What can you legally do to protect yourself against a dog?

Question

My neighbor has a Rottweiller that she doesn't keep on a leash and it charges at me every time I walk past her driveway (which I have to pass in order to get home.)

Answer 1

Call animal control. Advise them of the situation. Have you ever asked the owners to put the dog on a leash? If you can't or are afraid to, then call the police and ask them to speak with the woman. Buy some pepper spray and use it if you have to. (If the dog is not on a leash, animal control can go into your neighbors yard and take the dog.)

Answer 2

Does the dog charge you barking and growling or just running toward you?It may just6 want to play.But in any case try this before all else-When you get close to that yard hold you head up,shoulders back,walk slowly and steadily without swinging your arms back and forth.Tell yourself there is no dog!!Pretend it's not there at all.Don't look anywhere except ahead of you.Make sure you make no sudden movement like tripping.If you hear the dog charging continue telling yourself silently-there is no dog and continue on your way.If you must stop because of the dog,don't look at it or try to touch it or talk to it.Just stand there and let him smell you while you ignore him.He'll probably see you're no threat and walk away so you can continue on yours.NEVER RUN or yell.
If you cannot bring yourself to do this wait till dog is inside and go knock on the door and inform the neighbor her dog makes it a point to scare you on a daily basis and if she can't keep the dog on a chain or indoors when you go past you're going to have to call the authorities rather than run the risk of getting bit.

Answer 3

I imagine there is a leash law where you live because most towns have them. Call your local authorities, tell them about the rott. Tell them you have no choice but to walk by and you are afraid that it is going to attack as it acts real aggressive toward you.

If by chance you live in a rural area and not in town, there is nothing that can be done unless the dog actually does bite you. rural areas do not have leash laws.

Answer 4

There is laws to protect people from dog owners who are not responsible. This woman should not own a dog because she can't seem to take care of her dog. Call the ASPCA or animal control place a complaint about the dog owner. It's owners like this that make it hard on us that own breeds that are "bad" dogs to have a hard time and even get their dogs breed band.

Answer 5

Check out the leash law in the town. If there is one, then you need to call the police.... each and every time this happens! Even if it's in their yard, it still has to be restrained if your city has a leash law. Good luck.

Answer 6

call the cops,this is what happened to me,our neibors dog got loose and I was with my friend and he jumped up on her cut her up and tore off the skin aroun her eye,almost tearing out her eye,and the next week the dog out loose and came and killed my other dog and so I took a shovel and hit it and knocked it out then brought it back to the owner and said "KEEP YOUR DOG ON YOUR PROPERTY OR IM SHOOTING IT!" and then I called the cops they took the dog and put it to sleep because it hurt my friend really bad and my friends mom sued the owneers of the dog.

Answer 7

Just try leading it on to your lawn then take a BB gun to it cause it's in your yard. My dad uses a BB gun to get these evil schnauzers of our lawn. Or u can complain to the police and they'll put it to sleep if u can get more complaints on it.

Answer 8

get the police inform, ok , is simple they get the dog owner to take care of the issue

Answer 9

as long as it's not a police dog, if your life is in danger you can shoot it. that sound bad but if the dog could potentially kill you, you can protect yourself with lethal force.

Answer 10

does it ever leave the driveway, he is just warning you to stay the hell out of his yard. unless invited.