Neighbor in apartment violating dog breed restriction and leash laws with pit bull

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to management with both issues.

I am certain management is aware. They must be getting paid a kick back or they know the renters or something for allowing the renters to have the dogs, especially in one building.

The German Shepherds live in the same building on different floors and next door to the pit bull. There are small children in the apartment complex. It's just such a dangerous combination, especially when the owners obviously are very lax about the leashes.

If you think the Management is allowing this, then go straight to the company that owns the building. They are not going to want to be liable for any injuries from unleashed dogs, especially if the breeds are supposed to be restricted. You can also contact animal control in the jurisdiction where you live about any unleashed dogs. In the meantime, carry pepper spray and a walking stick when you’re out.

This. The companies insurance rates are based on being breed restricted. If management has been informed ..send email or certified mail, then they will get in trouble with their insurance carrier. Find out the name of the insurance carrier and tell management you are reporting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If these breeds are not allowed in the building, and you know these dogs are such breeds, then obviously you can complain formally to the management.

But honestly, the dog you describe sounds perfectly sociable, so personally, I wouldn't be officious just because I can be. The dogs who attack are the ones who are not socialized from a young age, and the ones who are fearful. Nothing you describe suggests the least little hint that this is an unsocial, fearful dog.

Except this is seldom the case in any of the constant pit bull mauls child or innocent person walking by stories. It’s always a sweet family dog that was never aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If these breeds are not allowed in the building, and you know these dogs are such breeds, then obviously you can complain formally to the management.

But honestly, the dog you describe sounds perfectly sociable, so personally, I wouldn't be officious just because I can be. The dogs who attack are the ones who are not socialized from a young age, and the ones who are fearful. Nothing you describe suggests the least little hint that this is an unsocial, fearful dog.

Except this is seldom the case in any of the constant pit bull mauls child or innocent person walking by stories. It’s always a sweet family dog that was never aggressive.

That's a lie, to put it mildly. It's what some (not all) owners will say, and it's what the anti-pitt people will play up, to highlight the danger of this breed, but it's simply not true. Any dog who is willing to bite your throat out will have shown you multiple times before that he is not comfortable around humans or in certain situations. But incidents happen because some humans just don't want to read the signs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Are you sure that the German Shepherd (GSD) isn't a service dog?
The Pit definitely wouldn't be a service dog, but the GSD may be.

Service dogs are always allowed to live in housing that otherwise have pet-free policies or breed restrictions, because as service dogs, they go through such extensive & intensive training to become service dog certified.

My GSD is a service dog, but you'd know it as soon as you saw him, as he doesn't act or react like a pet dog would (although, in our home, he's our lovable & loving PET, once he walks out those front doors, he knows he's working & on the clock, so no saying hi to other dogs, no sniffing the grass for an hour, no distractions, period).

Sadly, all your neighbor would have to do is tell the landlord that their GSD is in actuality a service animal, and your landlord would NOT be allowed to ask what their disability is that requires a service dog, nor is the landlord allowed to ask for proof of certification -- it's against ADA laws, and ADA laws are VERY strict.
As such, people will always look to take advantage of them.

So, if your neighbor with the GSD says that it's a service dog (even if it's totally obvious to you that the dog is untrained & undisciplinled, so not really a service dog) your landlord is NEVER allowed to ask for proof or certification, nor what the nature of the disability is... sorry.

Anonymous wrote:

Unfortuantely, this could be true of almost any dog.

I do know someone with a pitbull therapy dog. I believe the same rules apply to a therapy dog (i.e. landlord not allowed to ask about disability or proof of certification). She is in an apt that has a "no dogs" policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doberman Pinschers were the "bad" dog years ago. There's nothing inherently bad about pit bulls. Just some owners who want them to be aggressive. Sounds like these owners are not that type.

But you should take it up with your apt management team.

Pit bulls were bred to kill. They have several mechanisms to accomplish that that other dogs don’t possess, such as the ability to lock their jaw. They’re horrific and should become extinct. OP has every right to worry and complain.

I don't have a pitbull or any particular affinity for them, but good grief. You are wrong, and ignorant to even believe any of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pits raised with good care are lovely family dogs.

Pits raised in neglectful situations are not, nor or other dogs for that matter. My family had pitbulls and they were fantastic pets around kids, when adopted as puppies.

Pits do not have locking jaws, that is a myth (look it up).

They don't have "locking" jaws...they have a trait (desirable for what they were bred for...killing large animals) called "gameness" which is a trait that will allow them to continue to bite/attack despite any pain to themselves. So even when they are supposedly "trained" well, no, they won't come when called lol. They won't stop until they or the animal (or human) they are attacking are dead in most cases.

As far as needing to be raised in a neglectful situation in order to be able to kill, tell that to the people that raised their pits well until they turned on them and mauled them or their children. It happens literally every day of the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today I confronted my neighbors who have a pit bull in the apartment complex where there are breed restrictions. In my building, there are at least three different renters in three different units with breeds that are restricted: pit bulls and German shepherds.

I have a small toy breed dog.

This neighbor leaves the dog unleashed and unattended on their balcony. I have started avoiding walking by their balcony. The dog will stare at me and my dog when we walk by. Sometimes the dog will jump up and put her paws on the railing, standing. She's on sidewalk level, and she can easily jump over.

Because of painters, I had to park my car near their apartment. I was afraid.

Today, I was walking out of the mail room three buildings away, and the pit bull was unleashed and jaunting toward me. The young couple was walking behind the dog with their smaller dog on a leash.

I wasn't afraid, but I was startled. I was very polite. But, I told them, "Your dog frightens me. I'm afraid of your dog." They are a young couple who speak English as a second language. The woman said her dog is very nice. I asked how old is the dog, is the dog really old and not able to jump? Because I see the dog sitting outside without a leash. She said the dog is only 1 year old.

Just a few feet away from where the pit bull was walking off leash, is a children's playground, with small children playing.

Everyone thinks their dog is okay and will not hurt anyone. However, I can no longer abide by people who are flagrantly walking around with the pit bull not even on a leash. I think it's cruel to have a dog that size in a small apartment to begin with.

What do I do? Should I write a formal email/letter to the management? Should I go to the management and speak with them? I'm a woman in my early 50s. I don't have small children. How can I possibly be the only person who complains about this issue?

Issue 1: Breed restriction violations.
Issue 2: Leash law violations.

Are you sure that the German Shepherd (GSD) isn't a service dog?
The Pit definitely wouldn't be a service dog, but the GSD may be.

Service dogs are always allowed to live in housing that otherwise have pet-free policies or breed restrictions, because as service dogs, they go through such extensive & intensive training to become service dog certified.

My GSD is a service dog, but you'd know it as soon as you saw him, as he doesn't act or react like a pet dog would (although, in our home, he's our lovable & loving PET, once he walks out those front doors, he knows he's working & on the clock, so no saying hi to other dogs, no sniffing the grass for an hour, no distractions, period).

Sadly, all your neighbor would have to do is tell the landlord that their GSD is in actuality a service animal, and your landlord would NOT be allowed to ask what their disability is that requires a service dog, nor is the landlord allowed to ask for proof of certification -- it's against ADA laws, and ADA laws are VERY strict.
As such, people will always look to take advantage of them.

So, if your neighbor with the GSD says that it's a service dog (even if it's totally obvious to you that the dog is untrained & undisciplinled, so not really a service dog) your landlord is NEVER allowed to ask for proof or certification, nor what the nature of the disability is... sorry.

That's not actually true.

Housing/ Renting with a service dog are protected by the following laws. All of these laws protect disabled handlers and their service animals, however it is important to keep in mind that these rights are contingent on :

The tenant having a disability (case law suggests the landlord may be permitted to require proof of disability)
Landlord/housing authority being informed of the disability
Reasonable accommodation may be necessary to afford tenant an equal opportunity to use and enjoy his or her dwelling (case law suggests the landlord may be permitted to require proof of need and proof of training for a service dog)
Reasonable accommodation would not constitute an undue burden or fundamental alteration

Additionally, it is lawful for anyone to ask what services the dog performs if they are going to allow the dog in. The reality is that most people don't want to get into a confrontation, so just won't. That's how all the ESA BS started, with people bringing in dogs that are not trained and have no place in (restaurants, grocery stores, etc) making things more difficult for actual service dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doberman Pinschers were the "bad" dog years ago. There's nothing inherently bad about pit bulls. Just some owners who want them to be aggressive. Sounds like these owners are not that type.

But you should take it up with your apt management team.

Pit bulls were bred to kill. They have several mechanisms to accomplish that that other dogs don’t possess, such as the ability to lock their jaw. They’re horrific and should become extinct. OP has every right to worry and complain.

Do you genuinely believe this, or is just your go-to trolling move?

+1

This is a common myth perpetuated by people with small dogs.

All dogs are only as "good" or "bad" as their training. Training is first and foremost for dog owners - who need to control their dogs and do not know how - which is most dog owners.

You clearly don’t understand dog breeding at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doberman Pinschers were the "bad" dog years ago. There's nothing inherently bad about pit bulls. Just some owners who want them to be aggressive. Sounds like these owners are not that type.

But you should take it up with your apt management team.

Pit bulls were bred to kill. They have several mechanisms to accomplish that that other dogs don’t possess, such as the ability to lock their jaw. They’re horrific and should become extinct. OP has every right to worry and complain.

ummm that’s a myth… you should fact check before you post

[Anonymous]

No one enforces dog rules anymore, probably because so many dead beat owners ignore them. I carry a knife or bear spray when I go out on the trails just in case one of these beasts lunge at me. Just remember, by law these dogs aren't considered dangerous until they maul two people, the first one is a free pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Owners that have off leash dogs as a practice claim that their dog is "trained" when they are not - which causes trouble for everyone, dog people and not dog people.

If your dog does not come to you FIRST call, and stay close to you at ALL times, they are NOT trained.

It doesn’t matter if the off-leash dog is “trained” or “friendly” or not—it’s against the rules of the complex and against the law in every local jurisdiction in this area. Off-leash dogs are a hazard to people with mobility issues, small children, themselves, and other dogs (who may be reactive) when unexpectedly confronted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If these breeds are not allowed in the building, and you know these dogs are such breeds, then obviously you can complain formally to the management.

But honestly, the dog you describe sounds perfectly sociable, so personally, I wouldn't be officious just because I can be. The dogs who attack are the ones who are not socialized from a young age, and the ones who are fearful. Nothing you describe suggests the least little hint that this is an unsocial, fearful dog.

Any dog, regardless of breed or temperament, can be unpredictable. Why anyone would willingly expose their dog and other people/animals to potential harm/liability by allowing them off-leash in public areas is mind-boggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doberman Pinschers were the "bad" dog years ago. There's nothing inherently bad about pit bulls. Just some owners who want them to be aggressive. Sounds like these owners are not that type.

But you should take it up with your apt management team.

Pit bulls were bred to kill. They have several mechanisms to accomplish that that other dogs don’t possess, such as the ability to lock their jaw. They’re horrific and should become extinct. OP has every right to worry and complain.

Do you genuinely believe this, or is just your go-to trolling move?

+1

This is a common myth perpetuated by people with small dogs.

All dogs are only as "good" or "bad" as their training. Training is first and foremost for dog owners - who need to control their dogs and do not know how - which is most dog owners.

You clearly don’t understand dog breeding at all.

Shepherds gonna herd, retrievers gonna fetch, bullies gonna fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter does admin for a local apartment. One of the things she does is file all of the paperwork submitted by new renters and then resolve discrepancies between what was entered online and what was delivered hard copy by the prospective tenant. For example, a prospective tenant might say that have one vehicle which will need parking and then request two parking spots. So she will update the online information with the additional car information.

To the topic she has said many times that only people without pets are worried about dog breed restrictions, because people with dog breeds that fall outside of the apartment guidelines simply get paperwork and have their pet Pitbull declared an emotional support animal. Once the paperwork has been filed, that apartment WILL NOT contest the designation as an emotional support animal and will NOT contact the signatory veterinarian. They simply file the paperwork which their insurance company has access to and if there were ever an issue, it would be considered an insurance issue.

And does your daughter or the company she works for know the difference between emotional support and therapy dogs? Because many companies have now banned emotional support animals from their premises. It's a bogus designation, and everyone knows it. Therapy dogs are selected for their intelligence and docility, go through intensive training for years and are truly safe.

This is not to say that I would complain about this apparently docile pitt. I wouldn't. But FYI...

Wrong on so many levels.
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/fair-housing-act-and-assistance-animals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doberman Pinschers were the "bad" dog years ago. There's nothing inherently bad about pit bulls. Just some owners who want them to be aggressive. Sounds like these owners are not that type.

But you should take it up with your apt management team.

Pit bulls were bred to kill. They have several mechanisms to accomplish that that other dogs don’t possess, such as the ability to lock their jaw. They’re horrific and should become extinct. OP has every right to worry and complain.

Do you genuinely believe this, or is just your go-to trolling move?

+1

This is a common myth perpetuated by people with small dogs.

All dogs are only as "good" or "bad" as their training. Training is first and foremost for dog owners - who need to control their dogs and do not know how - which is most dog owners.

You clearly don’t understand dog breeding at all.

Shepherds gonna herd, retrievers gonna fetch, bullies gonna fight.

My retriever only wants to play fetch when treats are on the line!