I'm fed up!

[Charliescherry71]

I so sorry this happened to your boy.
I have to agree with Dallas Dog, a 9mm would stop the bully dog. I would never hurt any animal but all bets are off if someone hurts our fur baby.

Agreed...lesson learned.

[Charliescherry71]

https://www.thedailymail.net/news/art...5e4517759.html

A similar situation in our town.

Ridiclous...a $25 fine....why even bother....geesh!

[smartrock]

A relative had to have 2 pit mixes put down because of unprovoked attacks but they both went after people and had a documented history of threatening behavior. The dogs had been labeled as dangerous dogs by whomever does that where she lives. One would jump through closed windows if he saw a mailman approaching, the other could open sliding glass doors and bit an acquaintance. Those were some determined dogs but she considered them her babies and with her were just big babies.

If you don't know what the local laws are regarding animal, find out what they are. If there are any sort of leash laws in your area and the dog is not restrained or kept on its property according to whatever local ordinances there are, I'd start there, to get the laws enforced at minimum. And keep documentation, call in complaints to whoever is supposed to enforce the law, etc. If there are no local laws regarding keeping pets on your property or under control, find out what it takes to get those in place. These are the laws in Baltimore County, for example: Animal Laws and Policies - Baltimore County

I hope your dog recovers without incident. That had to be frightening for everyone involved.

[ls2erin]

I have been in this situation a couple times. The first time was with Pixie, but I was bit and she was not. I had a small amount of time to react and I protected her with my own arms and legs. No one (police included) cared. They cited the owners a small fee, but only because the dogs had not had their rabies vaccinations. Had nothing to do with the bites and open wounds on me.

The second time, Roxy was attacked by a large unneutered pit bull owned by neighbors when we were coming home from a walk one evening a few summers ago. We were on our property by the time it charged at us, completely unprovoked. It all happened so fast... It's easy to say what we would do, but when that situation actually arises, sometimes there's not enough time to react. Some of you probably remember the story and that I had a hard time getting the police, animal control, or anyone else to care. My other neighbor is a police officer and she was there at the time, but she said she couldn't do anything because it was "a civil dispute". It was infuriating. Someone on this board actually emailed Chicago animal control on my behalf, since they didn't care over the phone when I called. I exchanged emails with animal control, but still nothing came of it. The only reason I got the money back for the vet bills was because the owners of the pit made payments to me until it was paid off. The only reason I got them to pay was because I told them I would report them if they didn't pay, because they didn't know I had reported it already, and that no one cared. I didn't really need their money, but it was the only way I could have them somewhat "punished" for not being responsible for their dog. I really didn't want the dog to get punished, because it's the owners fault. It worked out that way, but it didn't change the fact that my dog was in pain, had stitches, and a drain tube in the wounds. It was just a terrible experience and I am sorry for you, your dog, and anyone else who has had to go through that with their dogs. I wish the pit bull had bit me instead of my little girl, but the truth of the matter is that it wouldn't have made the authorities care more either. Good luck to you, and I hope your dog recovers fully.

[arentspowell]

Can you give a link to start this reading?

It's a fascinating area of law. A few years ago peta filed suit against Sea World on behalf of Tilikum and a few other whales alleging 13th amendment violations for involuntary servitude. It was a pretty radical position but interesting nonetheless.

Some countries recognize a semi-personhood for apes. I want to say France is one of them.

Animal Legal Dense Fund is a good resource if you're interested in reading up on this.

Also Gary Francione has written several books on the legal status of animals and our speciesist attitudes. He's an abolitionist vegan so some of his views can be a little extreme. I personally would like to see an elevated status of animals that doesn't rise quite to personhood.

[Charliescherry71]

A relative had to have 2 pit mixes put down because of unprovoked attacks but they both went after people and had a documented history of threatening behavior. The dogs had been labeled as dangerous dogs by whomever does that where she lives. One would jump through closed windows if he saw a mailman approaching, the other could open sliding glass doors and bit an acquaintance. Those were some determined dogs but she considered them her babies and with her were just big babies.

If you don't know what the local laws are regarding animal, find out what they are. If there are any sort of leash laws in your area and the dog is not restrained or kept on its property according to whatever local ordinances there are, I'd start there, to get the laws enforced at minimum. And keep documentation, call in complaints to whoever is supposed to enforce the law, etc. If there are no local laws regarding keeping pets on your property or under control, find out what it takes to get those in place. These are the laws in Baltimore County, for example: Animal Laws and Policies - Baltimore County

I hope your dog recovers without incident. That had to be frightening for everyone involved.

Florida does have a leash law but for a dog to be removed it has to attack a person. To file a "dangerous dog dispute" there has to be more than one incident. How the owner avoided being fined for the dog not being on a leash is beyond me as that is the least that should have happened but now someone else's dog must get attacked before we can go forward. It angers me to no end someone or something will likely go through what we've been through when it should have been resolved.

[doubledip1]

I have only had negative experiences with pit bull terriers and Staffordshire terriers. My ex fiancé had to kick one off of Luna while the owner did nothing but say it was just playing. I called the police and haven't seen the dog again.

I just hate how it's okay for people to say retrieving is in Labrador DNA (and it is!) but you can't say aggression is in pit DNA. It is. They were bred for decades for dog on dog aggression just like Labs are bred for retrieving and German shepherds bred for protection. Just accept the faults in whatever breed you choose and be responsible about it!

[Charliescherry71]

I have been in this situation a couple times. The first time was with Pixie, but I was bit and she was not. I had a small amount of time to react and I protected her with my own arms and legs. No one (police included) cared. They cited the owners a small fee, but only because the dogs had not had their rabies vaccinations. Had nothing to do with the bites and open wounds on me.

The second time, Roxy was attacked by a large unneutered pit bull owned by neighbors when we were coming home from a walk one evening a few summers ago. We were on our property by the time it charged at us, completely unprovoked. It all happened so fast... It's easy to say what we would do, but when that situation actually arises, sometimes there's not enough time to react. Some of you probably remember the story and that I had a hard time getting the police, animal control, or anyone else to care. My other neighbor is a police officer and she was there at the time, but she said she couldn't do anything because it was "a civil dispute". It was infuriating. Someone on this board actually emailed Chicago animal control on my behalf, since they didn't care over the phone when I called. I exchanged emails with animal control, but still nothing came of it. The only reason I got the money back for the vet bills was because the owners of the pit made payments to me until it was paid off. The only reason I got them to pay was because I told them I would report them if they didn't pay, because they didn't know I had reported it already, and that no one cared. I didn't really need their money, but it was the only way I could have them somewhat "punished" for not being responsible for their dog. I really didn't want the dog to get punished, because it's the owners fault. It worked out that way, but it didn't change the fact that my dog was in pain, had stitches, and a drain tube in the wounds. It was just a terrible experience and I am sorry for you, your dog, and anyone else who has had to go through that with their dogs. I wish the pit bull had bit me instead of my little girl, but the truth of the matter is that it wouldn't have made the authorities care more either. Good luck to you, and I hope your dog recovers fully.

We were told it's a civil matter too so off to court we go. I'm sorry for what you went through with Roxy as your situation seems similar to mine so I understand your fury. We must have stricter laws to punish people if they are going to own these dogs without any regard to their surroundings.

[Charliescherry71]

I have only had negative experiences with pit bull terriers and Staffordshire terriers. My ex fiancé had to kick one off of Luna while the owner did nothing but say it was just playing. I called the police and haven't seen the dog again.

I just hate how it's okay for people to say retrieving is in Labrador DNA (and it is!) but you can't say aggression is in pit DNA. It is. They were bred for decades for dog on dog aggression just like Labs are bred for retrieving and German shepherds bred for protection. Just accept the faults in whatever breed you choose and be responsible about it!

I agree and I believe there is a misconception that if your dog is loving to you and other people then it must be ok with other dogs....in this case they know the dog is aggressive, it has been passed from house to house, state to state so I have to wonder if this has happened before and to save the dog it just keeps being passed around.

[dxboon]

Can you give a link to start this reading?

QA: Pets Are Becoming People, Legally Speaking

Sacrificing the Sacrifice of Animals: Legal Personhood for Animals, The Status of Animals as Property, and the Presumed Primacy of Humans | Animal Legal Historical Center

Should chimpanzees have legal rights? - The Boston Globe

Guardianship | National Animal Interest Alliance

There is more on the web, but here are some articles to start with. Animal rights advocates successfully utilize our emotional response and love of animals to chip away at our ability and rights to make decisions about their care. I can see a future world in which dog breeding is banned, where you can be put in jail or have your dog taken from you for using a prong collar or e-collar (some of you are right now saying that sounds great, but you won't feel the same way when in this future world someone doesn't agree with your training or husbandry methods, and you are the person affected; prongs and e-collars are "low hanging fruit" for these animal rights advocates), and one in which livestock farming is no longer a viable option because of increasingly complex and burdensome animal rights laws.

I think the language surrounding animal personhood, and comparing the path that the movement is on with the abolishment of slavery in the US, is frightening.