Two pit bulls are running loose in my neighborhood!

[torinsmom]

This is the fourth time that I know of that these dogs have gotten out and terrorized people and other pets. Somehow, animal control always gives them back to the owners. They have them in a fenced in back yard with a 4 foot picket fence that the dogs can jump whenever they choose to do so. I have nothing against the breed in general, but this breeding pair is MEAN!

It snowed 10 inches last night in our town, and this is a once in five years event.
Animal control is not in operation at this time.

Evidently the dogs got out this morning, because I can see their tracks in my front yard, but they are partially covered with new snow. I woke to dogs barking and went to the window to see what was going on. The two Pitts were running up and down my neighbors fence trying to get in to her dogs. The male's face and chest were covered in BLOOD! I yelled at the dogs to go away and they just barked at me ferociously. Luckily, my neighbor came out and got her dogs in before anything worse happened.

My fence is a 4 foot picket fence, which I know from experience they can jump(I was luckily home last time they tried to get at my dog and was able to bring him inside) So, my poor dog can't go out and enjoy the snow, because I don't know where the dogs are now. I had to take him in the backyard on a leash, so I could get him in quick if I saw them coming back. He is 11 years old and definitely cannot handle this big pair of Pitts.

Is it bad of me to feel like if I owned a gun, I would have used it? Maybe it is not the dogs' fault, but if they are attacking dogs at this point, there is probably no rehabilitation. If animal control comes and gets them and sees all that blood, they will put them down anyway.

So, now my poor dog, who is an outside dog most of the time during the day, is stuck in my bathroom. Just makes me MAD!

Marsha

 

[HOGFAN]

We have guns and bbguns. I probably would have popped them with BB to get them to go away. FLAME AWAY, I DONT CARE.
There is a horrific story in the news today about a father setting a pit bull puppy on fire after it nipped at his kids. Awful for the puppy but the dad should have known better than to get a pit for his kids.

 

[MM27]

Where are the owners during this? If their dogs are out running all over town, perhaps they need an early wake up phone call. Can you call the police department? Animal control may be off but if they are terrorizing the neighborhood the police should be out to help.

My old neighbors had a Rottie that got out all the time and while he wasn't aggressive, that we knew of, he was poorly taken care of. Animal control did nothing so one time when he was out we called the police and an officer came and actually took the dog off in his car.

And no, you are not a bad person for thinking that about the gun. The reason some breeds have bad reputations is because they have crappy owners. If owners allow the dogs to go untrained, eventually they are going to either hurt someone or another animal or end up being put down in a shelter because they are unadoptable.

 

[torinsmom]

The owners are really scary guys and I am a single woman. I already complained once when the dogs were out and now they give me the "evil eye" when I walk by. I am also scared to walk over there, because the dogs are out somewhere. I don't know that they would attack people, but I wouldn't take the chance.

There is 10 inches snow here(still coming down too) and we are not supposed to call the police unless it is a dire emergency. They are a skeleton crew trying to deal with car accidents and other major problems. I am hoping the people will get their dogs in.......

Okay, just called 911 and they are paging the animal control person on call. A guy was walking his dog and the dogs were after him and biting at the dogs legs! He had to pick his dog up and retreated into a neighbors house. I hope they send someone out before anything bad happens!

Marsha

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Buy a shotgun. Sounds like you can expect it to happen again...

 

[Mermaid02]

With all that fresh snow it ought to be easy to see where the blood came from. I hope someone is checking into that...... some poor animal or worse person could be in real trouble.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, after I called, I saw another man walking his dog and I opened the door up to yell at him about the dogs. About that time, the dogs started bolting towards him. They were in front of their own house at the time and I guess the owner heard me screaming and came out. He called the dogs in and I said "You need to get them in; they already attacked one person that I saw!"

So, the dogs are locked away again for now. Animal control just called me and won't come out now since there is no longer a threat. She said to make a written complaint(form on their website) and note that it has happened several times and what I witnessed today. These people are renters and don't take care of their property either, so I wish they would just move out! I think they moved here because we don't have restriction on pit bulls. My other neighbors who have nice, pampered pitt bulls, wish they would too. They are scared the problems the bad dogs cause will make them have to move in order to keep their dogs.

I guess I can take my dog for a walk now. And I think I will invest in a taller fence as well. I always thought of my fence as a way to keep my dog in, but I guess it needs to keep other animals out as well.

Marsha

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

The owners are really scary guys and I am a single woman. I already complained once when the dogs were out and now they give me the "evil eye" when I walk by. I am also scared to walk over there, because the dogs are out somewhere. I don't know that they would attack people, but I wouldn't take the chance.

There is 10 inches snow here(still coming down too) and we are not supposed to call the police unless it is a dire emergency. They are a skeleton crew trying to deal with car accidents and other major problems. I am hoping the people will get their dogs in.......

Okay, just called 911 and they are paging the animal control person on call. A guy was walking his dog and the dogs were after him and biting at the dogs legs! He had to pick his dog up and retreated into a neighbors house. I hope they send someone out before anything bad happens!

Marsha

This is the nightmare combination of owners with this potentially dangerous dog. I know there are many, many responsible pit owners who have trained their dogs well, but the ones described here are just frightening. They feel their rights to own whatever dog trumps other people's right to safety, even if they don't want to bother training/containing the dogs.

My DS11 has a very nice friend, and they enjoy coming over to my house and play. I go to pick the boy up, and his family got a pit bull puppy from someone selling them for $25 on the side of the road. I met the puppy when he was about 3 months, and he was very aggressive already, barking but not wagging his tail. I finally got him to let me pet him, and he didn't bite me, but when I stopped he would go next to his kids and start the barking again. The boy that is DSs friend doesn't even know his name-the puppy is now 6 months old! I am afraid that one day his friend will want my DS to come over to play and I will have to say, "no". I don't think the family is raising this puppy right, and I am afraid he is going to become a statistic.

While I would understand the OPs desire to shoot these dogs, be careful. It is definitely a serious crime to discharge a firearm in a residential area.

I don't understand why animal control or police can't come out when you say there is BLOOD involved?! Who cares about the snow, the dogs definitely don't!

 

[torinsmom]

With all that fresh snow it ought to be easy to see where the blood came from. I hope someone is checking into that...... some poor animal or worse person could be in real trouble.

Now that the dogs are in, I'll see if I can figure that out. First they were behind my fence, so I'd have to be walking behind everyone's fences. I suppose the blood could have been from the dogs themselves, since they are usually chained inside the fence. Maybe they fought their way out? It makes me angry that anyone would leave their dog out overnight in this weather anyway.

Marsha

 

[KramBerries]

It is definitely a serious crime to discharge a firearm in a residential area.

Depends on where you live. I don't know anything about the laws in NC. In Texas, you have very strong rights to use firearms in self defense. Just a few situations in the last several years include someone shooting some lawfully trying to repossess their car (shooter thought he was a thief) and someone shooting two thieves leaving his neighbors house in broad daylight. In neither case did the shooter's case get past a grand jury. If she shot those dogs on her own property here in Texas, particularly at night, and credibly claimed that she feared for her life or property, she probably wouldn't even be charged with a crime.

Disclaimers:

• I'm not a lawyer and everything I said above is probably wrong.
• I don't recommend shooting dogs without good reason. Irresponsible dog owners either (as tempting as it may be).

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Depends on where you live. I don't know anything about the laws in NC. In Texas, you have very strong rights to use firearms in self defense. Just a few situations in the last several years include someone shooting some lawfully trying to repossess their car (shooter thought he was a thief) and someone shooting two thieves leaving his neighbors house in broad daylight. In neither case did the shooter's case get past a grand jury. If she shot those dogs on her own property here in Texas, particularly at night, and credibly claimed that she feared for her life or property, she probably wouldn't even be charged with a crime.

Disclaimers:

• I'm not a lawyer and everything I said above is probably wrong.
• I don't recommend shooting dogs without good reason. Irresponsible dog owners either (as tempting as it may be).

I agree it depends where you live.

Here's a recent case from MA: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/trial_begins_in_case_against_e.html

 

[dis-happy]

Since they are renters, I'd get in touch with the property owner and explain the situation. Maybe he'll kick them out or provide a better fence. At some point he would be liable for his renters' conduct and it's in his best interests to take care of the situation before someone is hurt and he is sued too.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

My husband is outside playing in the snow right now, but when he comes in I'll ask about the laws in North Carolina. He's a firearms instructor and a NC concealed carry instructor, so he'll know the exactly rule pertaining to discharging against a threatening animal in a residential area. I know that he has "discouraged" a neighborhood dog who had attacked my shih tzus with an airsoft gun once....that's just plastic bb's though.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, I went out back where I saw the dogs this morning and I can't find any signs of blood. Of course, it has been snowing/sleeting, so it has probably been covered. I will file a complaint as soon as the offices open back up and see if I can track down the dog walkers who were challenged to file complaints too. I will keep my ears out for any pet that has been injured as well.

I won't buy a gun, as I am not a gun person. My son has an airsoft gun though(like plastic BBs) that really stings and I told him he needs to keep it loaded up in case I need it.

Marsha

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Depends on where you live. I don't know anything about the laws in NC. In Texas, you have very strong rights to use firearms in self defense. Just a few situations in the last several years include someone shooting some lawfully trying to repossess their car (shooter thought he was a thief) and someone shooting two thieves leaving his neighbors house in broad daylight. In neither case did the shooter's case get past a grand jury. If she shot those dogs on her own property here in Texas, particularly at night, and credibly claimed that she feared for her life or property, she probably wouldn't even be charged with a crime.

Disclaimers:

• I'm not a lawyer and everything I said above is probably wrong.
• I don't recommend shooting dogs without good reason. Irresponsible dog owners either (as tempting as it may be).

Yes, I understand this. Rural areas are more lenient, I just wanted OP to make sure of what she can and can't do. It would be awful if she were to justifiably shoot these dogs and end up in jail herself!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I agree it depends where you live.

Here's a recent case from MA: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/trial_begins_in_case_against_e.html

"Facchini (the dogs' owner) appeared to become emotional when looking at photographs of Jerry and Garcia (the dogs) that Safford showed him. Facchini described them as friendly, although he did say that Garcia once bit a girl."


Well, that kind of logic hard to argue with.


OP, do you know where the other people that were attacked live? Can you get them to sign a petition that you can attach to a letter to animal control? I would ask them to write their own letters and send them all together, and copy the landlord. There is strength in numbers!

Good luck, I know this must be a terrifying way to live.

 

[Jex]

Well, I went out back where I saw the dogs this morning and I can't find any signs of blood. Of course, it has been snowing/sleeting, so it has probably been covered. I will file a complaint as soon as the offices open back up and see if I can track down the dog walkers who were challenged to file complaints too. I will keep my ears out for any pet that has been injured as well.

I won't buy a gun, as I am not a gun person. My son has an airsoft gun though(like plastic BBs) that really stings and I told him he needs to keep it loaded up in case I need it.

Marsha

I don't think it would be in your best interest to shoot a aggressive dog that could get to you with a airsoft gun. Seriously it will do nothing but make them more aggressive, very doubtful they will retreat from it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

"Facchini (the dogs' owner) appeared to become emotional when looking at photographs of Jerry and Garcia (the dogs) that Safford showed him. Facchini described them as friendly, although he did say that Garcia once bit a girl."


Well, that kind of logic hard to argue with.

Then there's this...

police received a 911 call from Markham, who reported the incident, telling the dispatcher he used a shotgun on the animals. He told police the dogs had been on his deck and that he was not injured, Safford said.

When an officer arrived, Markham told him one of the dogs lunged at him, while the other growled, Safford said.

Safford said that Markham told police he fired a shot in the air and more shots as the dogs ran away. Jerry was found dead about 90 feet away from the deck.

"The dogs began to run. That wasn't enough ... At a great distance away, he continued to fire," Safford said.

"Evidence will show you ... that the defendant wasn't justified in doing what he did," Safford said. "There was no self-defense in this case."

Here, anyway, if you're going to use deadly force you have to prove it was justified, ie your life was in danger. Right or wrong, that's how it is. (Which was the first thing that entered my mind when she mentioned using a gun.)

I'm not sure how the case turned out, does anyone know (out of curiosity)?

 

[damren]

You need to call the states animals welfare people. It's against the law for animal control officers not to do thier job (which always seems the case in my state)
shooting the dogs may seem like a good idea but a bb gun is not going to do muchand then the owners can prosecute you and the dogs will still be a menace.
I hope it all works out. Keep us posted on the outcome. Call ACO everyday, and keep calling the state. If you can have neighbors get involved and do the same thing as well.

 

[Lady V]

couldn't you kill them in self defense? I mean-if I was outside walking my dog on a leash and these things came at me in MY OWN YARD? please-self defense.