http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/19/georgia.dog.attack/index.html Sorry to double post but here is another article.

 Quote: Margaret Wheeler

Is this a known ongoing problem in your area? I'm trying to imagine a feral dog problem so severe that this couple could have been killed by a dog pack so near their home.

No, this is not typically an issue here in Athens. Our issues are actually with the large feral cat population thanks to the disposable mentality of the college kids (many, but not all to be fair.. I was a UGA kid once ) that come in and out of Athens. Their dogs flood our shelters here at the end of each semester, but they aren't set loose at least.

Interesting ... this morning when I arrived at work, this incident was being discussed by my coworkers. Turns out that an older lady that works at the bank with me is a long time friend of the man that was feeding the dogs. She was upset that the dogs have been euthanized (I had to disagree with her due to the circumstances and reported conditions of the dogs), she recalled visiting the man many times at the house that's now vacant and seeing the dogs hanging around. She said the dogs would hang around during the visits, but never showed aggression ... they would just lay around while the people sat outside and chit chatted. She apparently did encourage the man to catch and spay/neuter the dogs, but he was just feeding strays he felt bad for and due to his own serious (very sad) medical problems couldn't afford surgeries for dogs that didn't belong to him...

Makes me wonder what happened that tragic night. The Schweder's own animals are being assessed for adoption currently, and so far seem to all have good temperaments and are in good health (they're still trying to catch some of the cats).

Happy birthday Kacie!

That's so sad when good intentions go so bad...

All of this brings up the point that there are dogs living in people's houses as their pets that attack when they get an opportunity. If you live in a city residential area like I do, you can't carry a gun for protection. Kasey has been attacked twice by dogs that saw us walking by and got out the screen door. Luckily they were on the small side and I was able to kick them off him (he's not aggressive at all and just looks at me to defend him - not sure that's so good!), but not before they drew blood. How do you protect yourself? what works that is legal? I've heard pepper spray often makes them mad and more aggressive, plus you risk getting it in your eyes and your own dog's. Some say get a taser and the noise will scare them, but then you have to get right up to their face to make your point.

 Quote: Lori Hall

All of this brings up the point that there are dogs living in people's houses as their pets that attack when they get an opportunity. If you live in a city residential area like I do, you can't carry a gun for protection. Kasey has been attacked twice by dogs that saw us walking by and got out the screen door. Luckily they were on the small side and I was able to kick them off him (he's not aggressive at all and just looks at me to defend him - not sure that's so good!), but not before they drew blood. How do you protect yourself? what works that is legal? I've heard pepper spray often makes them mad and more aggressive, plus you risk getting it in your eyes and your own dog's. Some say get a taser and the noise will scare them, but then you have to get right up to their face to make your point.

Here is an article written by Ed Frawley concerning dog attacks.

http://leerburg.com/dogattack.htm


David