If animal control and the cops are not told, they won't be able to label the dog vicious. Every dog gets one bite -- and attacking you and your dog is that one even if you were not bitten. PLEASE notify them that this happened, even if you know that's the end of it. It will be on record and if/when the dog attacks again, then they CAN do something, even if it's just to force fencing and insurance on the owner.
Pit bull terriers have been bred for centuries to fight -- it is in their genes. When they bite, they CANNOT let go -- because we have bred that into them. It is a horrible thing that people have done to dogs, and now we're living with the consequences of it. I had my chow mongrel go after my little pug, and the only way I could get him to drop the little thing was to pick him up by his back legs. Luckily my son was home and came over and scooped up the pug (he was shaken but OK) and took him into the house. The chow's focus was gone, and he reverted to the silly, sweet dog he always was. Never trusted him again, though!
If anyone knows of any dog fighting, Texas or anywhere else, the Humane Society of the United States offers $5,000 for a report that leads to an arrest and conviction. Sorry to get a little off topic with that, but I love dogs and would love to see all the Michael Vicks of the world put away where they belong.
Kim, thank God you and that beautiful canine friend of yours are OK! Don't bother with a baseball bat; you'd have to be at least a 300 pound madman to phase a dog with a skull like a pit bull's! Trust me.
OT: attacked
I am also glad u n yours were not harmed more. My own Rott,when very old, while i was playing with my hubby n a water hose, decided I was dangerous? He knocked me out of my hubbys embrace to the ground, my hubby chunked him away, n b4 he could straighten up, had superquik snaked back under his legs, grabbed me by my jaws. He was always super sensitive to sound, but I was totally freaking keening, until he gently began to crush my upper palate into 3 pieces, when my hubby, whom I consider snake fast on his own, pried his jaws from mine. My s.son administered county law ( u r allowed to shoot any animal, n that ,I believe includes 2 legged ones, that threaten n cause damage to life n property, while I was rusheed to the hospital. Report please. Be safe. The scars stay forever, if you are lucky.
Please please report this. We just went through a year long ordeal to get 3 APBT removed from the owners. We go to court on Tuesday. these animlas have been allowed to roam freely in our neighborhood for over a year, and to breed constantly, the poor female was simply skin and bones from having a little every 6 months. They kept the dogs chained occasionally but let them roam at will. They have expanded their territory slowly, feeling the need to defend it more and nore aggressively. They have threatened my neighbors and attacked several animals in the area. We have a lot of kids in the area and I have a 2 year old who likes to go out in the yard, and these dogs lived across the street from me! We had to constantly call and take pictures just to get them served then a poor basset down the street had to get mauled before they actually removed them. Please be persistent. People like this are allowed to own animals and break the laws because no one does anything. It's imperitive to let them know it won't be tolerated. We had to threaten animal control with media coverage before we could get them to do anything. So stick with it. Dangerous dogs are dangerous dogs and cannot be tolerated.
As far as defending yourself against a PB there really is not anything you can do that will phase them. AC officers have reported that pepper spray doesn't work, it simply p****s them off. Mace is your best bet. Going for the eyes is a good option, but realy your best bet is to roll and not allow them any place to grab a good bite. Their jaws do not lock, but they are very determined not to let go, and are incredibly strong. One of the only ways too get them to release is to shove water hose up their nose blocking the air supply. This also can be accomplished somewhat by pinching the nostrils if you are able to do it. Actually I know that it sounds odd, but a stout piece of rope is a good option as well. This breed loves a good game of tug and most have been trained or at least have been exposed to it, so it may give you a good distraction if you can get them to grab a hold of it.
But please be persitent, dogs like this are allowed to roam because people turn a blind eye and leave the irrisponsible thugs in control. It's so worth the effort to get the message across to dog owners that it will not be allowed!
**Steps off soap box LOL**
Kim, I had a very similar thing happen to me years ago. I was out running with my Blue Lacy dog, Daisy when she was very young, but not quite a puppy. She was about 30 pounds. I saw a woman walking the opposite direction on the other side of the street with two boxers following her off leash. When the dogs started coming across the street towards us, I asked her to call her dogs, but she said they weren't hers. Uh Oh. They came across and both of them lit into my dog. All I had to defend her with was one of those plastic ball throwers. I broke it on one of their backs but it didn't phase them at all. It seemed to go on forever, and poor Daisy was terrified. She finally managed to get under a bench on a nearby front porch, but the dogs were still going after her. She was so scared she lost control of her bowels. Finally, a passer-by in a Suburban stopped and had the presence of mind to notice a water hose nearby, and used it to spray the dogs, which distracted them enough to stop the attack. Daisy miraculously only had a few scratches, but I think it permanently affected her mentally. One of the other neighbors got the dogs to go in her fenced yard until animal control arrived. I was happy that people were willing to stop to help that time.
Come to find out, the two boxers had also attacked another dog that same afternoon and caused more damage. The other dog's vet bill was over $1000. Unfortunately the other dog was off leash as well, which means animal control couldn't act as they could have if the victim dog had either been on leash or in its own yard. Daisy was on a leash, but thankfully didn't have the (visible) damage. Apparently there has to be both significant damage and the victim must be leashed for it to rise to the level of the dogs being confiscated in Travis County.
Now I run with a stun baton like the one here: http://www.protectmefirst.com/telescopicstunbaton.asp
I actually had a different one before that I liked better. The telescoping one is too bulky. Either way, it makes a very satisfying pop noise and a spark flashes between the metal prongs. I've never had to actually use it on an animal, but I have "popped" it at a dog who seemed to be a little too interested in me and it turned the other way. I am confident I could easily stop an attack with it.
Just to show the difference in dog laws or at least enforcement, I have one more quick story. My neighbor here in Williamson County has a dog named Fish. Last Thanksgiving, her Father was visiting, staying with them for a few days. Her dad made the mistake of trying to grab Fish when he was about to go out the front door and only succeeded in grabbing his tail. In surprise, he turned and bit her dad on the hand, causing a small puncture. To be on the safe side, she took him to the hospital to make sure it didn't become infected. Next thing they knew, the sheriff was calling wanting to come pick Fish up to take him to "doggy jail" I guess. They wanted to take him and keep him for like a week or something. The sheriff continued calling all evening and my neighbor kept trying to argue with him. Finally he had to give in and they took Fish for a few days or a week or so. All this for a tiny wound that happened inside their house to someone in the family who had no interest in pressing any charges. Amazing.
Do call the authorities, Amy. It needs to go on record.
This message was edited Aug 5, 2008 11:09 PM
jojoringer, how did it go in court?
Well we actually went today as everybody panicked over the storm. The dogs had already been declared dangerous and the people had the 30 days to comply with fences, insurance etc. At 42 days the dogs attacked a basset hound and animal control finally came out and siezed the dogs. In court the owner claimed not to speak English (he does, perfectly), so they got a translator and explained everything and when he said he hadn't complied because he didn't understand (every document is in English and Spanish), they told him the dogs would be euthanized. He broke down and started crying. On the way out of the courtroom the AC officer gve us (myself and my neighbor) a nasty look and said "Well he obviously cares for his dogs, he's blubbering all over the place. That kind of made me mad, as I think this could have been avoided if AC had really done a better job all around.
But anyway it's over, the dogs will be put to sleep and I can work in the yard again with Zeke without worrying, at least for a little while, they kept 2 puppies from their last litter...
It's still a bittersweet victory, I hate to see the animals pay for their owners stupidity
The sad part of this story is that pit bulls are a favorite animal for some people. I have never owned one and never plan to, but Ceasar, the "Dog Whisperer" had one that is as gentle as a lamb. He recently gave it to a couple that had a dog they could not control and Ceasar took their dog to train for his own pack. He would have never given them a dog that would endanger them, and they showed the family with the dog after a few weeks. It was a big sweet baby.
On the same show he took a Rotweiller home that was about to be put down because he attacked men. The rottie became very gentle (even with men) and bonded with Ceasar's son. Ceasar gave the dog to his son to keep as his own personal dog.
On another side of the pit bulls though, I had a neighbor that had a pit bull (before I knew anything about the dangers of the breed). She didn't take care of the dog and many times on cold nights I would let it in the house with us and it would sleep with my kids. If anyone came in my yard it would alert me as if it were my own guard dog. It never harmed anyone. It never even growled at strangers. Then one day two stray dogs came down the road. It attacked them and tore them both to pieces. I tried firing a gun in the air, I tried a long stick and nothing would stop the attack until the other two dogs lay dying on the ground. Fortunately we were moving soon and I never had to have another experience like that one in front of my kids and the neighbor's kids also. It was awful! I would have never imagined that the dog "Candy" as it was named could be so violent. Needless to say I didn't let it inside again for the last few nights we were there. Even though it was so gentle the kids could ride on it's back it was violent with other dogs.
I prefer my two rescue babies one is a mixed rat terrier and the other a mixed daschound. (sorry for the spelling) They wouldn't protect us from anything and would probably lick a burglar to death. The do bark to let us know something is outside and leave the protecting to us. If I get after Missy (DH's dog) she hides behind my DH like a little child. Pepper (my dog) minds most of the time unless you are telling her not to lick you. I wouldn't take them for a walk near a pit bull if I had any idea one was around even though I know that some of them are sweeties. I unfortunately will never forget how Candy killed the two stray dogs right before my eyes.
Kim, I am just glad you and Jasper are safe. I hope you never meet up with that dog again. If you do, just be aware that if the instinct for that particular dog is to attack, it has the capabilities to kill. Scary, but likey very accurate.
Hope you are back to enjoying your walks and staying safe. Kuddos to Jasper!
Charlene
What type of breed is Jasper? He has such pretty coloring!
Jasper is 100% pure mutt! We don't know what he is a mix of, everyone who sees him has their own opinions. He loves water and likes to fetch some, and he looks a little like my neighbor's dog in the head, so I think he has some black lab in him. As for the brown coloring, a pelthora of breeds could have contributed so who knows. Many people say rott...but I've had him up against rotts and he looks nothing like them. My dad thinks shepherd maybe, but his backend is kinda greyhound-like, nothing like a shepherd. So I just stick with mutt!
Charlene...that is just awful. That is what scared me most about all this, the fact that it could kill and that I couldn't stop it. I was more afraid for my dog than for me, obviously since I was kicking it, which in hindsight was pretty dumb. It did make me much more aware of my surroundings though. Last night we went walking and saw another dog loose. I didn't bother to find out what it was, we just turned and went a different route. I think Jasper is more alert now too, he is constantly looking around when we are walking. Unfortunately, short of a gun on my hip there probably isn't much of anything I could take with me that would help. I was considering moving come next fall when my lease is up and hopefully I will be graduating. Now I am almost sure of it. It is a semi-shady neighborhood anyway, not that dog attacks can't happen anywhere cause I know that they can. But there are always a lot of loose dogs here and before it didn't scare me but now it does. And there are a lot of pits. I just wish that people would take the time to consider the animal's background and instincts prior to adopting them, they just see it as a sweet animal like you did but they don't realize that instinct can take over. This goes for other breeds as well, not just pits. And I come from a family of large dog lovers, specifically german shepherds, a rott-shepherd cross, and most recently saint bernards. You have to know the breed. Of course this is harder with mutts like mine. I never in a million years would have thought that Jasper could fight like that, he is as gentle as a kitten. But now I know he is a defender...and thank God for that.
Kim
Well, in reality, ANY dog can attack and become dangerous given the right conditions - some just have it more "inbred" than others. We have large dogs - Great Pyrenees who are called 'gentle giants' but they are also used as livestock guardian dogs for a reason and that is to first "run off" but if necessary 'defend" against any attacks by stray dogs, wolves, etc. I know one woman who had a German Shepard who kept trying to get into her Emus years ago - the Pyr was constantly running the Shepard off the property - but each time the Shepard would get closer and closer to actually getting UNDER the fence and being in with the Emus that the pyr was supposed to be protecting. She warned the neighbor on several occassions that his dog was in danger - the neighbor laughed and said he wasn't worried - his "Shepard could take care of himself" (of course, he obviously wasn't concerned what MIGHT happen to the Emus ..... anyway, after several weeks of this the Shepard finally got into the pen with the Emus and was chasing one...........The pyr killed the Shepard..... the woman said she witnessed it and it was almost instantaneous...... There again, it was violent, but he was doing what he was bred to do~~~ protecting his herd. Their first instinct is not supposed to be to attack - but to get between danger and their herd, then to "escort" away from the herd, but if their hand is called, they must attack. .... I only use this illustration to point out that ALL animals have the potential to injure under the right conditions...... that was something I was always taught growing up on a farm - ALWAYS be alert to their attitude and possible changes in behavior. .... didn't matter if it was a dog, or a horse, or a cow.... most were not dangerous most of the time, but better to be alert than sorry. Of course, that is a little different, because we always had the attitude that if one of our animals had a major change in disposition it was time to head to the packing house, or to the sale barn. Never had a dog turn on us, but I know he would not have been allowed to live......
Unfortunately, mankind has helped to create the "monster" in the pitbulls and have effectively destroyed the reputation on the breed for most people because of their abuse. One of my pyrs got out one day and a distant neighbor captured her and sheered all her hair off .... I think he was planning to try to fight her ...... thankfully, someone spotted her and we got her back before he had a chance to try that.
Maybe this attack will help you and Jasper in the long run be ever watchful of your surroundings.... and perhaps help prevent an even worse event in the future.
That is very true...we are much more watchful of our surroundings now. I am taking nothing for granted.
To me unless I know the dog real well, I tend to stay clear. Especially with other dogs. We have 5 male dogs between me and my mom 1 fixed and 1 soon to be. The fight can be on with the "pecking" order with them.
LOL - that's true .... females do that too trying to line out their pecking order - or sometimes I think one just looks at the other wrong.... ^_^
Yes, we do.
OH. You were still talking about dogs. My bad.
I have a female 'mutt'. She's big and she's burly and can put a scare in a stranger. I know her limits and keep her in a tight reign.
I think she has some lab, boxer and pit in her, just by looking at her. She's old now but we've been through some trials. She came to us by way of the horse pasture next to us. My daughter had a horse and she was a barn dog that followed her home one day and wouldn't leave. I'd drive her back to the stables but she would be back on the porch before I got her home. She adopted us....not the other way around.
It was apparent early on that this dog was great with kids and people but has a problem with other dogs. After some investigation into her past, the lady that ran the stables told me that my dog was 'dumped' and near death at her drive. She nurtured 'Socks' back to health. She had been used as a fighting dog and was beaten to a pulp when she was dumped at the end of her drive and very near death. Socks has deep scars all over her head and neck. The dog took a liking to us and after a lot of hemming and hawing, she became our dog. I wasn't in the market for a dog at the time so, this was kind of a big deal.
It's been almost 7 years and we know each other very well now. She'll protect me and my family and any child that is here. No matter what. But....she's still aggressive with other dogs. I know this and I know that I have to be responsible for her. I do not take her on walks when others might be walking their dogs. We only go after midnight and on a heavy leash. I do not ever allow her out in the backyard when the neighbors dogs are out to potty. I can hear them bark and so does she.....she has learned to 'hold it' until they go back inside. I never had to do anything harsh to teach her this.......just scold and talk to her. I KNOW that I can't change what she was taught at an early age but I can be a responsible pet owner and keep her inside, away from other animals. As time has progressed, she wants little to do with the outside anyway, she melts when there is dew on the grass. She's a good dog but I have to be a good dog mom. She will tolerate my grandmother's dog over here but it took a LONG time for her to realize that that little dog wasn't invading her territory. Still, I would never leave them alone.
I'm afraid that what puppies learn stays with them throughout their adult years. I love watching Ceasar but, I do wonder why we don't see follow ups. I would be happy for him to spend time with my dog but, I really think that if he were not around consistently, she would revert back to her old behaviour. I jut think it's nature. It's taken me 3 years to get her to be civil around another dog but I sure wouldn't allow that by herself.
Guess I'm just saying that I have a dog that can be potentially mean and I know it so I'm responsible about it. I wish that everyone else would be too. She came about her aggressiveness honestly but we love her and know that she only wants to protect us. It really doesn't take a lot of work for us to keep her indoors and safely away from a bad situation. Perhaps that's the key.....she's indoors. In seven years, she's never gotten out, not even once. But it seems so many folks want a 'bad axx' dog because it makes them cool. 'Scuse me.......those folks don't deserve the right to have a dog, as far as I'm concerned. A dog becomes part of the family and knows it.
knolan, bless you forever for what you've done for Socks! That dog KNOWS how lucky she is; rescues always do. She's a lucky dog, and you're a good (and lucky!) dog mom. I agree with you -- dogs don't completely get over what they're taught any more than we do! And when they have been bred for that fighting instinct -- well, could you train a cat not to see something move?
Socks may have been fought, or she may have been used as bait. Either way, it had to have been a horrific experience for her. But it sounds like you've made your expectations clear and I think that's what counts. But you'll have to be on alert as long as you have her. Good for you.
I love the dog whisperer as well, and have learned things from the show. But I don't believe every single dog he's ever taken on has turned into Lassie or Sky King. We see the successes, which is fine! But wouldn't you love to see the outtakes?!
I am glad you are right. I have seen pits that were the clown of the neighbor hood. But more often not. I too blame the owners. They are a beautiful breed in the right hands.
Thanks, Brigidlily. I sure would love to see those out takes. I admire the dog whisperer very much and all that he does but totally agree, they can't all ride off inito the sunset. I do believe you can teach an old dog new tricks but they don't forget the old ones either.
Ironically, I have three cats and Socks plays with them as if they were her brothers. It's hilarious to watch. They scare her more than she them.
Poor thing gets scared of the camera.
What a soulful little baby! But push come to shove, I'd want her on MY side! She looks like she'll take care of you, especially since you've taken care of her.