...................................

[C.Ann]

.............................

 

[ilovejack02]

I would keep the note and call the sheriff's office, not to tattle, but to just ask what can be done about making her keep the dog under control.

 

[cherylp3]

check with your local animal control officer.

 

[MareQ]

I'd leave a note on her door telling her that you appreciate her warning but it's her responsibility to keep her dog under HER control at all times and you will not be modifying your routine.

 

[korbbec]

I would wait and see. Maybe the dog getting free will be a very occasional occurance. She wants people to know not to approach him. If you have to hide from the dog daily, I would agree that it is a problem, but if he only gets out 2-3 times a month it might not be a problem. Also, does he attack or just bite when approached?

 

[C.Ann]

Also, does he attack or just bite when approached?

---------------------------------

She didn't clarify - to my son-in-law or in the note to me - just stated that we should "watch out" because "he's a biter"..

 

[disykat]

We have a local woman in the hospital right now under similar circumstances. The neighbor had given her instructions on how to deal with it "if her dogs got out" and she was following them when she got mauled. The dog owner is being prosecuted and the dog will be euthenized.

Can you explain to the neighbor that she can't require people not to leave their homes and that SHE will be in big legal trouble if her dog bites someone? The fact that she wrote you the note makes her even MORE liable since she is clearly aware the dog is a threat.

Your neighbor is being an idiot to think for one moment that this is acceptable behavior.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would keep the note and call the sheriff's office, not to tattle, but to just ask what can be done about making her keep the dog under control.

This is what I would do too. No need for a kid to lose a body part to take action.

 

[natenapril]

I have a 100lb Golden Reriever who was attacked by a Great Dane. THe Great Dane's mouth easily went around my dogs neck AFTER he knocked my dog down and bit him other places. For the sake of you grandchildren I would call the lady out and if she does nothing report her to the police. GReat Danes need special owners. THe owner of the one who attacked my dog was a small lady who could not keep the dog on his leash when he decided to attack. Thankfully my DH was there with our dog or I would not have him today.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

1. Do as she suggests. If you see her dog running loose, do not leave your home.

2. If you see her dog on your land unattended, call animal control. It is her responsibility to keep control of her dog. If she can't walk him without losing him, then she needs to fence him in. If he jumps the fence, she needs to build it higher. If she cannot control him, then she is NOT doing a "good" thing. She is doing an irresponsible thing.

3. Keep the note. Check out your state's laws on "known viscious animals". If the dog does bite, know your rights.

 

[C.Ann]

................................:

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Keep the note. I was once told that by putting up a "Beware of Dog" sign I would open myself to liability because I was admitting my dog would bite. Seems like you have that right there. I would call the local law inforcement and ask their opinion.

 

[BillSears]

I'd send a note back.

"Thanks for the warning. In the future I will shoot your dog on site if it is loose on my property. I do not do this lightly but instead I am being forced to do this in self defense."

 

[agnes!]

This woman is an idiot who cannot control a dangerous weapon. She basically has admitted she's allowing a loaded gun to roam the neighborhood. AND she's put it down IN WRITING?!? Can we all say "liability", boys & girls ?

A couple of thoughts...
Call animal control/the police/the sheriff.
Make copies of the note, turn the copies over to the authorities.
Contact ALL the other property owners in your neighborhood to warn them.
Contact a local attorney to see what your legal avenues are.

This woman is being irresponsible and negligent, her behavior is downright criminal. She is not changing HER routine, is she, yet she EXPECTS others to have to change THEIR lives to suit her needs? I'm sorry, but if this happened in my neighborhood, it would be time to scorch the earth and get this dangerous animal somehow legally removed. Do whatever you have to.

Someone WILL get hurt or even killed if you & your neighbors do not take action.

And a Great Dane being a 'biter' is different in my mind from a small breed being a 'biter'...a Great Dane could take a hand off with one 'bite'. I've been bitten on the hand by a small dog. The bite didn't break the skin, but I felt it was my duty to report the incident to Animal Control. I'm an adult, what if this small dog had gone after a child's face...((shudder)). If this dog does get 'in the system', then if he does do something else, he will at least have a record.

agnes!

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I just wanted to say....please make sure you hang on to that note. It is good evidence in the event that something should happen. If that dogs mauls somebody and she tries to play the "but he's such a friendly dog" card, you can whip out that note to show as proof she knew the dog was dangerous. She will face greater consequences if you can prove she knows the dog is dangerous!

My neighbors are very good friends of ours, but their Pitt Bull has attacked several times and I'm nervous as hell about it. The first time he got out and bit one person and tried to bite two others. The second time he bit my mother, and the third time he bit some guy four times. The whole situation makes me very nervous! I love our neighbors to death, but they do not use common sense with that dog. They are supposed to have him muzzled and leashed at all times, but they take him out and let him run free and play; no leash, no muzzle. They are in profound denial that their dog is dangerous. People just amazing me.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Here is a like story that happened in my childhood neighborhood. I was an adult when it happened.

A neighbor's friend had a larger dog that had a biting problem. The owner wanted to get rid of it so the neighbor took the dog. One day my mother was driving home with my sister and saw three 10ish boys on top of another 10ish boy. She stopped the car to stop the fight. When she slammed the door she saw the dogs head raise and then the dog took off. The boys were walking the dog on a leash when the dog saw another boy and attacked him. The other boys were trying to get the dog off but they were too small. My sister took notice which home the dog ran to and they got help from a neighbor. The boy was lucky. The dog had him by the neck and the juglar was exposed. The door slam saved the boys life. The boy had major plastic surgery and the owners got their ***** sued.

 

[izzy]

I would try to find some way to figure out who she has her homeowner's insurance policy with and let them know. I bet they'd have a thing or two to say to her about her having such a dog running around!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

Do you know how to contact the other families in the area? If you do I'd suggest contacting them amd letting them know the situation--I know I'd hate to get to my "summer" house and be locked in.

If you told them what's going on maybe you could start a petition and take it to the town hall meeting-the small towns I lived in had these---they could set it up that if she keeps the dog then protective measures will need to be in place.

Till then I'd start calling the police every time I see the dog loose so they have it on record making the protective measure easier to obtain.

A girl who used to babysit for me had a bunch of dogs,one being a Great Dane,the town told her she was no longer allowed to have it in city limits after it bit the head clean off of her Chihuaha.

 

[C.Ann]

Well as I said earlier, I can't reach the dog warden during the day, but I think I'll see if the Town Hall is open this afternoon.. (Again - VERY small town - many services are only available part-time or certain days of the week..) Maybe someone there can tell me what I can do about this..

I'll admit that I'm afraid of being bitten myself - especially since I'm here alone (except for weekends) until November - but my biggest fear is my DGD or any other child.. It terrifies me to think that they could be mauled, permanently scarred, or worse yet, killed..

 

[Tantor]

I would be talking to animal control and the authorities before I would talk to her.