Was this a dog attack?

[Anonymous]

I live next to a neighbor who's got a couple of psychologically challenged dogs... he rescued both dogs a few year ago from Afghanistan or Iraq I think. Both dogs are fairly large, super tightly wound, and territorially aggressive. He leaves them home inside for like 10 hours a day while he's at work, and they react to anybody going by the house by barking and clawing at the windows -- you can actually see all his window treatments have been shredded. When my neighbor gets home from work and let lets them out, and they all go outside to release their energy. Several times, I've been outside around that time, and the dogs have attempted to jump the fence and/or dig under the fence to get at me -- it's pretty scary. I asked the neighbor nicely to please control his dogs, but they're a lot quicker than he is.

The situation changed the other day -- the neighbor forgot to latch his gate all the way, and while my elementary age kid was outside walking our family dog (an older medium sized rescue mutt), both dogs saw them, went hyper, pushed through the open gate, and charged my son. He had the presence of mind to see the situation developing, turn around, and escape back to our own yard to avoid being bitten. When I heard the screaming and commotion outside, I ran out to find the two neighbor animals working together to bite out our dog's throat. I wrapped my sweatshirt around my arm and fended them off, dragging our dog back into our yard. The vet saved him, treating at least 10 puncture wounds in his throat.

I asked the neighbor if he could pay for the vet bills, and he told me he wasn't responsible, it was just a spat between our respective dogs, and one of his dogs apparently got hurt too. He said our kid didn't get bit, was never in any danger, and therefore it wasn't a dog attack at all.

I'm not a lawyer, but would welcome opinions on whether this constitutes a dog attack, and if I should pursue any kind of action or just let it be. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Of course that's an attack. It needs to be reported!

[Anonymous]

It is a borderline situation but yes there is risk and I would lean towards reporting.

I may take flak for this but it sounds really irresponsible to have imported troubled dogs from another country. Is your neighbor a veteran? A veteran who has imported dogs from a wartorn country is not likely to see your point of view ever. Your neighbor wants them for irrational/emotional reasons.

I think the best you can do without alienating your neighbor is ask him how you can avoid a future meeting/conflict between his dogs and your kid and dog.

If you feel like escalating, call the police or whoever, describe the situation, call it borderline, and get their feedback.

I once called the Rockville police to report that my car was broken into on Rockville Pike and the person left a lock pick tool on my front seat and rifled through the car without taking anything. The call answerer declined to take a report since nothing was stolen. This troubled me since there clearly was clearly a crime that had been interrupted. You may find that your report of dog bites doesn't rise to a level that the police will deal with.

[Anonymous]

First of all, I am sorry your child, dog, and you experienced this. It sounds frightening.

It is definitely an attack. The neighbor’s dogs aggressive behavior should be reported, as well as the owner for failure to have his dogs restrained while off his property.

[Anonymous]

I may take flak for this but it sounds really irresponsible to have imported troubled dogs from another country. Is your neighbor a veteran? A veteran who has imported dogs from a wartorn country is not likely to see your point of view ever. Your neighbor wants them for irrational/emotional reasons.

Yes, he's a veteran. I don't think the dogs were treated very well in whatever country they were originally rescued from. I think you're 100% right about his wanting them for irrational/emotional reasons and never being able to see them for the risk they are. He is single and they're his only family. Things are already icey between us and escalating this further would likely make it worse.

[Anonymous]

Of course it was. Report it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I may take flak for this but it sounds really irresponsible to have imported troubled dogs from another country. Is your neighbor a veteran? A veteran who has imported dogs from a wartorn country is not likely to see your point of view ever. Your neighbor wants them for irrational/emotional reasons.

Yes, he's a veteran. I don't think the dogs were treated very well in whatever country they were originally rescued from. I think you're 100% right about his wanting them for irrational/emotional reasons and never being able to see them for the risk they are. He is single and they're his only family. Things are already icey between us and escalating this further would likely make it worse.

PP. It will likely make things worse. The dogs got out accidentally. As I'm sure you know, if they end up in the wrong kind of incident, the dogs could get put to sleep.

I feel this is a borderline situation. Your neighbor's dogs are unlikely to be removed if you report him. Police are very veteran friendly. So the most you could achieve is to record somewhere the past actions/incident. As I mentioned you could see what your local authorities think. Not sure if that is police, animal control, or what. I also don't know what your local laws are. This is where you need specific local guidance.

It is a maddening, risky situation and yes it was an attack. But also an accident and with no dog death, it probably falls more in the category of "annoying neighbors" and "bad stuff happens".

Work out safety rules with your kid.

If you detect serious under fence digging, let your neighbor know immediately.

Preserve your pictures and vet bills from the prior attack.

[Anonymous]

100%!!! The vet should report the attack to animal welfare. Imo they should be put down, but they probably get a warning.

[Anonymous]

It was an attack on your dog, not on your kid. If this is reportable where you are, then yes, please do so.

The problem is that he took in 2. They're operating as a pack, with a pack mentality that will never be manageable. If it had just been 1 dog, he could have paid for trainers etc. With 2, this is going to go downhill fast.

Now having said that.

OP, if you were able to get in the middle of a dog fight and not get hurt, this was not an all-out kill-or-be-killed dog fight! You would have had your arm shredded!

Seriously. In a real dog fight, DO NOT INTERVENE. You could die.

So this was a "mild" dog fight, as evidenced by your ability to rescue your dog without being injured, and as evidenced by the fact that your dog "only" had puncture wounds. Two aggressive dogs can fatally maul a third in a few seconds.

But next time... they might.

So please put all the pressure you can on this very clueless neighbor.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you were able to get in the middle of a dog fight and not get hurt, this was not an all-out kill-or-be-killed dog fight! You would have had your arm shredded!

I've heard this advice all my life but disregarded it in the heat of the moment. One of the neighbor's dogs had his jaws latched onto our dog's throat and was shaking him around like a toy. My protective instinct kicked in and I immediately started screaming at them to stop, and started kicking at them when they didn't... but when I finally landed one, he disengaged his jaws from our dog's neck, which allowed me to drag him away. For what seemed like a very long time, they were both focused on me, snarling, growling, and feinting, and I put up my arm wrapped in a sweatshirt as a shield which luckily didn't get tested. All I could think about afterwards was whether this had been my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, if you were able to get in the middle of a dog fight and not get hurt, this was not an all-out kill-or-be-killed dog fight! You would have had your arm shredded!

I've heard this advice all my life but disregarded it in the heat of the moment. One of the neighbor's dogs had his jaws latched onto our dog's throat and was shaking him around like a toy. My protective instinct kicked in and I immediately started screaming at them to stop, and started kicking at them when they didn't... but when I finally landed one, he disengaged his jaws from our dog's neck, which allowed me to drag him away. For what seemed like a very long time, they were both focused on me, snarling, growling, and feinting, and I put up my arm wrapped in a sweatshirt as a shield which luckily didn't get tested. All I could think about afterwards was whether this had been my kid.

Terrifying. These dogs are apparently not trained to kill, but they won't get better. I would try to convince the neighbor again that it's his responsibility to pay for the vet bills. Tell him that his dogs are a danger to everyone in the neighborhood and that he'll be liable for a lot more than your vet bills if he doesn't find a better way to control them.

Get 24/7 cameras trained on the right places. Not doorbell cams, they always have issues. Review footage regularly just to check they're working.
This might come in very useful in case of a second attack, as evidence. Tell your neighbor you're getting cameras, so he's aware you're serious.

Notify the entire neighborhood, preferentially on the listserve, that your neighbor's dogs are dangerous and just attacked yours, ran aggressively after your kid, and were aggressive towards you. Post a pic of your dog's puncture wounds and describe the scene exactly like you described it here. Post a pic of his dogs, so people know to beware. Include that he refused to pay the vet bills. Maybe he doesn't read the listserve messages, but you want the neighbors on your side.

[Anonymous]

Second getting cameras. Walk your dog with a taser and bear spray (more effective on 2 then pepper spray).

Keep yourself and your dog safe. I would not have your child walk your dog and I would fortify any fencing you have so it can't be jumped.

This is a very dangerous situation. What jurisdiction are you in?

[Anonymous]

The dogs were off leash and unsupervised to start. And in doing so they injured your dog. Yes. You might start by talking with your vet. But having violent dogs escape off push is a nuisance for a whole neighborhood. The county needs to know.

[Anonymous]

Report it to Animal control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course that's an attack. It needs to be reported!

Agree! Please report to the police and animal control. What happened was highly dangerous and need to be reported asap.