Pitt Bull and Pitt Bull Mix Scare

[MindieRose]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I am SSSOOO pissed. I just got off the phone with Animal Control and she informed me that if the police officer gave a verbal warning that it was considered "taken care of". I told the AC Lady that the Officer told me that the AC would do a physical inspection of the premises and verify that the dogs were properly contained. They would issue a sitation if I wanted them to, but I'm not so sure I want to go that far.....

The AC Lady also told me that we have the right to defend ourselves and our property by whatever means was necessary. BUT refused to tell me that it was ok to shoot the dogs. nWhy can't people with authority just be accountable and speak plainly?????

AC is on the way our to our house and then they will be headed across the street to talk to the neighbors.....

The scariest thing about the whole dog issue is that the owner didn't realize that there was a problem. She was angry that the police came to her door. Down the road there are three neighborhoods with loads of young children playing up and down the street. Had the dogs injured my minis that would have been terrible, but just think if the dogs had turned right instead of left and had wound up on a street full unsuspecting innocent children playing.

I would take that as it would be ok to shoot then. They might not tell you that outright, but I am sure that if it came down to it, and you had to shoot them, you would face no repercussions.
I would hate to think of what would happen if they get to kids. My good friend was attacked 2 weeks ago by 2 pitts while he was jogging by their house. Adding that to my ever growing list of people I am close to that have had pitt attacks.

[TatumsMom]

I'm pretty sure that we can shoot an animal that is attacking our livestock. Not sure if there's an actual law on the books for it though. I do know that a friend of ours not long ago shot a dog that was enjoying a killing rampage in his chicken coop. He killed almost all the chickens and had to be shot to be stopped. Sad, I know, but you should have the right to protect your animals. You can shoot an intruder inside your house (at least you can here) so you should be able to protect your livestock also.

[chattiesmom]

The Animal Control Officer came and we had a nice little chat. After he left my house he was going to the owners house for a not so nice chat. We could have had them cited and went to court, but we realy want to be good neighbors, so we opted for a warning.

The AC Officer was very informative. He said that in Georgia we have the legal right to protect persons and property (we already knew this ) and that if the dogs were attacking our livestock we were within our legal right to shoot them, then call 911 and make a formal complaint/police report. He said the big problem is when someone shoots a dog and tries to hide it.

We will take his advice - however shooting an animal that is attacking another is risky business. I'm afraid that I'm not a good enough shot, but my son is So we have a viable option -- if the neighbors aren't responsible.

[rbelland]

I am glad to hear they will be visiting your neighbors, hopefully it will help them to keep their dogs under control. I would be very careful and keep an eye out. I would be scared they would come back now that they have been there once!

[twalla]

Oh how scary Cindy! Im glad everything turned out ok.

[Britster]

What a scary situation! That's awful. I think when you have such powerful breeds, especially if they are not seeming to be friendly, would let their dogs run loose, even if it was accidental. You've gotta be more precautious.

However, I'm kind of amazed at all the people who would willingly shoot these dogs. I mean... if the dog was KILLING my animal or extremely injuring my animal, yes, I'd have to do something to try and get the Pit off. Well, I don't even have a gun anyways, but I dunno... those are peoples pets too.

But anyways, that's a crappy situation and I can't believe the police officers didn't do anymore about it!

[Judy in Waco]

Oh Cindy! I am so sorry.

If the dogs were after my animals or my kids, darn right I'd shoot. I am an animal lover, but that's where I draw the line. As an animal lover, I fight for laws promoting responsible pet ownership. I believe that owners have the right to responsibly own any breed of dog they choose, but the key word there is 'responsible'.

[bettyeanne]

Cindy, I am so thankful your babies weren't hurt and that your Yorkies weren't in harm's way!! The law is disgusting sometimes! Several years ago when a pitt grabbed our granddaughter's old cat and killed it, my son called the police and it was pretty much the same result as you had. BUT ... my son told the policemen, if they couldn't do more than that, the next time the thing came in his yard, he would shoot it! The policeman looked at his partner, then looked my son in the eye and said ... "and we didn't hear the shot!" They agreed but they were helpless to do more than they did! The thing killed poor Spooky right where their 2 yr. old granddaughter played in their yard!!

I am thankful that none of your babies were hurt!!

[chattiesmom]

The worst thing about the whole situation is that the lady who came to pick the dogs up was completely clueless about what had just happened. Her dogs left her property , turned left, came across the road and attacked my horses, unprovoked. Had the dogs turned right and trotted about 1/4 mile down the road, there is a neighborhood full of kids who play outside, up and down the street. The dogs could very well have seen these innocent children running, and laughing and yelling as prey. I think that anyone who is taken aback about shooting a dog that is harrasssing livestock would have a second thought if they realized that you could just as easily substitute the kids down the street for my ponies. Would we have an issue shooting the dogs if they were attacking a child playing hop scotch in the road?

I don't want to kill anything..... my son had a good clear bead on the dogs and could have shot, but his dad and I stopped him 'cause when he could get a clear shot the horses weren't being threatened. I just hope that the education given to these folks by the Animal Control Officer will be enough to convince them to be responsible dog owners.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

Cindy, I am so thankful your babies weren't hurt and that your Yorkies weren't in harm's way!! The law is disgusting sometimes! Several years ago when a pitt grabbed our granddaughter's old cat and killed it, my son called the police and it was pretty much the same result as you had. BUT ... my son told the policemen, if they couldn't do more than that, the next time the thing came in his yard, he would shoot it! The policeman looked at his partner, then looked my son in the eye and said ... "and we didn't hear the shot!" They agreed but they were helpless to do more than they did! The thing killed poor Spooky right where their 2 yr. old granddaughter played in their yard!!

I am thankful that none of your babies were hurt!!

Bettyeanne, how scary for you and your son. Just imagine if your granddaughter had been outside. People just don't realize the importance of good aninal stewardship when dealing with these large aggressive dogs.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

Oh Cindy! I am so sorry.

If the dogs were after my animals or my kids, darn right I'd shoot. I am an animal lover, but that's where I draw the line. As an animal lover, I fight for laws promoting responsible pet ownership. I believe that owners have the right to responsibly own any breed of dog they choose, but the key word there is 'responsible'.

Reponsible is the key word here -- had the neighbors been responsible their dogs wouldn't have been in my yard attacking my horses.

What is also odd about this situation is that the neighbors have horses as well - I wonder if they would tolerate these dogs attacking their own?

[MindieRose]

Originally Posted by Britster

What a scary situation! That's awful. I think when you have such powerful breeds, especially if they are not seeming to be friendly, would let their dogs run loose, even if it was accidental. You've gotta be more precautious.

However, I'm kind of amazed at all the people who would willingly shoot these dogs. I mean... if the dog was KILLING my animal or extremely injuring my animal, yes, I'd have to do something to try and get the Pit off. Well, I don't even have a gun anyways, but I dunno... those are peoples pets too.

But anyways, that's a crappy situation and I can't believe the police officers didn't do anymore about it!

First off, it would be extremely not smart to try to "get" the pitt off of an animal it is attacking. Case in point: 2 weeks ago on the news here, there were 2 people staying in their Jeep Liberty with their pitts. The pitts got in a fight with eachother, the 2 tried to break it up, and they both had their hands severely mangled, no idea if they will use their hands again. You cannot bother a pitt while it is attacking.
Second, if a pitt is activly attacking anything, that animals life IS in danger. I had my dog put down for attacking my animals. I would not hesitate to kill a dog attacking my animals, I don't care whos pet it is. The only time I might not is if it was a little tiny dog that I could just kick away from the animal and I knew it could not severely hurt me. IMO an innocent animal's life is more valuable than a monster that is out to attack and kill.

[FlDebra]

Thank goodness you and your minature horses are okay! I would definately follow up to see if they would write a report on the incident. This is how dogs that wind up killing or maiming have no previous record. Many times they have attacked, killed cats or dogs, made threatening moves towards people or animals, and the epolice are called. But without that written report, it is like it never happened. You wind up reading in the paper how the owners say it was the gentlest animal, never any incidents before. When the neighbors all know differently! Make sure they document! Unfortunately, there is a good chance the dogs will get into trouble again. Shame on their owners!

I. too, would not hesitate to shoot to protect my kids or my animals from a vicious attacker. Just as my DH shot a rattle snake poised to strike, I would do the same for a pitt that was attacking any of my "family" human or otherwise.

[dogbert]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

Thank goodness you and your minature horses are okay! I would definately follow up to see if they would write a report on the incident. This is how dogs that wind up killing or maiming have no previous record. Many times they have attacked, killed cats or dogs, made threatening moves towards people or animals, and the epolice are called. But without that written report, it is like it never happened. You wind up reading in the paper how the owners say it was the gentlest animal, never any incidents before. When the neighbors all know differently! Make sure they document! Unfortunately, there is a good chance the dogs will get into trouble again. Shame on their owners!

I. too, would not hesitate to shoot to protect my kids or my animals from a vicious attacker. Just as my DH shot a rattle snake poised to strike, I would do the same for a pitt that was attacking any of my "family" human or otherwise.

Some owners say that because when the dogs are at home they behave like angels, when let out on their own they are CRAZY. So the owners don't see that side of their dog unless it's caught on film or video. Then they still don't believe it and say their dog had to have been provoked. As far a rattle snakes go my hubby shot many the 10 years we lived on acerage in the AZ desert. We had crazy cats that would surround the snake when it was close to the house, like on the back patio a few times. Our young son walked out the back door to find that once.

[Peters]

the dogs probably went after the horse because they arent use to the animals and ahvent seen anything like them before not socialized very well acclimated with different kinds of animals so theres no telling what may happne towards cats ot smaller dogs/yorkies i would report it to animal control ESPICALLY if the owner people RESPONSIBLE for them was rude about it!! usually im one to defend pits tooth and nail against anyone and everyone ingorant against the breed just because they are pits doesnt mean they should be instanly be judged but this sounds like pure neglagance and a safety issue at least they seem people friendly but what about small kids? you never know not worth the chance with any large unattended breed of dog!