Dog attack question?

Question

Ok, I was walking my pitbull, on a leash, about an hour ago to the mailbox in my apartment complex. All of the sudden, another pitbull who was on a leash that was not being held by the owner rushed up to my dog and attacked it. My dog was good and stayed by my side like she was trained, but when the dog was attacking her, she did fight back. I was trying to get control of my dog and in the process my hands are cut up from rope burn on the leash. I was so mad, that I just gathered my stuff up (obviously the mail was dropped all over the ground)...and got my dog away from that crazy dog. Now, I'm starting to wonder if I should call my apt. manager to let her know what happened, just in case that woman...who didn't even say sorry, btw tries to do something crazy. I took pictures of the deep rope burns on my hands, not to sue or anything just to prove that I had the leash, while she didn't. So should I call, or should I not be worried? My dog is fine, btw, don't know about hers.

And please don't say that Pits are bad, mine is a very sweet girl who is well trained and never has attacked anything. If she wasn't there that un-trained dog would have gone after me.

Answer 1

You need to call your local Animal Control department right now. First, the owner of the other dog is in violation of the law (provided your community has such laws in place) that governs dangerous dogs, and was probably in violation of local leash laws as well. A Pitbull, although they can be very sweet (I had one, great dog) is considered a "dangerous breed" and in fact many areas have laws just for owners of Pits and Rotts. Second, the attacking dog has either not been trained for socialization, or has been trained to attack indescriminately. In any event, its owner is liable to you for injuries suffered by yourself and your dog, and the dog needs to be removed from that owner for good. Get Animal Control out there right now, or the next attack by that dog could be against a child!

Answer 2

First, depending on what your local and state laws are, and this varies from place to place, the owner of the dog that attacked yours is liable for whatever damages the dog may do. Of course, since the dog was on a leash, it would be argued by a good defense attorney that the owner was in control or trying to control the animal. Be that as it may, she wasn't and you and your dog were the victims of an attack. Since you weren't injured, you don't have any damages to recover from the owner. Depending on what your state laws are, you may have a responsibility to report the attack to the police. You should check with your local Animal Control to see what you should do. Since the dog wasn't under the owner's control and showed obvious vicious tendencies, you should definitely report it to the apartment complex management.

This probably isn't the first time the animal has done this and in order to keep vicious dogs out of your community, you definitely need to report the incident to the apartment complex management.

Answer 3

I'd definitely call Animal Control, but I wouldn't contact the apt. manager just yet. The manager might ban pitbulls or all dogs from the apts. in a bid to remain 'fair and evenhanded'.
If you feel compelled to talk to the manager, then DO plant the idea in their head that a pet owner with a pet that attacks somebody or another animal, that is not secured on a leash, faces eviction, or the dog must go.

Answer 4

File a report with the local animal care and control or police since she can sue you for any harm her dog received. This will back you up in court or if you decide to call the apartment manager.