dangerous dogs

[joycah]

Can someone define a "dangerous dog" to me. Seems here in Floyd County, Virginia, our local animal control officer can make that determination based on facts that are strickley heresay. A dog that is on its owners property that attacks another dog, is that a 'dangerous dog'. I would love to hear from other Floyd County people as well as anyone who could shed some light on this subject.
Thanks,

[Pam]

Well, I can define ONE that I know of. Six months ago it came onto my property and nearly killed my Min Pin. Neighbors agreed to keep the dog contained, and paid 1/2 of the vet bill for the 1st treatment, and all of bill for ensuing surgery as her leg turned necrotic. Three days later, the same dog attacked another, larger dog I own ON MY FRONT PORCH, as I chased it away with a stick. Other neighbors were scared and furious. Still, I tried to remain neighborly. The other owners fairly paid for that vet bill as well. More promises of being extra careful with the dangerous dog amounted to nothing , as over a six month period, I received at least 6 phone calls from them telling me to take care, that the dangerous dog had escaped. Do I give up and call animal control? No.
This Sunday morning, the dog's owner decided to take her dog for a walk, in her slippers, down the road with NO LEASH WHATSOEVER. It gruesomely and savagely attacked our other neighbor's sweet, submissive spaniel. When confronted and asked what in the world she was thinking, she replied that she had thought she had a 'bond' with her animals that would prevent them from doing anything she did not allow. Duh. She watched, screaming , as the small spaniel was practically eviscerated. When I asked her what her plan was NOW, she replied that she was considering certain types of collars, perhaps, or maybe a run but how cruel! or perhaps a dog psychologist. These are the very same ideas she'd espoused 6 months ago, and seemingly falsely. The beautiful, sweet spaniel had to be put down. The dangerous dog owner is FURIOUS that I finally called for animal control. She calls me an "animal killer".??????? She says that the free passes I've given her all summer and fall are, "in the past" and that her dog is merely suffering from "not feeling welcome in the neighborhood", " bad energy in the neighborhood" and innattention at home. Well, well. I know at least three dogs who will NOT be under her tyranny any longer. One dog wasn't so fortunate. The only bad energy on this street came from everyone's fear of that dog, but the owner is utterly and completely self absorbed, and acts as though she herself and her killer dog are the true victims, here. As for our dog officer, I found her to be professional, fair, courteous, fair, prompt, fair, understanding and FAIR.

[joycah]

Pam,
I appreciated your comments. And certainly agree that your situation demanded a remedy. You certainly should have called someone at the first sign of antaganism from the neighbor dog. People should be responsible for their pets. No one should have to tolerate an animal like that. However, should another dog attack your dog on your property and your dog should be the larger one and cause injury to the other, your dog would be in its perfect right to protect its owner/property. The animal control officer should not site the defending dog on its property to be a dangerous dog. I notice your post says Floyd. Is that Floyd VA. If so, have you had any problems with Animal Control Officer in your situation?
Blessings

[be careful]

I'd have shot an intruding attacking dog. Not too long ago in California an attacking dogs' owner landed in prison after a woman was mauled to death by their dog, not to mention thousands $$ in damages. People need to take responsiblitiy for their animals. I hope this dog was destroyed. Right is just "right", period.

[JOE]

I HAVE WHITE MIX BREED THAT HAS KILLED 2 CATS ONE MINE AND ONE STRAY THE ANIMAL CONTROL SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PUT HIME DOWN HE LOOKS LIKE A GERMAN SHEPERD YOUR ADVICE PLEASE

[Birdcage]

Move away before they kill your dog! Don't say you can't because in reality you are just choosing to be lazy and your dog will lose his life because of your selfish decision to stay.

[marlayna]

On the other side of the fence, I had a dog until last Friday that was destroyed simply because it 'barked' at my neighbor. Yes, it barked a lot, but never, ever, ever touched her.
She filed an Affidavit and had it declared dangerous, and he was euthanized.

[catcc]

What to Do???
my dog was at my mother-in-laws house when he broke threw the electric fence and ran up be hide a jogger and bit.(two small puncture wounds) we had to go to court and now he's a "dangerous dog". We have to register him, have him in an enclosed fence, muzzle him when on walks, tattoo or micro-cip him as a dangerous dog for the rest of his life. He is a good dog, we have never had a problem with him. he's around young children people coming and going from our house. we give him walks, boundaries, we thought we were good dog owners and now this. has anybody been through something like this? it is tearing me up.

[BJBear61]

yes I have 3 dogs, shepard/lab mix, all siblings,
2 yrs old. We live in the woods. All three dogs got
loose and ran to the neighbors where one of them bit
the neighbors dog. I offered to pay the vet bill (the vet said the dog would be fine, he needed a couple of stitches) and the owner said ok, but instead PUT HIS OWN DOG TO SLEEP AND CALLED ANIMAL CONTROL. I thought this was a little harsh especially since the dog would have recovered and I offered to pay and also improved my dogs pens so they could not escape again. All three are charged as being dangerous and I have to comply with all of the same things you said. I can't afford that X3
so what can I do????? They are very friendly and very submissive to people..they have never, ever bit anyone or anything else. I think they thought the little beagle was an animal they would find in the woods they don't know the difference between a rabbit and a pet.

[BJBear]

catcc and marlayna I am in the same boat here and am so sorry for your situation.
My 3 babies are probably going to have to be put down, I can't afford all that X3.
marlayna..that is terrible that your dog was considered dangerous because it BARKED
too much for goodness sake..that is too much government control in our lives at work! and catcc...I'm there with you..on the day you posted I went to court and the neighbor lied on the witness stand and said we never had an agreement and we did. I cried my eyes out that day..they don't deserve that. I'm not saying they didn't do anything wrong, but the neighbor didn't have to kill his own dog to make his case against me foolproof!

[Fed Up in VA]

Personally, I'm fed up with having people assure me that their out of control pets are darlings who wouldn't hurt a fly, and then watching them express disbelief later when the pets get loose and harm or kill other pets or people. If your pet bites unprovoked, it's dangerous. Period. If it bites without provocation and it gets loose, then it should be put down in order to ensure public safety and the OWNER should be tagged as a dangerous pet owner for reckless endangerment. Next time a pet of theirs bites, it's prison for the owner. Period.

[Kayla]

there are no bad pets.. only bad pet owners!

[ex sister in-law]

Looking for Teresa Montgomery.

[ex sister in-law]

opps sorry all, I did not mean to post that in this topic.