there is a vicious dog in my neighborhood. He has bitten before but his owners still let him out.?

Question

My son and I have been chased by this dog before. (Its a rottweiler) I have called the police and animal control but they will not do anything. I want to go on walks with my son but am afraid of the dog. What can I take with me to protect us? I was thinking mace but was not sure if that would stop the attack quick enough. I dont want to shoot it because I dont want to get in trouble. Any suggestions??

Answer 1

Your local law enforcement needs to step in here. There are laws being broken, but if you are not persistent, they will blow off their job. Call them everyday. Tell them you are on your way to take your son for a walk and you are taking your mace. They will get the hint. There was a dog like this in my neighborhood, and the animal control finally got so tired of the complaints that they fined the owner. Now this dog is DOUBLE FENCED!! It's wonderful. I love dogs, even rottweiler's, but they have a bad reputation. I'm most sorry for this dog who's obviously been trained to attack. This is a crime in itself. I have a friend with a rotty who'd NEVER attack anyone. She's very intimidating when out doors protecting her territory, but inside she's a huge teddy bear. The problem is that this rott that you are dealing with, does not know it's boundries. I'd say Mace works, but how big is your son? Is his face in biting range? If so, drive to another location and then take your walk. This is the kind of thing you will always deal with in a city. Maybe it's time to move to a rural location. If that's not an option, get a rott pup of your own and train it to be a GOOD DOG and then take him on walks with you. If the attacker comes, your son will be safe, but your new dog will protect you. Just a few idea's. If you can't move, or get your own big dog, just keep calling animal control and move your walks to another part of town or something. Best of Luck to you. Please remember the Rottweiler is not the bad one, the owners are at fault. Again, good luck.

Answer 2

If this dog is on your property you have every right to shoot the dog to protect your family and livestock, at least in our area! We would not give it a second thought...
But our law officers (well we have one part time cop, we have to call in the sheriffs) and our one animal control officer is very good at eliminating these kinds of dogs.
One should not be afraid to walk down the street!
What is ironic about your situation is, this is the owners responsibility to take care of his dog. If you live here in America I can not see why the public officials are not taking care of this problem?
Mace and or pepper spray, make sure it gets in the eyes or mouth of the dog... A very loud whistle might work, but might also get you attacked....
Again if you are legal for a concealed weapon or it is on your property I do not see why shooting it would get you in trouble.

I am a dog lover, but some people do not or should not own dogs! (or any other critter).
We know a rancher who shot two golden retrievers who were running his horses into there fences, tore the horses up real good. The fella came onto his ranch looking for his dogs, our friend told him he shot those dogs (this fella was new to our area and thought his dogs could just run wild). The owner was upset but did not offer nor did he pay the vet bills on our friends horses! and our friend did not get in trouble at all. A couple horses were just yearling's, babies....

Answer 3

I have been through the same thing with my younger brother with the pit bull up my street. I take a heavy stick and a cell phone with me. Don't leave your kid unsupervised and keep him close to you at all time. Keep pestering the police and animal control about the dog and hopefully, things will turn around. Try walking another way so you don't go by that house. Mace will stop it but it depends on how big the dog is and how quick you pull it out. What ever you do, don't shot it! It will turn out bad. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Go talk to the owners. See what they have to say about it. Inform them that if their dog bites either you or your son then you are going to sue them and demand that the dog be put down. Try to be nice about it at first and see what the owners say.

If you do go on one of your walks and the dog charges you, don't run; stand your ground and try not to appear threatening. As for a weapon...I'm not sure I've never had a problem with an aggressive dog actually attacking me before. I would suggest a metal bar though something you can stick in the dogs mouth to prevent it from biting your leg or arm. I will also suggest that you don't be the aggressor, in other words don't hit the dog first wait to see what it does yet stay on your guard don't turn your back to it.

Answer 5

If Animal Control won't touch it, shoot it. I know it sounds violent, OK, it is, but what is more valuable, your innocence over killing a dog, or your son being mangled because nobody would take action?

For a little less violent approach, carry a bat and some mace. Dogs can be beat away. If you can stop a dog from seeing or breathing they will back away. Mace should be good for that.

Answer 6

Why do anything ?. If you can afford it, get a lawyer and sue that owner, let the lawyer do the work. Just make sure that the dog owner pays enough to cover the legal fees so that u make your point for free. Dont use mace on the dog, use it on the owner. Sometimes such drastic measures work better.

Answer 7

I would videotape the dog out in the neighborhood and be very obvious about it so the dog's owners saw me doing it, then tell them I was going to the police. Go to the police with the video and keep going back until they actually do something. If anyone gets hurt, you'll have the video and I would tell the cops that. Knowing they are on video can make people do things they might not want to do.

Answer 8

Pepper spray or mace would be just fine.
Be sure to aim for the dogs eyes.
If the dog is loose and animal control will not do anything about it there is a problem. I would most defenitely mace the dog if it chased me. And the owner should not be letting it run loose. Most places have laws about loose dogs.

Answer 9

I'm so sorry for what occurred on your puppy. My miniature poodle has been attacked 4(!) occasions via massive puppies. Each time we had been going for walks and he was once on a leash. One puppy was once a husky and the others had been German Shepherds. Not as soon as did I blame the puppy. Each of the house owners was once irresponsible and didn't restrain their puppies. One jumped the fence (two times) - he was once by no means walked and left within the garden always. One GSD ran external by way of an open door and the opposite was once gambling within the entrance backyard unrestrained. I said all of those assaults to animal offerings. They best acted at the husky after the moment assault. My factor is that a few puppy house owners get puppies for ornament and spend no time on socialization or coaching. The youngsters wish the puppy or the breed is standard on the second or it fulfils a few macho want. They do not suppose approximately the puppy's demands - the desire for undertaking, field and socialization. I agree that a few massive and (possibly) competitive puppies must be regulated and via that I do not imply BSL. I imply that the house owners must ought to cross a few qualifications first. I love puppies - all puppies - and I hate to look this type of factor in view that it most commonly implies that the puppy is blamed which both ends up in euthanization or breed banning. I do not know what to advise to you. Replacing your puppy isn't an answer. Suing does now not get your puppy again. If your neighbour feels unhealthy approximately what occurred he must construct a greater fence. If he does not then you make a decision in case you wish to sue however in my view that could simply be performed for spite.

Answer 10

If the dog is on the owner's property than you have no say in what the dog does and any kind of defense you pose against it will be taken to court. However, if the dog is off of the owner's property, it is illegal in every sense of the word. And if he chases you, you are allowed to do anything in your power to get him away from you and your child. It is called self-defense. If the police and animal control will not do anything about it, you can definitely sue them for negligence should anything occur. Your best defense against a Rottweiler is a blow horn that are used at such things as public swimming pools. The loud noise will scare him in his tracks. :)

PS Running/Showing fear of the animal will only provoke it, and mase will only anger the animal more and cause him to attack to defend himself.