There's a pit bull that lives two doors down from me. I've never thought anything of it. Then Sunday I came up the stairs to my apartment hallway with my dogs. I rarely have them on leash because they're real obedient and wouldn't hurt a fly. Well I didn't see that the girl keeping the pit bull had the dog out in the hall. My dogs started down the hall and I heard the pit start barking. So I called my dogs back but it was too late. The pit lunged at my big dog, Clyde, and pulled the leash out of the girl's hand. The pit latched onto Clyde's neck. I started yelling at the girl to get her dog off mine. Then I started kicking the dog. Nothing. The dog started pulling Clyde around the hall. I jumped on the dogs and tried to keep them still and keep the pit from ripping out whatever part of Clyde she had. I was screaming for help and for the girl to do something. She just stood there crying and screaming. The neighbors began to come out and one came over to help. At this point, Clyde is just lying there still and this pit is laying still but just won't let go. I tried prying the jaws open to no luck. Then we took Clyde's shock collar off and putting it on the pit. Cranked that all the way up and it didn't even phase the pit. The neighbor began punching the dog in the head and that didn't work either. By this time about five minutes have passed and the dog just won't release my pup. Clyde's being pretty strong and just yelping when the pit occassionally thrashes its head. I was still screaming for help because I thought my dog was going to die right there in front of me. By this time we have about 8-10 people around. I asked everyone to help me try to choke the dog out. Everyone started squeezing the dog's neck and the pit finally released. Clyde scampered back into my apartment and I sat down and just shook.
The cops came and were asking if anyone had gotten bit and then just turned around and took off. I didn't want to get anyone in trouble and so I figured I'd just talk to the owner about the incident that night. The guy never came by though. So I took Clyde to the vet the next morning and the doctor said he could do surgery, but it would probably be best to just as good to treat it with antibiotics and hydrotherapy. He has a large puncture wound and then skin abrasion and bruising. Well I went over that evening to talk to him. The dude was a complete jerk. Told me that it was my fault since my dogs weren't on a leash and that he didn't care then slammed the door in my face. I wasn't too pissed before, but that just hacks me off.
Clyde is recovering okay, but both him and Bonnie are acting real skittish around the apartment complex. All of a sudden they're barking a lot at other people and dogs which isn't normal. It's sad that I have them leashed up all the time now. (Not that it would have kept another dog from attacking them.) I'm ready to move out of this place now. And I plan on going and getting pepper spray and a knife. I'll be better prepared for emergencies in the future.
Comments (10)
Unfortunately, a lot of people think that pit bulls are simply prone to attacking, which isn't true. The real fact is that a higher number of people are jerks to their pits, and either consciously or subconsciously teach their dogs to be aggressive. I hate to say it, but some dogs need to be put down for the safety of those around them, especially when their owners take no responsility for them
I never really could understand why pit bulls are still legal.
so....you're buying a weapon and moving to a safer neighborhood to keep your kids...I mean dogs...safe? You're becoming one of them aren't you?
Omg, sorry to hear that...take care of yourselves! Glad your baby Clyde didn't get killed.
you should have whoooooooooped your neighbors ass
scary! i assumed it happened at the dog park, but it's worse that they're your neighbors. that's so crazy.
hypothetically, if you had grabbed a knife and stabbed the pit, would that guy be able to press charges or successfully sue you? might be a good question for brent.
also, imagine if a child just old enough to walk started down that hall and that girl lost control of the leash. clyde survived because he's a giant but a kid wouldn't have been so lucky.
Pepper spray will not phase a pissed off dog with any wherewithal (or person, for that matter). Ask me how I know. Stabbing them-- in the heart-- would be efficient, biomechanically (not by causing a pain response), after enough blood spurts out the hopefully large, gaping hole. Where is your machete? Shooting the dog in the eye with an appropriate defensive caliber is pretty effective.
The legality of killing a domestic animal (as opposed to a wild animal) that is attacking your dog (property) is up for grabs... Really depends on the a-hole-ness of the assistant district attorney assigned to the case if the cops decide to send it up, which they likely will if the other owner makes any fuss whatsoever (if for no other reason than to pass the responsibility buck from the responding officer, a practice with which I don't necessarily agree or disagree and is often governed by departmental policy that comes from people the officer in question has never met).
Anyway, my $0.02. --d
that sucks on so many levels >_<
Just so you know, Pit Bulls DO take on the behavior of their owner, and that guy pretty much confirmed it when you confronted him about what happened. I'm really sorry that happened to your pups, but it's not the Pit Bull breed as a whole. My family (and I) have had plenty of them and contrary to popular belief, they aren't naturally aggressive or "ticking bombs." It's a shame that people like that are able to own them.