Expecting flames because I think saying things like "poison the dogs!" is reprehensible. These dogs have been unlucky enough to land in a home with bad owners, and if they need to be put down, the city should do it's darn job and put them to sleep humanely. Rat poison, shooting and choking are all horrible ways to die and I'm kind of shocked that people would be suggesting these things. We all want to protect our children, but that's just not OK. In the event of an attack I'd do what I had to do to save my child, including braining an animal with a tire iron, but a preemptive strike like those suggested is cruel. And most likely illegal.
Here's what I'm wondering (and maybe you have elaborated further in the thread, OP- I read the whole thing a couple of days ago). Have the dogs been threatening your kids or other people in other ways than barking and chasing when they go by the dog's house on the sidewalk? I'm not at all diminishing the fear and trauma your dc have been through, that is certainly real. Your poor kids. But many other normal, perfectly nice dogs might bark and give chase too, if a child is running or using a skateboard on the sidewalk in front of their house, which they don't know is not their territory to protect (they shouldn't be out there without a leash, but since they are.) It's an instinct to chase. I would not allow it from my dogs, but it is natural.
So are they cornering people or menacing them in other ways besides running after running kids? If not, then they just need the city to enforce the leash law. If they are, then like thismama said, they need to be put down. There's no room in this world for a human-aggressive Pit Bull, and I hope you can get the city to understand that they are a real threat.
Here's what I'm wondering (and maybe you have elaborated further in the thread, OP- I read the whole thing a couple of days ago). Have the dogs been threatening your kids or other people in other ways than barking and chasing when they go by the dog's house on the sidewalk? I'm not at all diminishing the fear and trauma your dc have been through, that is certainly real. Your poor kids. But many other normal, perfectly nice dogs might bark and give chase too, if a child is running or using a skateboard on the sidewalk in front of their house, which they don't know is not their territory to protect (they shouldn't be out there without a leash, but since they are.) It's an instinct to chase. I would not allow it from my dogs, but it is natural.
So are they cornering people or menacing them in other ways besides running after running kids? If not, then they just need the city to enforce the leash law. If they are, then like thismama said, they need to be put down. There's no room in this world for a human-aggressive Pit Bull, and I hope you can get the city to understand that they are a real threat.
:
