Irresponsible Dog Owners

[RoyGBiv]

Suck.

I'm just going to vent a minute 'cause I'm growing more and more irritated, and I've already annoyed half the world with this today. Might as well start working on the other half ... and hope I don't start a flame war.

I was attacked by a dog this morning while leaving for work. I walked out of my door about 7am, turned to lock it, and here came this animal rushing around the corner, lunging at me. Inside of two seconds, it latched on to my leg and clamped down hard, knocking me over more from the shock and an attempt to move quickly out of the way than the force, but still. I ended up on my back with this dog tearing at my leg.

I of course began bellowing obscenities and trying to fight the dog off. Its owner had it on one of those retractable leashes and seems to have given it about 20 feet of slack line. It was probably all of 15 seconds before she came around the corner, but it seemed like many minutes. I'd managed to get away from the dog at this point and was backing up as best I could. The dog was blocking me from my door.

(In the background, I could see my cat in the window hissing and batting at the window, which will eventually be a somewhat humorous image.)

So, the owner gets there, sees what's happening, and says, "Oh, did he get you?" in this perfectly calm, almost whimsical "how cute" voice.

"Fuck yes, now get him the hell away from me and my door," I answered. I could feel the blood leaking down my leg.

She pulled the dog away and began walking off. I yelled at her to hold on a minute. She kept walking. Not being able to run at that point and feeling the need to see just what damage had been done, I went inside to check. I was also in shock. When I emerged a minute or so later, she was gone, vanished, poof.

It was mostly a mutt with some kind of terrier in it ... Yorkshire markings, but too big to be a Yorkie. I dunno.

So, I don't know where this woman lives, so I started knocking on doors ... at around 7am. I pissed off a lot of people, in other words or got no answer at all. She, naturally, didn't answer any of the doors.

I informed the apartment manager, who was completely unhelpful. I went to the doctor. He cleaned and dressed it and gave me a shot. A $100 pair of pants is ruined, and at length I lost a day off work and can't walk very well right now. The doctor told me to call animal control, which I reluctantly did. I might not have had the woman stayed at least to see if I was okay or, failing that, taken the dog home and then come back or something.

I've seen this dog around a lot. It is very aggressive. Whenever she walks it, when it comes around the corner in front of my apartment, it lunges at the window to try to attack my cat, who is usually sitting there. I imagine that's the source of it attacking me in some way. But, the kicker is that when the dog does this, the owner eggs it on and laughs at the reaction of the two animals batting at each other in the window. I've opened the door several times when I've noticed this happening and told her to call off her dog. She never speaks to me but will walk away at that point, dog growling and barking as she goes.

This woman has made her dog a vicious little monster, and now I feel bad about it 'cause I had to call animal control just to make sure I don't have to take rabies shots.

Yes, this was too long. Sorry. Thanks for letting me rant.

[flvegan]

1. What did animal control say? I think the police should be involved.

She's liable for your injuries and damages.

[RoyGBiv]

2. Investigation ...

They're sending out someone to investigate and asked if I discovered which apartment she lived in to call them back and let them know. They told me not to speak to her. I was told the procedure for this is to call animal control and that they inform the police based on what they find, but I don't know for certain, just what people tell me. They apparently have jurisdiction, assess fines, etc. The owner is required to report the attack herself within 48 hours, but I seriously doubt that will happen.

I'd be satisfied with a certificate showing rabies vaccination and a replacement of the pants. I'd like her to be forced to keep the dog on a shorter leash. Of course I'm talking out of my head at the moment 'cause I'm still a bit in shock. I don't want them to confiscate the dog 'cause I know it'll likely end up dead if that happens, and it's not the dog's fault its owner is a horrible owner.

Grrr ... again. I don't know a good answer.

[flvegan]

4. I doubt they'll take the dog.

She'll get fined, etc. I think your requests are more than reasonable and forgiving. I think they should force her to take her dog to some kind of dog & owner training classes.

[RoyGBiv]

9. I realized something ...

Spoke to my mother a bit ago, and I realized where my reaction not wanting to call animal control and of worrying about the dog ending up dead comes from.

I was riding my bike down a street when I was a kid (about 10 or so), and a dog ran out of a yard and bit my leg. That dog ended up being euthanized, and someone told me they'd cut off its head to check for rabies. Having always been an animal lover and never having had an animal in any way hurt me before that, this traumatized me.

Anyway ... you're correct. Dog owner training is exactly what she needs.

[XemaSab]

11. Totally

The one time I got bit by a dog (that I remember) it didn't break the skin, but I still got the owner's name and address just in case.

[Inchworm]

3. Don't stop raising hell until the problem is solved

even if it means staying angry.

The dog needs saved and hopefully if you cause a big enough stir it will get training or put into a better environment.

Also.. imagine if you were 12 and going to catch the bus for school...

It's not right and needs fixed.

Hope you heal quick

:hug:

[RoyGBiv]

8. I won't ...

I had a fairly "well shit happens" attitude about it at first, before the shock wore off a bit and I realized she'd actually run away and hidden from me and that I'd seen this coming.

And you're spot on ... there are kids around here, and this woman apparently doesn't give a damn.

Animal control told me not to speak with her, but I don't see that happening. I'm on early evening watch at the moment. She usually walks it sometime between 6 and 8, which is when I typically hear the rumble at the window. My cat is on point as well. He'll know before I do.

[Orrex]

5. The only thing worse than an unruly dog is the enabling owner of an unruly dog

If I had a steam roller, I'd flatten all of them.

At the very least, such dog-owners should be spayed or neutered. They totally suck.

And what totally sucks even more about them is they act like you're the asshole if you don't want your small children to be killed by a wayward Pit Bull.

[FloridaJudy]

6. Was this your neighbor?

That sure sounds like "Happy".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMQ50ZXV194

[RoyGBiv]

12. Yeah, sorta ...

I live in an apartment, and she lives here somewhere. I just don't know where.

She didn't stick around long enough for me to know much about her.

[TK421]

7. Hunt her down...the next time you see that dog you know she isn't

far behind. I don't care if you take her picture...hunt her down and don't let her get away with this shit!!

I can't fucking stand idiots who think it's cute when their uncontrolled pets attack others...I even get pissed off at people who don't pull the dog back when they see it advancing towards someone; that person could be scared of dogs they're not familiar with.

[Arugula Latte]

10. That is outrageous!

It is the stupid owner's fault, of course.

But, terriers can be little terrors, for some reason. Our neighbor's dog terrier was on a leash, and just walked up and bit my son on the leg right after he got off the school bus, drawing blood. It was out of the blue, my son hadn't even been looking at the dog.

We're all cat people in our family.

[FloridaJudy]

17. I was once mauled by a neighbor's *cat*

I was trying to shoo her out of my garbage (the cat, not the neighbor) and she bit me deep enough to require that I get a tetanus shot. Of course, dogs can do a lot more damage, but I've met some mean cats in my time as well.

[RoyGBiv]

20. Yeah, me too ...

A really pissed off feral cat who feels threatened can be especially vicious. Main difference I've seen is cats, unless they are hunting for food or can find no escape, tend to try to wound and then get the hell out. I've seen dogs like that, but that sucker this morning was going after me full bore.

If I'd been a little kid and unable to kick the way I did, I'd have been seriously injured.

And I don't want to make it out as worse than it is. I thought it was A LOT worse than what it turned out to be after the doctor cleaned it up. Looks like a big hickey with a couple holes in it now. I'm more traumatized than anything. Not the way I wanted to start my morning.

[bluedigger]

13. If I were you,

I'd sue her sorry ass, as soon as she is identified. She gives all of us dog owners a bad reputation, and needs a good lesson in responsibility.

[WolverineDG]

14. Sounds like she's a sociopath

since she doesn't seem to give a damn about how her dog acts when she takes it for a walk. Me, I keep mine on a short lead when others are approaching & even though I give them more lead when all's clear, it's not long enough to have them out of my sight. I can't believe she just walked away as if nothing happened.

dg

[RoyGBiv]

21. Walking away ...

That's the part that really pisses me off.

This all could have been solved inside of 30 minutes this morning. But, nooooooooooo.

She seems to have wanted to take the difficult route. So be it.

[msanthrope]

This ain't that dog's first bite--want to find her quick?

Put up flyers, or under people's doors asking for info about woman/dog. Explain the damage you sustained, and the fact that you are concerned for the kids in the neighborhood.....leave your phone number, not your name.

Someone will call you. If you are lucky, you might get someone else who has been bitten....if she's really stupid, she might call you herself.

Check your jurisdiction to see if you are a 'one-bite' or 'two bite' locality. In one bite, you get to sue her in small claims, usually in strict liability (as in, dog bit your ass, she is automatically liable.)

If you are a two-bite locality, you need evidence of a 'prior bite' (that puts her on legal notice that her dog bites)--and then usually that makes her strictly liable for that second bite.

Make life difficult for her. That's exactly the type of asshole dog owner that won't take responsibility for the animal they have--and you may prevent a more serious incident, involving a kid.

[RoyGBiv]

18. That's an idea ...

I'm mostly interested in finding her at this point to get the rabies monkey off my back. I realize logically that the dog likely doesn't have rabies, but still ...

By law here, the dog has to be quarantined for ten days at owners expense, and she'll be fined regardless. Just as I was posting my last message, the animal control officer showed up with a police officer. They took my statement from me directly, photographed the wound, the grounds, and they looked around some and knocked on some doors. They didn't find anything but said they'll be back and instructed me again to try to find out where she lives when I see her again.

The control officer seems to love her job, as in she expressed a heavy displeasure with a dog owner who would do what this one did and likes finding such people and making sure they understand their responsibilities. She also let me know the property owner's reaction wasn't appropriate either and that animal control should have received a call from them this morning when I first reported the incident with them.

We'll see what we see I suppose.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

25. Excellent

That's just what I was about to post. The dog goes after a little kid next, and the owner walks away laughing? I don't think so.

Your post has it all. Well done.

:toast:

[msanthrope]

15. This ain't that dog's first bite--want to find her quick?

Put up flyers, or under people's doors asking for info about woman/dog. Explain the damage you sustained, and the fact that you are concerned for the kids in the neighborhood.....leave your phone number, not your name.

Someone will call you. If you are lucky, you might get someone else who has been bitten....if she's really stupid, she might call you herself.

Check your jurisdiction to see if you are a 'one-bite' or 'two bite' locality. In one bite, you get to sue her in small claims, usually in strict liability (as in, dog bit your ass, she is automatically liable.)

If you are a two-bite locality, you need evidence of a 'prior bite' (that puts her on legal notice that her dog bites)--and then usually that makes her strictly liable for that second bite.

Make life difficult for her. That's exactly the type of asshole dog owner that won't take responsibility for the animal they have--and you may prevent a more serious incident, involving a kid.

[skygazer]

16. I would really try to take Animal Control's advice about not talking to her

Difficult as that may be. My reason is because you are the wronged party here but if you start talking to her and get angry or agitated, she may try to use that against you with some sort of counter-claim.

The situation sucks, she sounds like a rotten person and a horrible pet owner and your experience sounds awful. In addition, it's got to suck for your cat to have this stupid dog regularly baiting him outside the window (though I love the image of him hissing and batting - as if he wanted to come to your rescue which is adorable).

Hopefully, Animal Control will be able to find this idiot and she will be held accountable. I think your wishes are extremely reasonable.

[RoyGBiv]

19. Yeah, I know ...

The animal control officer and police officer that just visited explained that more fully. Besides not wanting me to get involved in something myself, they say the chances of them actually prosecuting go *way* down when the victim confronts the owner directly. The owners tend to think nothing will happen to them until the point the victim lets them know just how displeased they are, and they sorta go into hiding.

Plus there's the chance, as you say, that I lose my temper and make it all that more complicated.

So, I'll be good.

I'll just foster my fantasy of suiting up my cat in battle gear and going hunting. This dog has terrorized him far longer than me personally, and I think he wants some revenge. :)

[Withywindle]

22. Battle gear for cats!

http://www.jeffdeboer.com/Galleries/CatsandMice/tabid/77/Default.aspx

[RoyGBiv]

23. Nice ...

Want.

My cat is looking at me suspiciously, though. :)

[madeline_con]

24. Borrow a pit and lay in wait.

When Fluffy rounds the corner, open your door and let him have it!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

26. I love you.

Will you be my friend?

I like how you think.

[Shell Beau]

27. Wow! What the hell was she thinking leaving?

Anyone bitten by a dog wants to know the history of the dog's vaccinations. Sure it is likely that it didn't have rabies, but are supposed to just assume that? Hell no. It is never cute when an animal bites viciously. Even if it was on a leash, it wasn't under control. You should have reported this. I hope you did. If she can't walk her dog on a leash and control the dog, she has no business walking that dog. People like her do no justice to dogs at all.

I am still surprised she walked off. Who does that? Like it is just the norm.

[RoyGBiv]

29. It's been reported ...

I didn't want to, for reasons explained up thread, but I did anyway.

Animal Control and the police have been here. We still haven't found her.

She has 48 hours to report the incident herself, and if she has not by that time, the authorities will go on a more exhaustive, somewhat intrusive, i.e. door-to-door, search.

Or that's what they tell me.

I have noticed she didn't take her dog out for a walk tonight as she usually does somewhere between 6 and 8, or at least she didn't take it on its normal route near my apartment. I'm guessing this is going to be rather more difficult than I had hoped.

[Shell Beau]

33. I understand your fear for the dog.

If she doesn't keep that dog in check, your fear could quite possibly come true. This lady obviously needs some lessons in dog 101. What is the weirdest to me is that she acted like it wasn't a big deal. What if you were a small toddler? I am guessing it would have been a major deal. And it obviously could happen. Just because it was a smaller type dog doesn't make it any less serious. Maybe your injuries are less serious, but this dog needs proper guidance. It isn't fair to you (or whoever else this dog bites) or the dog.

[Kali]

28. Damn!

You are going to be sore for a couple of days, too. What an asshole.

[RoyGBiv]

30. Yeah ...

I'm starting to feel it.

My leg joint tightened up while I was sitting and watching a movie earlier, and it's throbbing a bit. It's seriously bruised. I also banged myself up in places when I fell backward I hadn't realized.

The area where I got my tetanus shot also hurts like hell.

Is this what they call "pain and suffering"? I've never been of a mind to sue anyone in my life. I think people sue others for the stupidest reasons way too often. But this is really irritating, and her utter lack of willingness to take responsibility has me thumbing the address book for legal remedies.

[Kali]

31. oh yeah that tetanus site may be worse!

I keep up on those because I go barefoot in corrals a lot. OUCH. And falling down ain't what it used to be either. Didn't we used to do that ON PURPOSE as kids?:rofl:

Hope you don't suffer too long and yeah she needs to be brought to some kind of justice before a little kid or old person gets hurt or even worse.

[RoyGBiv]

32. Falling down ...

Ya know, I remember being a kid and just aching to grow up and be bigger. Boy, was I stupid.

It's true what "they" say. You never understand how good you have it as a kid until you're older.

Having a low center of gravity and being already pretty close to the ground is a LOT better when you do fall.

I talked to the couple next door just now. They have a little girl, about 3. They know the dog I'm talking about and the owner. They say she is ... well, I won't repeat what the husband said. Suffice to say he's not too fond of her. They're not sure where she lives either, but they're going to help me look for her. Their child is terrified of that dog. It's apparently gone all psycho on her as well, but it's not managed to bite her yet.

Yet ...

We're both going to the apartment manager tomorrow to demand they take a more active role in this. I read my lease tonight too, and the dog and its owners actions violate the terms of the pet ownership clause pretty directly.

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. Been a bad day, but being able to vent and get some sympathy and advice has helped.

[bluedigger]

34. When I said

"sue her sorry ass", it wasn't about you getting rich, Roy. It's about you recovering needless expenses, and her learning to take responsibility. I detest frivolous lawsuits too, but you have an opportunity here to make things better for all. Think man, what would your cat do?:-)

[RoyGBiv]

35. My cat would kick her ass ...

He's a badass. :) (Actually, he's a jellyroll, but he thinks he's a badass, and I don't mess with his illusion.)

I didn't take your comment negatively at all. In fact, when I read your comment, was when I first started thinking, ya know ... I'm probably gonna have to sue her. I spent $100 today on this crap and am gonna have to spend quite a bit more than that before it's all said and done. And while this is the reason I have sick leave, I had to take a day off work during the busiest time of our year, and it threw everything into complete chaos.

Accidents and random crap are one thing, but this shouldn't have happened and wouldn't have happened had this dog owner been a reasonable human being who knows how to treat an animal in her care properly ... or had she *at least* had the decency to ask, "Hey, are you okay?"

In other words, this ain't a McDonald's hot coffee incident.

[bluedigger]

36. You get it.

Follow through.