This is so upsetting to me that I can barely type. I find that I use this blog as a way to keep track of incidents, though, so I am making an entry today.
When Toby and I go out these days, I take a can of Halt spray with us because several neighbors have been irresponsible about leaving their dogs out without leashes. One is a pit bull that is aggressive toward other dogs, and I have been afraid of having a run in. Instead we had an encounter with a different little dog that I have written about in the past.
Even though I am very frustrated that this family has been so irresponsible with their dog – to the point of endangering my own – I have tried to be kind. I can see that they adore their little dog, and the dog loves her family deeply. I’ve never said a bad thing about the family, and I have even defended the little dog to others. She is not a bad dog, she is a fearful dog, and her family is doing her no favors by not protecting her with a leash or fence.
These are some of the entries I’ve written about before: The Great Roundup, The Day After, Shhh!
When Toby and I got to the corner of the street where the little dog lives, we could see her in her front yard. I looked at Toby and said, ‘Let’s let the little dog enjoy her day outside. We’ll walk a different way.” We turned and went and were already on a different street when the dog saw us and came charging. If you’ve ever been present for a dog attack, you know the circling/growling/biting the aggressor does to disorient her prey. The victim dog has to keep spinning to protect his flank, and when he is turned around and dizzy the aggressor will either head butt him in the ribs to flip him on his back exposing his belly or she will jump on his back and bite him.
Not wanting Toby to be flipped and bitten, I tried to spray between the dogs so the aggressive girl wouldn’t want to come near him. Unfortunately the little girl dog lunged at Toby and got hit in the forehead. I felt so awful. I still feel so awful. I never wanted to hurt anyone. ..not this dog, not her family, nor did I want my own pup hurt.
As I figured would happen in a small community like this one, I am now the town pariah. I am the mean lady that hurts elderly dogs. Somehow folks never noticed the more than dozen times the little girl dog attacked my Toby. Somehow they ignore the other dog walkers in the neighborhood referring to her as “The Bad Dog on X Street” because she chases and bites their dogs. I have watched a neighbor with back problems painfully bend over to scoop up her senior Yorkie to keep her from being attacked yet again by this little girl dog.
Now Toby and I are on everyone’s poopy list, and I have a feeling that if we need help no one will help us or if we accidentally step out of line, everyone is going to be all over us. I feel bad for Toby. I haven’t taken him for a walk since the incident. He misses his friends and his exercise and doesn’t understand what is going on.
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The Adventures of Bitey Dog 
I O UNDERSTAND. BUT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. HERE IS A SMALL SUGGESTION. TAKE A PIC OF THE BITE… EXPLAIN THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO REPORT THIS BUT VETS BILLS NEED TO BE PAID FOR TH TREATMENT FOR THE BITE FROM YOUR(THEIR )DOG !!
PLEASE PUT YOUR DOG ON A LEAD (DO YOU HAVE A LEASH LAW THERE? IF SO REMIND THEM IT IS LAW) YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXPECT YOUR DOG (TOBY) TO WALK WITHOUT FEAR…. POST THIS THROUGH THEIR LETTERBOX TAKE A COPY OF IT FIRST.
AS TO IGNORANT IDIOTS CRITICIZING TO.. SHOW THEM THE PHOTO. ASK THEM IF THEY WANT THEIR DOG ATTACKED,,, ?? TELL THEM YOU ARE SURE THEY WOULDNT BE SO TOLERANT.
YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP YOU HAVE RIGHT ON YOUR SIDE. PLEASE SPEAK UP DONT WAIT TILL SOME PERSON OR SOME DOG IS SERIOUSLY RIPPED INTO.
SENDING HUGSSSSSSSSSS
This probably won’t work in my favor, but I stopped things before Toby got hurt, so there is no vet bill to use as evidence.
Yes, we do have a leash law, but there are always humans that don’t believe it applies to them.
Thank you for your support. I am really upset, and it means a lot! ❤️
I TOTALLY KNOW THE EARTHQUAKE IN YOUR GUTS FEELING. I THINK YOU KNOW MY FLICKA HAD HIS PROBLEMS. AND I HAD TO LEARN NOT TO TRANSMIT MY STRESS DOWN THE LEAD. ITS VERY HARD NOT TO DO THAT BUT PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE FIND A RY THEM IN YOUR BREATHING… THROW OUT NEGATIVE THOUGHTS INSTANTLY THEY POP UP. TRUST YOURSELF TRUST TOBY TOO ITS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO WORK AT BUT NOT ONLY WILL IT HELP YOU AND TOBY BUT IT WILL SPILL OVER TO BE A GOOD CONTROL OF THE ATTACK DOG IT TOO PICKS UP ON YOUR FEAR AND STRESS. BE “WORK IN PROGRESS” !I WAS FOR LONG TIMES) BUT ACCENTUATE ON THE PROGRESS PART OF IT. ALL WILL BE WELL I JUST TAKES TIME
SENDING BIG HUGS
😆 Practice helps, but who wants to practice being attacked?
Can you talk to your neighbour with the Yorkie and the other walkrs who know about this little girl? You need some solidarity. Is there any help outside the ‘community’ you could access? Could you use the leash law to get something done…not just for you, but for the little dog herself? You must feel sick to the stomach about this….
I’m not sure what is going to happen next, but yes, I will reach out to those people for support if I need to. Such a sad situation. ☹️
Oh, gosh! 😦 I’m so sorry this happened! It’s so scary! I can feel your anguish and pain. 😦
As Helen shared…can you speak to, or email, the other dog owners in the neighborhood and gain some solidarity. ?????? I would think they would understand and be on your side. I am totally on your side and understand. I would feel the same way you do.
Hang in there! I hope things change for the better. ❤️
Love and (((HUGS))) to you!
Gentle PATS and RUBS for Toby!
Coops and I want both of you safe and happy! ❤️❤️
PS…We had a similar dog in our neighborhood a few years ago and that dog eventually killed a smaller dog who was on a leash. (The bigger dog was running around loose. 😦 ) It was so scary and so sad. 😦
Oh my gosh, what a tragic story! It must have been so hard for that little dog’s family. How/why would anyone let a dog run loose?!?
Right now, my folks are being very supportive of me. They have walked Toby for me and experienced him being attacked by that little dog as well.
Thank you for the support and love. Toby seems fine, but I need it!
Yes, it was. The little dog’s human was a sweet lady who used to walk her dog (Charlie) along with Coop and me.
No one ever found out where the bigger dog came from…someone said it was from some people visiting in the neighborhood. ??? We never found out for sure.
I’m so glad you have support from your folks! ❤️
Be assured of our love and support! ❤️❤️
❤️🥲
I agree with everyone, try to get the support of other dog owners who know about this little dog. Also, could you try talking to the owners? Just walk over there (without Toby) and ring the doorbell? If that fails, start putting gentle suggestions in the mail to them, pleas for the welfare of their own dog, reminders of the leash law, articles about the causes of dog aggression and so on. Try not to be accusatory; your aim is to make peace and keep everyone’s dog safe, especially theirs. And if you can enlist other dog owners to do the same, you might just get through to them!
All I’ve ever wanted is for the pup to be protected with a leash or a fence. I will take your suggestions to heart, and hopefully someday I will post about a peaceful resolution to this situation. ❤️
I am sorry, and I agree with the others. You are probably not the only one to have this experience. That little dog is going to be killed running like that. YouOu are doing a kindness.
Thank you. ❤️
Well, dammit. I hate reading this. As the mom to a reactive dog, I constantly find myself telling people, “your dog may be friendly but mine isn’t!!!” because literally no one believes that their little angel is capable of being a little demon. I think it might be good to talk to the people, but don’t go alone, make sure someone is with you. If they’re this assholish about the dog, they might be equally as rotten to you. I’m so sorry this happened to you, and most likely Toby will shake it off long before you do. Hugs
You’re right. Toby already wants to go back to that street to see his friends!
I worry about Toby’s reactions too. So far he has been submissive toward other dogs, but when something ticks him off, he can be dangerous.
I wish you luck in convincing other people to give your pup space. Even with me yelling, “Toby bites!” folks insist on trying to pet him. 🤷♀️ 🙄
Yesterday I went to Petsmart. Guy was carrying a Husky, about 8 months old, I asked to pet and he said “She’s very nervous.” I stood there, dog wouldn’t look at me, so I just talked to her a minute, didn’t touch her. I couldn’t help wondering how many people would have ignored her signals and moved in, and then gotten bit.
Too many. Then they would have blamed the dog. 🙄
exactly
I turned a guy in at the park a couple years ago for never having his large, scary looking dog on leash. I am not an expert but I know that NO dog is “bombproof.” The next time I was there, he was also. He SCREAMED at me, called me terrible things, left me shaking. I should have called the police. All because he had to leash his dog in a public place
I am expecting the same thing here. Oh dear, society is making these people follow the rules. How horrible. 🙄
Good for you, though. Who knows how many children and pups you saved from being mauled? You were an instrument for good. 💕
He scared me badly. But Maverick is already reactive and a dog running up to him would most assuredly start a fight and Maverick would be blamed. I’m hoping things turn out well for you and Toby.
Ugh, this sounds like a recipe for disaster. Is there a different park you could go to? Do you have any friends in law enforcement who could just happen by some day?
He isn’t coming there anymore. And I’m rarely alone when we walk. There’s usually a police officer in the parking lot, as well
I reprimanded a guy in our park the other day for ignoring the leash law. I rarely bother. I tried, “You could get in trouble.” [smiling] This guy said, “I don’t care, it’s only a hundred bucks.” Apparently he has found that out, and still doesn’t care. He said, “I can handle her.” Little white fluffy doggy. “She’s well trained.” I said, “But other dogs are not.” Then I gave up and just kept walking. People who don’t care can’t be made to care.
I know. It is so frustrating. If that fluffy white doggy were mauled by a larger dog on a leash, that large dog’s family would be traumatized as well. Trust me, it is not fun to be involved in any part of these situations.