[Lilie]

Many years ago, there was a child down the road that...well, his clock just didn't run right. He was around 9 years old when the rumors started about him abusing animals. Shooting rabbits with his BB gun, same with turtles, any thing that he could kill. His parents were raised the same way, and I truly felt it would do more harm than good to speak to them about his actions. They knew it already.

I was worried that his behavior would escalate to shooting dogs, or even my horses. After a while, he'd have to get bored with the small animals. So I decided on a plan of action.

I brought him over to my house. Anytime I saw him on the street I spoke to him. I would see him walking home from school and I'd give him ride. I made sure he knew me personally.

His father did construction work. When we'd have a horse die, he would come over and bury it. I made sure that this young man came with his father. I wanted him to see what the death of a loved pet can do to a person.

Soon he knew each of my animals by name. He'd bring treats for them when he came over. I asked him if he'd help me watch them when I'm not home (from the street, he wasn't allowed on the property with out us home). I gave him my work number and told him to call me if he ever saw anybody on our place or any of the animals sick. I gave him a responsibility. I gave him a job. He'd come over and help us get our dogs ready for 4-H meets. Once or twice he came along.

He is now a 24 year old man (still lives with his mom due to the sudden death of his father). He is going to school to be a game warden.

I'm not saying that I had any part in that, however, my point is perhaps you can talk with the kids. Let them know the horror your pup had to go through. Tell them that you desperately need their help. Let them have a active role in her rehab (let them think they do). Let them know that their actions by the fence have a great deal of effect on your pup. Kids are kids, they think that a snarling animal (at a safe distance) is a game to them. Who is brave enough to stick a finger through? Some kids just don't have the heart - but most do.

 

[Navah]

I just called our local SPCA and left a message asking them to direct me in the right direction. I figure thats who i call since thats where people here call when bites happen.

As for having the kids over... Im not sure its such a good idea. The rescue is so sensitive and like i said in my previous post it has take about a year if not over a year to even get it to the point where the other neighbor kids can finally give him a pat. I just dont know, or trust these people enough to try this like i trusted the other kids and parents. I dont know if he would bite (he never has before) but if the parents knew who the "bad kid" was before i even mentioned it... i just dont trust it.

We are very responsible owners. We do have a fence but our dogs are never outside alone and if they are its for a few min if i have to get the phone, or go grab something inside. If they are outside alone im usally doing dishes or something in the kitchen and can watch through the window. So the chances of something happening is low... but... i wont take any chance.

I hate people sometimes lol. I have lived here with my dog are three years... its always been peaceful, the neighbor kids have been wonderfully patient with Bruno trying to help us help him. All the sudden new neighbors and its so much stress... I just need to do everything possible to make sure nothing bad happens to my babies.

 

[PaddyD]

Good fences make good neighbors. Unfortunately, some neighbors abuse the fence. In our state there is a law that if you have a swimming pool then you must have a fence. Our neighbor has a fence that keeps falling down and I go and patch it and keep it up. Looks REAL NICE to have a stockade fence held together with galvanized wire fencing. My dog got through one time and it was all I could do to coax her out of their pool, she was having so much fun.

 

[Jax's Mom]

Here is what we have in Ontario:
Dog Owners' Liability Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.16
I wouldn't recommend commenting on your dog's history in any way because no matter what it is, anything will be used against you if one of the kids gets bitten.
If it were my child that got bit after being told what you told the parents, I'd use it as a lesson in common sense for my kids but I seem to be rare in my opinion
Anyone want to start a colony where parents are responsible for the safety of their offspring, neighbors have the right to smack kids they see misbehaving and you get to legally punch one person of your choosing in the face once a year (bare hands, no blunt objects)?

 

[Navah]

Anyone want to start a colony where parents are responsible for the safety of their offspring, neighbors have the right to smack kids they see misbehaving and you get to legally punch one person of your choosing in the face once a year (bare hands, no blunt objects)?

:thumbup:LMAO! Count me in.

Thanks for the report. I tried to find one for New Brunsiwck but i cant for some reason. I did find something on past claims and how people won their cases (pet owners) such as you warned the person the dog is not used to strangers and the person still patted them (as long as your dog does not have a bad past. My dog has been abused, but he has never bitten so i dont "think" that would be considered a bad past... but who knows...In a place where Pitts are banned i dont trust the competance of these folks that make the rules...). I dont know if that was for NB, seemed more for Ontario.

Did i mention i hate people sometimes? lol

 

[Navah]

Oppps pitts arnt banned here. Im from Toronto =) get them mixed up every once and awhile.

 

[DharmasMom]

If it were my child that got bit after being told what you told the parents, I'd use it as a lesson in common sense for my kids but I seem to be rare in my opinion

This!! There is no personal responsibility in the world today (at least not the US) I personally feel that if someone (kids included) comes onto YOUR property and teases your dog then it is his fault. You should be able to sue the parents or something.
I know the way I was raised my parents would have cleaned up the bite and then punished me for being in the neighbor's yard and messing with a dog.

Anyone want to start a colony where parents are responsible for the safety of their offspring, neighbors have the right to smack kids they see misbehaving and you get to legally punch one person of your choosing in the face once a year (bare hands, no blunt objects)?

Sign me up!!

.





Did i mention i hate people sometimes? lol

I'm with you on that. This is only one of the reasons I like my dog better than people. People in general have become self absorbed and have no personal responsibility. And people wonder why I would save my drowning dog before I would save a person.

 

[Chicagocanine]

I actually had an ADULT do something like that! This old man used to walk down my alley, and one time I left the dogs (at the time I had a Golden Retriever and a small terrier mix) alone in the yard for a few minutes and when I went to let them in the man was leaning over my back fence swinging his cane at my dogs! I yelled at him and called the dogs in, but he had some type of earmuffs or giant headphones on and didn't hear me. After that I stopped letting the dogs stay out alone even for the few minutes I used to, but a family member let them out once when I wasn't home and the same thing happened again.

In most places, even if a dog is considered to be justified for biting someone on their property, this usually doesn't apply to children because they are considered to not understand the risk.
If possible I would try to work on your dog's reaction to them because I bet if he ignores them when they come near, they will stop bothering him.

 

[Navah]

***** UPDATE *****​

The SPCA got the person in charge of this area in the Police Department to call me. I mentioned to him that I had a Shepherd and he told me he was a K-9 officer and his Shepherd was a working dog, his partner and his best friend. So of course we spent a bit talking about how wonderful German Shepherds are LOL.

Anyway… on to it lol. He said that either now, or if it happens again I will need to call my local police department and get it documented that I have spoken to this neighbor once about this situation and I have witness the children provoking my dog. After that, I will need to get them to sign it. I expressed my concern over this with this being a new neighbor and all and he went over various ways to discuss it with them such as “How you guys feel about protecting your children, that’s how I want to protect my dog”. Also to discuss that while they may be wonderful parents, no parent can watch a child 100% of the time. Apparently, people do this quite a bit, although it’s usually a much worse situation then mine being that it’s a viscous dog or really bad children.

He said once I get this documented with the police department my dog could bite this kid and the parents can’t do a thing about it. So… I am going to wait… if I see this happen again then I will file this document. I just don’t want to cause bad feelings with a neighbor who JUST moved in. My dogs are never alone anyways so the chances of a bite are super low… ill just wait for now.

Oh.. he also mentioned in my area it’s a really shady area since there is nothing written or documented legally about it. That’s why something as small as a piece of paper from the police will make sure nothing bad happens even if the dog bites the kid badly.

Thanks again everyone. As always, i appriciate your stories and feedback.

 

[Elaine]

That piece of paper may protect your dog, but not you. They will probably still sue you and win if there's a bite.

 

[Jax's Mom]

Law suits tend to be less successful in Canada because our medical expenses are covered.
If there is no permanent damage, it will be hard for them to sue for anything especially if you have this paper from the police.
I know of an appeal (medical malpractice) where a woman ended up paralyzed and the only damages she was able to claim were having her home retrofitted to accommodate mobility equipment.

 

[Rerun]

Second fence pronto!

We are surrounded on three sides by neighbors, but four different neighbors because the fence to the right side has two people with smaller yards to meet in the middle of our fence line.

Our entire yard is enclosed by a 5 ft chain link, but the back also has an 8 ft privacy fence along the backside. It was installed by the prior owners as strictly privacy, not a fenceline, so there is a section behind it of grass then the chainlink. We made it so the dogs can not get behind it. The people to the back right of us have a little kid (toddler) and two little dogs. It's also a low spot in the yard, and with heavy rain or lots of melting snow gets very muddy.

We solved the concerns of their kid sticking her hands through the fence (although our dogs are friendly) and the PITA of the mud by going to the hardware store and getting t-posts like stock use and welded fence wire and setting it off their fenceline. It actually is probably 10 ft off in parts to keep them out of the low spot in the rain. We intended it as temporary in the spring, but left it up because their little dogs and our dogs bark and run the fence at eachother when they can be nose to nose. Now ours just look at them and walk off, and we like the security of their little girl not being able to stick her hands through the fence. It was never a problem, but we prefer to ward off problems before they begin. We have a lot of big dogs and they are super nice people,a nd I know the mother is a little afraid of GSD's, so I'm sure it eases her mind somewhat having a double fence there.