This evening I was relaxing, scrolling through the news online and checking out dog pictures and videos on social media, when I came across a story that just made my blood run cold. It was posted by an acquaintance who lives one town away from me, and detailed how her husband had gone out that morning for a jog with their Australian Shepherd Zazu; they take a six-mile run together on-leash, four days a week. One this morning’s run, however, not a block from their home, Zazu was attacked by two Rottweilers, who were loose, with their owners nowhere to be seen.
The police were summoned, the dogs caught and impounded, Zazu rushed to the emergency veterinary hospital, but his wounds were too serious and he could not be saved. A neighbor, who heard the tumult and witnessed the scene, identified the dogs as belonging to a couple who lives nearby. They are older, she told the police – and one of their adult children who also lives there breeds the dogs and sells puppies for extra income. Usually, the dogs are never taken out of the yard – but they do get loose from time to time.
Loose dogs in the neighborhood
Personally, I don’t think there is a place in society for dogs who kill. And while no one is perfect, and everyone has had a dog who has gotten loose before, when you own large, powerful dogs (especially more than one), you have a greater-than-average responsibility to see to it that your dogs can not escape the security of your yard. I hope the owners of these dogs are held responsible for Zazu’s death, and I hope the dogs who murdered Zazu are not released back into the custody of their owners – or, perhaps anyone else.
I know that’s harsh. It’s not the dogs’ fault that they were inadequately contained. It’s not their fault that their owners failed to socialize them adequately, so that they saw a leashed dog as prey or an interloper in their neighborhood, as opposed to a potential playmate. It’s not their fault that they have been denied the stimulation of an active dog like Zazu, locked up with no exercise, reduced to a life of breeding and reproduction, over and over.
It’s not fair. But it’s not fair to Zazu and his owners, either, that two very powerful, aggressive dogs were in a position to kill. What if the dog they attacked had been being walked by an elderly or frail person? The person might be dead, too. What if the dog they attacked was being walked by a mother who also was pushing a stroller with a baby inside? I shudder to think of it.
People who keep dogs in a socially impoverished environment, for the sole pupose of breeding puppies to sell – that’s even worse. This type of person is literally the backyard breeder in the derogatory trope.
I am hoping that the dogs are designated as dangerous and steps are taken to make sure they can’t be a threat to anyone else in the community. And my heart goes out to the owners of poor Zazu; his dad will be forever traumatized by the memory of the TEN MINUTES he struggled to save his dog as Zazu was being fatally mauled.
What steps can Zazu’s owners take?
I asked someone I know who is an animal control officer in a different community: What should Zazu’s owners do? She said, if there is any kind of record of the dogs being loose before, or any previous complaint made about their aggression, the local animal control could take steps to get a dangerous dog designation for the Rottweilers. If there is any sort of record of the dogs doing this before, or even just being picked up for running loose before, she would press the local court for the dangerous dog designation.
But if this is the first record of any complaint about the dogs, then their owners are likely to be fined only for the dogs “running at large,” asked for proof of licensing and rabies vaccination (and possibly fined for lack of same), and charged for the short impound; all that Zazu’s owners can do is sue for Zazu’s final vet bill, including cremation.
Obviously, I love dogs, and don’t relish the idea of any dogs being euthanized. But large, aggressive dogs in the hands of owners who can’t or won’t contain them? I can’t imagine living and walking my own dogs in that neighborhood.
Do any of you have any advice for Zazu’s owners? Have you ever been in a situation like this?
Research the state statutes and local ordinances re:dangerous dogs. Use the law that fits the situation best.
Bring documentation of the dog’s fatal injuries to animal control and give a statement about what happened, along with the laws. Ask them to deem the dogs dangerous. This usually requires an escape proof enclosure on the property, muzzle and 4’ lead off the property.
If animal control is unresponsive, contact the media. Make the story about how AC isn’t responding appropriately to a public safety hazard. Not about the dogs or owners. That will get messy. No one can argue with a story about an agency failing to protect the public.
You can also contact the States Attorney’s office if dangerous dogs are designated by the court.
Contact a lawyer for advice.
Yes. All this. ∆
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Excellent advice. Thank you.
So very tragic. In Tennessee, we have the Ti-Bo Bill (thanks to a TN senator). This bill lays the ground for owners whose dogs are attacked by other dogs (not under proper supervision of their owners). You can be awarded up to $5,000. This happened to the TN senator and his dog, Bo, was mauled to death. It happened to me as well – my Dalmatian was not killed but sustained a few nasty bites and had to go to ER. The other owners wouldn’t step up to the plate and pay the vet bills so we took them to court citing the T-Bo Bill. We were awarded $4,000. Another year later, the same dog was out roaming the neighborhood and killed one of my neighbor’s senior labs. They were devastated. Back to court we all went. Irresponsible owners are a danger to humans as well as pets.
These dogs should be put down.
The dogs being put down is not much of a solution because it will not solve anything in the long run. The owners will get more dogs, fail to socialize them properly again, and will let them get loose again. I think we need a dangerous dog owner designation more than a dangerous dog designation, which will only apply to the same dog that was loose and aggressive before. The owners need to face harsher penalties that will provide enough motivation for them to secure their dogs (which will include any future unsocialized dogs they will own).
I know how terrifying it is to have a dog attack you. Both my older dog and I were bitten by a dog that broke through a screen door. As a result of that attack my older dog developed fear based reactivity and that has been a long hard haul to work with and train her to not react. Again last year while walking both my dogs a very large dog came at us aggressively and my dogs stood their ground in front of me as owner ran up and dragged it away. I carry pepper spray and a small taser now. But, my gentle, and well trained pups are both rottweilers and definitely not killing machines. Because they are large and powerful I have made sure to train them and socialize them as any owner should do. I wish we had solutions to people who do not train and care for their often dangerous as a result, dogs. This is on the increase in my neighborhood and wherever we travel
We have a young field lab that was bit by a dog at the dog park (yes, I hate dog parks, but we were slowly and carefully socializing them) and her brother was bit by a rescue great dane. Our female began as a little shy and timid, but now she’s a little reactive. She’s not mean, but she feels she needs to defend herself. You are right, it is a long slow process to reverse. I feel we failed her.
True. But if it happens again with a different dog, there will be a record that these particular owners have had this problem before. That is when the courts step in and rule that those owners are no longer allowed to own dogs. Monitoring that is more difficult. They just move to a different county or even state and start all over.
This is the best response so far. Stop labeling the dogs and start labeling the owners. They need hefty fines and should be shut down
AGREE
When another dog is killed, hefty fines are not enough. They should be jailed. And yes, never allowed to own dogs of any breed.
I also agree
Well said, Catherine! Couldn’t agree more.
i agree wholeheartedly – provided the owners can be identified. If you are attacked – you are too busy trying to get away, or defend yourself to make that ID, in most cases. Unless you can get Animal Control to find & capture said dog (or dogs) and THEN, ID the owner – zip will change. While having the dog put down sounds mean, it will put a temporary halt, to that particular (proven) danger. You do not know if the owner’s next dog (if any) will be 100% the same in its behavior, or not.
Amen!
So awful- I lived in an apt bldg in NYC and I had a male english cocker and a dachshund.A young stock broker guy( always away at work) lived in the building with a massive young rottweiler he had imported from Germany.The dog was bored and aggressive and he went after me and my spaniel on several occasions.The worst was when a young woman was walking him and the owner was out of town – I managed to run in the building before she completely lost control.The dog was aggressive to me too even without my dog growling and menacing when I walked past him on the street and he also tried to launch himself out of a window when he spied us downstairs one day.Needless to say it was not comfortable and the owner was irresponsible letting him loose on a river promenade a block away from us.I complained to the management( who ironically were fond of bully breeds they had pitbulls etc) Eventually I moved but that rottweiler may have been a pet but he was also a killing machine.I think this story is so heartbreaking I couldn’t even look a the beautiful photos of Zuzu without despair.I also had other incidents where unprovoked rottweilers have growled at me( without my dogs) in the city and although I love all dogs I think there are serious issues involved with owning one- why do you want a killing machine unless you are guarding Fort Knox.This is such a sad and tragic story.So many irresponsible dog owners in this world!
It is from ignorance like this that people label particular breeds “killing machines”. I have grown up with Rotties and Goldens and none of our Rotties are “killing machines”. I have witnessed several bites from cocker spaniels that required stitches, but I don’t label them “biting machines”. When you have a large breed – of any kind – the owner must take extra responsibility to socialize and train the animal because it is true that a bite from a large breed can do more damage vs a small breed. However, there are several small breeds that are annoying by constantly nipping and jumping on people – these owners should train their dogs as well. I’m sorry that your experience with a neighbor required you to move, but it was the owner’s fault he did not properly train the dog and exercise the dog. Rotties are incredibly social animals and it is not fair for them or any breed to be left alone all day – only for the occasional walk.
I know that blocky headed large dogs get a bad rap. However I don’t think that the previous comment was about all Rottweilers. I think she said it was a Rottweiler so people knew what size it was.
Dogs that attack other dogs need to be removed from the “owner” and placed with competent people. I believe in euthanizing a dog less than most believe in the death penalty. A lot of people would disagree with that, but a human always consciously makes the decision to kill another and the human Knows it’s wrong in a situation like this. The dog was not given the environment needed to learn that and it doesnt matter if (s)he is a rottweiler or a mini terrier: if the dog attacks another, the person who owns him should not have the dog. They have failed the dog on every level of what a dog is supposed to expect from a human. To the friends of this article who effectively, in my mind, just lost a child- that’s how I veiw my dogs and God I don’t even know what I would do if I had to experience this- go after the owners of those dogs who attacked, not the dogs directly. Those people have no business owning those dogs, let alone breeding them. There is no advice that can soothe that kind of loss. Find a group that works with people who lose their furkids- http://www.lapoflove.com may be a great starting place.. my heart goes to the couple that lost their fur baby, and I am so sorry to hear about this.
Kind of crazy to think a certain breed has it in for you. Tragic what happened to this dog but like in almost ALL cases clueless owners are the real culprits. And dogs certainly sense fear and it’s pretty obvious
Maybe I missed it, but I did not read that they thought any certain breed “had it in for” them.
I can understand your sensitivity because large blocky headed dogs are blamed for a lot of things. Breed discrimination laws are an abomination
The writer specified Rottweilers towards the end of her post.
My post was a reply to Tamara’s post. Didn’t realize it wouldn’t show as such.
These dogs should be put down. I am an animal lover and vicious Animal owners should be held responsible.
It is NEVER the DOG-it is always the owner. You have locks on your doors. Should have locks on your gates. You should always know where your dogs are. I have 4 and I know where they are all the time-including the rescues. No excuse for this owner that owned the w Rotties. I have owned them and they are smart dogs-but you have to at least be as smart as they are-if you OWN them.
Does anyone have suggestions for how to keep your dog safe from loose dogs while on a walk and what safety implements to bring?
In my experience, unfortunately we have been attacked by dogs whose owners lose control of them more often than we have had issues with loose street dogs where we live here in Ecuador. I have taken steps to educate myself on how to (as safely as possible) break up fights, and carry pepper spray that clips to my leash. I also tell owners from a distance whom I can tell don’t have full control over a dog who is fixating on mine that mine is unfriendly and they need to watch theirs. Saying your dog is unfriendly usually helps them shape up and be more vigilant. With loose dogs, bending over as if to pick up a rock off the ground, stomping and yelling, and posturing aggressively has prevented any attacks so far- you have to be assertive and proactive!
Bear pepper spray
As a dog walker I carry Spray Shield and have used it more times than I can count. Although it has always worked successfully after 2 back to back incidences I decided to carry a stun gun as back up. I shy away from pepper spray as I don’t want it to hurt the dogs I’m walking or blow back into my face.
I had one experience where I did not have gear with me and a man walking a Rottie and 2 Bostons lost control of the Rottie’s leash. I backed away forcing the dog I was walking behind me to keep him out of harm’s way. I hit the center divider and fell backward and held back the Rot with my feet to it’s chest. I was still holding my dog back, but focused on the bear of a dog looming over me, while the man was to my right trying to regain contro of itl. To my surprise, when I looked over my left shoulder at my dog, one of the Bostons who was on a retractable lead was all the way around attacking my dog! Needless to say I was incredibly shook up and the dog I was with had some minor bites on his face.
One more reason among many that I wish retractable leashes would get outlawed. What a recipe for disaster to be walking with this group of dogs together on these subpar tools 🙁
Retractable leashes are a dangerous asinine invention! Always used by ignorant ineffective dog owners who are always saying “oops”…
I am a state licensed Rescue of Dobermans =but also rescue and train German Shepherds and Rotties. I do not take my dogs out to dog parks. Realize this is not where this lady is coming from . However. I work with mine in a 2-3 acrea area and I use reg leashes long and a reg chin collar. I do not take them where I know there may be a problem. The thing that has saved my dogs and myself several times is a Stun Baton I bought from Crook Busters. You can arc it in the air and you do not have to hit the oncoming dog to scare them. I had another trainer tell me about this baton and I even carry it myself when I run. But usually have my dog or dogs with me. Mine have never bitten or attacked anyone. If I see trouble coming I do a reverse and start walking the opposite direction. But the stun Gun and a whistle usually will do it. The owners of the dogs that attacked your dog need to be held responsible. The idea of looking for an attorney that knows the laws in this is Paramont. So sorry for your loss. I have been doing training and rescue for over 30 years. I have NEVER been bitten.
I have bear spray but dont really want to use it because the wind could blow it back into our face and does not always stop a dog. When I hike I also carry a trekking pole with a sharp point. My dog is always on leash and last year on a very quiet night a large shepherd ran from behind a fence across the street to attach her. I picked up a stick because did not take a pole on such a short walk. The dog was about a foot from my dog when the owner heard me screaming and called the dog. I really thought I was going to loose my dog that night and will NEVER go out without my pole again. It might not always save her but at least I think I would have a fighting chance. Also just ordered an air horn called Dog Horn but have not tried it yet
I just ordered a petgentle hi pitch sound devise to help train my very noisy terrier to stop barking at everything. In the reviews I read that several people carry it with them on a walk to deter approaching off leash dogs successfully. I haven’t received mine yet so I can’t personally validate it’s effectiveness.
I live in an area where many dog owners do not have control of their dogs. My friend and I have started carrying whistles and pepper spray. I also have a small tazor. It is very scary. I hope Zazu’s owners sue for expenses.
My dog was mauled by a pitt whose owner lost lost the leash. I got bit trying to release my dog. These owners, even those who walk big dogs on leash, should not own dogs they cant physically control.
I, too, carry a dog whistle and pepper spray.
how does the dog whistle help?
I will start doing the same… thanks for the idea.
trust me a whistle and pepper spray WILL NOT stop a pit bull! I guarantee that.. It only takes seconds and it is not pretty, I carry my 9mm and have used it.
Russ, Excellent!! So sorry this happened to you, but glad you did what needed to be done. Pit bulls and like types CAN be rehabilitated! One slug – right between the eyes affects INSTANT rehabilitation.
My heart goes out to Zazu’s owners and to the two dogs that will possibly lose their lives due to their owner’s failings.
I have no words to describe how they must feel but I have always feared this too. We live on 20 acres in the country and owners are the best. I try to picture what I would do if some strange dog came up to my dogs who run off leash. I always carry leashes to hook them up but the what ifs run through my mind.
This is so tragic on so many levels. I have no words…
I had a similar experience many years ago with my dog, Teddy. He was a mixed breed male. Airedale Terrier/German Shepherd/Grey Hound. I was walking him on leash and was on my front porch. I attached my dog to the porch railing by his leash. I took a bag of garbage around to the back of the building, and when I came back for my dog, there was a large rottweiler, and it had my dog by the throat. I yelled at the other dog, hit it with my fists and kicked with my feet. But the rottweiler would not let go of my dog. Fortunately for my dog, the rottweiler had been reported for roaming at large. The police were just around the corner looking for it. They yelled get back. So I did. They then sprayed pepper spray directly into the other dog’s eyes. But it didn’t phase him. He still wouldn’t let go of my dog’s throat. One of the officers then pulled out his gun and shot rottweiler for a fatal result. If the rottweiler would not have been reported and the police not have been there, my dog probably would not have lived. Three weeks later the rottweiler’s owners came by and told me that their dog was such a big baby.
Im 71 and ive had large dogs all my life. Multiple large dogs all at one time. Never ever did they attack another animal. Because they knew mommy would not tolerate it; yes i said mommy. I baby and spoil my dogs but i also train and socialize them; if the owners chose to have large aggressive dogs, then they need to be held accountable. Since different states have different rules, i would call the state dog warden or animal control at the main state office. Perhaps search online for an attorney adept at dog law. Such attorneys do exist. And sadly i agree with the author, if those dogs have killed, and have a history of escaping…..then they need to be humanely euthanized. Sounds harsh, but im sick of peoples ” so called babies ” inflicting that degree of harm.
I agree. In my city we had an 80+ yr old lady walking her small dog and two Pit bulls was running loose, mauled her and killer her. The dogs were euthanized and owner charged. But to this day has not served one day. I can’t imagine the suffering that poor soul went through before she died. Her small dog was killed also. Bad dogs, have bad owners who should be held accountable.
I too fell bad for what happened to this man and his poor defenseless dog, should never have happened, I own pits but mine are always on leash and never aggressive, as a matter of fact one I lost 2yrs ago use to protect me, we use to walk around the block on leash and of course my neighbors who still today just let theirs run loose and poop, in everyone’s yard, had 3 large dogs that tried to attack me, my dog stood in front of me to protect me and wouldn’t move, I screamed until they came out and got their dogs. This happened 3 times and I fianally gave up walking with her as I was afraid for myself and my dog, I still have 2 but l always know where they are even if my neighbors don’t control theirs I control mine for their safety because of their breed, not all pits are bad,, I blame owners not dogs
Exactly. Bad dogs have bad owners. We need much improved legislation concerning all aspects of dog care or lack thereof.
I wonder if they could sue those dogs’ owners? For pain and suffering and all the years they lost with Zazu.
I’m so sorry this happened. It would break my heart.
I’m so sorry. My Pomeranian was attacked on leash by a pit bull just over 8 months ago. I hope you both fully recover. We saw a pit bull today and neither of us reacted.
I hate pitbulls it’s so unfair that real dog owners have to suffer because of these trashy ghetto dogs. I hope all pitbulls get shoved into a gas chamber and killed. Ps…its not racist to hate pitbullsit’s ok. .everyone knows they are garbage
I never knew people could be so unintelligent, but here we are. I hope that somehow intelligence will find you and you will stop acting so foolish. I wish you well and I hope that one day you will stop desperately doing anything for attention. Ps. So sad to see that another life was lost due to irresponsible owners.
Thats like saying you hate all black ppl n its ok to do so. Its never ok to hate something you are uneducated about. Sorry, it is not ok. I love “pit bulls” who are raised correctly. We just had 5 get loose from a neighbor and they killed all of our goats brutally. I dont hate them, im prosecuting their irresponsible, lazy, lawyer-getting owner that denies it when the dog catcher who witnessed half of it was standing right there. I had a pitbull long ago, i gave her to a man with a giant face tumor because she would love him even when ppl rudely gawked at him. Best farm dog ever, helped me bring in our cows for milking every morning and protected me from our giant bull. Pitbull owners are the problem, the type of ppl that are drawn to a potentially aggressive breed.
These were rotties….
Thank you! Yes – dirtbags and their trash dogs…These dogs are selectively bred for their propensity to mutilate and kill other dogs. Why is this even legal?! Makes me sick.
I have never had this happen, but I carry pepper spray with me. Don’t know if it would stop them, but may slow the action down until help arrives. So sorry for your friends….the horror that man witnessed will stay with him a long time.
shame on the rottie’s people.
Happened to me just a month ago, A large pit bull attacked me (I am 64 years old and a 100 disabled vet) and my 10 year old corgi while on our routine morning walk. Nothing I tried stopped him and I had to shoot the pit bull right there in the street. I LOVE dogs but will NOT tolerate this kind of stuff. I always carry a pistol on my walk. For anti gun people…. wait till it happens to you. You only have seconds to react. The dog came at me after I started kicking it. There is NO time to wait for help. Trust me.
When I was living in Reno years ago, my beloved sheltie Winifred was mortally wounded at the neck by an aggressive, loose rottweiller. I took the owner to court on principle and “won” the case, but she never paid for her crime. This was a long time ago, but I still suffer flashbacks from the horrible experience of having a family member fatally attacked right before my eyes.
So glad you had a gun. I hope your dog’s injuries were not too awful. The irresponsible owner should have been held to criminal charges in my opinion.
Good for you, being prepared and doing what you did deserves a metal
Marvin
You were protecting your loved one from an aggressive attack. If you did not have a weapon you may have both been killed. Good you still have your dog and shame on these people who think there power dogs are so kind within their own family. Responsibility for training comes when you have these type of dogs.
Did your corgi make it?
My Corgi is fine now. He had some neck wounds and a bad limp for a month. That was the 3rd time we have been attacked. A German Shepard and another pit bull were the first two. I had to beat the others off with a club. Pistol is a last resort but I have and will use it when needed. We have leash laws here in Jacksonville NC but people just open their doors and let their dogs out.
Russ, Excellent!! So sorry this happened to you, but glad you did what needed to be done. Pit bulls and like types CAN be rehabilitated! One slug – right between the eyes affects INSTANT rehabilitation.
I would have done the same thing had I had a real gun (I might soon)… good for you. It sounds harsh maybe to some, but I have no remorse being forced to kill a dog that is trying to kill MY DOG, MY FAMILY. A Precidence is long over due to be set… I hope that one day people who irresponsibly own aggressive breeds (yes, pitbulls… it’s in their genes… they are specifically bred for killing other dogs… if you want to argue that, explain to me how so many “loved,” and docile, loyal, “stable” pits have without notice or obvious reason suddenly turned on their owners in their own homes, some resulting in gruesome deaths, others with bodies mutilated forever…. The ones raised as puppies in excellent homes)…. Actually become concerned about their dog getting loose because those of us obeying leash laws and enjoying walking our dogs are no longer putting up with the horrendous attacks… I hope they’ll know it’s more likely than not that their aggressive dog will be shot and killed when it goes after people. Maybe, just maybe…. Some may change.
I live in a rural area where we must have dogs that kill to protect our livestock, and us from things like coyotes, mountain lions, and other wild animals. My dogs have kept me from being hurt more than once. There is always an exception.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon, and law enforcement does little about it, especially if you live in an unincorporated or other rural area. A “neighbor” (actually a transient renting a mobile home on the property of a resident neighbor) continually let his hunting dog run loose. It killed 24 of my ducks and all the other poultry flocks in the area. I was told by LE that I should just shoot the dog if I caught it in the act of predation. I had complained about this dog and chased it from my property several times. It knocked me down twice (73-year-old, 114-lb female), but. because the dog didn’t try to bite or otherwise “attack” me when it knocked me off my feet, it was not deemed “aggressive”.