I choose the wasp spray because it sprays up to 25 feet, if I see a dog approaching, I don't have to wait till the dog is 3 feet from me, I can stop it at 15 to 25 feet and give me the time I need to pick my dog up. I always put myself between the approaching dog and mine. I think my new lil boy is dog aggressive, I don't need a big dog thinking he's being challenged if Cody gets aggressive. So wasp spray it is for me.

What he's doing isn't against the law, I have no legal support, and I can see my family's point, calling could make things worse.
This guy is directly across the street and his friend is next door to me.

I don't know what other people know, but the 3 families nearby with kids know about yesterday's incident. The dog went after one of the fathers, another father saw it, and we've told the 3rd family.

I would feel horrible if a kid got hurt, but there's not much I can do. At least the 3 closest families with kids know.

I don't know if the dog was reported for any of incidents, I hope the people with the dog reported him at least.

Yeah that's the danger with pepper spray, a lot of times it doesn't work on animals and just makes them madder.

I'm sorry for your neighbors dogs and your neighborhood, that's horrible.

No I haven't tried befriending him, he's about twice my age and gone most of the time, when he is home and outside he usually has the dog with him. My mom has talked to him a few times though, mostly about yard work or tools.
He's been friends with my next door neighbor for at least 20 years (prior to moving here), and he's not listening to him, so I doubt he'll listen to us.

He drives one of those huge 4 door pick up trucks and has a pit bull named Zeus, does that give you an idea about his personality?

I doubt the dog will run off or get hit by a car, when he's not going after something he's really chill, he'll just sit or lay there or lazily walk around the yard. If I didn't know his history I wouldn't think of him as a big threat.
As for getting stolen or used as a bait/fighter dog, I kinda doubt it, the shelters here are over run with pit bulls and if you have a senior citizen adopt them it's less than $50.

That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I park in my drive way so I'm further from his house and always on my property, I carry an umbrella, and I'm looking into some sort of spray. I'm also considering carrying Lola to and from the car in a bag so I have both hands free and he can't see her (I know he'd be able to smell her).

I don't have the mental or physical energy to be an activist but I'll ask my friend if she knows anyone, she used to work at the library.

The funny thing is I live in a really nice town with quite a few multi-million dollar houses (I live in the average section), you wouldn't expect to deal with this type of thing here.
This is the first time my street has had an issue, prior to this we've only had some cat problems.

That's a good point, thanks

I've never had a pitbull type dog or any big dog fail to stop within a respectable parameter when the umbrella whooshes open before them and the defensive, heavy duty version of them can be used as a club should you need it and if all else fails, it is something for him to chew on rather than your body parts. I'd carry a bag of weiners to throw into the distance to distract him while I ran for the door and keep the cellie where you can get to it quickly.

The trouble with sprays are wind conditions. If it's a windy day or an unexpected gust of wind blows into your face just about the time you discharge the spray, you could get the full effects of the active agent plus the dog might still come once you're coughing uncontrollably and wheezing and the spray is slightly dispersed. I'd just be sure I was fully protected if I had to face a big, powerful, vicious, off-leash dog with any regularity.

*67 does not block your number when calling the police. I found out the hard way.:cool:

I commend you for thinking this way. Pits can truly be marvelous family members if you give them the love and attention they deserve.

Bully types that lie quietly and watch are every bit, if not more, potentially dangerous as the barkers and those that show teeth and growl so it's good you know his history if you think a quiet bully type might not be threat. :eek: Most shelters these days won't sell pittie types to anyone and kill them if the owner doesn't claim them, as they are so often abused by fighting or baiting with them and cost them so much of their monetary resources to house. They are by far the most-surrendered or abandoned breed type these days. And why chance even trying it with a shelter when he can be taken from that yard with a meat lure or a catch-pole and go straight to the fight compound, free and clear?

I'd take heart. For some reason, in my experience - and I know that's extremely limited - in all but the most pit-devotee homes there are that I've known - the casual owner of a pittie with a troubled past of attacks doesn't ever seem to keep him for his full lifetime. Something always seems to happen and suddenly, the dog is gone.

Maybe you could try carrying Lola from the car to the house in a hardshell airline carrier as you whoosh open the umbrella with the other hand and walk into the house if the dog is out in that yard when you get home.

I'll sure be praying that you and Lola don't fall victim to this dog.

Yes, agreed, you have to be careful which way the wind is blowing. When I was a camper, I was walking one of my girls around a campground, all the time watching for dogs, this campground had leash law for the campground, there was a biggg husky, owner was playing Frisbee with it, there was a car between them and the road I was walking on, even tho my eyes were GLUED on that husky the car block the full view. The next thing I hear is my dog SCREAMING, I turned to see why, she is on the ground, belly up in the submission position screaming and the husky is there, I grabbed my dog off the ground kept turning my back towards the husky to keep him away from my still SCREAMING lil girl, now I am screaming for someone to get this dog. The owner came saying the husky is friendly, meanwhile my baby is still screaming, she was traumatized, and stayed that way for days. From that day on, no matter where she was walked, she was always looking behind her, so scared this would happen again. From that experience, and my dog forever fearful when she was walked, I am extremely vigilant when walking my babies. For me, I keep my wits about me, don't panic, I am not afraid to use the wasp spray. My lil traumatized girl has now past. I NEVER want another dog of mine to have to be soooo fearful of walking. It's a shame to have to be on guard like this, dog walking should be a pleasurable time for you & your pup, having to carry wieners as a distraction!!!! It's a great idea, just a pity we have to think of weapons or protection items, JUST to walk your dog.

Aren't there several sub-breeds of pitbulls? The one my neighbor owns is the spitting image of Petey the pitbull from The Little Rascals. He has no issues getting along with a tiny chihuahua and two strays dogs that were rescued by his owner, but he still has to get muzzled during walks because of the local laws that apply to potentially dangerous breeds.

I don't know about sub breed pits, justthe American Pit Bull Terrier, depends on where you live if they have a muzzle law, here in Pa. there is no such law (so far) but there is the leash law, on and off your property. ShowGirlLola I believe lives in NJ, her county / town does not have a leash law if the dog is on it's own property. Insane I say.

My friend gave me the names of a councilman and a former councilman she kinda knows, I'm going to contact them about changing the leash law.

Thanks, I'm not surprised

I will admit, I don't know much about large dogs or bully breeds. Most of the dogs I've been around are small/medium and didn't have behavior issues. I've only been afraid of 4 dogs in my life, including this one.

The shelters in NJ are FULL of pit bulls and pit mixes. I went on petfinder, searched for large dogs in NJ, there are 3,210. After that I narrowed it down to American pit bull terriers and there are 1,445. I'm sure that number is actually higher because it doesn't include "terrier mixes" and other similar breeds such as staffordshire terriers.

Thankfully the dog isn't outside that often, it's usually only an hour or two a day, so we don't go outside when he's out. My main fear is him letting the dog out while I'm outside or the dog being outback where I can't see it. If I pulled up with Lola and the dog was outside I wouldn't get out of the car, I'd go back out and come home later. His owner doesn't have a regular 9-5 job and parks far back so I don't know when he's home.
I'd really like to be able to walk Lola on my street. It's very hard for me to drive somewhere to walk her because of my health issues, I have to worry about being too tired to drive home.

I think the only way this guy will get rid of the dog is if it goes after him.

Thank you, the hard carrier is a good idea.
Your poor pup :( it's horrible that selfish irresponsible people have ruined what should be an enjoyable activity.

From wikipedia:
What you said about me is correct, I'm in NJ and my state and county have NO leash law and my town's only covers public property.

[QUOTE=ShowGirlLola;4432264]My friend gave me the names of a councilman and a former councilman she kinda knows, I'm going to contact them about changing the leash law.
That sounds like an excellent idea. But I would think you would need to get a petition started for thsi, then submit it to your councilman. You don't have to start on the block you live on. The more names you collect on the petition the better chance you have in getting this law in place. It's insane that you have to get in your car to drive someplace safe to JUST WALK YOUR DOG.

bad neighbors
 

Don't tell your family that you called do it anonymously from a public phone.
Report each time there is an issue and they will send someone out. Enough infractions and there will be fines. That usually gets their attention.

I know that as an ED nurse, we are required to report all animal bites to the county animal control office in which the animal lives, or if unknown, the county in which the bite occured. This goes for personal pets. If the bite is severe enough to make you go to the ED, then a record is made. (Even if it is just a scratch. If the victim goes to the ED, it is reported). I would think this would be the rule, rather than the exception, everywhere. You could check with your local animal control office and see if this dog has a history of reported bites. I don't know if they have to release that information, but you might get lucky and be able to back up your report with documented history.

I've had some good experiences walking my female in fancy dresses, ones with 'loud' patterns. The first time I did this, a PB mix that normally chases after her was not even phased by her presence. Well a little phased, but he sat there with his head cocked and the most confused look on his face. I guess the dress changes her profile and 'look', so that she did not elicit a prey response in this dog, which I have seen happen 3-4 times previously. Bold patterns and/or metallic, shiny fabric in the least dog like colors may help.


I need to check the laws here, but I firmly believe the only thing that will stop a PB in a Zone 10 attack mode is a gun or a knife. I've read a few reports where one dog was shot with 5 times the amount of euthanasia solution (from a gun and a distance by a vet) and even this did not stop this dog. Police report that tazers don't phase them, even being beat by two grown men wielding 2X4s couldn't stop a dog attacking an Animal Control Officer.


IMHO, living in a neighborhood with a PB type or other large dog with or without a bite history, I would not depend on any spray nor deterrent that may or may not work. You need something definite, like a gun or a knife (and be able to use it effectively).