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Need advice re: aggresive dogs & leash laws
Disclaimer: I'm not here to start a debate about whether Pit Bulls are sweet or aggressive or whatever. I would be posting this no matter what breed was involved in my situation... but it happens to be 3 Pits.
My dog (a miniature schnauzer) was attacked about 3 weeks ago by a pit bull mix as we were passing by. I was on my bike and my dog was leashed and trotting next to me. The pit lunged at my dog, breaking its own leash, and jumped on top of my dog, grabbing its neck and shaking it violently. The lady who owned the dog (I'll call her Woman A) couldn't control him and I ended up pulling them apart. The attack was totally unprovoked (mine couldn't even fight back at half the size of the pit) and my dog ended up with multiple puncture wounds and stitches, but thankfully, no serious damage. He has healed up well and is about back to normal. Woman A got rid of her dog and paid for our vet bills.
Woman A's best friend (Woman 
has been very apologetic about the whole thing and says how stupid Woman A was for keeping a dog she couldn't control, blah, blah, blah. Woman B also has a Pit Bull who she swears is a "sweetheart". However, the last two times I've spoken with Woman B (while out walking my dog), she has also been out with her Pit (unleashed). Both times I have quickly scooped up my dog and held him while we talked. BOTH TIMES her dog has sat at Woman B's feet and growled at my dog.
A couple days ago, my husband and son and I were in our apartment's pool when we saw Woman B go with her dog into another apartment (Woman C) who ALSO owns a Pit. As soon as the door closed we heard barking and growling -- obviously a dog fight. Woman B quickly came out with her dog to make sure it wasn't hurt. They left and went home.
Later that same day, my 3 year old son and I were out walking our dog (always leashed). As we approached the stairs, I noticed Woman B's Pit sitting outside Woman C's apartment, unleashed, as if waiting for Woman B to come back outside. There was no owner in sight and the apartment door was closed. The dog started growling at us again, though it stayed where it was. I quickly scooped up my son and my dog and came back in our apartment.
I am terrified. I have frequent flash backs of the attack. I have panic attacks when I see this dog. I don't even want to go out for a walk with my dog OR my son anymore for fear we're going to be attacked by this supposed "sweetheart". And I don't know what to do. Dogs are obviously allowed in our complex, but I don't know if there are breed restrictions, because that wasn't an issue for us when we moved in. We are still pretty new here, so we have about 10 months left on our lease, so moving is out of the question.
What would you do in this situation? Would you:
1. Go to the apartment manager and get her evicted for breaking breed restriction rules (that I hope are in place)
2. Confront the dog owner of the "sweetheart" pit who growls at us
3. Waste no time and go straight for animal control
There are very strict leash laws in our town. If I call animal control, this woman would most likely lose her dog. And I would gain an enemy. But the safety of my son and my dog come first.
Advice??
Re: Need advice re: aggresive dogs & leash laws
i would go to the apartment manager and complain that she isnt keeping her dog on a leash, she is breaking the law there in your town, if the manager does nothing to address it, take it to animal control.
i think having her evicted is extreme for now, i would at least try to have the leash laws enforced first. I dont think this is necessarily a breed issue, its an owner not being responsible with their dogs.
It's important to talk to the woman directly. If you see her without her dog, that'd be a good time to approach her; if not, you may want to knock on her door and ask her to step outside.
Remaining calm and polite is very important, and it will hopefully go a lot farther in the woman understanding your concerns. She obviously doesn't understand her dog when it comes to other dogs/other people. The dog may really be a total sweetheart with her, but simply not be good with new people/dogs. It's simply important that the woman understand this so she doesn't put herself or her dog in a situation that could lead to disaster. HER knowing her dog is what the problem is here (possibly some socialization, but I don't know the history).
If talking to her doesn't get her to keep her dog on a leash at all times when outside her apt, then I'd approach the apt manager about her breaking this town law. By no means would I bring up breed restrictions unless you're 100% certain your complex even has them.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
Well....you have a few options. I would speak to your apt manager and find out about the animal regulations- breed specific and leashing laws, after you do make a formal complaint and explain you will be speaking with the other tenant. After that, from a legal standpoint...you can send her (and the manager) a certified letter in the mail (so you know she got it) specifically highlighting the leash/breed laws in the apt. contract and explain she is violating them, keep a copy for yourself...state your course of action if she doesn't start following the laws of your apt complex.
That way, if you even see her dog without a leash I would call the police or animal control and show them the copy of the letter along with the receipt that she received it. It may seem a bit extreme but 1) you are talking about legitimate safety concerns for you and your child/family. 2) you need to be able to show a pattern and that you are following the right steps in regards to making complaints. If you have copies of certified mail and can show the police this is a pattern they may be more apt to pay attention. Good luck!
1) Do not assume that because a dog attacked your dog, that it would attack your child, too (you said the dog growled when you had your son AND your dog with you -- has it ever growled when you had just your son with you?). Animal-on-animal aggression is not the same behavior as animal-on-human aggression.
2) Agree with informing the woman that leash laws are in place in your town, and report the violation to your landlord. Leave the dog's breed out of it.
3) As for your "exploring breed restrictions, which I hope are in place" comment, I'm too angry about that to comment. And I'm sad that you aren't open to learning that aggression is an individual dog problem, not a breed problem.
Once again, you have touched on the things that my brain skips right over and forgets to come back to. Which is why you need to be here for always!
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
you said it way better than i did
As I stated in my original post, I'm not here to debate the aggressiveness of breeds. I realize that it is an individual dog trait. I would be posting this question no matter what breeds were involved -- whether three Miniature Poodles or three Rottweilers. This just happens to be three Pit Bulls. If breed restrictions (whether restricting Poodles or Pits) in apartment complexes can prevent my dog from being attacked, then I'm all for it.
Second, I realize that aggressiveness to kids and dogs is different. But when a dog is growling when my kid is present (no matter what said dog is growling at), I tend to get protective.
Third. I talked to the apartment manager today. I just asked if there were supposed to be breed restrictions for this complex. Without even mentioning the dog or dog owner, the manager told me that yes, there were, and she was aware of several in the complex and already had several complaints of aggression about the dog that's been growling at us. She's taking care of it. Soon, I hope.
Thanks to those who gave helpful advice.
You're advocating banning all dogs that could be labeled "pit bulls" (FYI, "pit bull" is not a breed) from an apartment complex because 3 individual dogs who happen to appear to be "pit bulls" have an aggression problem? In what world does that make sense?
Would you be okay with someone banning all miniature schnauzers from your apartment complex because someone else owned one who was aggressive?
I'm not here to argue with you. I just want to keep my son and dog safe from the aggressive dog in my complex, no matter what breed it is.
Then get the owner called to task based on leash laws instead of starting a witch hunt throughout the complex for any "pit bull type" dog that may be around. Problem solved.
THIS! It's not about enforcing breed restrictions, because in the future for all you know there could end up being another dog who shows this type of aggression and ISN'T a "pit bull" type dog. Take care of the specific situation at hand with the specific dog and owner. Don't go getting all of a specific dog type banned, because there could be owners with perfectly behaved dogs that resemble the "pit bull" type who will end up f***ed because of your actions.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
You mentioned the breed several times. To me, it came across as anti-pit. I am a mother as well, so I get that you want to keep your child safe, but your post has an I think all pits are evil and dangerous tone.
5 cats. 1 baby.