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[sha_lyn]

He's a biter could mean many things...

Huh?

The neighbor is writing warning notes and yelling at the neighbors to take their kids inside. This is not a little puppy who is playfully nipping

 

[diznygirl]

He's a biter could mean many things...

My Bernese, Abby, was a biter when she was a pup...

To that breed it means that she liked to nip at you (hands, pant legs etc). Most dogs of that breed do it as puppies.

It was just a phase though that i had to train her out of.... Dogs that have been neglected (such as a rescue) may not have outgrown that phase.

Maybe you should ask to meet the dog so he know's your scent and you know for sure what "he's a biter" means....

BTW...We have friends with 3 great danes....Boy are they big but i've never been scared of them....

I don't know about you - but I don't want a Great Dane "nipping" at me!


C.Ann - I think contacting Animal Control is a good way to go. In the meantime could also return a note - if you can get close enough stating something like, "you cannot expect your neighbors to be made prisoners in their own homes. YOU need to control the dog. Please call me to discuss this situation."

It would be good to actually speak to her and get further info.

Good luck.

 

[BillSears]

Yes- an excellent way to deal with things- take the law into your own hands and use violence... haven't we had enough of that already?

Really? Are you really comparing killing a violent dog whom the neighbor has admitted is a menace to what happened at Virginia Tech last week? Maybe it's me, but I just don't compare 32 humans to a menacing dog....

Actually is is a good comparison. The violent dog is the killer who should have been stopped before he killed. It's known the dog is violent, it's known that because of it's size and disposition it could easily kill a child or even an adult, it's known that the dog gets loose and is a danger when it does. The only question here is when it will attack someone.

 

[ilovejack02]

So she walks the dogs everyday and everyone must stay inside because she cant control them...That about stupidest thing ive ever heard, Id get with all the neighbors and then go to animal control people as a group.

Better the dog be shot dead than someone hurt how silly to suggest otherwise. I wouldnt hesitate, but I also wouldnt just carry a gun to the mail box.
Mace and air horn sound a good way to go.

 

[wheeler1]

I think they have it in the sporting goods section of WalMart
I know most of the sporting goods stores have it. IE Dicks, Sports Authority etc. I also believe most gun shops carry it.

Pepper spray is legal to buy but I believe you need to register Mace (I'm sure I'm not saying this right! ) with your local PD.

The pepper spray canister is small and will fit right into the palm of your hand. My neighbor swears by it while running and honestly, its not a bad idea to have one in your purse for when you find yourself alone and walking through a parking lot, etc.

 

[Allison]

I would contact the authorities and make sure they see the note and know about the other things she has told neighbors. There is no way I would put up with that.

 

[reeddi]

I myself am in this situation right now.

I own a beagle who is very loving most of the time. He bit my 11 year old once when she startled him and yesterday bit my 6 year old because he was taking her snack and she tried to stop him.

Now we have made the decision to put him down. Yes, we know the bites are not his fault totally BUT with small children here in the house and in the neighborhood it is the only choice. We had Animal Control out here today because of this. He stated that due to the repeat offense he would have to be taken away anyway. So my advice to you is find out what the LAWS are in your area. It may not be her choice to keep him if the dog has a bite record.

To me that is irresponsible dog ownership to a new height. It is fair to anyone (including the dog) to have such restrictions to everyone's lives. Will it be fair when someone might take a gun to him instead of putting him down as humanely as possible?

Please don't flame me for the choice we had to make. It is breaking my heart but the only fair thing to do for everyone.

C. Ann - good luck.

Reeddi

 

[goofyforlife]

Huh?

The neighbor is writing warning notes and yelling at the neighbors to take their kids inside. This is not a little puppy who is playfully nipping

1) The note was meant to let you know she has the big dog and it seems like she has her hands full with that dog.

(A better solution overall may be to politely find out what rescue group she got him from and tell the rescue group of the problems that have developed. A good rescue should always be willing to re-home a dog rather than see it get into a bad situation. )

2) No it's isn't a little puppy but a full grown dog can still have a puppy mentality.

Great danes are probably full grown height by around age 1. (Yeah they get a little rounder but STILL A PUPPY)

My Abby is 120lbs + and 2yrs old and while she looks big (over 30 inches at her shoulders)....i know she's harmless. She still acts like a puppy though.

The women may have told the person to take her little kid in because little kids can do things that scare dogs. If you look at any rescue site, if they find a dog the slightest bit skittish they will not adopt the dog into a household with small children because they do stuff like that.

My neighbor's son was about 12-15 mo old when we got Abby. He couldn't talk yet at the time but he made this shrill peeping sound that scared the heck out of Abby whenever she saw him. She would run and pull away with her leash and was very scared of the odd behavior.

I kept her away from him until he outgrew the whole peeping thing....

 

[momoftwins]

how can some people be that stupid! She is assuming either you or your DGD will see the dog before you come out of the house. What if you are already outside - say in the back of the house and you can't see the dog until it is too late!

What if he broke away from her while she was walking the menace and it attacked someone before one could seek safety - especially a child! The dog needs to be muzzled if it is a biter.

Also, why should your family or anyone else that lives there be inconvenienced by her stupidity. How does she even know it will not turn on her one day!

I would place a call to the State AG to see if they can give you some advice. There has to be some ordinance in the town regarding vicious dogs.

 

[sorcerormickey]

how can some people be that stupid! She is assuming either you or your DGD will see the dog before you come out of the house. What if you are already outside - say in the back of the house and you can't see the dog until it is too late!

What if he broke away from her while she was walking the menace and it attacked someone before one could seek safety - especially a child! The dog needs to be muzzled if it is a biter.

Also, why should your family or anyone else that lives there be inconvenienced by her stupidity. How does she even know it will not turn on her one day!

I totally agree. Definately keep that note just in case and try and talk to the Dog Catcher. She cannot let her biting dog have the run of the neighborhood. If it is too inconvenient for her to keep her own dog on her property, the very least she could do is muzzle it. She should know better!!

 

[lindakmonty]

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

The dog already "got out" - one evening last week - thus her warning to my son-in-law when she saw him this weekend..

Then on Saturday, she was "walking" both dogs up the road further, saw a child playing out in his yard and screamed to the parents to "get him inside"..

First of all, if this lady screamed at me to take MY child inside when I am on MY property b/c her dog has a problem.... she's got another coming. Say what you want but I'm not living in fear over a DOG! I would tell her to get her DOG inside and if he comes on my property he WILL get shot! You don't want your dog getting hurt, take proper precautions as his owner to make sure he doesn't leave your property "invisible fence" or something

He's a biter could mean many things...

My Bernese, Abby, was a biter when she was a pup...

To that breed it means that she liked to nip at you (hands, pant legs etc). Most dogs of that breed do it as puppies.

It was just a phase though that i had to train her out of.... Dogs that have been neglected (such as a rescue) may not have outgrown that phase.

Maybe you should ask to meet the dog so he know's your scent and you know for sure what "he's a biter" means....

BTW...We have friends with 3 great danes....Boy are they big but i've never been scared of them....

she wouldn't be screaming at people to get their kids inside over a puppy walking by the kids were on their own property and have EVERY right to play in their own yards w/o worry of some vicious killer dog going to mawl them!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

1)
(A better solution overall may be to politely find out what rescue group she got him from and tell the rescue group of the problems that have developed. A good rescue should always be willing to re-home a dog rather than see it get into a bad situation. )

QUOTE]

You've gotten lots of good advice re: keeping the note, calling the police, and calling animal control, etc. I agree that it would also be good to call Great Dane Rescue (if you google those 3 words with your state name, I think you'll have a good chance of finding a group that can help you). Even if you can't find the exact rescue group your neighbor adopted from, you may be able to find a Great Dane Rescue group that will send somebody out to talk to/work with your neighbor.

I don't think you are over-reacting in any way. Your neighbor has a screw loose if she's got an uncontrolled biter running loose. Although I would be devastated to have to shoot a dog, I wouldn't hesitate if a family member was threatened by a vicious dog.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

That is insane. I love dogs. I have a cocker spaniel myself, but people come before dogs. And for the life of me, I can't understand what people want with dangerous dogs. If that kind of dog were in my neighborhood, I'd be livid.

I have no advice but I hope you can go outside in your own yard in peace soon!

 

[northcapemaymom]

I agree with BillSears about the note saying you will act in self-defense if the dog comes on your property. If you're in an isolated area - you cannot expect animal control or law enforcement to help you in a dangerous situation right away. Have a way of defending yourself just in case. You're always best being the one telling your side of the story of why there's a dead dog on your property instead of the EMT's trying to figure out what happened if that dog attacks you or a loved one. Good luck and hopefully the neighbor gets rid of the dog.

 

[Nana Annie]

I kept her away from him until he outgrew the whole peeping thing....

But that is the whole point, isn't it? YOU as the owner kept the dog away from the peeping child. You did not yell at the parents to get the kid inside because Abby was scared of him.

When I first read the post, I had mixed feelings that the owner was just trying to warn neighbors "just in case." And that she would do everything she possibly could to contain the animal. Because, as we all know, dogs can be sneaky creatures and accidents do happen. I at first thought that maybe she was being proactive and letting neighbors know that if an unusual occurance should happen, to be careful.

However, after reading C.Ann's further posts, that she was yelling at neighbors to get inside while walking a dog, that the dog has already been loose, and that it does not seem that she is taking any extra measures to protect the community from this animal, then she is not being a responsible neighbor, but a very irresponsible one.

From what C.Ann has told us, this lady does not feel in control of a vicious animal while walking him. It is totally unreasonable to expect your neighbors to stay inside when you are walking this animal just because the owner cannot control him.

Definitely check with a lawyer to see what the vicious dog laws are in your county. Your town may be small, but their may be broader laws.

In many counties, harboring a known vicious animal is against the law without a proper enclosure. In my county, a dog that has bitten before has to be kept in a chain link enclosure, the bottom buried a certain depth in concrete to prevent the dog from digging, and a secure top to prevent the dog from climbing over. When the dog is not in the enclosure, it must be muzzled at all times.

Because you have that note (do not lose it!), please contact a lawyer and see what your rights are.

At the very least, this dog should be muzzled at all times if the owner is that worried about it attacking.

And check online to find any Great Dane rescues that may be near you. Start calling any and all. Usually, these rescues will know of biters. They should help you find out where the neighbor got the dog. Then contact that rescue and tell them you will take legal action against the rescue if something happens to a neighbor, as they approved a placement with a person that admittedly cannot handle the dog. I bet that rescue will be picking up that dog so fast!

 

[ilovejack02]

I myself am in this situation right now.

I own a beagle who is very loving most of the time. He bit my 11 year old once when she startled him and yesterday bit my 6 year old because he was taking her snack and she tried to stop him.

Now we have made the decision to put him down. Yes, we know the bites are not his fault totally BUT with small children here in the house and in the neighborhood it is the only choice. We had Animal Control out here today because of this. He stated that due to the repeat offense he would have to be taken away anyway. So my advice to you is find out what the LAWS are in your area. It may not be her choice to keep him if the dog has a bite record.

To me that is irresponsible dog ownership to a new height. It is fair to anyone (including the dog) to have such restrictions to everyone's lives. Will it be fair when someone might take a gun to him instead of putting him down as humanely as possible?

Please don't flame me for the choice we had to make. It is breaking my heart but the only fair thing to do for everyone.

C. Ann - good luck.

Reeddi

Wow you couldnt have at least found a rescue to take him to be placed in a home with out children?? No flame just asking.

 

[BillSears]

Please don't flame me for the choice we had to make. It is breaking my heart but the only fair thing to do for everyone.

It's hard to do the right thing but sometimes you have to make the tough choices.

 

[sha_lyn]

Wow you couldnt have at least found a rescue to take him to be placed in a home with out children?? No flame just asking.

Did you miss this?

We had Animal Control out here today because of this. He stated that due to the repeat offense he would have to be taken away anyway.

Animal control would be making the same decision after removing the dog from the home

 

[ilovejack02]

Did you miss this?


Animal control would be making the same decision after removing the dog from the home

I didnt miss it. I asked just asked question. Some rescues will take dogs like that. I didnt say anything ugly nor do I plan too.

 

[momoftwins]

removing the dog to another home does not solve the problem of a dog that has the potentail to attack someone.

It only takes one time for a dog to get loose outside, or have someone at the door of your home - possibly a child - and have the dog attack them.

Is the potential damage from a dog of this size really worth the damage it could cause a human? BTW, I love dogs, so I do not say this lightly.