What do you think?

Question

Congo a GSD may be put to sleep on Tuesday. His crime: Protecting his family.

A landscaper came to the home and was told to wait, he didn't listen, when the families dogs including Congo started to bark at him he started beating the dog with a metal rake. The owner yelled at him to stop, which prompted him to grab her and throw her to ground. Congo then bit the landscaper resulting in injury to the landscaper.

Congo has since been declared viscious and may be ruled put down this Tuesday.

Should Congo be put down for protecting his family?

Here's one of the links to the story, yes this is really happening;
http://petloverstips.com/ForTheLoveoftheDog/news-updates/dog-may-die-for-protecting-family

Here's another one, they are planning a rally Tuesday morning at the Princeton Township courthouse at 10am, if you can make it please go. I'm to far away to go myself.
http://www.nj1015.com/personalities/casey-rossi.shtm

I found a more detailed article here http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1194498519125940.xml&coll=5&thispage=1

Iluvtorofl, if you read the full story, the workers were not expected for another hour, and were told to wait.

Answer 1

No, Congo should not be put down. The idiot landscaper should have waited like he was told. I would be LIVID if someone beat my dog. It would take everything in my power to not beat that person. You do NOT mess with my dogs. What a horrible story. My heart breaks for Congo and his poor family. Have they tried to fight it?

Answer 2

Of course not! The dog was 1) on his own property, 2) being personally attacked, 3) his pack was being attacked, and 4) his owner was being attacked! The dog is a hero, not vicious! There is ample evidence (small children playing with him on his property, etc.) that his innate temperament is good. And even if it were not, the fault is the gardener's not the dog's. The man was asked (in his own language) to STAY OUT until the dogs were put away. But he comes back anyway. He is as much at fault as the dog.

The judge's comment that the response by the dog was disproportionate to what the gardener did is stupid. The dog did not immediatly attack... he only attacked after several attacks were made on him and his pack and his people. Once that happens a dog should not be expected to say "OK one bite should be enough." He is a dog, not a human.

This judge is an idiot!

And the gardener should not be given an insurance award beyond workers comp. I think the lady should sue him for assault! Why did the DA not prosecute him?

Answer 3

Sorry but my hispanic landscaper knows I have dobermans and will wait in the truck until he SEES that the dogs have been put away, even though he has met and pet my dogs. He doesn't speak any english but gets it... He also comes to the door every single time he comes over and lets me know he's here BEFORE going into my back yard. I cant believe they didnt press trespassing and assault charges on him. In any case, I believe dog bites are rarely the dogs fault and at most the owners should be held responsible not the dog. In this case it sounds like the dog is not a vicious killer but a protective family dog acting in a way he was bred for and expected to act. And sorry but the majority of animal control officers I have had contact with are not the know all beings people think they are, it's been documented that in many cases they cant even identify breeds (referring to Animal Control officers and BSL involving pittbulls). I dont care what type of "training" or authority they have, they are more often than not cynical toward dogs and dont care about animals welfare. You have to PROD them to even check out abuse cases. I've even followed a dog that was on a highway (from the access road) and called animal control 5 times in one hour during business hours to come get the dog and it ended up getting hit, I stayed there and waited another 30 mins and nobody showed up.... so his word isnt necissarily one I would take in any circumstance.

Answer 4

I completely agree with what Shanna said. Thats the same way that I feel about it.
I have a rotti/chow mutt that is one of the best dogs that I've ever had or known.
*He would have reacted the exact same way.*
He is extremely protective, very smart, and very affectionate.
He's a house dog, lives with a toy poodle, 6 cats, 2 birds, a hamster and a rabbit. And of course our two boys that he has loved and protected since they were very small.
He is NOT a dangerous or vicious dog.
Even his veterinarian and staff love him. They understand him. He trusts me and knows that he is suppose to be there
when he goes because I took him there, and he knows to behave. They know that he is not a bad dog.

Heres the thing, I think the general population that truly dont understand dogs do not accept that a dog is an 'animal' that THINKS like an ANIMAL. They expect dogs to know what is going on and dont understand that they dont think like humans do. The way humans see things happening is NOT the way the dog SEE's it happening.

To the dog it looked as though his home and the ones that he trusts was being threatened. He was doing his job. He was protecting. When people learn that dogs DONT think like we do then things will make more sense. Unfortunatly certain individuals in this world will never accept that, and refuse to try and understand the way a dog thinks.

Certain dogs, (especially certain breeds) have an instinct that was bred into them to protect the ones that they trust.
Just like humans have a job to do, and some take their job much more seriously than others.

This story really makes me sick. I keep imagining how the owners must feel. Its just SO wrong.

Answer 5

Heck no!!

Oh, of COURSE Congo should be put down! After all, the landscaper beat up his owner in pure self-defense. Biting at ALL, even in self defense, means that the dog is of course VICIOUS! Poor landscaper didn't deserve to get bitten. (Being sarcastic here.)

How about this: we shoot the landscaper, let Congo go free, and we're all happy. Or at least land the landscaper in jail for throwing the woman to the ground and beating up the dog.

Answer 6

No, he shouldn't. That landscaper was an idiot. Whenever anyone comes to my house, cable guy, whoever, they ALWAYS know to wait for me to put my dog somewhere before they come in the house, or to the backyard. My dog isn't aggressive, but I'm sure through experience on their job, they know to never chance it.

And I don't understand this landscaper. First, he didn't listen when the dog owners told him to Wait, so they could put the dogs up. Once the dogs started barking, he started hitting them with a metal rake, Then the landscaper through the dog owner to the ground... What the hell was he doing? I think the landscaper should be declared vicious.

Answer 7

Absolutely not. In fact the landscaper should be sued for injuring the dog and trespass. What is wrong with you people? Is there no common sense left in this world?

Stop this nonsense immediately.

Kathryn Hillis, California

Answer 8

It's not Congo's fault. The landscaper beat the dogs with his rake. He deserves to be bitten. Dogs attack when they are threatened, which is like this scenario. He's not vicious. He's just doing his job.

Answer 9

No he shouldnt be put down the lanscaper should of listened to the owners...I hate people who dont listen when it comes to things like these... But its ok to beat the dog with a rake? That was congos yard...

Answer 10

If that is really the true story of what happened then no the dog shouldn't be put down.

It is like saying if someone beat me with a metal rake I could go to jail for defending myself. Doesn't make sense does it?