Tired of off leash dogs attacking my furkids

I as you hate owners w/large dogs just running towards us off leash. There are 2 german shepards off leash in the park that i walk. The first time I picked Abby up and fought the dog off with my knee as it was jumping on me. The second time As soon as saw the dogs i yell as load as i can "call your dog" they kept coming and got a huge surprise of pepper spray, not much but enough to get the point across. They have never bothered us again.
I would be concerned that with a stick they might get more aggressive towards YOU and your dogs. Try the spray first - just a tiny bit stops them in there tracks.
 
OntarioSheltie said:
In addition to contacting a lawyer and the people who run your apartment complex, I'd also be contacting animal control in your area and telling them about what you've experienced. That should make the people running your complex take things more seriously, if animal control is involved.

A good, non violent alternative to deterring these dogs might be this. It will also stop your dogs from reacting at the same time and EVERYONE living in your area will know whats going on.

http://www.defensedevices.com/air-horn-small.html

A friend of mine's small terrier mix was almost killed by a vicious, off leash dog at the park across from our house. She carries one of these with her now at all times. The vicious dog was almost euthanized but the people were allowed to keep her, so long as they sought a professional trainer, kept her muzzled when out in public and never let her off leash. They stretched the muzzle rule a little by getting a gentle leader but they seemed to take the warning seriously. I was told they went to a trainer and the dog has never been off leash again. She is still VERY aggressive and barks/lunges at dogs on leash or when they walk by her house.
Click to expand...

It would be great and I have a device I just bought for myself that sounds an alarm but have to be careful about using it as Chandler is very noise sensitive and would do everything in his power to run and get out of his collar if I sounded it.
 
I certainly would not advocate hitting a dog that comes running up to you with a stick-- It sounds like a terrible idea for many reasons. The first one being that calming an aggressive dog(even though this instance the dog wasn't being aggressive) but in theory, calming an aggressive dog down w/aggression? That doesn't equate to anything positive. It will provoke the dog more and the result could be way, way worse. Now, hitting the owners with the stick, that's more understandable. Also, if you beat someones dog up with a stick-- they might get payback on you. I know if Hadley got out of the house and ran towards someone and they hit her w/a stick, I'd be pretty damn pissed.

I have this problem too as I live in an apartment complex. I've complained about German Shepherds and Pitbulls off leash, but what honestly, what can they do? They make the rules of no dogs 40lbs and of course, have your dog on a leash. But they can't constantly have someone scour the grounds watching for people breaking the rules. They can't make people follow the rules and if it's a large apartment complex, they can't keep up with what everyone does/doesn't do. In my opinion, it's just one of the disadvantages you face living in an apartment or taking your dogs to other areas w/dogs. People are inconsiderate and will continue to be that way. This is why I want to get a house with a yard asap so they can run in a safe place, and also why I tend to avoid dog parks. Should we, the people who follow the rules, have to do this? No. But it's just the way the world is, sadly. Inconsiderate people ruin it, and those people can also be dangerous, so I wouldn't advocate going after their dog w/a stick lol
 
marymrumfelt said:
I certainly would not advocate hitting a dog that comes running up to you with a stick-- It sounds like a terrible idea for many reasons. The first one being that calming an aggressive dog(even though this instance the dog wasn't being aggressive) but in theory, calming an aggressive dog down w/aggression? That doesn't equate to anything positive. It will provoke the dog more and the result could be way, way worse. Now, hitting the owners with the stick, that's more understandable. Also, if you beat someones dog up with a stick-- they might get payback on you. I know if Hadley got out of the house and ran towards someone and they hit her w/a stick, I'd be pretty damn pissed.

I have this problem too as I live in an apartment complex. I've complained about German Shepherds and Pitbulls off leash, but what honestly, what can they do? They make the rules of no dogs 40lbs and of course, have your dog on a leash. But they can't constantly have someone scour the grounds watching for people breaking the rules. They can't make people follow the rules and if it's a large apartment complex, they can't keep up with what everyone does/doesn't do. In my opinion, it's just one of the disadvantages you face living in an apartment or taking your dogs to other areas w/dogs. People are inconsiderate and will continue to be that way. This is why I want to get a house with a yard asap so they can run in a safe place, and also why I tend to avoid dog parks. Should we, the people who follow the rules, have to do this? No. But it's just the way the world is, sadly. Inconsiderate people ruin it, and those people can also be dangerous, so I wouldn't advocate going after their dog w/a stick lol
Click to expand...

My complex can do plenty. They have us sign an agreement that if we don't do this they will issue a fine. So they need to follow through and issue these people fines,if it is a repeat offense the owner has to get rid of their dog or move. So if this is something that was promised by my complex to keep my dogs safe they need to follow through so these people know there are consequences. Also we have cameras all over this complex all she has to sit at her desk pull up the videos and she has her list of offenders. She doesn't have to scour the parking lot. I deserve safety and security here also. If you are not going to follow rules don't sign the pet agreement and move somewhere else!!!!! Our complex sits beside a very large park let your dogs run free over there.
 
I would assume it's in our pet agreement too... I complained about the person who lives above me having a pitbull of a leash... nothing has been done... some of the dogs I've complained about I don't know where the owner lives so I can't give the apt ppl enough information to correct the people. I tried to fight w/my apt complex for a month or so but then just realized it got me nowhere. Most of the dogs I ran in to were off a leash with no owner around so I really couldn't give them enough information to proceed. I suppose if you have a list of their apartment number that would help with correcting them.

There's always selfish people who don't follow the rules and ruin it for everyone and those people never seem to get caught. Even if they get caught, they aren't going to straighten up most likely. If you don't see a need to put your dog on a leash or let it out without you being there, sadly, I doubt a warning or a fine will change their stupid mind. People are just dumb!
 
police will send you to animal control who won't do anything until someone actually does get hurt. if possible, I still would file a report with police, just to have it on record. If it is a requirement in your complex to be on leash it has to be followed. I have recent similar couple of situations in my local pooch park, not with dogs but with humans:eek2:where I was shaken and upset so I have been closely considering what to do. Using pepper spray is legal where I live, probably is legal where you live too= check on it.
Get yourself one.
Be proactive but remain calm. The moment you see another person with their dog off leash state very loudly- my dogs do not like other dogs, please take your dog away or I will pepper spray. If the dog is still coming close step in front of your dogs take a deep breath, hold it and spray into oncoming dog. Just do it! I can guarantee you it will take only one accident but the news that some crazy lady pepper spray dogs who are off leash near her dogs will spread fast and nobody will do it again.
Be prepared to pepper spray a human if they charge toward you and state so.
Sometimes law will not do anything until someone gets hurt. It is messy but it has to be done if you want to live where you live in peace. The other alternatives are either move to different place or take your dogs in the car to other areas for walks, bring x pen wiring and block the entrance of the part of the yard where your dogs are...
 
SheltieChe said:
police will send you to animal control who won't do anything until someone actually does get hurt. if possible, I still would file a report with police, just to have it on record. If it is a requirement in your complex to be on leash it has to be followed. I have recent similar couple of situations in my local pooch park, not with dogs but with humans:eek2:where I was shaken and upset so I have been closely considering what to do. Using pepper spray is legal where I live, probably is legal where you live too= check on it.
Get yourself one.
Be proactive but remain calm. The moment you see another person with their dog off leash state very loudly- my dogs do not like other dogs, please take your dog away or I will pepper spray. If the dog is still coming close step in front of your dogs take a deep breath, hold it and spray into oncoming dog. Just do it! I can guarantee you it will take only one accident but the news that some crazy lady pepper spray dogs who are off leash near her dogs will spread fast and nobody will do it again.
Be prepared to pepper spray a human if they charge toward you and state so.
Sometimes law will not do anything until someone gets hurt. It is messy but it has to be done if you want to live where you live in peace. The other alternatives are either move to different place or take your dogs in the car to other areas for walks, bring x pen wiring and block the entrance of the part of the yard where your dogs are...
Click to expand...


Those are great ideas! I'm just trying to say I complained and complained and never got anywhere. It felt like a giant waste of energy and the dogs still run around without leashes on. You should be able to be safe, as well as your dogs, in your own apartment complex, but sadly, it's usually not something that comes easy. I am choosing to move because of it as I don't want to deal with other people anymore and for me, it's the easiest way to fix the problem. Try that pepper spray idea, as she said earlier, it will spread fast that someone is pepper spraying dogs/people. I liked the citronella spray idea also. It sucks having to punish the poor dog when it's not their fault at all... sigh... irresponsible people.
 
Word of caution - pepper spray/water with ammonia spray is being widely recommended here. If it is used on a person, it is entirely possible to be charged with assault. I am not sure how the law would look at it being used on an animal, but it may be entirely possible to be charged with animal cruelty as well. I worked for a personal injury lawyer at one point and saw how quick people are to sue other for even the slightly injury. I don't think Dawn or any of us would want to be put in that situation. The first step has to be to get the complex to enforce the agreement before a child or elderly person is attacked as well. The only way to do this is through the pocketbook. People will not change unless it hurts their financial bottom line.
 
Emmasmom said:
Word of caution - pepper spray/water with ammonia spray is being widely recommended here. If it is used on a person, it is entirely possible to be charged with assault. I am not sure how the law would look at it being used on an animal, but it may be entirely possible to be charged with animal cruelty as well. I worked for a personal injury lawyer at one point and saw how quick people are to sue other for even the slightly injury. I don't think Dawn or any of us would want to be put in that situation.
Click to expand...

Ronna....in Maryland they have strict laws against aggressive dogs.

Here are some of the laws listed. Basically, in Maryland, you are allowed to kill a dog that is attacking you or your livestock.
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmdcode11_501_514.htm#s11_505
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top