Pit Bull--is ther anything I should do?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

A house very near mine has always had 2 large dogs. Because the city dumpsters in the alley are placed at the back of this yard, I found out years ago that those dogs bark a lot, but they really seems to be nice guys just doing their jobs as dogs. I was not afraid of them. However, a few weeks ago, a new dog turned up in that yard.

I'm told by other neighbors the dog is a pit bull. The only times I have seen it, the owner, a new guy at the house himself, has been with the dog, holding it back and telling it "no" as I put my trash in the dumpster. I never paid much attention to the dog but the man next door to me told me that this pit bull is scarred up. That is scary to me, as I have heard that there are circles of dog fighting right in my city. Well, I didn't dwell on that much until....

One day in the last week I noticed that the two dumpsters had been moved from the edge of that yard, down the alley to behind someone else's yard. These are huge, heavy dumpsters that would have required special equipment to move, so I knew the city must have done it. I wondered whether someone had requested the dumpsters be moved due to the dog.

And then, yesterday, a neighbor pointed out to me that a new section of fence had been put in at one place in the pit bull's yard where the original fence was about 8 inches lower than the rest. He told me that someone had been walking their terrier through the alley when the pit bull jumped the fence to get at the terrier. Evidently, the pit bull owner was not far behind and managed to get his dog.

Okay, now I am scared. I do think the dog could get over the remaining section of fence. I am out in that alley a lot, as my new garden is bounded on one side by the alley. My garage is on the alley. I do have to walk through the alley to get to the trash dumpster.

I am generally not fearful of dogs, but I think caution and preparedness is in order this time.

What should I do to protect myself?

[zakity]

Depending on your state, maybe a gun, pepper spray, or a taser.

[disneysteve]

A baseball bat would probably work, too. I've got zero tolerance for this. People need to keep their dogs properly restrained at ALL times. Letting them run loose in a yard with a fence low enough to jump over is NOT properly restrained, especially for a vicious attack dog.

[PrincessPerky]

have you spoken to the owner?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

have you spoken to the owner?

I've found that folks who own pit bulls and don't see the need to keep them restrained aren't generally the type with whom you can have an intelligent conversation. The tend to side with the dog in any dispute.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Not since before the dog got out, so I have not asked him whether his dog is to be feared or asked him if he can guarantee the dog is now secure. I did not see the dog out either. In the past, I have only seen the dog with the owner and the owner with the dog. I'll admit, I'm a bit afraid to even go around the block and knock on the front door.

[PrincessPerky]

What if the owner rescued him?

Though if your impressions (being around him, I am not) are that he is fighting the dog, then I can see not wanting to talk, but would think talking before the dog attacks would be better than waiting till it does.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

What if the owner rescued him?

Though if your impressions (being around him, I am not) are that he is fighting the dog, then I can see not wanting to talk, but would think talking before the dog attacks would be better than waiting till it does.

Yes, I had thought that it could be possible he is a rescue dog. But only from what I've read on the internet, I had the impression that people who participate in organized rescue programs are very well educated about their particular kinds of dogs. I would think a pit bull rescue person would recognize that such a big dog as this one needs a higher fence. Actually they need a stronger fence, too. One part of the fence on the side of the yard is just a stapled together, unpainted lattice panel.

And ifthis dog is a rescued fighter, then all the more are precautions and adequate fencing necessary. I think only a private rescue group would place a dog that actually had been a fighter and they would probably verify to the max that the dog was going to a good owner who had the dog and other people's well-being in mind. There would just be too much chance that they would be placing the dog back into the same circle of owners from which it came. And I don't know for sure, but I doubt the Humane Society, Animal Protective Association (both operate adoption centers here), or the public pounds would even allow the adoption of a pit bull who had scars which indicate it probably had been in the pit.

[PrincessPerky]

Poor dog

[mom-from-missouri]

I'd keep mace in the car and by the trash to remind me to take it when I got out of car or took out the trash. I know 2 people who have had very bad experiences with these dogs. I'd be worried too.

How many dogs total does he have now? Does your city limit how many a person can have? If so, a call to city hall may resolve it.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Well, one year and ten months later, I have some updates on this dog .

After some months, the owner put up an 8 foot chain link fence set inside, about 15 feet from the original fence line, parallel to the alley. However it was a non-professional, sloppy installation with the posts just set cockeyed into the soil, not secured in concrete. In short, it was still flimsy and the shorter fences still remained on the side, so I was still fearful.

Last year, I saw very little of the dog, so I relaxed quite a bit. In recent months I have not seen the pit bull, nor either of the other dogs at all.

HOWEVER...yesterday while out working in my garden, the block captain for the street on which the pit bull owner lives stopped to chat. She told me that the pit bull had gotten out the front door and attacked our letter carrier! Her shoulder was ripped, as well as her bicep. Evidently the block captain witnessed the attack, which was bloody and of course required an ER visit. The block captain neighbor told me that the dogs were gone now, but I did not understand if she meant they had been seized by the law, or simply moved elsewhere.

I also did not understand when this happened. It was kind of a quick conversation with another neighbor coming over to hear the story, so I did not get to ask my questions before the block captain moved along; she was walking her own dog.

When it happened and where the dogs supposedly went to is a concern to me, as I'm not convinced the dogs aren't still there. And it is a tiny house for 3 dogs to be hidden in all day. I mean _if_ they are hidden. I think they might be. About a month ago, before I heard about the attack, I saw the owner out pooper scooping his yard. And can you believe he threw some of the stuff over the fence to the yard next door??!! I also see even today that his bright yellow pooper scooper device is still leaned against a shed, as though ready for use. So are the dogs there and only let out after dark, or something? In the warmer weather I should be able to tell, as these people have never been good at cleaning up after their dogs. God, what a neighbor!

[terces]

I would expect that if the attack happened that a police report would have been filed.

At the least couldn't you contact your block captain to ask the questions you have.

[elizabeth9]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

A baseball bat would probably work, too. I've got zero tolerance for this. People need to keep their dogs properly restrained at ALL times. Letting them run loose in a yard with a fence low enough to jump over is NOT properly restrained, especially for a vicious attack dog.

Stop saying that pit bulls are attack dogs. They aren't!!! Just because the dog gets excited to see people and he can't constrain him, doesn't make the dog bad as much as the owner has no business owning a dog, especially a BIGGER dog he can't control. I've been around several pit bulls and I've had toddler around pit bulls, and they are GREAT dogs. There are some idiot owners. sure.

Unfortunately, a
large amount of attention has been brought to the fact that the Pit Bull
was originally created for fighting other dogs in the pit. Since the breed
was selectively bred for and excelled at this task, there is a common
assumption that fighting must be all for which the breed is good. The
truth of the matter is that the Pit Bull is one of the most versatile of
canines, capable of excelling at just about any task his owner asks him
to complete. This breed is routinely used for: obedience trialing,
conformation showing, weight pull, Schutzhund (a German sport which
requires dogs to perform in obedience, tracking and protection phases of
a competition), agility, and have even been known to participate in
herding trials, search and rescue work, and a variety of other tasks
including police and armed services work. But fanciers will argue that the
task this breed performs best of all is that of beloved companion.

[photo]

Originally Posted by elizabeth9

Stop saying that pit bulls are attack dogs. They aren't!!!

Tragically, a pregnant woman was mauled to death by a pit bull

Darla Napora: Pregnant woman dies after being mauled by pet dog in living room | Mail Online


And, a 4-year-old girl was mauled to death by a pit bull

Girl clung to mum's leg as dog attacked


And that's only today's news.

[GrimJack]

I always carried a small pill bottle black pepper with me; locally I was called the pepper guy cus I broke up a couple of dog fights. Broke up a couple 'fights' - also was useful when I had to take late night metro busses.

[guyinva]

I am a dog walker and carry pepper spray with me all the time, including on jobs. It is for the protection of myself and any dogs I walk or may encounter. Unfortunately these days the threat can be either way. I control the dogs I am responsible for, but if I am walking a dog that is dog aggressive and someone else's 'well-behaved' little something is off-leash and comes running up to the dog I am walking, it will get sprayed because that is better than a dog fight. I have also heard stories and experienced one case of a dog aggressive dog off leash or otherwise uncontrolled coming up to a dog I was walking and going after it.

I also am a concealed handgun permit holder and carry all the time (unless posted otherwise). I am dog lover, but if it came do to it I would shoot a dog if it was a threat to my personal safety.

Pit bulls are hit or miss. We can't generalize that they are all blood thirsty fighters, but we also cannot generalize that they are all the kind, child-safe ones being victimized by a stereotype. It is not a stereotype because it is 100% wrong. It is a breed that, like many others, when they are bad they are VERY bad. The bad ones are a threat to public safety, especially when in the hands of owners who cannot control them. I worked at an animal hospital for almost a year and a few of the absolute worst dogs were pits (probably 3 of the worst 5), others were: German shepherds, rottweilers, dalmation, chows, chihuahuas, and dachshunds. All of these breeds are either the best dog you could ask for OR a public menace.

In my opinion there are far too many well-natured, loving, non-threatening dogs out there being put to sleep every day to warrant keeping any of these risks around.