Iggipolka
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- Joined
- Oct 30, 2005
- Messages
- 2,450
I'm still shaking from this experience. My elderly 7 year old, totally calm and easy going dog, Bella, my 7-month old baby, Lillian, and I were attacked by our neighbors dogs this afternoon.
Nearly every afternoon I take Lil in the Moby Wrap out for a walk with Bella. It's a great way for Lil to get her last nap of the day as the Moby = Baby Valium. Since Bella needs a daily walk and I like to get out of the house and get some exercise, it's perfect. Well, it was a great walk until we were headed back home.
Our next door neighbors two girls (approximately aged 7 & 9) were out riding their bikes and as Bella, Lil and I passed their house, the two neighbor dogs came running down the front walk (the house is up on a hill, so they had to run down about 15 steps) and attacked Bella. Bella was on leash, just walking peacefully and the two dogs ran, snapping and growling with their fur standing up on their necks and attacked unprovoked. One bit her on her neck while the other snapped at her heels. Poor Bella kept circling to try and get away from them. She did bark at them and growl, but she never bit back.
I was trying to protect Lillian because I was worried that the dogs would grab onto her little legs that were danging out of the Moby. I yelled for the Mom of the girls, who was standing at the top of the walk by her house to get her dogs. She certainly didn't rush down the steps, but once she got down, she ineffectively tried to grab the one dog off of Bella's neck. She finally was able to get that dog, but as I quickly walked Bella away from them, the other dog was still growling and jumping all over Bella. I kept yelling at her to get her dog! Finally, she got the other dog too.
I ran with Bella and Lil into our house and checked Bella over for bites. Thankfully, she's got a good thick ruff, so she doesn't have any puncture wounds. Lillian was totally fine. Bella is quite clingy and subdued, although a new bone to chew on is making her happy.
I was in tears and shaking by the time I got home. I told my wife what happened and she was appropriately outraged and worried about Lil and Bella. I called another neighbor to see if she saw the attack, but unfortunately, she only heard it. At both of their suggestions, I called the police to report the attack. I just wanted there to be a record in case something happened again. We've had issues with the dogs being fence aggressive (we share a fence with the neighbors) and they bark constantly. This was the 1st actual physical attack though.
To my surprise, Animal Control and two police cars came out to the neighbors. I talked to the Animal Control officer on the phone, but she never came to our house to talk with me directly or check out Bella. They ended up taking the neighbor dogs away tonight. I'm not sure how long they will be gone, but they apparently do some temperament test and if they pass that, the neighbors will be notified. The neighbors can request a hearing to get their dogs back and no doubt, some training will be recommended.
I'm sad for the dogs, it's not their fault. We gave the neighbors a list of trainers and dog walkers over a year ago. They never did anything to train their dogs or take care of them. Those dogs spend their life caged up in their small backyard, barking at everyone who walks by and barking and charging at the fence when we are in our back or front yard.
So now, we've got next door neighbors who hate us for reporting their dogs attacking Bella, Lil & I. I'm still freaked out from the attack and just grateful that our little baby is safe and not harmed. This could have been so much worse than it was and it was already pretty bad.
Nearly every afternoon I take Lil in the Moby Wrap out for a walk with Bella. It's a great way for Lil to get her last nap of the day as the Moby = Baby Valium. Since Bella needs a daily walk and I like to get out of the house and get some exercise, it's perfect. Well, it was a great walk until we were headed back home.
Our next door neighbors two girls (approximately aged 7 & 9) were out riding their bikes and as Bella, Lil and I passed their house, the two neighbor dogs came running down the front walk (the house is up on a hill, so they had to run down about 15 steps) and attacked Bella. Bella was on leash, just walking peacefully and the two dogs ran, snapping and growling with their fur standing up on their necks and attacked unprovoked. One bit her on her neck while the other snapped at her heels. Poor Bella kept circling to try and get away from them. She did bark at them and growl, but she never bit back.
I was trying to protect Lillian because I was worried that the dogs would grab onto her little legs that were danging out of the Moby. I yelled for the Mom of the girls, who was standing at the top of the walk by her house to get her dogs. She certainly didn't rush down the steps, but once she got down, she ineffectively tried to grab the one dog off of Bella's neck. She finally was able to get that dog, but as I quickly walked Bella away from them, the other dog was still growling and jumping all over Bella. I kept yelling at her to get her dog! Finally, she got the other dog too.
I ran with Bella and Lil into our house and checked Bella over for bites. Thankfully, she's got a good thick ruff, so she doesn't have any puncture wounds. Lillian was totally fine. Bella is quite clingy and subdued, although a new bone to chew on is making her happy.
I was in tears and shaking by the time I got home. I told my wife what happened and she was appropriately outraged and worried about Lil and Bella. I called another neighbor to see if she saw the attack, but unfortunately, she only heard it. At both of their suggestions, I called the police to report the attack. I just wanted there to be a record in case something happened again. We've had issues with the dogs being fence aggressive (we share a fence with the neighbors) and they bark constantly. This was the 1st actual physical attack though.
To my surprise, Animal Control and two police cars came out to the neighbors. I talked to the Animal Control officer on the phone, but she never came to our house to talk with me directly or check out Bella. They ended up taking the neighbor dogs away tonight. I'm not sure how long they will be gone, but they apparently do some temperament test and if they pass that, the neighbors will be notified. The neighbors can request a hearing to get their dogs back and no doubt, some training will be recommended.
I'm sad for the dogs, it's not their fault. We gave the neighbors a list of trainers and dog walkers over a year ago. They never did anything to train their dogs or take care of them. Those dogs spend their life caged up in their small backyard, barking at everyone who walks by and barking and charging at the fence when we are in our back or front yard.
So now, we've got next door neighbors who hate us for reporting their dogs attacking Bella, Lil & I. I'm still freaked out from the attack and just grateful that our little baby is safe and not harmed. This could have been so much worse than it was and it was already pretty bad.