[yorkietalkjilly]

I'm so sorry to read about Lucy and her attack, surgery, her pain, your anguish and all your problems with that jerk and his dog. I pray other innocents are kept safe from those two. Walking dogs is a dangerous proposition with big, powerful dogs out and about. You are literally on your own when you walk your dog - just you and your dogs and whatever is running the streets. Having learned the hard way, I now never walk a dog without a deterrent and in a case like yours, I'd have protection from that dog as well. Next time he could kill one of your Yorkies before your eyes.

My Jilly at 3 lbs. was attacked by an off-leash 65 lb. Dalmatian and she was the one who lunged forward barking a warning when the big dog was coming toward us and rather than barking back, stopping or veering away or approaching normally, he attacked her viciously, grabbing her up in his jaws and repeatedly biting and shaking her, growling and gnashing. Repeated beatings with a walking stick finally caused him to let her go and back off but he didn't leave our immediate area but stayed and threatened us. I thought Jilly was dying - she was making the worst choking noises and I didn't know what he'd done to her with his jaws. She went into a seizure almost immediately, her head bent backward touching her back and she was was foaming at the mouth, seemed to be having trouble breathing and I was certain she was dying.

We were 3 blocks from home and the dog followed us a block as I ran home with her, stopping to threaten him with the stick when he got too close, and she had surgery that evening to repair her wounds, rehabbed and did fine after that, thank God. She was a trooper and then some and had no lingering psychological big dog fears.

While she was in surgery, I called 911 and reported the attack to AC and wanted to be sure the dog was reported as dangerous in that he didn't just bite once, he attacked and sustained the attack, holding her a prolonged period of time in his jaws until repeatedly beaten with a stick and finally let go but kept lunging at us and no doubt would have re-attacked if I hadn't had a walking stick, followed us threateningly for a block despite my brandishing that stick at him and I didn't know if he'd had his rabies shots. I told them I was scared for the other dogs and kids in the neighborhood because this dog was outside off leash when he attacked, wasn't easily fought off and that those little ones who were out and about could be in danger because if one of the dogs barked at that dog, it may attack again and a dog that edgy and vicious was a potential danger to pets and kids alike.

AC called to say the dog's rabies vax was current and told me they gave the owner the choice of keeping him under 24/10 observation at an approved city vet's office or at the city pound or sending his brain to Austin, Tx. for testing, ticketed him for having him outside off leash and I think for having a dangerous dog and, after 10 days of vet observation, he was not ill with rabies symptoms so I felt better about rabies as dog vax's aren't 100% able to prevent it. Jilly's was current too, thank goodness but I honestly feared that dog might have early rabies the way he just snapped when another dog merely barked a warning at him.

After that, I began carrying my one button, auto-open big black umbrella as a deterrent and no dog has ever attacked again. Most are intimidated and go the other way fast when that big umbrella whooshes open before their eyes.

I pray your Lucy does well in her rehab and you win in court and can successfully explain to AC and your city counsel one shouldn't have to live in fear to walk the streets with toy dogs due to the presence of this man's dog in the area. Maybe they will peg this dog as a dangerous or vicious dog to be kept only on its premises in 10 foot high fencing and never taken outside them on anything but a strong collar or harness and limited length, non-retractable leash.