Can I hit someone elses dog is I think they are a threat?

Question

I live in a very small, country town in the middle of nowwhere. We do have a city ordinance against allowing your dog to roam around off a leash, but we have no police department or animal control in this town. Even the mayor doesn't keep his dog on a leash or in a fenced yard. When I take my dog for a walk I have had alot of dogs come charging at us barking and growling. I started carrying a stick to protect myself and my dog. If I do hit someones dog, is this considered animal cruelty or protection? It doesn't do any good to say anything to the people around here. There are alot of good ol' boys who think that dogs should be free to explore.

If you are saying that this is wrong, then what exactly am I suppose to do? Let someones dog attack me or my dog?

Answer 1

You have the right to protect yourself as well as your dog. These people that you speak of obviously have no regard for other people and no regard for their own pets. Pets that run loose at are risk of being injured or killed as well as at risk of injuring or killing something else. Advise the owners of these dogs that they are being extremely irresponsible owners and that you will pursue further action (meaning you will sue them silly) if you or you dog is ever injured by one of their dogs.

Answer 2

You would have to check and see what your local laws are as they are different everywhere...but, becareful about the dogs you are hitting because if you are in a small town you don't want to become known as the local dog beater either! Some people will just not see it from your point of view especially the dog owners who allow their dogs to roam free...small towns have a way of turning things and making you look like the agressive one. And if a dog as any kind of a pre disposed medical condition (like you know right?!) and hitting it causes a reaction of any sort...you might be able to be held liable for that in some places....Dont' really know but that is probably what you might wanna find out...(my dog had epilepsy and if someone raised he hand at him he freaked and had a seizure! he was abused before we got him) also, you don't really wanna take the chance of the dog turning on you or your dog....might wanna find a new walking route...or drive slightly outta town and find somewhere...It's unfortunate that you should have to change your patterns but if the mayor is doing it...clearly the good ol boys around you are not going to change...sad but mostly true! Good Luck! Keep safe both of you!

Answer 3

yes you can for sure - the owner might try to hit you back unfortunately and often the rotten dog will attack you if you hit him or kick him and chances are the beast will dodge your attempt to hit or kick - best thing to do is get a hefty but not unwieldy sized strong foot long or so stick or small bat-type weapon and at least act like you are going to hit the dog when it comes at you - aggresses. in the many many hundreds of miles i ran training for middle distances in high school in rural area and then in not so many nasty dogs on loose in brentwood once i was in college running but anyway, a rolled newspaper often was enough of a deturrent but whatever the case do not run - you must act fearless like you are pissed off and going to give it a whoopin like you know you can and the dog should retreat. it really sucks when this does not work and the dog is a serious jerk - the owner most likely is also a scary jerk-off, too. dont be afraid to mace or pepper spray dogs that chase or threaten you enough to deserve it. i actually never ended up using it but for a while in high school there was this one damned dog that i started carrying pepper spray for but never used it. the owner was a real creep that my dad confronted and wanted to clobber but was not the fighting type my dad - more the cerebral type that got people with words usually well written in the form of some civil action against the wrong party.

Answer 4

If you hit a roaming dog you may be charged with animal cruelty, especially if there are few or no witnesses. It's more common than you think - a lousy dog owner lets the dog out the front door, it attacks someone down the street comes home crying and the owner screams bloody murder. If there are no witnesses to the incident then you have to justify the amount of force you used to repel the dog. It could get very messy.

I suggest going to your nearest hunting supply store. Hunters use doe urine to attract bucks to their hunting stand. The supply stores sell the urine in spray bottles. Everytime a loose dog approaches you spray them with doe urine. If they start coming home smelling the owners learn not to let them roam.

Answer 5

Short answer is yes... you have the right to protect yourself under the law. If the dogs are off leash and there is a leash law in your municipality you could never be convicted of anything... short of the town comming together and saying you beat the dog without reason.

You don't have to wait for the dog to bite you, but if it's not attacking you, you could insite it to actually attack.

Answer 6

Yes you can. If you feel threatened, menaced or fearful for yourself or your pet, you are protected by law to defend your and yours. No one else's dog has the right to infringe on your right to enjoy a walk especially if your dog is on a leash. I would consider maybe some pepper spray...it burns but will not cause lasting harm that a mal-aimed blow could cause. Why should you pay for someone else's irresponsibility? You shouldn't and you won't; just don't use force unless you truly feel compelled to for your or your dog's safety.

Answer 7

No, I had a worse situation. I had 2 dogs, both a million/4 wolf ... or perhaps as the female were given pregnant, the male gave her all of his 'treats' and enable her 'eat all she needed' formerly he'd ever even commence to eat. Your 'livingroom dogs' is terrified of the different dogs, so that you'll feed them both, one after the different, contained in the kitchen or on the porch, at diverse situations, and stay with each dogs even as they eat and %. the bowl up once they're executed. The dogs will commence to get alongside extra constructive, and your livingroom carpet will stay purifier.

Answer 8

I'd whack the hell out of them if they were coming at me. I love dogs, I have 3 of my own but I know what u'r talking about. I also live in the same type town. I'm not sure about the laws but if they are a threat to you then I would say that you would have every right to defend yourself.

Answer 9

You are well within your rights to defend yourself and protect your dog. If your dog is leashed and their dog is running at large. Then they are the ones at fault.

Answer 10

Letting dogs roam free and letting them bark at you is not a threat , dog communicate through barking . You should only hit a dog if they come at you and our %100 endangering your safety. Try carrying a squirt bottel full of water and squirt this at them.