a small aluminum bat and bear spray. Don't leave home without them on a walk. If the dog comes charging again start with the bear spray. A loose charging dog has absolutely no rights according to the law. NONE.

[selzer]

dog aggression does not equal people aggression, however an irresponsible owner is usually the reason there are incidents regardless of dogs or people.

I would go ahead and encourage your neighbor to make a report, specifically because of the guys attitude.

If the dog was not hurt at all, the pit may not have been really trying to attack. All the same, the owners need to understand that there negligence and stupidity will get them into serious trouble and the best way for them to understand that is to have a very official person present them with a very official ticket of some sort.

[allieg]

I see the same thing here.I swear the ones with the worst dogs are the most irresponsible.My neighbors dog will kill if it has contact with another dog when loose.I fear even if the dog is inside because she doesn't make sure the house is secure and I have seen the dog get out and attack.
She needs to report it for the safety of the neighborhood.If I feared for my kids playing in the yard from a dog it would be reported.
I also second the bat and spray.