Yet ANOTHER, irresponsible pet owner!

[antiqueshell]

Lived in the general area for almost four years now. Usually I walk for exercise about 5 days a week and being like most people I developed a pattern so I can time out how long I am walking.

In one very nice development, million dollar homes! (on the lake here in SC) a couple (which are well educated in addition to being well to do) Have insisted in letting their unsure, skitterish, and large boxer/mix loose to roam in their yard. The first time the dog was with the owner at the top of the street that enters into their development, where upon the dog immediately was jumping up and me and scratching the [censored] out of my legs and arms. I politely and firmly mentioned to the man that I'd like him to control his dog. His reply, "He won't bite." Grrrr!

I bite my tongue and move on, there have been at least several other occasions where the dog will be near the owners in their yard and once I walk by the thing will immediately run out of the yard into the street and threaten me. This is less than a month. Finally this time (fifth time) the dog once again charges out of their yard and proceeds to bark a warning bark and starts circling me. I absolutely had it. Another neighbor happened to be out as well and told me to keep going ??? ([censored]) and he would shoo the dog away. (He actually had a air rifle with him not sure if it was for the dog or what...weird) anyhow I came back around the cul de sac and the women who owns the dog say's "I'm so sorry". (not buying it, she wasn't sincere I think she thought I was going to call animal control on her ) I firmly and tersely informed her that this was the fifth time this had happened and that the dog needs to be under their control at ALL times (the law!) in cannot just roam around lose and come onto the public street and threaten me.( Will it bite? who knows...I think it is a guard dog and they may like that it threatens people who do not live in that development. )I added that if the dog injures me or someone else it is going to cost her!

It has become an epidemic today with arrogant, inconsiderate, and thoughtless dog owners letting their animals lose to threaten innocent neighbors.

I said that if it happens ONE more I will call animal control and file a complaint.

Sorry for the rant. I'm disgusted.

 

[simple_gifts]

Why wait? Call A.C, as others might have done, to establish a justification for them to act.

I had an unleashed irish setter bound up to me within 30 feet of the owner; I thought I was getting a sniff, but instead I got a canine puncture wound about a foot about my knee. Owner said nothing. I only realized it was a puncture AFTER i got home.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Why wait? Call A.C, as others might have done, to establish a justification for them to act.

I hadn't given them an ultimatum until this warning so I wanted to give them one last chance before I act. I do walk here and they are neighbors even if I don't live next door to them.

The next time the dog runs out of their yard the call will be made.

My guess is that the dog is a protection or guard dog and they may want this reaction....not to me personally but to others that are potential criminals..

The comical thing is when the dog ran off their property each and every time they would make a weak attempt to call it back....what a freaking joke.

 

[VicVinegar]

No leash laws? Maybe they don't apply on property, but it sounds like this dog is leaving the property. I'd call the authorities. Or at least complain to the HOA, assuming there is one.

And I'm not some anti-dog person. I have two. I'm the type who realizes my dogs kill grass, so I don't allow them to go on someone's lawn.

 

[antiqueshell]

the law here states that the dog must be under the control of the owner at ALL times. That means that whatever they do it cannot approach someone like me and threaten.

I wish they had a specific leash law....

only thing with that is this idiot woman had the huge dog on a leash one time and it lunged at me and almost pulled her down onto the ground.

 

[Clevy]

My dog doesn't need a leash. When I walk him he stays at my side,if I stop he sits and waits. Other people dogs will run up at him at which point I tell him to guard,which means attack. Other owner learn real fast to keep their dogs leashed and away from me or my dog.
My dog is purpose trained. Do not come into my yard unannounced,you will be bit. My dog will not jump my fence,he does as he is commanded to do by me.
Control. Why have an animal unless its for a purpose. I laugh at those toy purse dogs. They are a joke and barely a meal for mine.
Keep it close because if it comes up on me and mine in a threatening manner if my dog can't subdue it papa will.

 

[antiqueshell]

I don't think you read what I wrote earlier.

I am FAR from their property when this occurs. The darn thing will run into the middle of the street at least 20 yards away from their demarc lines. Or like I mentioned earlier, the owner was with the dog in the street and the thing ran up to me gave a warning bark and then proceeded to jump up on me and scratch with very sharp claws!

 

[MinamiKotaro]

I had two full-size poodles (not the little ones the size of a chihuahua, the big ones that are used as hunting dogs) chase me on my bike one day. One of them bit me on the calf and drew blood. As I was peddling frantically away in fear of my life, I heard the old lady walking them shout, "Get him! Get him!" I guess she thought they were playing. No leashes on either of them, of course.

I'm glad I wasn't walking.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I don't think you read what I wrote earlier.

I am FAR from their property when this occurs. The darn thing will run into the middle of the street at least 20 yards away from their demarc lines. Or like I mentioned earlier, the owner was with the dog in the street and the thing ran up to me gave a warning bark and then proceeded to jump up on me and scratch with very sharp claws!


Carry a knife. Next time if jumps defend yourself.

 

[Joe72Mart]

I delivered mail as a summer substitute. Post Office furnishes pepper spray. I had a few dogs charge me and get a face full. They learn quick not to charge again.

http://www.amazon.com/Halt-Dog-Repellent-1-5-oz/dp/B000E4Q7BS

If the dog owners happened to be near, they'd go ballistic after their "harmless" dog got sprayed. Always said "he won't bite". How am I supposed to know that when I was on a different route every day?

Owners always stated that they were going to call my superiors at the P.O. I always replied "go ahead". Supervisors always backed the carriers up.

If I happened to get the same route the next day, if the dog was loose-no mail delivery.

 

[crazyoildude]

Sorry im a dog lover.. I however don't let my Doberman Pinchers loose to say hello to people that walk through my neighborhood i would not want the dog to catch anything..

 

[Nukeman7]

Carry a knife. Next time if jumps defend yourself. [/quote]

That might be a bit extreme since it is really the owner that is being irresponsible, not the dog. Perhaps a can of pepper spray would send the right message without causing permanent harm to the animal.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Clevy


Carry a knife. Next time if jumps defend yourself.


I'm going to attempt to let the law handle it first. If they don't I will carry a gun subsequently. I wish I could take care of the owner! LOL

 

[crazyoildude]

If you quote as you say "carry a gun" and shoot the dog there is a good chance the owner will shoot you. The chances greatly improve in the rich areas because this is where they play hard ball and the Law sometimes looks the other way.
As for the mail carrier he has the right to refuse mail delivery.
Try to talk to them nicely if that does not work send them a letter asking them for their insurance information. Try to keep the peace you might do or say something that will get this guys cousins knocking at your door which wont be a good thing.

 

[whizbyu]

I live in Union County, NC, where there are no leash laws. I've been chased by dogs while I was riding a road bike. I have called animal control. AC will NOT do anything unless someone got hurt. If the dog bites someone, and AC is called, AC will take the dog and quarantine it for 10 days. After 10 days, if the dog is still alive, AC will contact the owners to come pick it up. It is up to the bite victim to "press charges" and by that I mean making the dog owner be responsible for damages sustained from the encounter (ER visits, rabies shots, loss of work, etc.). If there are no charges, nothing happens. The AC people specifically said, that it is completely legal for me to defend myself against the dog in any way, as long as the encounter is NOT within the property line of the dog's owner. Doesn't matter if there is a sign posted on the owner's property. Outside of the property lines = free for all. Even lethal force. I do own 5 rescues. I love dogs too, and they are all leashed. Not advocating violence, but just citing the law in the county I live in. You know the other thing you can do is carry a 3 iron. One swing at that dog, it won't bother you again.

 

[Brons2]

If I have a dog chase me on my road bike, I usually squirt them in the face with whatever happens to be in my water bottle. It often disorients them long enough for me to get away, and the fluid is harmless.

I'm not so much worried about getting bitten, it's more of a worry of getting knocked off my bike if the dog crosses me up. I find most loose dogs to be over-exuberant, not vicious, but I do keep watch for those who really look mean.

 

[andyd]

My father made a routine of walking to the center of town for the the WSJ, a round trip of 5 miles. He carried a staff that was really a fiberglass sledge hammer handle.

 

[Kruse]

Not that you should have to spend your money for somebody else letting their dog run, but do the sonic dog repellers work, or do they just make a large dog mad?
My advice to anybody who gets bit by a dog is to report it. Who knows how long it's been since the dog has had a rabies shot. WHILE AT WORK, I've been bitten by a dog. He seemed friendly enough, but while I was on a creeper, I crawled out from under a car and as I stood up, the dog thought I was attacking him. He bit me on the hand with five puncture wounds and my hand got swollen and infected. Try explaining that to the doctor.

 

[cjcride]

There are no Bad Dogs only Bad Owners.

 

[daves66nova]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
He bit me on the hand with five puncture wounds and my hand got swollen and infected. Try explaining that to the doctor.
So what happened after that? You confront the owner?