I have a neighbor who has two Jack Russell terriers. Like most of us in the apartment circle, they let their dogs out without leashes. Most of us do unless a dog is a problem. One of our dogs runs away, so he is always leashed. The problem is that their dogs are mean and they run away. One dog was gone for several days. They fight with all the other dogs and bite them, after which their owner blames the other dogs owner. Before, the owner has told me to watch my two year old son, and basically to take him inside, because he was making the dogs upset. We live in front of a tiny "public park" that my son likes to play in, especially now that its warm. Last week the owner told dh that the meanest of the dogs had bitten one of his gf's family members lip OFF! She had to have plasic surgery and it will take months to heal. Did the dog find a new home? Nooooooo. Did the dog get a brand new collar and leash? Noooooooopppeee!!! They were just out in the park running free. So my problem is thus: I obviously don't want my son around this dog that is a danger, and I don't think the dog should even live in a public setting like this, but should at the minimum be on a short leash at all times. But we are friendly with this neighbor and I don't want to have a "war" with them. There is a leash law in our area, but I am afraid they would know it was me who called if Animal Control went to visit them. But I can't hold my two year old hostage in our apt. just so their evil dogs can roam loose and terrorize the neighborhood. Everyone here pretty much feels that way, and we all get tired of having to watch when we bring our dogs out so they don't get bitten. Oh, it's also gossip central here, so I can't ask a neighbor to report them or it would certainly get back to them that I said it. He is the type of person that (although otherwise nice) thinks his dog can do no wrong and everyone else is an asshole (like the parent of the kid that bites and hits at playgroup who won't do anything about it, we all know them!). So I am a little hesitant to talk to them about it. But I only see those two options (talk to them or report them). What else is out there? Help!
Mama, you NEED to report this man RIGHT NOW. It may be too late tomorrow. It may not be your son, but It may be someone elses kid. Do you want to have a kid that has a scar for life? Mean dogs have to be on leashes, and wear these mouth things. Especially if there are children around! What an impossible owner. The fear of a neighborhood war or gossip should not interfere when your kods health or even life is at RISK!!!!!!!!!! Dogs can do so mean things to kids. A lip that is bitten off is just the beginning. This dog has bitten a humen being, and will do it again. ACT NOW! For your kid's safety, and everyone elses!
Agreed! Call them in. It sucks to be put in the position to be the neighborhood gestapo but if you don't the dog may cause harm to others. All responsible dog owners who truley love their pets and care for their well being keep them leashed. He's a jerk call the law
Absolutely. Call it in. If it's not your kiddo, it WILL be someone else's. There is no reason not to, and every reason to call. You can make an anonymous call and nobody would know it was you. Chances are good that if he told one neighbor, he told several which means there would be no way really to trace the call back to you. love, mom
Is it just me, or wouldn't a dog biting a person LIP OFF be reported? Wouldn't the dog be destroyed? Wouldn't it make the news? Wouldn't doctors be forced BY LAW to report the incedent to Animal Control? Wouldn't this make the Ohio/Kentucky area news? I know it would, because its a scary story and they love the scary stories! I am not saying the dog isn't dangerous... but perhaps the owner was lying to you? Making his nuts feel bigger by talking up his "mean old dog"? But yes, report the dog. The dog is mean, regardless of lying owner or not.
If the dog is bothing you or your son, report it to animal control. Most places have leash laws and while it may seem hypocritical if you let your own dog run loose, it might be for the best to report it. I know that I can't even walk around my neighborhood- by myself or with my dog- because neighborhood dogs chase us and scare the living crap out of me. I report them all the time and while sometimes nothing gets done about it, other times I never see the dog lose again.
I don't think it was the ENTIRE lip, but there was definately a large chunk missing because they had to take tissue from her abdomen to reconstruct the lip. I asked Animal Control if the doctor would automatically have to report the incident (makes sense, right?) and she told me that because it was a family member they could choose not to. She also said that they will not remove a dog "just because" it bites someone. And no, it wouldn't make the Louisville news because we have so many actual dog maulings and deaths from dog attacks that a bite is no biggie. Besides, who would alert the media? I have been hinting at dh, who talks to him more, to mention it, but he is the pacifist and I am the bitch, so I will call. When I thought about what others had said about how it could be someone else's child, it really hit me. Since the dogs aren't leashed, and when they run away they just let them run and then prop the door to their building open, it could easily bite someone else. The only bad part is that now everyone in the neighborhood will probably have to leash their dogs all the time, and those dogs really and truly are nice and no one has a problem with them playing leash free. But I bet someone will be vengefl and call Animal Control right and left......Oh well, it keeps Teeny Zucchini safe! Thank you all!
I agree with everyone. talk to your neighbor about how you would appreciate it if he would put a leash on his dog and express that oyu fear for the safety of not only your child but others as well. If he does not get a leash or collar than (as a joke I would) go out and buy a collar and leash for the dog and give it to your neighbor and if he still refuses to put his dog on a leash i would then call animal control. You shouldn't feel guilty when you do call animal control. It's your neighbors damn fault he would not put a leash on his dog so you did what any sensible person would do.
You need to call the Animal control. Your neighbor has dangerous animals, and they need to be on a leash. There is no need to speak with him in person. Someone like that sounds difficult and it will just create more problems. I would even consider getting a those of you who dont like those dogs to go speak to the apartment manager. People like that guy piss me off. Who does he think he is, boasting to you about biting a girls lip off, and then letting them run around an apartment complex!??? Grrah!
In almost every state ALL dog bites have to be reported to Animal Control, and the dog has to be taken into custody. Not all dogs are put down, but they have to verify rabies immunity OR the dog has to stay at Animal Control for a Rabies Watch, usually for 10 or more days. (My dd is a Vet Tech and deals with this stuff all the time.) IF this dog bit someone, and that person went to the hospital, Animal Control would most likely to have been notified. If she lied and said it was a dog she didn't know, she would right now be going through a Rabies Series (this has to be done when someone is bitten and the dog is NOT in custody. It is a painful series of injections that NO ONE who knows where the offending dog is would go through for any reason.) Either this guy is lying, or the hospital really fucked up. As for this guy "knowing" it was you. I am sure you are not the only person who is fed up with these dogs. I would immediately call animal control. Screw the dude. This dog is dangerous, and the Police and AC need to deal with it. BUT, wait until the next time the dog is out without a leash. Some AC agents won't go on just a person's word (althogh many do) and have to see the dog out.
