My DC was chased down by two pittbulls.

[guest^]

He is 6yo. He isn't hurt, as the owner called off the dogs just seconds before they jumped him. He was running *on the sidewalk* past the house where these dogs live. The neighbors witnessed it-as did my DD(11).

The neighbors called Animal Control, asnd we awere able to file an Attack Report. These dogs belong to two young kids whop rent fromn a slumlord-whom is related to the renters. The dogs have *never* been on leashes(the law) and do not have a fenced in back yard. The dogs roam the street, and when they aren't doing that, they are either inside barking, or outside in a dogrun barking. Several of us neighbors have been keeping barking logs.

The city can't do anything other than fine the guys, as their has to actually be a victim-as in bite or killed, before they would do anything.

The guys are scum of scum(not being kind here), when they have been confronted by other neighbors as to why they don't leash their dogs, they swear and yell at people. Iscreamed at them after this latest incident happened(there have been many others), tellingthem to leave our neighborhood and go to one wherethere arn't kids and families.(The countryside?) The guy started screamingat my *damn* kids. For what? Using *their* freedom to run on a public sidewalk to play with his only friend on the street!

The aftermath has been my DC didn't go to sleep till after midnight, can't concentrate on anything, had nightmares, my DS is talking about killing the people and the dogs(we don't own guns, or condone violence) and my poor DD feels somehow responsible(because I had just stepped inside) and has had suididal thoughts and thoughts of hurting herself or others. (She has GAD and Panic Disorder.) I called her psychologist, but we wern;t scheduled to get in till JUne 4th. Neither of my DC want to go outside-and we HS! DD said she feels like a prisoner in her own home. Neither of them will eat.

What can I do? We are seriously looking into putting our house up for sale, as the owner of this property will be who he is, and life is too short to live in fear each spring,summer,fall.

FYI-This is *not* open to debate about whether or not pitbulls are nice animals. Dogs are who they are becasue of their owners. Period.

mp(soorry for thre typos)

[momz3]

to you and your son. How scarey that mustve been for you both

I'm not sure what you should do...I feel like its unfair for you guys to have to move when they are the ones with unrestrained animals.

However, if youthink it will help your children, I'd probably move.

Goodluck with whatever you decide

[Cheshire]

Sorry your son and daughter had to go through that. Have you talked to the police??? If animal control can't do anything can the police? If the guys are scum they may already be on the police department's radar screen and this might give them more reasons to keep a closer eye on the house.

Would you and your neighbors be willing to talk to an attorney? Maybe you could find one that could write the owner of the home a letter asking him if he has extra insurance on his rental property considering the dangerous nature of the dogs - reminding him that he could be held liable if anything should happen (not sure if he could or not but the lawyer could give you guys some tips). Maybe if he is reminded that this could cost him a lot of money should anything happen he might be more willing to kick his relatives out.

Best wishes and sending moving vibes to the guys so they'll leave and you won't have to uproot your family.

[lilyka]

First of all teach your childern n ot to run frm strays. or turn their backs. but to call for help instead. running just singles the dog to chase. this is super fun for them even if they are not agressive. it doesn't make it a whole lot less scary but if you don't act like you want to play (squeeling, running, jumping . . . it all looks the same to dogs, especially pooprly socialized ones) they are less likly to play.

secondly are they tagged? if not call them in as a stray. if nothing else the owners will have to bail them out of the pound. they may not be willing to put up that kind of money.

barking - there is nothing you can do. If you city has noise ordinances you can call and report a disturbance to the peace.

and I would get your kids in somewhere right away if they are that upset about it. call the counselor every hur if you have to (squeeky wheel gets the greese)

[texmama]

Originally Posted by lilyka

secondly are they tagged? if not call them in as a stray. if nothing else the owners will have to bail them out of the pound. they may not be willing to put up that kind of money.

:

so sorry that happened to your DS, that must have been so scary.

[Demeter9]

City won't do anything.

Animal control won't do anything.

Dogs are proven dangerous.

Owners are proven dangerous.

Dogs are not contained or controlled.

I swerve to avoid groundhogs. I cringe and slow down when birds swoop my car. In this one instance, I would accidentally run over the dogs. If my DH didn't do it first.

[guest^]

thanks for the support Ladies.

DS was already running-to his friend's house-the dogs came up behind him-and all he heard was growling and the neighbors screaming, dd screaming for me, and then the dogs owner yelling. Both of my DC know dog safety-they have been taught over and over-but how was he to act/think quickly when the dog came up so fast behind him, and all of the screaming was going on.

It is sad to have to sell our home for this reason, it isn't right. The only neighbors that seem to care about this are the ones that have DC-the rest are rarely home, or don't see the need-and I think thery are all a bit intimidated by the owners. I know I am!

We are getting DD into the psych. asap, but not sure what to do with DS.

I hate this.

mp

[journeymom]

If at all possible, move. You are right, life is too short for crap like that.

[greeny]

The city can't do anything other than fine the guys, as their has to actually be a victim-as in bite or killed, before they would do anything.

That's horrible.

I am so horrified by your experience. Poor ds, poor dd, poor you. I would have been terrified.

[thismama]

Holy crap. I am a pit bull lover, and aggression toward humans (and toward a child no less!!!) is highly atypical of the breed and inconsistent with what they were bred for. Honestly I would feel most comfortable with any pit bull who demonstrates aggression toward a child being put down - they are simply far too physically powerful and single minded for there to be room to mess around IMO.

[cappuccinosmom]

I am worried about this happening here. Pitbulls seem to be the favored dog in our neighborhood and there are two just a few yards back. Occasionally they get off their leashes and I have found them in my back yard.

I hope you can help your son recover from this scare! I think I'd probably say "I wanna kill them!" too, in the immediate aftermath. Poor kid, he must have truly been scared to death.

[Redifer]

We've dealt with this before... although it wasn't pitt-bulls.. it was a poodle. Yeaaa... we had an even more difficult time being taken seriously with that one.

We went through months of having to call animal control because this dog almost bit everyone in the neighborhood, and it lunged at my first DD in the carseat as we were carrying her up to our house.. I have to say, I don't feel bad at all for kicking the dog, because if I hadn't, another half a second and those sharp teeth would have been in my daughters torso.

But, no one would do anything because it hadn't managed to bite anyone YET. And despite many a confrontation with the owners from many a neighbor, they refused to leash the dog or put it inside.

So, we waited until the owners were gone and someone called it in as a stray.



The only other thing you can do is repeatedly keep calling animal control to come out and fine these guys on the leash law. It won't take long before they'll refuse to pay the fine and just let them take the dogs.

[Kessed]

That's horrible. In my city - it doesn't matter if there's an actual attack - being chased if enough for "1 strike" which gets the dog labeled as "dangerous" and is then subject to stricter laws. A second 'incident' results in a hearing which can result in the dog being put down.

Also - here, pitbulls (and a couple other breeds) MUST be muzzled at all times when they are outside, even on their owners private property, and kept on a specific kind of leash less than 6 feet long everytime they are off their property.

It sucks that your city isn't willing to protect it's citizens. There is NO room in my mind for a dog that chases a kid. That's ridiculous. Dogs - of all kinds and sizes - should be kept under control.

[moondiapers]

Call in and report one of the dogs as being injured the next time they are running around. Tell them you heard tires screeching, a dog yelping, and then saw the dog limping off the road. Animal control WILL pick the dog up...and if there is another dog running with it off leash they'll take it too.

[Marcee]

The neighbors by our old house had several pits that often roam free. I was held in doors by a group of these pits one afternoon as i was afraid to take my babies out the door with having 3 of them in my yard. Ever time I opened the door they would growl. So I called the city... 3 hours later the dogs were still there and no one from the city had shown up. I lived with in a half a block of city hall. Finally the neighbor kids came by and went and told their uncle that his dogs were out.... But the kicker is that 2 weeks later my little terrier escaped our yard and code enforcement came and picked her up ASAP. But the big mean scary dogs they ignored...

All the towns around us have pitbull ords. so while the resposible owners in town follow the rules the irresponsible pet owners move out to our little town were there are no laws against pitbulls (or requirements either)

[bellacymom]

Poor thing. I am glad he is ok! Two of my friends children (separate incidents) were bit by pit bulls recently too.

[BelovedK]

Originally Posted by mamapoppins

FYI-This is *not* open to debate about whether or not pitbulls are nice animals. Dogs are who they are becasue of their owners. Period.

I fully agree with this.

How scary, I think I would have died if I had seen that. I like the idea of calling to report an injured animal, that is brilliant.

I am sorry that happened. I hope it gets worked out soon.

[ChristyMarie]

What about putting up a fence in your yard?

I cannot believe the authorities aren't doing anything. Have you thought of contacting the local press?

We had a problem with neighbor puppies and animal control told me the same thing, that they couldn't do anything. But let me know that if by some chance they were mistaken for strays and ended up at animal control the owners would have to track them down and pay a fine. And by gosh, they DID end up at animal control. I wonder how that happened?

These sound like aggressive dogs and I'd never suggest harming them. But if they got really sleepy and could be transported to the local (or non-local) shelter as strays well....that might solve your problem.

[guest^]

Thanks for your replies and support Ladies!

Redifer-Yeah, a poodle would probably evoke laughter from the jerks at Animal Control. ANY dog is viscious when it is unleashed and aggressive for sure.

Kessed-I wish our city would get their sh!t together to enforce such strict laws.

moondiapers-thanks for the tip-we may just use that one.

ChristyMarie-A fence wouldn't solve the probelm of my kids having no freedom to ride their bikes and scooters up and down the sidewalk, or simply walk to their friend's houses.

To all you Mama's and your DC who have also been terrorized by dangerous dogs, I am so sorry! Our city boasts about being so family friendly-good school district, endless bike trails, excellent parks, children's museum,etc. but hey! the DC has no protection or rights when attacked by dangerous at large dogs. Hmm...I sense an editorial coming on.:


mp

[Aurie]

I didn't read all the responses, so sorry if repeating.

You and other neighbors can call the landlord of the property and let him/her know what will happen if those dogs attack anyone. Heck you might even be able to threaten a lawsuit already for distress. The law may not be able to do anything, but the landlord can remove them from his/her home.