My neighbor, who is by no means a bright bulb in the first place, owns two of the most untrained dogs I have ever come across. Tonight, right outside of my front door, one of her dogs came charging at my dog. She generally keeps them off leash and the dogs do not know 'come'. Before I could get in between the two dogs (mine was on leash) my dog got her hackles up and started posturing defensively. As her dog was approaching I grabbed it by the scruff and forcefully threw it away from my dog. Her dog, obviously not used to such forceful expressions of human beings wanting to control their behavior, seemed to react with the typical 'you've just killed me' correction reaction.

Mean while, my neighbor is making a futile effort to have her dog 'come' to her. When she realized that her dog was whimpering she assumed that that defensive posturing of my dog meant that my dog bit hers and that this was my fault because "You train your dog to fight". She backed this up with the claim that her dogs are very sweet and would never hurt anything.

I’m offended at the notion that I would train a dog to fight another. I’m assuming she is making that obviously gregarious accusation because she has seen me doing tug work with my dog. Nevertheless, I don’t think that warrants an accusation of a felony!

A couple of questions at this point –

Should I do anything to legally protect myself if she decides to come back and sue me because she claims that her dog is hurt?

Can I sue her for being an idiot? (ha ha)

had a simular problem, except it was my child. it eventual required a .30 calibre solution.

Find out if your state/city has a leash law. If so, report her EVERY chance you get.

I'd also call animal control or your local county authority and file a complaint about the aggressive behavior. Most municipalities have some way to file an aggressive dog complaint.


Do that ASAP.

I would be documenting communications and talk with animal control but don't count on any real help.

I went through a time when I was charged very aggressively by this big dog when I had to deliver papers to a neighbor of the dog owner.

They found it quite amusing when their monster came charging and biting at my car trying to climb in the window at me.

Eventually I aimed for dog and clipped him a few times and got a nasty letter from their lawyer alleging animal abuse. Shortly after that the dog disappeared so I don't know what happened. That was in Clarke County GA BTW.

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Can I sue her for being an idiot? (ha ha)

being an idiot isn't even illegal...it's ashamed because it should be... :rolleyes: hmmmm...maybe in civil court...i think there's been lawsuits for less... :rolleyes:

Anyway,

Like VanCamp said - call Animal Control EVERY chance you get...if you "bug" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> them they will come...also, everytime you have a problem with this dog call for a deputy from your sheriff office or police dept to come and take a report (make sure they are going to WRITE a report - even ask for the case nbr)...as much as I dislike taking these reports when I am working the road, I will admit that I will quickly follow up with animal control myself if there is an on-going problem...(I tend to do it a little quicker than some anyway - just because situations like this need to be taken care of and make me mad <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> )...

make sure you pick up copies of the reports so that you can provide them to animal control if needed...

Good Luck...I hope you are able to get the problem solved without too much trouble...

I would do all of the above-report her every single time. Plus I would spend the $4.50 and send her a certified letter stating your concerns. Tell her that this experience frightens you and disturbs you greatly. You don't want any problems but you feel the need to protect yourself and your dog whom you love so much etc etc. Although you hope it never comes to it should you be attacked again whether on the street or on your own property you will be prepared to defend your dog and yourself if necessary from free running dogs. Then get some pepper spray(the grizzly bear size) or a nice walking stick or stun gun whatever and always take it with you on walks etc. Derek