I need some advice on dealing with my neighbor's two large somewhat aggressive and sometimes unleashed dogs. They are mixed breed, maybe 50lbs each. I have already put in complaints to my apartment complex and they are taking legal action against my neighbor because the dogs are over the apartment complex's size limit and the owners do not have permission to have them. But until the problem is solved (2+ weeks), I have to deal with them. The dogs are left on the patio during the day and bark at all passerby. I have a 10-lb chihuahua mix who is somewhat reactive and he will bark back. Sometimes the woman walks both dogs at the same time without a leash in the common grassy area, and the other night I was coming in with my dog while this was happening and we were basically ambushed. Both large unleashed dogs approached me, I snatched up my small dog and tried my best not to panic. After a terrifying minute or two of the big dogs rubbing against my leg while my poor chihuahua snarled at them in my arms, the owner somehow called them back. I think she leashes them now, but I'm still pretty scared. What should I do if larger unleashed dogs approach me and my small dog again? I won't feel ok taking him on a walk until I know how to handle it in case it happens again. Thank you so much in advance!

"The dogs are left on the patio during the day and bark at all passerby"

Call your local Animal Control.

 Quote: will rambeau

"The dogs are left on the patio during the day and bark at all passerby"

Call your local Animal Control.

Unfortunately, I looked into this. The county animal control website says that they can't do anything about "nuisance barking," that there may be local ordinances handled by the police. The police say that you have to have 3 residents get together and sign some kind of petition and only then will they issue a written complaint of some kind (which doesn't seem to have any force). I'll keep pursuing this end, though. Even though I'm scared of them, I feel bad for the dogs.

Ms. Wilson,

If you feel threatened and in jeopardy by the actions of the dogs, the dog warden and/or cops usually have to make a report having to do with a 'dangerous' dog. Usually it is a good thing to have such a report on file some where if you feel truly threatened, etc.

Dogs bark and owners often don't do anything about it. Such is the stuff of modern life.

Thank you very much. I was thinking of getting some pepper spray, I'm going to order some today. The barking doesn't bother me much (my own dog does a bit of barking himself) but mostly I was concerned that it indicated how frustrated and angry the dogs are becoming from being left out on the porch like that. I'm also going to start carrying my cell phone without fail just in case, and I think I'll make a report to animal control in addition to the apartment management. I will also be much more aware of our surroundings... being taken by surprise like that was the worst part. Thanks again!

If you have a local gun shop, they usually carry good pepper spray. The one I go to is where the local cops pick up theirs. It's a mixture of pepper and CS gas.

Thank you John, I definitely want the good stuff and will look into gun shops.

Thanks, everyone - good news. Right around the time the apartment manager was going to serve the dogs' owners with a legal notice, a man who appeared to be a real owner came and took them and their food, toys etc. away. I guess the neighbors were just long-term (and irresponsible) dogsitters. The good news is that the whole thing scared me into being more aware of the possibility that loose dogs could approach me and mine on our walks and I'm much more observant of our surroundings now. Thanks!