Love Your Dog? About This Page:

[Kelly66]

To start with a bang-the neighbor said to us, "your dog is going to die."
We had been getting multiple emails from our homeowner's association about the people across the street from us having '2 pit bulls' who have attacked children and small dogs-at least three incidents that were emailed to us and one more that we know about. The other one we know about, we heard that their Siberian Husky had to have several stitches in his face. We had heard at the homeowner's association meeting that the neighbors with the pitt bulls were to appear in court and didn't and now there was a warrant out for their arrest. Then I saw the dogs-I think one is really a Great Mastiff on leashes being walked instead of just being let out the door running freely in the neighborhood as usual.
The emails from the homeowners association said things like -consider these dogs dangerous and dial 911 if you SEE them. Well I saw them once and called animal control. THREE HOURS later they called me back and said they couldn't do anything because I didn't see the dogs right now! I had called information to try to get connected to the local police department. They told me I could call 911, but I couldn't get a number for the police. I think I finally looked it up and the police told me there was nothing they could do.
So, although women and children continue to walk their tiny dogs in our neighborhood, I put mine in the car to walk them (we do have a fenced yard) by myself, but there was no convincing my husband to do this. So we go out our front door with our Golden Retriever on the leash and our little 9 lb. rescue dog. These two dogs come charging across the street and start attacking my GR. My husband gets between them and I pick up the little dog and get between the cars (which were only in the drive because the garage had just been painted). I am trying to dial 911 and pressing the stupid screen and nothing was happening-so I scream to my husband to let go of the GR's leash-he is just spinning in circles trying to stay between them. My dog runs to the porch and I finally get 911-who, after asking my name and my address and what town did I live in, then asks me if my dog is being attacked right now. Apparently because we were able to get my dog away from the pitt bull (during the phone call) who has attacked four other dogs it was no longer a concern. They told me that I should call animal control and asked if I had the number.
I asked for the number (the one they gave me was not the number I had called before).
So I called animal control who came out and told us that they can't do anything unless they surrender the dog. They also told us that they can't do anything unless the dogs attack off of their property, So I asked if that meant on their sidewalk and they said yes, their dogs can attack anyone all the way to the curb. But we were on our side of the street literally IN our own yard. Animal control people, I guess, have taken them to court three times and 'the judge just looks the other way.' That is what she said, I am not sure what that means. I asked if the Judge was appointed or elected, but no one knew, but she did give me his name.
So the police did come out, but as far as I know there was no report made and we were not asked to sign anything because the police looked at our dog and said he was ok. We went inside so we wouldn't aggravate things because we were upset. After quite a bit of discussion we saw the owner of the dogs put the pittbull in the back of the animal control person's car. My husband says to me, 'well they can't blame us.'
So the police leave and we leashed up our dogs and went out for a walk. We hadn't left our yard house when the neighbor says, "You dog is going to die." So I dialed 911 again and they said, 'is this a life threatening emergency?' And I said if somebody is going to die that sounds life threatening to me. They asked me if she said she was going to kill the dog or the dog was going to die. Apparently since all beings die it is NOT considered a threat if they just say he will die.
So the police came back out-the same officers, I bet they hadn't been able to get six blocks. My husband apologized to them and we told them what happened and that we would be inside. They knocked on the door across the street and no one answered so the police just left.
I wanted to build a fire and sleep in the back yard, but DH said that would just invite trouble. The dogs always sleep inside with us. I piled all the lawn furniture in front of the gate and put all the aluminum cans and the rest of the lawn furniture on the fence on the other side of the house, and spent most of the night looking out the window. I am wondering if they will be bright enough to circle around to put poison in the back yard for the dogs or will just march across the street in our plain view.
Does anyone have any reasonably priced ideas for us? I want to hire private security to watch the house, but I GUESS we can't afford that-I mean who really needs to go to college?
I am trying not to go to the homeowners association and make a big deal, but I am really tempted to tell all the neighbors that I see walking their own dogs nicely on a leash on their property where their loose dogs are allowed to kill them to come over and walk them in my yard. Apparently the people who lived here before we did would go outside and fuss at people who walked with their dogs on the sidewalk in front of this house, but I would rather the dogs walk over here then over there and get hurt.
Now I do admit that I allow my dog (from inside) to bark at people who are INSIDE our yard, even if they are on the sidewalk. I used to have a little Papillon who I had previously (taken a few years to ) trained to NOT bark at people across the street only when they are in our yard. One time, after we lost the Papillon to liver shunts, my GR was barking at another GR who was standing in the front yard talking to another dog, so I put him on the leash and we went outside and I explained that he is lonely because we just lost our other dog. So he got to play for a bit and was happy.
Anyway, our new dog alerts to everything and when one dog barks the other one barks and they just keep going. So lately I spend a lot of time working with the dogs barking. I go to the window and pet them and tell the dogs, 'You are a watch dog' until the strangers get off our property and then walk away and say, 'they are gone now.' After years of doing this with other dogs it has worked in the past. I even had a dog (he was a Siberian Husky) who would go to the window when I said, 'you are a watch dog.' These dogs I have now are only two and a half years old though so we are still working on it. I teach them it is ok to bark at strangers but not the neighbors in their own yard. We just got new neighbors next door and I worked really hard and got the GR to recognize them and not bark at them. So the other day they had a back yard barbecue and you could see my GR scan the crowd and see the neighbors and not bark. But then the people who live there all went inside and my GR began to bark so I called him over to me, but by the time he got to me the owner next door went to the grill outside, now my GR knows the word 'grill' because my DH keeps telling him- 'do want to come grill with me?' and practices training with him throwing him tiny pieces of food. So I said to my GR -look at the Grill-and you could see his eyes go to it and then he realized it is the guy who lives there and relaxed. So cute! Thanks for reading this far.

[patclairesmom]

OMG, I'm so sorry you're going through this. Don't we have better laws like this in NJ??? I think you should go to the homeowners association. Barking laws pale in comparison to dogs allowed to roam free and attack.

[Huntermom]

As a dog lover, I strongly believe that dogs need to be restrained at all times when in public. I have seen too many dogs hit by cars when they dashed out after a squirrel or bird. I also believe that no matter how friendly your dog is, another person may not appreciate them. I love my dogs and they are as spoiled as any, but they never wander unattended even though there is seldom traffic on my road. All it takes is one person going 60 in the 30.

I feel for you and hope you neighbors wake up and realize what a good dog owner does. If the dogs need to run and they don't have a fenced yard, they should look for a local dog park.

I am surprised that enforcement isn't tighter in NJ. I thought you were one of the more civilized states.

[bluejn]

i'm so sorry you are going through this, we are animal lovers here too, some people are crazy, i have no idea what to tell you to do, but i wish you all the luck in the world and for your furbabies. be careful!!

[Teresa]

The dogs run loose? I'd be tempted to catch them/it/one and take them/it to the pound. Continue until they're all gone. Of course, you have to wait until it's in your yard.
About the neighbor's remark: I'd dismiss this. Just a neighbor blowing off steam. She's upset she's been reprimanded, and wants to take it out on someone.
Another idea: take them to small claim's court. Get photos of the dogs running around the neighborhood unleashed and unsupervised. Get statements from the neighbors that these particular dogs have been attacking others. Get an estimate for fencing your ENTIRE yard. Take them to court to make them pay for a new fence for your whole yard, to protect your dogs.

It's owners like this that aggravate me. We have a pit-bull/boxer mix, and we're very careful to make sure we encourage the boxer behaviors and not the pit-bull ones. He's a sweetie, a 'gentle giant', and the entire neighborhood knows it. We also NEVER allow our dogs to roam. We don't even use those retractable leashes, because I feel it doesn't give you enough control.

[Huntermom]

Teresa,

Your idea for a small claim is great but not legally viable. In order to make a claim one has to show damages have occurred, not may have or can. Unless the roaming dogs actually hurt someone/thing, a claim would be very difficult. I would not want to risk any/one or any/thing being hurt. Also there is usually an upper limit on small claims. In most states it is set up as a way of resolving pretty simple disputes, not necessarily addressing yet unaddressed legal issues.

Given that the OP has called Animal Control but not gotten a reasonable response, she may one to try an all out assault-get the neighbors to call, too, eacha nd every time the dogs are loose. Lease laws/animal control lawstend to be local so a trip to town hall or a call to a local selectman/alderman, etc. may be helpful.

[wendygrubb]

I cant believe your homeowners association cant di anything to atleast put the pressure on them. Sadly it will probably continue until someone is attacked. Shame on the laws that cant help you prevent another attack.

[Huntermom]

Did a search and found this:

Town Leash Law? - Hackettstown NJ

You do have a leash law-now you need to get it enforced. My personal experience has been to get as many people to complain as possible. My kids' school bus was once rerouted to include a neighborhood, a few miles away, making a long trip home way too long. Our neighborhood began to call the bus coordinator everyday when the kids weren't off the bus 45 minutes after school was out. Only took a couple of days before the distance neighborhood kids were put on a bus route close to them and some adjacent neighborhoods were added to ours. Not sure one or two calls would have worked but a dozen or so everyday did the trick.

[Kelly66]

Originally Posted by patclairesmom

OMG, I'm so sorry you're going through this. Don't we have better laws like this in NJ??? I think you should go to the homeowners association. Barking laws pale in comparison to dogs allowed to roam free and attack.

I think, after I calm down, I will mention it to the homeowner's association. I just hope I can say something helpful to everyone.

Originally Posted by bluejn

i'm so sorry you are going through this, we are animal lovers here too, some people are crazy, i have no idea what to tell you to do, but i wish you all the luck in the world and for your furbabies. be careful!!

Thanks so much I really needed sympathy....and Pixies help too!

Originally Posted by Teresa

The dogs run loose? I'd be tempted to catch them/it/one and take them/it to the pound. Continue until they're all gone. Of course, you have to wait until it's in your yard.
About the neighbor's remark: I'd dismiss this. Just a neighbor blowing off steam. She's upset she's been reprimanded, and wants to take it out on someone.
Another idea: take them to small claim's court. Get photos of the dogs running around the neighborhood unleashed and unsupervised. Get statements from the neighbors that these particular dogs have been attacking others. Get an estimate for fencing your ENTIRE yard. Take them to court to make them pay for a new fence for your whole yard, to protect your dogs.

It's owners like this that aggravate me. We have a pit-bull/boxer mix, and we're very careful to make sure we encourage the boxer behaviors and not the pit-bull ones. He's a sweetie, a 'gentle giant', and the entire neighborhood knows it. We also NEVER allow our dogs to roam. We don't even use those retractable leashes, because I feel it doesn't give you enough control.

Thanks for the comment about the neighbor's remark, she is young and I will take it the way you described and try not to loose sleep over it. BTW I think pit-bulls can be lovable and I am SURE yours is since you do so much encouraging. So thank you for being such a good dog owner (and pit-bull mixes everywhere should thank you too). I agree with the retractable leashes.

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Teresa,
..........she may one to try an all out assault-get the neighbors to call, too, eacha nd every time the dogs are loose. Lease laws/animal control lawstend to be local so a trip to town hall or a call to a local selectman/alderman, etc. may be helpful.

Originally Posted by wendygrubb

I cant believe your homeowners association cant do anything to at least put the pressure on them. Sadly it will probably continue until someone is attacked. Shame on the laws that cant help you prevent another attack.

I think the only reason I did call 911 was because the homeowner's association had sent out those emails. Fortunately our dog didn't get hurt. He rolled over, and I think the Husky didn't do that, but I wonder if they can't even get vet bills if they were walking their dog on the leash in front of the loose dog's house because then those dogs weren't 'at large'. I am wondering why the animal control officer kept telling me over and over again that those dogs can be off leash in their own yard when we were very clear that we and THEY were in OUR own yard. How much more clear I could be?
Huntermom's link showing the town leash law says what the Animal control officer kept saying -that she can't do anything unless SHE sees them running 'at large' which is outside of their own yard. So we are wondering if we had a camera on the front of our house and the animal control could 'see' them at large, then could she at least cite them? The police theory was just to keep citing them to make the dog not affordable. The animal control officer also says nothing can happen until the dog bites a person. My husband tried hard to make that happen--YIKES-not really, but I tell you the only other reason my dog might not of gotten hurt is that my husband's legs were definitely between the dogs at all times. Cheers to him.
Again thanks everyone for the encouragement and pixies!

[Huntermom]

Who does the animal control officer work for? Call them. I would argue that the animal control officer could be liable if she fails to do her duties to keep the community safe.

[rescuesk]

[eff051102]

Next time the dogs come after you or your dogs call the police and tell them they
are attacking YOU and not the dog. Even if they haven't touched you yet. Then the
animal control should have to take them to check for shots and such. They are
a weapon and should be taken in.

I would also report this to your Home Owners Assoc. We have one and they sent
out emails telling the neighborhood that the city and the association were going
to start requiring an 8 ft. fence if you had a pit bull. Also in our city we are
required to have high property coverage if you have a pit bull. It's sad but when
you go on walks you have to carry a baseball bat or something else to keep you
and your dogs safe. Our dogs bark in the house and I have no problem with that.
They also bark out back in our yard but that's only if they are playing with my DD
or going potty.

I would install video cameras around your back yard to watch out for the neighbors.

[roaminggnome]

[QUOTE=

I think the only reason I did call 911 was because the homeowner's association had sent out those emails. Fortunately our dog didn't get hurt. He rolled over, and I think the Husky didn't do that, but I wonder if they can't even get vet bills if they were walking their dog on the leash in front of the loose dog's house because then those dogs weren't 'at large'. I am wondering why the animal control officer kept telling me over and over again that those dogs can be off leash in their own yard when we were very clear that we and THEY were in OUR own yard. How much more clear I could be?
Huntermom's link showing the town leash law says what the Animal control officer kept saying -that she can't do anything unless SHE sees them running 'at large' which is outside of their own yard. So we are wondering if we had a camera on the front of our house and the animal control could 'see' them at large, then could she at least cite them? The police theory was just to keep citing them to make the dog not affordable. The animal control officer also says nothing can happen until the dog bites a person. My husband tried hard to make that happen--YIKES-not really, but I tell you the only other reason my dog might not of gotten hurt is that my husband's legs were definitely between the dogs at all times. Cheers to him.
Again thanks everyone for the encouragement and pixies![/QUOTE]

Our area in WI we have leash laws as well. Friends have had issues w/ dogs running at large in their neighborhood and they put up a trail/game camera and got many photos of the dogs running around the neighborhood. With this information they called animal control and they looked at the photos but unfortunately they couldn't do anything. The dogs have to be running at the large at the time the Animal Control is there. Animal Control did go and talk to the dogs owners but no tickets were issued.
Keep a journal of what happens and call Animal Control when there are issues.
Sorry you are having problems.

[Kelly66]

I was able to get a copy of the police report that said that a 'juvenile' threatened our dog. My husband did say that the woman's (who is at least my age) daughter is the one who said it. But this is a grown woman with a toddler or a pre-schooler or both. The police did not say the name of a person just that it was a juvenile. I really don't believe it was a juvenile. We never said it was a juvenile. I do not think, unless they know the name of the person who said it, in which case they should report the name, that they should have listed juvenile on the police report.
We are going to be getting a camera system, but the homeowner's association people told us that a picture of the dogs running loose would not do any good.

[Coop]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I've had a golden retriever die from what I believe was poison planted by a neighbor. I think they poisoned the fence line. She developed hemorrhagic gastritis (bleeding in the gut) and subsequent cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart).

I, for one, would make a stink with the homeowners assoc and Animal Control. I would file a formal complaint with the police against the pit bulls owners. And I would not allow my dog outside alone ever. Especially since you may fear retribution from the owners. I would also keep a baseball bat handy.