I know there's a lot of dangerous dog stuff here today, but here's a little twist.?

Question

A friend lives in a neighborhood with at least three pit bulls similar to her own (varying degrees of white and brown). In Nov., a woman walking her husky (which she walks past my friend's house at least once a day for the past year) was attacked by one of these pit bulls a block from my friend's house. Yes, Sabbath (my friend's dog) barks at this husky, but it's one of those, "Hey! There's a dog! Another Dog! Hey! I want to go for a walk too!" barks. Anywho, law enforcement knocks on my friend's door asking where her dog is, and it was just involved in an attack. So long story short, they took Sabbath, hauled him off to lockup, labeled him a dangerous dog, etc. Here's the thing though. Witnesses say they sprayed the attacking dog with mace. We've seen the pics of the husky that was attacked. No mace or blood on Sabbath, but this woman said it was the one, so off he goes. No one seems worried about getting the dog that really did it.

What do YOU think?

Luckily I had spent the night at her house when all this happened, so I heard everything she was told and watched the "identification" by the victim. First thing you're told when identifying someone in a line up is "Take your time." She took about 3 seconds of a glance into the cage in back of the animal control truck. We've got statements from witnesses (who weren't asked to fill out reports until we put out fliers asking for information) and animal control said "There were witnesses?" Well, yeah, it was about 8:00 on a sunday morning.... *mutter*

Answer 1

Mine aren't pits but I need to stand in front of the door if they see dogs go by their house.

I am so sorry to hear that and it does burn my a.ss. There would have been signs of mace or pepper spray on the dog if he was sprayed. If your in an area like me where the police feel more comfortable harrassing the innocent verses actuall protecting the innocent from the evil I can see this happening.

Answer 2

It is a fact that eye wittiness statements are unreliable. The bite marks on the Husky may provide some kind of evidence, they could be measured and compared to Sabbaths bite. Another suggestion is to take pictures of all the dogs in the neighborhood that have a similar look and have the huskies owner do a 'Photo line up". Usually the Animal Regulations Dept will do some kind of temperament evaluation to determine if the dog in question is dangerous, has this been done?

Answer 3

Something similar happened to my buddy. I think it depends on the county and you have to build a relationship with the authorities so they will help you. Generally speaking in the pet world, it's guilty until proven innocent. The first time the neighbors called and they got a ticket etc... my friend was fined $250 in court. Her dog did not do what they said he did.

Luckily, the neighbor was psycotic about calling animal control and 911 everyday after that court date, so eventually the truth did come to light. Never got the $250 back.

Go to court with undisputed proof that it could not have been that dog. You cannot provide enough detail.

One thing - the bites on the person's husky are like fingerprints to humans. Each dog has it's own unique jaw print. Have your pet's taken and compare with the medical records the husky's owner has. They probably have pictures of the bite if it was serious enough to call the authorities.

Answer 4

Hopefully, there was another person in your friends home, or a close neighbor who is willing to testify in a court of law that your friends dog was in the house at the time of this attack, and it was not this dog that did the attacking. Other than this, unfortunately, pit bulls have gotten a bad rap, and it appears that your friend is going to have to suffer the consequences. This is very unfortunate because pit bulls are NOT necessarily a mean dog. The ones that are have been trained to be that way. I wish your friend a good out come on this situation.

Answer 5

That is terrible. It's unfortunate that it was a Pit bull. They have such a bad rap and it really isn't fair to them.
You never hear about the poodle attack. I'd much rather own a Pit Bull than a small dog. Those little guys are vicious. Sharp teeth in an angry mouth!

Answer 6

If there is no blood or mace on Sabbath then obviously he isn't guilty. But some of society doesn't cxare. They don't want to deal with it so they take the first dog to be accused. Sort of the opposite of the innocent until proven guilty, don't you think? No one in this society is innocent until proven guilty anyways. At least they don't treat them like they are. Kind of ironic that the dog's name is sabbath though. Good luck to him! I hope he is proven innocent! But what other dog could it have been? (that is the question now)

Answer 7

Ignorance and media hysteria makes all Pitts appear to be evil in the eyes of the uneducated. Keep fighting for that dog!!!

p.s. You forgot to tell everyone that Sabbath hadn't left your friend's yard, and that the witnesses said that the dog that attacked had cropped ears and was solid white, and Sabbath's ears aren't cropped! Luv Ya anyway!

Answer 8

Get a lawyer...take pictures...round up witnesses...and remember, huskies are dog aggressive too, who's to say that "if" Sabbath really attacked, the husky didn't start it??

Answer 9

That's disgusting! The media made such a bad thing about dogs. What about getting fireworks banned? I am surprised not more attacks happen during fireworks, it is terrifying for most animals.

Answer 10

It's sort of like a lynch mob... as long as something pays for the crime with it's life, then who cares if they even got the right one! It's sad and ridiculous is what it is. I would get a lawyer before it is too late and try very hard to get some real evidence involved.