Our dog was attacked by a neighbors dog. This is the third dog that has been attacked by this dog, plus a paperboy. We have a hearing with the police. What should we tell them?

Question

Hi Ed -- I discovered your web site while doing some research on dog bites and dog behavior. You certainly take a no-nonsense approach in your advice to people, so I'm wondering what you would have to say about the following situation.

    My husband and I own a three-year-old Shetland sheepdog. She was attacked in early April by our neighbor's dog, a large female mixed-breed dog (probably part German shepherd). We were out doing yard work and had our dog tied in our front yard, when the neighbor's dog got loose from its fenced-in yard. Our dog was bitten four times and basically torn apart by this dog. If we had not been right there and stopped the attack within seconds, I think she would have been killed.

    Now we have learned this was the third time our neighbor's dog has attacked another dog. She twice attacked another neighbor's Golden Retriever and also went after a border-collie mix in the neighborhood. None of these dogs was as severely injured as my dog. This dog has also been cited for chasing a paperboy and knocking the kid off his bike.

    Obviously, we think this dog is a big danger in our neighborhood and have requested the city order it removed. Now we are coming up for a dog hearing because the owners want to keep the dog. They have hired an animal behaviorist (who I don't think knows the entire history of this dog) and that behaviorist has made "recommendations." I won't know what those recommendations are until the hearing takes place. This dog is confined behind a fence, never walked, never played with, and has minimal (if any) obedience training. When she gets loose from the fence when the kids leave the gate open, other dogs are fair prey.

    The police captain who will serve as the hearing officer tells me he hopes we can come up with "solutions." The only solution we want to see is this dog gone from our neighborhood where there are many small children, two new puppies, and other dogs. Am I crazy, or do you think there are other "solutions" to consider here?

    I would appreciate your "blunt" advice.

    Joanne

Accepted Answer

While this is a problem with the dog (being dog aggressive it is an owner problem. These people basically have a dangerous dog. You also need to sue them in small claims court for the vet bills. This is the first step. You need to find out (if you can) who their home owners insurance is with and then write them a letter warning them that these people have a dangerous dog.

    The solution is to put up a normal chain link 6 foot by 12 foot fence in their fenced in back yard. Keep the dog confined there. They should also agree to demonstrate to the animal control officer that the dog is obedience trained to come when called when there is another dog on leash in the street in front of their house. Make sure the dog is muzzled when that happens - because it will attack - you can be sure of it. Be creative here - go in with a game plan. If the dog is obedience trained then they need to be willing to demonstrate this in the presence of another dog. He'll make them work the dog on leash with another dog present that is on leash. If their dog is not dangerous lets see it work on leash.

    Your dog will have mental problems with other dogs for the rest of her life. Odds are she herself will now show aggression to other dogs because of this attack. Once attacked they NEVER forget - kind of like a woman being raped. Same concept.