My neighbors dogs

[MH8675309]

I'd a shot that sob the first time SSS

 

[RSKY]

A little background.

A few years ago I was across the street talking to a disabled neighbor when a young lady with a baby in a carriage came walking in front of our houses. A small dog ran out of another neighbor's yard and went straight for the baby in the carriage. The mother screamed and ran around chasing the small dog off. It ran around her and went for the baby in the carriage again. The dog was growling and obviously intent on harming the now screaming baby. The mother was trying to stay between the dog and the carriage and got bit a couple of times. I ran as fast as I could at the dog and kicked it a glancing blow to make it let go of the woman and it ran around both of us and went for the baby again. I yelled at the girl to push the stroller away while I kept the dog back. She took off running, pushing the stroller as quick as she could. I got bit on the shoe a couple times but the skin was never broken. My disabled neighbor stood still and when the dog came close enough he got it another glancing blow with his cane and the dog tried to bite him. The dog then ran back behind it's owner's house. I followed the now crying mother for a couple hundred yards making sure they were safe.

When the owner's were told what had happened they were indignant that Mike had hit their dog. It wasn't actually trying to hurt the baby. Bullsnot!! Other neighbors told them about the small dogs aggressiveness and that the other two were starting to act the same way. At least two more people were bit. They ignored the complaints. During a two or three week period all four of there dogs disappeared without trace. I had nothing to do with it but they moved shortly thereafter.

Now all the people who walked in our neighborhood are back to walking again without fear of being bitten.

I personally think that an owner who lets an aggressive dog roam the neighborhood and it attacks somebody on the victims property should be arrested for assault just as it they had attacked the victim instead of their dog.

Lock a few of these idiots up for a year or two and the problem will be solved.

RSKY

 

[HCJtractor]

I think your"goodness" and numerous attempts to convince your neighbors to control their dogs ( when it's clear they have no will to do that) has painted you into a corner. By your continued communications with them, you will now be the prime suspect if their beloved dog goes missing, even if you're not involved. It should have been clear after your initial warning that they couldn't care less about you or other neighbors. They are totally irrational and dysfunctional, not to mention a danger to their neighbors. After the warning, when you continued to have encounters, and there was photographic evidence of the dogs running wild, you should have been convinced that nothing was going to change. There's no way I would allow some idiot neighbor to make me fearful on my own land, or to fear for my family members or guests safety. And when the authorities refused to take action, the solution was clear. Kill the dog. Bury it. And never tell. And never would I use a .22 or handgun, or even try to scare the dog with a gunshot. I would sight in my deer rifle, and when I had a clear easy shot, preferably not near the property line, I would kill it instantly. Then when things got quiet, the dog would be buried and no one would ever be able to prove your involvement. Screw the law. Do what's right. Quit living in fear.

 

[Gafn]

To this day and I am 40+ I still carry the puncture wound scars from being bitten while helping the neighbor farmer pick up bales of hay. I was 15, and the teeth left two jagged hole directly above the veins in my right hand. The farmer pulled an old 12 gauge off the tractor and dropped the dog where it stood - still growing at me. I got lucky the teeth did not hit the veins as we were 50 miles from anything that even remotely resembled medical help.

Eliminate the threat - as you would fix anything unsafe like bad electrical.... Remove the threat from you and yours.

 

[jack707]

I would not think twice about putting 2 bullets in that dogs head.

 

[RSKY]

95XL883, I will also say that if that dog mauls someone else, you are morally, if not legally at fault for not destroying the animal.

You had the chance and you let a vicious animal live to bite someone else.

You can probably guess that I've had somebody close to me bitten bad because the dog owners were not responsible and even after the attack did not want their pet destroyed.

RSKY

 

[timster2]

I would not think twice about putting 2 bullets in that dogs head.

If someone was bitten think twice about a head shot. After I shot the two pit bulls the one thing the DEC warden wanted to know is if I had shot them in the head. Apparently if you shoot them in the head they cannot test the brain tissue for rabies. The victim of the bites will have to undergo a series of rabies shots if vaccination documents cannot be produced.

 

[Jstpssng]

Wow! Thank you all for the replies. I am pleasantly surprised that no one has criticized for me scaring the animal.

I do appreciate the opinion that I am being too patient with both the dog and its owners. My patience is driven by three things. One, I truly love animals and won't unnecessarily kill one. (That said, I won't criticize anybody who would shoot a vicious animal or a predator.) Two, the owners consider this dog to be their child. IMO, they are irrational about it. They will hate anybody who shoots this dog. If I had shot the dog on Saturday, they would have known it was me. I need their good will in the long run so I'm picking my spot very carefully. Three, the dog is protected by law until it is actually threatening me. At 75' and by the property line, they will dispute that the dog was threatening me.

I talked to the sheriff after the close encounter. He declined to talk to the owner. He made clear that I can't hunt or trap the dog. It sucks but this is the hand I have been dealt.

I have to wait until the dog is indisputably threatening me to put it down. After Saturday's events, if that dog doesn't flee my property at the sight of me, my wife, my boys or any guest, I will reasonably consider the dog to be threatening and an attack imminent (if not already in progress.) At that point, I will put the dog down.

For protection, I insist that everybody on my property carry and know how to use a loaded firearm. If they don't, they have to stay within 10' of me at all times. While the boxer/pit is the only dog that has challenged me on my property, there have been instances of large dogs roaming. Other than this one, they have all fled at the sight of a human being. My days of being amused at passive-aggressive behavior are past.

I am not legally entitled to shoot any dog running wild game in Kansas. (Any dog threatening livestock, and that includes chickens, is legal to take.) But, when hunting season comes, in addition to my bow or my 30-30, I will be caring a 22 rifle. I'll decide my action at that time realizing that the pack hunting I witnessed was amazing and scary. If I had the 22 at that point, I probably would have taken a shot. I don't blame anybody who shoots a dog or predator running game.

I agree with the comments that Ma & K are lousy, horrible neighbors when it comes to their dogs. They are irrational about their dogs. They will hate anybody that kills that dog. That is why I have let them know that a number of land owners are upset with the animal. If that boxer/pit was mine, I would put it down in a heartbeat. Other than the dogs, they are good neighbors. They stay off my property, they call me if something is amiss, they call owners of loose cattle, they keep their place mowed and very clean. But their dog ownership is a serious problem that puts others and themselves at risk. (At this point, the one-bite rule no longer protects them. They and the sheriff have been put on notice that the dog is vicious.)

I will continue to be vigilant. The dog and its owners have had enough chances. If I can legally shoot that dog, I will put it down. My family has been instructed to do the same.

I truly appreciate all the comments. I have been exceedingly patient. This is my first real land ownership and unfortunately I am learning the hard way. Thanks again.

The people who would criticize you don't stay long at TBN... Just saying. On the other hand you're a very good neighbor... And :despite what others say: it doesn't sound like they are bad people either. (How many parents have lost successful businesses or otherwise gone into financial ruin, trying to compensate for their kids actions? ) We all are applying our knowledge and experience in our replies. It sounds like you have no legal recourse in your state unless the dog attacks again, and no matter what happens they still will be your neighbors.

If someone was bitten think twice about a head shot. After I shot the two pit bulls the one thing the DEC warden wanted to know is if I had shot them in the head. Apparently if you shoot them in the head they cannot test the brain tissue for rabies. The victim of the bites will have to undergo a series of rabies shots if vaccination documents cannot be produced.

Head and spine, the way that I understand it. Just one of those tidbits which I try to remember, in case I ever do find myself in a similar situation.

 

[95XL883]

Thanks again to everyone for the insights. I especially appreciate the tip about rabies testing. Thanks, Jstpasing adnd Timster2. I doubt any of his dogs have been vaccinated. While I would like to believe it is now so frightened of me and mine that it will leave us alone, I certainly am not counting on it. We will remain armed and vigilant. I could speculate a lot so to be succinct, if I can legally put the dog down I will do so. If I can salvage the relationship with its owners I will do so but that may not be possible.

RSKY, I appreciate your preference that it be put down. If I can do so legally, I will.

 

[k0ua]

All I can offer here is, good luck with your problem.
But will take the time to relate a dog attack incident that happened a long time ago to my brother and sister. To make a long story short, my brother and sister walked to school. Brother was maybe about 13, and sister about 9. There were two women who lived together and had what was known in the neighborhood as a viscous dog. Brother and sister had to walk by the house on the way to and from school. One attack they barely escaped getting bit by my brother throwing rocks while facing the dog while sister behind him kept picking up more rocks for him to use. When they got home very visibly shaken, my brother wanted to get his .22 and go back. My father though better of it and called the sheriff. The Sheriff's deputy listened to their story and drove to the house to investigate. My brother warned him to be vigilant as the dog would likely attack him the moment he got out of the car. The house was about 1/4 of a mile from our house. The moment the deputy arrived at the house and got out of the car, the dog attacked him. A gunshot was heard immediately. That was the end of the problem. The two women moved shortly thereafter.

I truly hope this situation is solved without anyone being hurt, but I would guess that the worst is yet to come.