Please Help!!!

[Bruce's_Mom]

I need advice on what to do in the event that Bruce is attacked by a larger dog...This sounds bad, but I think the way my neighbor's dog is it is bound to happen, and right now moving is not an option, and animal control does not seem to be helping, nor does our apartment management...We are just returning from the emergency vet tonight after our worst encounter yet...

Anyway my neighbor owns a very large, muscular, purebred and unneutered American Pitbull Terrier (and yes I know blame the owner not the breed, etc etc but hey these dogs scare the crap out of me and in my heart of hearts I believe they are great with people but a bit more dog aggressive than other breeds)...Every night he will take the dog out into the parking lot and play fetch with it off leash. The dog is fine with passing by people, but HATES other dogs...Now there have been a few times in the past that it has come after Bruce, my other neighbor's yorkie and another neighbor's Brussels Griffon, but my neighbor has caught it in the nick of time, or at one point I when I was walking Bruce and my friend's Frenchie I was able to get us all into my car and it lunged at my window for a few minutes...Tonight I took Bruce out for a potty break, which since he is recovering from LP surgery is really precious walking time for him, sure enough the dog is just roaming around with no leash as we are returning while my neighbor was cleaning its car and it immediatly came running toward us barking (neighbor did not so much as look up) and before it could lunge at Bruce the only thing I could do was throw myself on top of him. Now I covered his entire body and just would not unwrap from around him. The dog just grabbed my pants (luckily not my butt too) and tried to drag me off of him, but I would not budge. Finally the owner came and pulled him off by his back legs, andf sort of laughed it off. I freaked because having my body thrust over his poor recouperating body seemed bad and he got limpier so I took him to the emergency...He is fine but my neighbor is so indignent about this situation with his dog (tonight my neighbor who saw it threatened to shoot the dog if he saw this happening again and he did not even seem to care), I know this will happen again...SO HERE IS MY QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU WHO PROBABLY KNOW BETTER THAN ME...How can I prevent the dog from attacking and what should I do if it does?

We have had experience being attacked before and Bruce has had so many physical problems that have been being taken care of (so many it has been months that I have been on YT) and I do not want anything else to happen to him...

[Itspuppyluv]

I take it calling the police won't help? I can't believe he is allowed to get away with that. You were attacked and have a witness. The very least he should be made to keep the dog on a leash.

If the authorities aren't helping, have you considered training Bruce to use a pee pad and taking him elsewhere for his walks? It is inconvenient and unfair that you can't take your dog outside your own home but the alternative is not worth the risk. It sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen.

For added protection I would carry him in a carrier when you have to be anywhere near where that other dog might be. You might never see an attack coming and it could be too late to do anything.

I'm very glad Bruce wasn't injured and that was brave of you to put yourself in harms way to protect him. It must have been terrifying.

[alaskayorkie]

This sounds like a horrible situation that you shouldn't have to tolerate. Can't you report tonight's incident to the police? It sounds like the dog attacked YOU!

If police are out of the question now, I'd talk to the owner of the pitbull and tell him that you're not going to put up with it any longer. Either he keeps his dog leashed or you do whatever you can to get his dog taken away from him.

I would think you could start with a video camera and record the dog off leash. You might arrange to have a friend walk a small dog when the pit bull is off leash and video the pit bull approaching. Animal control or the cops would have to do something about it.

In the meantime, I don't have any great advice for fighting off a pit bull. Pepper spray might injure your dog, and if the wind's going the wrong way it could blind you. I wouldn't take any chances, though. If the pit bull's outside and unleashed, walk Bruce somewhere else. At the very least, pick him up and look for someplace you can set him if the dog looks like he's going to jump up on you.

Good luck. It sounds like a nightmare!

[FirstYorkie]

I agree with the others that this should be reported to animal control.

The most important thing is to try to not be out when this dog is running loose. You may not be able to protect yourself and your pup next time!

Two ideas that I have read about - 1) carrying a can of compressed air (like is sold for cleaning cameras and keyboards). There's nothing in it that will harm either dog but I'm told that sound of it will usually frighten away other dogs. 2) make a helicopter out of your end of your pups leash (or carry a second one for this purpose). Swing it around and around over your dog's head so that it will hit the bigger dog if he approaches.

I would think that you could also use a walking stick. You'd be perfectly within your rights to give him a whack if he charges your little one.

I've also read that some owner's have been known to carry a pocketful of treats. As big dog approaches, they throw them. As big dog stops to eat them, you have time to escape. I'm not sure that I'd rely on this one, but it might be worth a try.

[Rem&Silkmom]

Carry a bat with you! That is scarey but also if it goes after dogs what about small children that live in the apartment complex. I would be afraid for my yorkie baby but also for the children that live and play around there.

[red98vett]

HOLY C**P you could have really been hurt !! I know I would have done the same thing - but I would report that dog STRESSING THE OWNER IS IRRESPONSIBLE ! He needs to be leashed at all times !

I hate to hear pitts getting more of a bad rap but for that dog to do that with you right there shows he has an agression problem - and I blame the OWNER for that

No one should have to live in fear like this.....but what will it take for his owner to take command - someone getting hurt or a dog getting killed ?

You should call the police and see what they say - I know you don't want to be responsible for a dog being taken away - but it may not have to come to that -

[BLowry]

First of all I wouldn't even THINK about leaving my home. He should do something about this. I am absolutely terrified of pits. Like everyone says they get a bad rap because of the owners however, we ALL know what these poor dogs were bred for and continue to be bred for even today. We all know what yorkies were bred for also...How many of your little furbabies have seen a chipmunk or squirrel outside and gone out of their little minds? I know mine has. I beleive that when an animal has been bred continuously for something it's very hard to breed that trait out of the animal (MO). I know alot of people have pits or know people that have pits and they are wonderful animals but like a poster said in another thread "one bad apple can spoil the bunch". If it were me I would not stop calling, animal control, police or anyone else that will listen to me and do something. It's not fair that you have to live in fear that your little guy is going to get ripped apart everytime you go out if this dog is out there.
I probably wouldn't take him out.
I don't know where you live but, alot of towns and cities mandate pits be leashed and muzzled at all times (when outside) and in some states you can't even own one.

[soneal]

Be VERY careful around this pitbull, I watched the animal planet last night the show about where the humane society rescues animals in need etc.. This show took place in San Francisco and one of the stories was a woman whoes Yorkie was attacked by a neighbors pitbull that was not on a leash. She was walking her yorkie on a leash when they walked by the pit and his owner(off leash ). Needless to say the pit killed the yorkie. This was the sadest story, and the man ran! I do not trust this breed at all, mainly because of improper owners, but I think they are more apt to attack than most breeds.These breeds seem to potect what ever is around them that is familiar, like family, property, etc. I would keep your yorkie as far away from this dog as possible and never leave him unsupervised as long as you live near it. Good luck and be careful.

[Peters]

get some mace and all the police if they dog even acts like it will attack

[ilovelouie]

Yes, I agree with many....That dog "attacked" you and you must call animal and the police . I would think that they HAVE to do something about it. If they dont then you have to do something to protect yourself and your dog. Whatever it takes....a bat....mase....rocks.....steel toe shoes! Whatever you can, and that is only IF you simply HAVE to take your baby out in that area....otherwise if it is possible I would go somewhere else. But first and formost I would get on that phone right now and call animal control and the police and tell them that you were attacked and that the owner seems indifferant to it, and just lets this continue. Good luck hun and please give hugs and kisses to your baby for us.

[tpaxton23]

I'm so glad that he is okay. I lost a yorkie because another dog attacked him. The other dog was on a leash but jerked away from the owner and ran across the street to get him. I wish I would have thought to cover my dogs instead of try to pick them up.

I now carry a small bat and mace with me. We have since had a chow come after us twice but the bat and me standing my ground yelling no has kept him away. I swear I would swing that bat so hard if a dog tries to get my babies.

I'm so glad you were able to protect him. I would not take the chance of walking him anywhere near your apartment. Definitely call animal control and make a pest of yourself if you have to. The owner should be getting warnings just for having his dog off leash.

[amyd]

Do you all have a leash law? If so, I would at least try to have the owner issued a citation for having him off leash. And I would call them EVERY time he's out there with the dog. Otherwise, the authorities usually won't do crap unless the dog has been reported as attacking. And by that time, it's too late and someone has already suffered. You and the other tenants should bug the crap out of the management and the animal control until they just get so tired of hearing about it that they tell the dude not to have his pit out there without a leash. No offense to the dog, I used to have a pit and it is not always their fault. Mine was a jewel, but when they snap, it's not good.

[lilfoot]

How very sad that you have to put up with that. Very good suggestions here!! I personnally like the bat idea. And video taping of what is happening. Good Luck. Please protect yourself and your little one.

[chachi]

I would carry mace and a bat and if the dog got by me or my dog I would blast him

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by chachi

I would carry mace and a bat and if the dog got by me or my dog I would blast him

You and I think alike. I would carry mace, pepper spray and a big bat and if the dog even looked in my direction, I'd take action!! You will have to take action BEFORE this dog attacks you or your baby because really when you think about it, what kind of damage can 1 single bite do? ONE bite alone could kill your precious baby and/or seriously harm you. You have to be prepared to defend yourself and your baby at all costs!!

However, I would call the police, aspca and ANYONE else who would listen!! Keep trying and wear them down by constant phone calls and complaints!! You just may save your life or your dogs life by doing that.

PS - I'm so sorry that you have to live in fear of this dog and his irresponsible owner. This is just terrible.