Hi, I have posted on here before(mainly in the health topic area) but did not quite know were to post this so please forgive me if I should not be posting here. Anyways I own 2 BC puppy's both around 9 months, and both males intact. If anyone reconizes me I own Wicket the puppy with problems asperating fluids. Luckily beyond odds he is still alive, Hurray!!!!! 

My problem is I live in the US in a pretty populated area and a neighbor across the road has an intact male pitt bull/cross? He is not real big height wise but is very, very stout(I would guess he weighs around 65-70lbs). They always let him roam and lately he has been in my front yard daily. I don't know if my boys are maturing and he is over to investigate but I find it very worrying as I take both the boys with me to work daily and never know when I will run into him. The other day for the first time I opened the door at 6am(still dark out) to go to my car with the boys, and out from behind my front yard tree came this male. Wicket obviously was startled and started barking while all the while running backwards to me. This male started barking back and actually started toward us. Luckily Wicket was so scared and we were close to the car by then that I was able to open the door just in time and close it as this male charged around the back of my car. I don't think he will hurt a person as this is not the first time I have encountered him in my yard, but fear for my boys. If he was to decide to go after one they would not stand a chance. They would probably be dead or greatly hurt before I could even try to do something.

Well today I came home from work to yet again find him in my yard. I had to sit in my car and wait for him to leave, as I won't chance anything happening to my boys. Anyways I feel kind of bad but I called animal care and control and they informed me these people have been served warnings previously(by other people)for their dog being in other peoples yard and causing troble. They just sent someone here to talk to me and they informed me that sadly the way the laws read they would hae to catch him in my yard to do anything about it,but I could file a complaint against if I wanted!! A lot of good that will do as they hae been filed against before and I personally tried talking to them also. The animal control guy looked me straight in the face and said sorry to sound harsh but if you do ever run into him and he goes after your dogs don't try to stop it as pitt bulls are known to not stop once they get hold of something and I would just end up with a dead dog and myself in the hospital. Tell me how happy I am. What can I do? Sorry so long. Only thing I can think of is to back my car up to the house door daily so at least I'm very close to safety. Sad to worry so much about someones dog that they don't have the right in my opinion to own.

How awful for you.  I don't know how I would cope with your situation except to say I would take all steps available to me to protect me and mine. The official is more or less telling you that this dog is potentially very dangerous and although not proven to be so I would not want to run the risk of the dog proving himself on my pet.  If the owners have little regard for their neighbours requests or that of the authorities I would feel forced to take the matter further legally.

Good luck

Thanks for your reply CherylS. You seem to understand my problem. I've fought extremely hard for the one pup to even live, and besides I love them both too much to even imagine something happening to them by a careless owners dog. I just don't know legally what else to do or where to go. It really is bad to feel scared to walk to your own car and back with your own dogs. People make me so mad sometimes. Besides my own fears what about the fact these people leave this dog to roam on busy, busy streets. I'm surprised he is still alve to be honest.

I think maybe this dog would find himself 'disappearing' if it were me ;)  the local pound woud be called and he would be reported as a stray ;) :)  This way they'd have to pay to get him back :D and perhaps over time would think better of leaving him to roam.

Good Luck

I was wondering, what if I took a video camera out and filmed him in my yard if that would make a differnce. The officer said he had to be caught in the act for him to do anything. He said if they could actually see him in our yard they could seize him. Like you said Dill making them pay to get him back and fined I'm sure, that may wake them up. Just don't know if film could be used. I'll call tomorrow and ask.

Sorry, this is not a sarcastic question although it may sound it - but can't you fence your yard?

M.

Doesn't sound like fencing the yard would solve the problem as the dog is loose and menacing the whole neighbourhood.  I think it's is unacceptable that people are too scared to walk their dogs to their own vehicle in fear of having to run the gauntlet of a dog that is not being responsibly cared for.

Think Dill's idea is a good one and one that I would do now that it has been mentioned.

I was thinking the same thing, maybe a gate or something to make your yard safe, although I suppose it is difficult if the car is parked there. Couldn't you park the car right up close to your door and open the back up for your dogs to jump in straight from the front door. Could you also take something out before you go out with your dogs, that would make a noise to maybe frighten the dog off, you could inadvertently drop a large lid off your dustbin. :-) Or take a torch so that you could maybe have a look first to see if he was around and if he is people friendly take him back to his house. Good Luck lets hope you find a solution soon. Very worrying.

I know things are different in the US, but here we do tend to mostly have solid fencing, walls etc around our gardens.

It can cost to put them in, but it's so much safer than anything else, keeps your dogs safe and loose dogs out :)

If it's at all possible, I'd consider good solid fencing, I'm really sorry for your problem though. Also sorry for the pit bull, as he doesn't seem cared for at all.

Incidentally, I don't know if it still holds true, but i understood that dogs which were bred for fighting usually had to be very easily handled during fights and were bred to accept this.

I'd also be worried in your situation, good luck, do let us know what happens :)

Lindsay
x

I'm not sure if you  fence  these in some residentusl areas in the US..? Many parts have open plan front lawns and even fencing height and type restrictions in the back.

What about training the dog? Can he come when you call him and sit? If you command him will he go? Some stay dogs we get here from time to time will respond to firm commands even though they are neglected.

We had a big macho 'Staffie' type who was free to roam and caused problems... but like it's already been mentioned most housed have fenced front gardens and  so we just fitted a gate.  I found this dog was very worrying but once I got to know him he was not nearly as mean as he looked. My BC always did a submissive roll just to make sure. 

I know the owner got heaps of  complaints and the dog was picked up by the wardens several times and the guy gif fines... but still it was out the next week.  In the end the dog seems to have just mysteriously vanished.

Can you take pics of him in your yard as evidence? And film him being barking and threatening and so show he is risk to public safety?

To be honest I don't see why YOU should have to go to the expense of fencing the yard etc if it isn't a problem for your dogs!!! I would catch him if you can and send him to the pound! Why should YOU have to worry and park so close to your house to avoid him??? He should be under control, esp if he's pit bull/cross!!!

The most practical solution if the owner is unlikely to bec responsible is to fence your front garden so he cannot gain access.  He probably already views it as HIS territory, after all he doesn't know any different as he has been allowed to wander.

In some wasy getting into conflict with the neighbour may make things worse.

Though I would ask animal control to talk to him as he doesn't need to know who sent them.

Sorry guys I'm at work taking a break but could not remember my password but divenride is also bordercollie3. I know, how confusing can I get. I will check my password at home tonight and bring it with me to work. Please forgive me.

Anyways fencing the front yard is not an option. In my neighborhood in the US you are not allowed to do this. I do have a very nice big back yard that is fenced, this is where my gang plays. I think the idea of scoping out the front yard before I leave will have to become a routine for me. I don't believe it's right for me to have to do this but sometimes life is not fair, I know. Don't understand people sometimes and as was metioned before it's sad for this pitt bull also. How people think allowing their dogs to roam in crowded streets(just to be free) is fair to them. Sad really. Sometimes I feel like people should have to take classes and pass a test to be allowed to own pets. Sorry for ranting. Also I posted a website link under my profile if anyone wishes to see Wicket or read his story. He has his own page. The whole gang have their own pages. I'm still working on it though so excuse the lack of info in many parts.

I think that your idea of a video camera is a good one.  I work in law enforcement and did want to say that while it's frustrating, the dog HAS to be seen roaming to prevent false complaints.  Think if your nextdoor neighbor didn't like you and called in complaints, constantly saying your dogs were loose.  You know it's false but the police go with the word of your neighbor.  Not very fair to you...same thing applies. 

Another option would be to catch him and call the authorities.  You do run the risk, however, of having him taken in and put down because of his breed.  That's a decision that you would need to make on your own.