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Dave and I took our 10-month old puppy Sitka out this morning for a walk around the long block. It’s a nice little jaunt through the neighborhood that takes about twenty minutes that’s a chance for Sitka to do his business and us to talk and get some exercise. Most of the neighborhood dogs are just fine: friendly, on leashes or behind fences, just sort of doing their doggy thing. But there’s one particular house that we only go past when we take the route we took today whose dog is super-territorial with other dogs that pass by. Came to find out today this dog is also aggressive.
We were walking past when Sitka caught Other Dog’s smell and pulled across the sidewalk. Dave was walking him, holding the leash in his left hand (which, if you don’t know Dave, is missing three fingers) so he didn’t have the best control. We both had mugs of coffee, so his other hand was tied up. Other Dog came barreling out the front door of the house into the front yard. There was a fence, but it was made up of lightweight rectangular fencing wire, and has been bent under and out from the barrage this dog gives it apparently on a regular basis. Sitka stopped about six inches from the fence to sniff – he’s used to other dogs and friendly, and a ten-month old puppy besides. Other Dog doesn’t check his stride at. all., barrels into the fence, pushing it out into the sidewalk, and lunges out into the sidewalk to bite Sitka right on the nose. The woman inside the house shouts out through the open front door for Other Dog to stop barking; meanwhile Dave is struggling to pull against sixty pounds of scared and very confused puppy to get Sitka away from Other Dog. When I realized what was happening (just after the bite happened) I grabbed Sitka’s leash and hauled him off the sidewalk and into the street, behind Other Dog’s owner’s parked car. Dave and I are shaking, Sitka’s bleeding, and Other Dog has gone back up onto the porch at this point. All of this took less than three seconds.
I stepped up to the lady’s front gate and shouted into the house, “Hello?” once or twice and didn’t get a response. I was sorely tempted to throw something into the house to get her attention and come out to talk to us. Didn’t. But I do plan on going back this afternoon after I’ve calmed down a bit and tell her what happened. She’s lucky her dog didn’t do anything other than give Sitka a few superficial grazes; if he had needed stitches I would have given her the vet bill and demand she cover it.
We cleaned up Sitka’s nose when we got home with some hydrogen peroxide. He’s resting right now, very subdued and not at all himself. I’m sure his nose is tender but he seemed okay for the remainder of our walk so I”m not overly worried. He’s had his rabies shot, but not his whole series of other puppy shots yet, so if he ends up needing the vet for any sort of doggy illnesses we’ll be talking with Other Dog’s owner about helping to cover costs.
I am so angry right now. Her fence is not at all adequate, and she should -not- allow a dog with aggression problems full run of a front yard that abuts the sidewalk. >:E
I’m sorry, this is long, but I had to vent! I’ll post a follow-up with photos to make up for making you read all this. 🙄
You never should have left. Go call the dang cops!! I am so glad that something worse didnt happen, like your dog getting killed or one of you getting attacked. They may not even realize that something happened, nor be held accountable, unless they are aware of it. Sometimes not even then, which is why the cops should be called. The dog could do that to a kid next time. At least have them pay for a vet check for your dog. People will not do ANYTHING unless you take either their time or their money. And welcome to the forums. 🙂
Poor puppy. Give him some hugs for me.
People that aren’t prepared to train and control their animals shouldn’t be allowed to have them. 👿
skigod377 wrote:You never should have left. Go call the dang cops!! I am so glad that something worse didnt happen, like your dog getting killed or one of you getting attacked. They may not even realize that something happened, nor be held accountable, unless they are aware of it. Sometimes not even then, which is why the cops should be called. The dog could do that to a kid next time. At least have them pay for a vet check for your dog. People will not do ANYTHING unless you take either their time or their money. And welcome to the forums. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
I won’t call the cops. If it happens -again- I’ll call animal control. You’re right that it’s hard to hold somebody accountable, and judging from the owner’s lack of reaction I think that talking to her later is going to be “interesting”, but sometimes things just happen. Maybe the dog has never done that before – not likely, as it’s had this kind of response to Sitka walking by before, but there’s never been a bite involved before either. For now all I can do is hope the owner is reasonable. If she’s not I’m going to have to try very hard to keep myself reasonable. 😡
The dog doesn’t seem to be aggressive towards people on the sidewalk at all, only dogs from what I’ve seen. I still wouldn’t go through her front gate unless her dog is tied up, esp. after this morning.http://davidnelson.smugmug.com/gallery/4954345_ZEHex#P-1-12
That link will take you to my friend’s photo gallery. He, Dave, Sitka and myself went out to the river last week and got some really nice shots. We’re going to print out a few of these to give to my family.
(If that link doesn’t work maybe cut and paste it.)Poor little Sitka. I agree with Ski – call the cops next time OTHER DOG attacks it could be worse for another animal or a child
Well, let us know how the talk goes. Hopefully she will offer to pay for a vet visit and fix her fence. Its what I would expect.
What ski and darjeb said! If there is an aggressive dog in your neighborhood not being properly restrained, accidents can happen. Absolutely call Animal Control!
When my Rott mix was out for a walk a neighbor’s pit bull attacked him from his garage. On a leash, my Rott couldn’t do much, so the Pit had has way with him. The owner called him back about 10 seconds later. We get our dog home to discover he’s got some superficial grazes on his muzzle, and a deep bite mark on his shoulder blades that just turned purple instead of leaking blood, the bite went so deep. And his behavior was off for a while too. We called Animal Control and the Pit was quarantined for 10 days (that’s CA law). Now when we walk by, the Pit is nowhere to be found, and the garage door is always down. They also have a sign that says “Beware of Dog.”
Make these owners take responsibility!
I have to agree with calling police and/or animal control… That’s just a real ‘iffy’ situation and I worry about other people & animals… Give Sitka some loves from me, hugs for you and hopefully all nerves settle back into place rapidly… and welcome to the forums; glad you found us!
twindragonsmum
tdm
Where we used to live, there was a dog like that, who just went for any dog walking by. With people, she was fine. I never understood why they left her loose in the front if they knew how she reacted to other dogs.
Good thing your puppy’s ok.
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http://www.sarahjestin.com/feedbacklists.htmWhen I was a kid, there was this one dog on the street my friend lived on, who would try to attack people as they went by! I was scared shitless to see that dog barreling at me just to find out it was on a chain and couldn’t get all the way down the driveway.
But ya, make those owners take responsibility!
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