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?
Many years ago I had a Toy Fox Terrier/Chihuahua mix who was attacked by our neighbour’s Weimaraner while she was on her own property. Her windpipe was crushed, but she survived another two or three years. Our neighbours never offered to pay the vet bills or even keep the dog up. Unfortunately, at the time, there was no leash law in the town where I lived.
It may be possible to sue for personal injury. A civil case. However, you will need to see a doctor to establish this and perhaps you should. Incidents like this cause PTSD. You witnessed the attack and were unable to help your dog and your dog died from the injuries sustained in the attack. This in incredibly traumatic and leaves an psychological imprint. It may not be apparent right away, but after a span you might have trouble sleeping, suffer unexplained anxiety – there’s a whole list of things. It certainly impacts your personal life and might impact your work life. You can’t get your dog returned but you might be able to put these people out of business. Lawyer time.
I should put stories about my Rottweiler being attack while I’m out taking her for a walk in my own area!! She’s been attack twice once by a German Shepard and once by a Boston Terrier!!! My Rottweiler doesn’t do anything to dogs or cats . She has never been taught to be that way. So obviously it’s the owners not the breed!!!! This is my third Rottweiler I have owned. When I take her to the vet she is very well behaved they look forward of seeing her. She sits on a bench and watches everything!! Of all dogs I have owned Rottweilers are the best just big babies. The trick is people don’t walk and run them enough!! So shame on people who have never owned one!!
I think people do not report attacks all to often. My sisters dog was attacked just this year by two Rottweilers who bolted through the owners screen door. He managed to slip away before they clamped down on him but he was bitten up pretty badly on his back end. My Grandpa who was walking him was also bitten. The lady could not easily pull her dog off. The Doctor who saw my grandpa for the bite told my Grandpa to report it but he did not as the lady said she would pay for Vet bills. She sadly didn’t pay more than a quarter of the huge Vet bills. My sisters dog has now become permanently lame from this attack but due to being able to twist free still has his life. The same dogs chased someone else the next week. I know not all big breeds like this are bad. My dog and I came across two loose pit bulls. They looked at us but wandered on down the path and did not attack. I was lucky they were good well adjusted dogs and I was scared I was ready to throw my dog and myself over the fence in a nearby yard if needed. I had one dog that came after mine when I had my then 3yr old son with me. So scary luckily the dog was zeroed in on my dog and tuned all humans out so I managed with help to contain it with no harm done but I kept myself between that dog and my loved ones which could have been risky if it had been aggressive toward me. So many incidences where I have been lucky it is scary sometimes to walk my dog we have had so many close calls.
I think authorities are too lenient with dogs that have a history of attacking other dogs and/or humans. The offending dog in this story should have been euthanized. One and done if it kills another animal or causes serious injury to a person. There is a pit bull on my street that has attacked and almost killed another dog. Same dog sent a boy to the ER with major bite. The dog was quarantined, ordered to be neutered, and that’s pretty much it. I’m sorry, but I have no problem with humanely euthanizing a dog that would cause a horrific and painful death for another animal or attack a person. These dogs end up being dumped back in the shelters for it to be placed and attack another dog or person before being dumped back at a shelter, again. Dogs at shelters should be tested for aggression to other animals or people. The City should be held liable for releasing these types of dogs into society. I am all for “no kill”of seniors or special needs dogs. Zero tolerance for known aggressors. Any size dog can be aggressive, but the bigger the breed, more damage can be done. Many countries, including most of the EU ban power breeds.
I am heartbroken for Zazu’s family! I have to say that I have been in several situations with my own dogs, and with other people’s dogs as their pet-sitter, in which neighborhood dogs have threatened us. Luckily, it never escalated to anything like what poor Zazu went through! It just amazes me how many people just allow their dogs to run loose in a suburban neighborhood. When living in one of these neighborhoods, I used to walk my three girls around 5:30 in the morning just to avoid these dogs that people would just open their front doors and allow to run loose. I no longer live in an area like this, now living in a more semi-rural area, and I only walk my dogs on trails in fields and woods, but we still have to be careful, only going out in the early morning or in the evening just before sunset, to avoid the folks who come out and let their dogs run off-leash and leave their piles of dog poop everywhere.
I am a dog walker/pet sitter and a loose dog is my worse nightmare. I have run into loose dogs but thankfully none have been aggressive. The days of letting your dog run loose are over. There are too many people and animals to make this possible. Dogs may get loose on their own. If this happens once, it’s a mistake to be corrected. If it keeps happening, you hope that nothing bad occurs. I have had owners with pits and other powerful dogs ask if I’d care for them. They are no different than other dogs. I tell the owners that if I see a problem with the dog (any breed), I’m looking at the other end of the leash (owner)! This was a tragic situation and my heart goes out to the family. Our four footed kids are here for such a short time. Of course, only the good die young, says a lot about mankind!
My heart breaks for the trauma this family is going through. Poor sweet Zazu…
As long as there are irresponsible owners, attacks will continue!
It’s those same dog owners that shouldn’t have children either…
Heart wrenching to say the least.
To Zazu’s human: Zazu was a beautiful and sweet dog. The bond you shared is obvious from the picture. She was loved and she loved you and that will stay in your heart forever. I am so sorry for your loss and having to witness the horror. There is no recourse.
I witnessed a situation in which an aggressive dog latched on to another in the middle of the street. The whole neighborhood ran out and people started kicking and hitting the dog but he would not let go. Then one random guy walked up with a leash, crossed it around the aggressive dogs neck and held it tight. After a few seconds the dog went limp for just a millisecond but it caused him to let go. He was completely fine and the other dog only had a few punctures.
I can’t emphasize enough how effective this method is if a dog bites and won’t let go. I’ve had to use this tactic three times in my life working in dog kennels. You can accomplish the same thing by spraying water or citronella up the dogs nose. Its the quickest and least harmful way to get the dog to let go.
I hope no one ever has to put this to use, but knowing this trick can make a huge difference and possibly save your dogs life and the life of the attacking dog.
Sara, thank you for a calm, non-emotional, proactive response.
The story you tell and your verification of its effectiveness is one of the best parts of this entire hot mess.