Dangerous dogs in my neighborhood

[M&M's Mommy]

These two dogs prevented people in my neighborhood to live their normal lives. The note from Animal Control clearly said that they're dangerous, and we should watch our small children or pets more carefully until they're captured, and call 911 immediately should we encounter them. Their owner didn't know their whereabouts. Animal control patrolled the neighborhood for days looking for them... I've been forfeiting the 3Ms nightly walk because of this..

The neighbor who called the police said that the dog jumped the fence into her backyard trying to get to her cats.. I don't think she had any other choice but to call the police, and I also believe that killing the dog was the police last resort as they originally wanted to capture the dogs alive.

To me, human aggressive and dog aggressive are both sign of dangerous dog, as the dog has the potential to hurt other beings. It is a problem that need to be dealt with rather than shooing it away with an "Oh, it's nothing, he's a very nice dog, he's just dog-aggressive".

[Pam]

To me, human aggressive and dog aggressive are both sign of dangerous dog, as the dog has the potential to hurt other beings.

That's it in a nutshell. If someone has a dog that is aggressive in any way at all it is THEIR responsibility to keep that dog controlled. Of course it is a shame that any dog is shot, but it is also a shame that countless dogs (nice dogs too!) die each day in shelters. Unfortunately these are facts of life, like it or not.

[Glacier]

That's it in a nutshell. If someone has a dog that is aggressive in any way at all it is THEIR responsibility to keep that dog controlled.

I have to agree with this. I own a highly dog aggressive dog. Kayleigh firmly believes she should be the only dog on the planet. She's a big girl and she could do some serious damage to another dog if she had the opportunity. I go to great lengths every day to ensure that my other dogs are safe, my neighbors' dogs are safe, and that Kayleigh still has a happy life. No one else should have to adjust their life, their schedule, their dog walking route because of my dog. It's my responsibility to adjust my own life to meet Kayleigh's needs.

Owning any dog is a big responsibility; owing one with a temperment like this is a HUGE responsibility. If I mess up; if I let my guard down with her for a second, if Kayleigh gets away from me; if she causes any injury to another dog, it's my fault completely, but Kayleigh will be the one to pay the price. Under our animal control by-law, if she harms another dog off my property, it is assumed she had my permission to do so; she's automatically declared a dangerous dog and she's dead. No question, no recourse, no second chance. I know what she's like and it is my job to protect her from herself.

Kayleigh is good with people. She likes kids. She's gentle and playful. If she were on the loose and chasing something, I think she could hurt someone, not intentionally, but with her sheer size or by someone sticking their hand in the wrong place! A kid trying to protect their own dog might well get hurt by her. Again, it's my job to make sure that never happens.

The shelter I got her from never told me she was dog aggressive when I adopted her; they were just happy to get rid of a big, black dog! Had I known, I might not have adopted her, but I made a committment to her that day--to love her and keep her safe for the rest of her life. I didn't realize that meant safe from herself, but I'll do it happily for as long as she is here. I adore Kayleigh. She is a wonderful dog in many ways and has taught me many lessons. I never want anything bad to happen to her, but I also never want another dog like her.

These dogs clearly had an established pattern of escaping and causing havoc. If their owner cared about them, they should have taken whatever steps were needed to prevent further escapes and problems. It's sad that the dogs will pay for their owners stupidity, but legally I doubt there is any choice.

Prey drive is a whole seperate issue from aggression. Prey driven dogs are not aggressive. It's usually a breed trait. All of my dogs are prey driven to some degree, with the exception of Kayleigh, none of them are also dog aggressive or human aggressive. My yard is small critter free! An outdoor cat is my yard is dead and I've suffered that agony with one of my own cats who had escaped. I've warned my neighbor that if their cat comes into my yard, I will not take responsiblity for what happens to her. If my dogs are off my property and kill someone's cat, I will take full responsiblity for that.

[Seravieve]

Im shocked by the idea that because a dog is 'dog aggressive' that its a bad dog and should be eithanized/shot/etc... Thats cruel.

Yea, these dogs were dangerous, they were loose, that's their OWNERS' fault. The dogs were doing what they knew.. what they had most-likely been taught... Maybe by their OWNERS.

Bunny and Zeke are both dog aggressive. Do I take them to the dog park? No. Do I let them run my neighborhood? No. Do I let them around other dogs? Besides Eli, No. I/we try to be responsible dog owners and protect what we love and others. I would NEVER say a dog that is DA should be put down. Who knows whats happened to that dog in the past. There's obviously a reason that they are the way they are. (And we're in the same boat, Adoption Center didnt tell us they were DA.) Oh and they've gotten a few birds and a mole in our backyard... Its instinct.

Being DA and roaming the neighborhood is IRRESPONSIBLE on the OWNERS' part. Should they be fined for letting something like this happen? Of course. They knowingly let it happen..

Should my two DA dogs be put down even though they live a happy life inside of our house? No.... They get the occasional walk, the trips to grandma's house.. And they're always on leash or controlled by my mom's electric fence.

There's two sides to this issue... and you're only considering one.. I think its bittersweet that the dog was shot. Had its owners been smart and kept them inside/controlled, it never would have happened. Being aggressive towards humans is a different story...

I mean dogs that are dog-aggressive should not be around other dogs without supervision, and their owner should take precaution not to let them loose.

You said it.. thats exactly it. Their owners werent around, werent responsible. Doesnt mean ALL DA dogs should be put down because of that.

[M&M's Mommy]

Im shocked by the idea that because a dog is 'dog aggressive' that its a bad dog and should be eithanized/shot/etc... Thats cruel.

Doesnt mean ALL DA dogs should be put down because of that.

I never said that ALL dog aggressive dogs need to be euthanized. I never said I agree with what the police did. I feel for the dogs & even for their ignorant owners... - but under circumstances, I don't think they have any other choices.

These dogs have done great harm to the neighborhood. There were 6 killings linked to them. 6 families lost their beloved pet as the result of 1 irresponsible dog-owner. How totally cruel & unfair is that?. Pretty sad, too.

[Danegirl2208]

To me, human aggressive and dog aggressive are both sign of dangerous dog, as the dog has the potential to hurt other beings. It is a problem that need to be dealt with rather than shooing it away with an "Oh, it's nothing, he's a very nice dog, he's just dog-aggressive".

So hounds are too be considered dangerous to you too? If Chloe (coonhound) got out and there was a cat I have no doubt in my mind that she would go after it..sad? sure..but should she be considerd vicious and shot? NO.. because that is what she was bred to do. DA is for the most part, a managable trait. It is not something that can just be trained out of a dog..it is a genetic trait of MANY breeds. Once again I feel awful for the familys who lost their pets, but I don't think the loose dog should have been delt with in that manner.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

How horrible, on both sides of the story...