Even more proof that Lucy is the sweetest dog ever.

I am a new Yorkie mom I have a boy and a girl. My 16 yr old toy poodle died in January. If this had happened to him it would have broken my heart. I understand your anger. Take him to court.

Mike, I saw red when I read what happened to Lucy. My original post became a rant so I deleted it and took a time out.... calmer now.... I am just so glad Lucy is okay.

We have strict leash laws here that requires leashes to be no more than 6 ft. long and for owners to keep their dogs in control at all times. I find myself pointing this out to new crappy pet owners, many of them young professionals who moved from out of state and rent here because it's pet friendly.... I mean BIG friendly.... Mastiffs, Newfies etc... and I have had my own share of close calls.

One example of our animal control enforcing the leash law was when our neighborhood was being terrorized by a clueless dog owners who allowed her high prey untrained GSD to go off leash. When asked by one neighbor to please leash up her dog, the owner response was "f#% off and mind your own business.' I had witness the very same dog owner at the park around the corner from us taking off her dog's leash directly under a sign that reads, '$200 fine, dogs must be leashed.' I took a video and called AC and the park ranger to report the incident and was told by both they already knew of her and was more than willing to talk to her. The park ranger said they've been at the park every day trying to catch her in the act, there is a preschool located in the park, and some parents have already made complaints. AC said all they needed was her address which I gladly provided. They were there knocking on her door the very next day! Neighbors said she was fined and warned that if she continues, there will be a bigger fine and her dog will be taken away.

I think its great you are seeking legal advice. Perhaps your lawyer can make a call to AC to let them know you are serious... that they have to get off their lazy butt and actually do something because this isn't going away!

I have to tell you how impressed I am... how you stayed calm and kept a cool head to take photos. I would have been in pieces.

dog
 

I would be furious. Now if any of you walk your dogs you MUST take some kind of protection. I carry mace and if any dog comes near I will blast them. Or if some crazy tries to get me he will get it in the face. Check around and get something. So many dogs are attacked by stray dogs. You are out there with your dogs as bait if you do not carry something. It is sad but today there are so many dangers out there-nutty people and whack-o dogs out of control. Let us not hear of another sad attack on a precious dog. am so sorry this happened to you.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
count me in

Crummy dog owners! :sfunslap:

Lazy, uncaring animal control! :sfunslap:

Good for you, go for it, this meat head has to learn he cannot have a pit (or any large breed for that matter) on a 16 + retractable leash. He must be held accountable for his dogs actions. I feel so bad for this sweet senior baby, at least by the pics just posted she is not fearful of other dogs. What a sweetheart she is. So happy to see she is recovering.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Again, count me in.

LOL, thank you. If the attorney says that will help, I know where to find you, and you and you and you ... :)!

I have dog trainers, hospital administrators, agility competitors, nosework competitors and a couple hundred little dog meetup members who can vouch for me as well if needed.

But your kindness is humbling!

I've only just seen this post and I am livid after reading all five pages. Good Lord, what is wrong with people? :questione :mad:

I can attest to the uselessness of AC at least in this state because we've had plenty of times we needed their help out here in the "boonies" where we are and basically we've been told we're on our own, but to remain within the limits of the law...when no one else does?? Really?? I can't tell you how many times I've been chased back into my own house by some Beavis' huge dog that is barking and snarling at me in my own yard, much less on the public rural road we live on! It's ridiculous! No one leashes their dogs and no one even gives a flip where they go and what they do. People don't have to answer for their stupidity in this world these days and that's why they get away with this nonsense. (Don't even get me started on the 'trash hounds' that make a mess of our yard at every opportunity! I take my life in my hands trying to scare them off!)

I've got bear spray to fire away if I need to but as you said, if the wind happens to be off just at the right time you wind up running the risk you're going to take it rather than the attacker. Not really worth it. But how we are going to safely walk our little dogs when eejits like this guy are around and practically have packs of these mutts running amok in places where there are clear leash laws? We don't have the benefit of police out here, it takes them hours to come out even for a domestic. Can you imagine the lag because a little dog has been brutalised? :(

Anyway, pardon my rant but I've had enough of this stuff happening or even threatening to happen to people and animals I care about because some people won't touch the word "responsibility" with a ten foot pole! I am glad that Lucy is recovering from this awful attack, also glad that the wee ones weren't hurt in the incident or you either, but poor Lucy to go through such anguish! :( Pin this turkey to the wall, Mike. You're in the right and losers like this poor excuse for a human need to learn a lesson. I agree with those who have posted before me that you should take some of your videos of your excellent training in with you when you go to court. I've learned so much from them myself. :) And I doubt this tattoo guy has anything like that to show the judge!

Please give Lucy, Eddie and Jillie some big snuggles from me and Jenna. And please, all of you, be safe!

Thanks for the commiseration. Had a bit of a breakthrough on the investigative front today -- mine, not animal control's!

I was looking over photographs of the day of the attack, and I found some I took minutes before the attack of Jillie playing nosework by the road. It showed what cars were on the road that day -- just two in the area where the attack occurred, and we were between them. I went back to the location with my video camera -- and I was amazed that the same two cars were in the same locations! I really lucked out.

So I had my wife walk down to the end of the street and video herself coming down the street as if she were the attacker. I, meanwhile, walked Lucy across the street as I had that day. It shows clearly that we were never out of this guy's view, so there's no way Lucy "surprised" his dog as he says. The dog would have been able to see Lucy from 90 yards away until the time of the attack.

I burned a video and plan to take it to Animal Control tomorrow. If that's not enough, I give up.

Great thinking, and re-enactment, videos of how all came into play has to be a plus. I just read Jenna AK reply. I cannot belive AC would tell someone " you're on your own, but to remain with in the limits of the law" ridiculous. I know this would a lot of foot work, but, would you be able to start a petition in your area that Alaska puts into place a leash law, and limits on legal leash lengths. This was a serious and vicious attack, and worse because it came from behind, like a "sneak attack". What would have happened had it been one of the lil yorkies? Maybe even go to local news paper with your story and pic, videos. If no one publicly protests, that's a sign ppl are in agreement with off leash dogs and 16+ retractable leashes. Alaska and all states must put a leash law in place. No dog should have to go through what your Lucy went through, no owner should have to witness a vicious attack on their dog, and be helpness to stop it. Voices have to be heard, can you be the one that can start that ball rolling? A lot to think about, but you have Lucy girl as a remembrance of uncontrolled large breed dog attack. Sorry for the rant, I am just over whelmed with Jenna AK post of how AC reacts to aggressive dogs.

OMG poor Lucy. I will pray for her speedy recovery. Good luck with the lawsuit.

Hope your video gets somewhere with animal control!

Mike, I've been following this whole story on FB, and I am so glad Lucy is doing so much better. She really is a tough girl! I am furious about Animal Control and how they are dealing with this! I think you have a very good case (my brother is a lawyer) and I sincerely hope you win in court. This guy cannot get away with what he allowed to happen. Like you said, next time it could be a little dog, or even a child, and they may not fair as well as Lucy.

Just now reading this. So sorry to hear that this happened to Lucy. I also have a 12 yr. old C Bay named Jasmine. Poor Lucy:(

I'm so sorry to hear about Lucy. She must have been very traumatized by the this whole thing. I'm glad you're fighting this ignorant person. He needs to pay for this in more ways than one. I hope he gets what he deserves. I feel bad for everyone who lives near him and his dog.

I hope your reenactment video helps you out, Mike. Glad to hear you were able to reevaluate the scene as it was that day.
I'd also like to add there's a big difference in where Mike lives and where I live. He's in a major city and I live in an outlying rural area on the border with the national forest in the Interior that has no incorporation to the borough. We have no (city) police or fire aid (they'll save the trees but your house will be a loss) despite paying outrageous property taxes each year. Our area has resisted becoming part of the city because of how costs would go even higher. We're quite a distance from the city as well so things like ambulance/fire/police take time to get out here and there is currently no patrol route for us. (We used to have a local volunteer ambulance and fire brigade but they simply couldn't cope with the costs of upkeep.) So animal control in essence has no "jurisdiction?" (I think that's the word I'm looking for) in our area. You rarely see a truck out here to pick up a dead animal on the road...that's about it. :( Until we are legally part of the city we have to be able to 'talk to our neighbors to resolve disputes' which is not always possible of course. We can get state troopers out here but they've got bigger things to do than deal with pet problems. (You may have heard about the shootings that occured south of us in Tanana recently, a terrible tragedy.)
I, too, worry about what will happen if a child is bitten. But it will sadly take something like that to spark a debate and even then I think it's just politics as usual...the price we pay for living where we are.
What makes me angry is Mike DOES have these services and they're faffing around with what looks like a clear cut case. Really steams my broccoli when someone has to deal with lackadaisical public servants. When you have no choice but to pay their wages, you deserve your money's worth.

Thanks for the heads up for reason you were told to handle it your self. Regardless, there should still be a leash law, and law on length of leash.

Agreed. I admit I have used these extender leads before with mixed results (besides the lack of control, I hate that they begin to tangle inside the casing and hang up which causes my bigger dog to yank me off my feet when she hits the snag at a run) but it's like having the pups on a glorified bungee cord. I would feel better with something more solid and dependable, especially since it's not just other dogs I have to worry about here, but owls, eagles and foxes as well. :(

We do supposedly have a leash law, but there needs to be someone out here to enforce it. And it would be nice if some of these people with (loose) dogs on open property would put up some dog runs or fences to keep their pups in.

In city I'm certain you'll be fined if you don't leash your dog, and it's just safer for the animal in the long run with all the cars and other dangers.

Awww poor lucy, what a brave dog. hope she gets better soon :)

Here's a video I made as evidence for the animal control investigation. A week after I burned a DVD for the investigating officer, she still had not looked at it. Tuesday was 5 weeks since the attack.

Lucy Attack Video youtube - YouTube

Have you reached out to any political representatives in the area? this is just so freaking wrong Mike, I saw Lucy when it first happened, and I don't judge people but that guy was either drugged up or absolutely mentally deranged, I have thought of it every day and I can't believe how nonchalant this is being handled by the people who are solely responsible for such. This is unacceptable service, to say the least.

This is way better than my suggestion of pictures of the scene of the crime. It's infuriating that no one, other than us crazy yorkietalkers, have taken a look at your video.

Mike, is there leash laws in anchorage? Would you get in trouble for showing that pic of Jillie off leash?

Mike,
What is your next plan of action? It sounds like everyone is just trying to ignore this with the hopes that you'll go away. I don't think that will happen. Stand your ground! Please keep us posted as to what is happening. Were there any witnesses that live in any of the homes?

Mike I again extend my condolences for the attack on Lucy. I how-ever am not sure that your video will be of any benefit in the police investigation.

As much as I hate to say this, it might come down to your word against theirs.

Sorry to read about the attack.

I hope you can file suit in small claims court.

Did you think the police would be interested in assault with a deadly weapon--many cities have issues with pit bulls.

Im so sorry Mike....Just saw this

Any update yet Mike?

No update. I told the officer I was going on vacation for 10 days. I also asked for confirmation she received my witness' statement and implored her to watch the video. I haven't heard a peep. My next step is to go over her head to the supervisor. I also write the dog blog for the paper but I haven't done anything yet in hopes the case would move forward. If I return and nothing's been done, I'll talk to her supervisor, then write something on the blog.

As for no leash on Jillie in the picture, yes we have a leash law. I thought about having to defend her right but decided the picture was worth more as evidence. It falls under the voice control statute. Not only were we in a park away from people but she was performing an activity that's frequently done off leash. I was within my rights as those 2 points are spelled out in the municipal leash law charter.