Wow this is really a testament to the fact that BSL laws are bull*hit. If the dog was a pitbull it would have been criminal. Since it wasn't it's therefore not a vicious dog. WTF? http://stopbsl.com/2009/10/08/butler-twp-oh-bsl-treats-victims-unequally/

Michelle I know you feel strongly about this. I don't see this as an example of how BSL is failing people I see this as an example of a loose dog attacking a dog on a leash. It's just sad that the other dog died.

There are however other things the dachshund's owner *could* do. The first off is to file suit for damages which in this case seem 100% reasonable. If she really wants the other person's dog destroyed you simply need to put a deal out to drop some/all of the monetary charges in exchange for the other person's dog to have it destroyed. One person's property damaging another person's property is a civil matter unless a law is broken and in this case the law seems to be doing what it was designed for.

The only thing breed specific in that state is that pits are already by nature declared a vicious dog which is a BSL argument. But in this case it is equal in all other ways because any other dog no matter what size or breed would have been declared vicious, given one more chance, then destroyed.

Micheel,
This is a family type site, watch the language, please.

Will Rambeau
Moderator

Seriously let me clean it up for the kiddies. I see my post needed many more asterises. What I think is Bovine Excrement is the thought that pitbulls are so viscious that you can be charged with criminal charges. If the dog had been a pitty the owner would have been charged. If not in this case many Breed Specific Laws would indeed do this. Do I feel bad for the lady most definately,but, I have been charged by many a snarling dog while walking my own. When my pitty mix was 5 months a Saint Bernard (flatcoated I do believe) was let out of it's back door and made a beline for my dog. I shoved her behind some garbage cans which were behind me to my right and yelled at the dog "Stop" or something to that effect. I remember the feeling more than the words and it was "Heck No, you are not coming near us" Whenever I walk my dogs solo (especially when my female was little) I always try to scout the area and get "the big picture". In this case it was night and a new area. I saw fence posts so knew there was a dog, unfortunately I couldn't see there was no actual fencing to connect the posts. Over the summer a neighbor's pitbull came charging at me when I had all three dogs. I spun them so they're butt's were facing him (they would not have backed down except the black one) and said "Go Away" and he stopped short. I think he took a sniff but I continued my forcful rant. And he went away. According to their neighbor the owner's couldn't get him in the house so they just left him out. Here in Indiana leash laws seem to only apply to me and my vicious dogs. When I found this board I read http://leerburg.com/dogattack.htm
So now I woould probally yell a planned "No" like Ed says. Bottom line all breeds should have the same laws. No preconceived ideas of temprament.

" I spun them so they're butt's were facing him ..... and said "Go Away" and he stopped short."

I don't think I have heard this before, but my gut reaction to this is positive.

Interesting.

I have taught the "Behind me" command to mine, but this also sounds like something to consider.

Wow I like the idea of teaching a "behind me" command. I got the idea from Cesar (I know not everyone likes him)He mentioned sniffing first so I thought if I present their butts he may not be so quick to bite them. That and the female would definately attacked back.

"Behind me" is kinda hard (awkward) for me to teach because I am so uncoordinated about the rewards when they ARE behind me , but I have always been glad I teach this and that we practice it. It doesn't need a major confrontation to make that command useful. We should get back on topic, but tell me if you would like suggestions for teaching it (it's commonly taught).

Challenging commands (to train) always teach us a lot.

The behind is regularly taught to many service dogs. An easy approach is to start by walking beside a solid structure (like a wall or fence)and not give enough room for the dog to walk beside you. As the dog is forced to stay back, you give your command word while making sure there is not enough leash for the dog to cross over to your other side. As soon as the dog is in the right position, mark and/or praise. Then either turn and reward, or if in a wheelchair; move to side so dog can come up and reward. Gradually increase the time and distance traveled before rewarding. Eventually, well after the dog is going behind before being squeezed out; try giving the command away from the structure. Intermittantly work in open or by structure until you are satisfied with the results.

Loose dogs are a big problem for people who are partnered with guide dogs, as well as service dogs. Since driving a vehicle is not an option when you can't see; you can't drive past problem areas to go to a better place for a walk as someone might if they are only going out to give their dog some exercise and/or training. Equiptment, either on the dog or used by the disabled partner also seems to increase other dogs aggressive responses.

I have had so many incidences they are uncountable. Small dogs are the most likely to charge with aggressive barking and will often dart in to nip from the rear. Of the larger breeds, I have had less encounters by pits than by labs by a long shot. More often then not, they can be held off by a threatening voice or if not, chased off by reaching to the ground for a rock. But recently I had the third run in with an aggressive free roaming dog which the ACO didn't want to do anything about. Each incident was worse than the previous, and the last included me getting bit (minor skin break) and needing medical treatment, and my guide dog getting bit (no skin break but bruising and soreness on his hindquarter). The ACO's response was, "If I was having continual problems, why didn't I just leave my guide dog at home?"

No, the dog that attacked wasn't a pit bull, but a mix that might have been mostly cattle dog. He also attacked by circling behind and had us pinned in the road for several minutes while I screamed for help. When the owner finally came, he just yelled at his dog, which responded with even greater aggression. I kept yelling for him to hold his dog, while my GD and I rotated in place trying to face the snarls and barks. He said his dog would bite him if he tried to grab it. Later, the ACO told me that he had gone to see the dog and it was a gentle dog. He implied that he saw no reason to enforce the leash law for this dog because it wasn't aggressive to him. I had to go to the city manager to get the dog picked up. Then the kennel worker under the ACO confirmed that at the animal control shelter the dog never tried to attack anyone. The dog was released in three days without a fine. The owner was requiresd by the judge to buy a dog license when the case came before him, which is supposed to be a requirement for all dogs including guide dogs. Nothing else was done. But the owner came to my door and complained that I had cost him money with my "harrassment"!

 Quote: joy van veen

... The ACO's response was, "If I was having continual problems, why didn't I just leave my guide dog at home?"

No, the dog that attacked wasn't a pit bull, but a mix that might have been mostly cattle dog. He also attacked by circling behind and had us pinned in the road for several minutes while I screamed for help. When the owner finally came, he just yelled at his dog, which responded with even greater aggression. I kept yelling for him to hold his dog, while my GD and I rotated in place trying to face the snarls and barks. He said his dog would bite him if he tried to grab it. Later, the ACO told me that he had gone to see the dog and it was a gentle dog. He implied that he saw no reason to enforce the leash law for this dog because it wasn't aggressive to him. I had to go to the city manager to get the dog picked up. Then the kennel worker under the ACO confirmed that at the animal control shelter the dog never tried to attack anyone. The dog was released in three days without a fine. The owner was requiresd by the judge to buy a dog license when the case came before him, which is supposed to be a requirement for all dogs including guide dogs. Nothing else was done. But the owner came to my door and complained that I had cost him money with my "harrassment"!

I don't think I'm litigious at all, but I think I'd have been on the phone to a lawyer over this. I am shocked and appalled, and not just by the dog-owner. A/C sounds beyond awful.

I assume that there is a leash law?

That is appalling! Sometimes I wonder if these ACO have any dog experience or training at all. Do they even go through the police academy? We have 2 officers for the whole area of Lake County IN so I know they are understaffed as they also run the no kill shelter or have something to do with it. I think they are definately trained as I had to speak with one of them recently and he was very resonable and well informed. I think bigger cities have their own like Gary. That's where my second rescue was picked up from. Too bad you can't carry some kind of cattle prod or a taser. Of course then the owner would probally try and sue you for animal abuse