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?
I know several people who’s dogs have been killed by other dogs. These are not free roaming dogs. They are pitbulls who have pulled leashes out of the hands of their owners. We currently have one who lives three doors down from us. He attacked another dog injuring it severely. I offered to take the dog and sit with him while he gets euthanized but his owner just can’t do it. I understand she loves him. I just pray when that dog gets loose again he kills someone or something it’s not a kid or other human being. It’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time.
Dog to dog aggression is NOT the same thing as dog to human aggression. Read: just because this dog is aggressive to other dogs does not mean it will automatically start attacking children next. Perhaps a more thoughtful offer to your neighbor might be to help them find a behaviorist to work with her and her dog to find a way to humanely control the dog around other dogs.
I didn’t say it was the same. But there are dogs who will go after small children. She brought up euthanasia, I simply offered to take him in for her.
I’ll let you know when he kills a dog. It’s only a matter of time. I’ve been working with dogs most of my life. I know what I’m seeing. Saving these killer dogs is not what I’m about.
I am proud to live with a Golden, a Chocolate Lab (my retired SD) a young Black Lab. The Black Lab was supposed to be a replacement SD. It didn’t happen due to some form of trauma he suffered in the 10 months before I got him. What I know is his mom bit his right ear off. Those three would. Ever think of attacking anyone, animal or human, they just want love. My son and his Rottweiler lived with us at the time. We would take the Rottie to a field across the road from my house. The owner gave us permission to run our dogs on his 10ac field. Even when he would let his Dobie out Our Rottie would just come close to us and stand both dogs would bark and then begin playing with each other. Neither dog attacked the other. What was different our Rottweiler, he was a big boy, had attended training and passed his good citizen training. If he had been an untrained savage I have no doubt he could have murdered any dog he saw. But he was socialized and trained. He would go to work with me on some days. My coworkers didn’t mind. They all said they were amazed how gentle he was. I just replied this is what happens when you make sure they are trained. He, I’m sure could and would be protective if he need be. But he never had to be aggressive. I’m sure he scared an intimidated people who just saw him as a BIG Rottweiler. He weighed 110 pounds. My point is even a big headed Rottie can live a life of not being aggressive if he has been trained and socialized. When I see a Rottweiler being accused of being a savage I see a poor dog who has not been trained or socialized. They will suffer because of ignorant owners. The owners should held accountable and made to pay damages and have their dogs removed from their care, custody and control. Shout they be put down? It if evaluation shows they can be trained THEN they should be adopted by someone who only knows the breed.
I have been in a couple of situations like this. Fortunately not with dogs as big as rotties. I had to stop walking with my border collie here in the country since most country dogs are loose & can be, (not always) aggressive. I usually carry a big stick when I walk & have had to use it occasionally sadly. I have had pit bulls set on me & my dog even tho I was on the sidewalk across the street when I lived in FL. I now take a gun with me if I walk with my dog.
My heart breaks for Zazu’s owners. The dogs that killed Zazu are more than dangerous, they are vicious and should be euthanized. The owners should be fined and maybe never allowed to own a dog again. My 9 month old Standard Poodle has been attacked twice in the past 3 weeks. First by two very large (one looked like a shepherd/malamute mix) off leash dogs that charged him growling, hackles up, teeth bared. They jumped on him and he started screaming. I had to let go of the leash and he ran (fortunately, he was near a church and a woman heard the noise, came out and clapped her hands which startled the dogs — my pup got ahead and the owner was able to catch his dogs). He only had minor physical damage but, not sure what the long term emotional damage will be since he is already a fearful/anxious pup. Due to his nature I have been working for several months with positive trainers to help him. Just when he was making some progress our neighbor’s off leash small, aggressive dog went after him last night. My poor pup is not a fighter (lucky for the smaller dog). Fortunately, the owner got his dog immediately and said he would never let the dog off leash again (we will see).
We live in a very congested area and there are too many dogs with irresponsible owners. Animal Control does not enforce any leash laws — their attitude seems to be, “let owners work it out”. I just purchased pepper spray, a loud horn, whistle and have a walking stick. Next a taser or cattle prod (long handle). Anyone else feel like they have PTSD?
I always carry Mace and have found that Halt doesn’t do much good. Had a vicious dog go after one of my Smooth Fox Terriers and it was like the dog had a laser attached to my little one. It took an entire can of Mace to slow the dog down so the owner could get to it, and she yelled at me because I “hurt” her dog with the Mace. I told her that if I EVER saw that dog loose again, I would call the police immediately. After that her husband walked the dog, always on leash. My heartfelt sympathy to Zazu’s owners. That but for the grace of Mace, would have been me.
I think people who think aggression in the dog world isn’t normal should take a good look at themselves, because they begin with a premise that all dogs are born to be friendly to people and other dogs which is complete at odds with reality. As one person eloquently pointed out, any dog, even the venerable lab, can have biological issues that require the difficult decision to cull them from
our ranks. I’m going to continue to believe the research that tells me that all dog breeds have the ability to be social and safe, and that the individual dogs of any breed that show tendencies to resist either should only be managed by people who have the energy, patience, and consideration to do so. Hopefully that’s a good enough look at myself for those skeptical of my compassion for both the aggressors in the story and the unfortunate victim. I place no blame on Zazu, obviously, and am sorry for his loss, but I don’t believe there’s enough information about the Rottweilers to say, “They’re killers“…”They’ll always find a way to kill again”…”They’re slaves to 100’s of years of breeding”…etc. If they are found to be uncontrollable I, too, would consider their euthanasia necessary. Knee jerk reactions are understandable in the face of tragedy, but still are unhelpful in educating people about how best to deal with dog behavior.
Cory
I live in Florida part of the year where there are a lot of dangerous dogs! I carry pepper spray and (with a permit) a 38 revolver. If I ever need to use one or the other, I most certainly will!
Forewarned is forearmed … any one as in ANY ONE running, walking, strolling with dogs (or alone for that matter) must carry a protective “weapon” – – – pepper spray, mace, or Wasp Spray are excellent repellents when any predator approaches … it won’t help in this case, but it might have warded off the big dogs enough to escape their jaws of death.
We walk our dogs the same routes every day. They are Maltese’s – under 10 lbs. Last year a neighbor’s dog was off leash and attacked one of my dogs – almost biting him in half. The neighbor’s response was – oh he just doesn’t like your dog. No apology. Our dog had extensive injuries, even having to have a drain surgically inserted -obviously at great expense. We reported the incident and the owner was ordered to have the dog muzzled and on leash at all times. We wrote them a note detailing the expense,. They came over to talk about how traumatic it was FOR THEM to have to muzzle their dog. I can’t even look at them. Recently, a year later, the dog was again off leash and again came after my dog. My husband was able to jerk him off the ground by the leash and out of harm’s way but that action could have hurt my dog severely as well. We decided not to report it as it would probably result in the dog being euthanized and we don’t want that on our conscience. I’m just very angry at the refusal to acknowledge fault, show remorse or to comply with mandated actions but instead somehow making it our fault. From reading other comments, it looks like that’s the way it often goes.
Sorry, but you should have reported that second incident no matter the result. It is not your responsibility for their dog. If the dog was eventually euthanized, that would be the fault of the neighbor, not you for reporting it. By not reporting it, you allow that dog to do it again to someone else. Then when they report it, that dog only has two strikes against it instead of three. That is why I reported the German Shepherd that attacked my dog. I may have been the first but I wasn’t the last. He attacked two other dogs.
I understand your not wanting to possibly be the cause of the dog being put down, but you would NOT – the owner would be responsible for that. How would you feel hearing another dog, person, CHILD? was injured?
My dog was attacked by a dog in the vet’s office, held on lead by a 4 year old!!! No vet rep present, mother stood watching!! Fortunately my dog’s injury is not physical, but the trauma remains. Another time as we walked along sidewalk, on lead, me with my walker, a loose dog ran from porch where owner sat , saying, ‘I didn’t see you coming’.
My heart goes out to Zazu’s family. I just do not know what the solution is . Stupid, irresponsible people are everywhere. The dogs are not the problem, the people are. I sound like a gun control opponent. But it is true: PEOPLE must be educated, punished, restricted SOMEHOW.
I do not know how.