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 carry a canister of a combo of mace, pepper spray and tear gas that has a dye marker that sprays up to 30 feet. I first checked with our police department to see if it was legal if only used on dangerous animals. I also carry yummy foods to throw to distract. In addition to aggressive off leash dogs, we have a pack of coyotes living in a park near us who are always off leash and very territorial and aggressive during breeding season and with active dens. If getting big and hazing the coyotes doesn’t get them to back off, I use the spray. Between dogs and coyotes I have had several occasions in which it has prevented injuries for my dog and myself. It’s tricky when the wind is blowing but better to have a light exposure to it than be attacked.
The reason I would use the word killing machine is that once in fighting mode rottweilers and pit bulls fight to the death – their jaw strength, the fact that they clamp on and dont let go the fact that they are used for fight and protection g all this contributes.These dogs should not be allowed in cities.I would rather my dog got into a fight with an equal sized dog with a normal jaw who does not clamp down like the bully breeds do.I have seen and heard too many horror stories and I know how aggressive the rottweilers I have known have been.The problem is the owners but who is monitoring them and dogs that were bred for protection will be aggressive in a crowded environment like a city.All breeds can attack and bite but they dont all kill the way rottweilers and pitbulls do once they get started they dont stop and it is hard to stop them unless the owner has control and certainly not if they are loose.This is just common sense.I have heard endless stories of people banging on the head of a pitbull in vain to let go and I have seen it too.There are exceptions I am sure but unfortunately they are few and far between.
This is fake news, very unhelpful.
Tenacity in bully breeds is a true trait. The rest is verifiable hogwash. Bite strength is equitable by size in the dog world. Pitbulls don’t have a stronger bite, (or a locking jaw) than a lab or Shepard of equal size. They are just more committed than most other breeds. If you need a boogie man to banish from your community so you can feel safe at least name the fiend correctly: “tenacity”.
I don’t fully understand dog behavior. I obedience-trained my Sheltie (oversized), and was interested in herding training but didn’t know how. Took him to a trainer who seemed to think he had some ability–was able to get sheep out of a corner, and seemingly used “eye”. Went to a group herding class run by a club where I knew no one. Was on one side of the ring with my dog when another dog ran around and started a fight with my dog, followed by its owner who yelled at ME that MY dog was aggressive…though he had been beside me and had not gone anywhere off lead or, as far as I could tell, provoked the attack. Did he? Did he challenge the other dog with his eyes and draw it, with a silent power, around the ring to attack? I didn’t go back to the group. I did become concerned about being with my dog on lead in groups lest he perhaps had such a powerful eye that he would draw attacks. No others happened but I did make a point to “keep walking” at times. My Sheltie and I lived contentedly on my farm (I fenced yard so that car chasing never got started) for his 12 years of life. But I’ve always wondered just WHAT I didn’t see and understand about non-verbal dog communication. Could a trainer comment here?
I think you blamed yourself and your dog for nothing. I think the other owne’rs dog was the instigator and they blamed you and you believed it. Some people are incapable of accepting blame and instead project their own shortcomings on others.
If interested in dog body language, there is a FANTASTIC book by Turid Rugaas titled “Calming Signals” which I highly recommend. It’s only 70-some pages, has tons of very clear pictures, and I will say after having owned and trained my own dogs – always 2 or more at a time – and being well educated myself I learned from this book.
Laws of self defense in many states allow you to use proportional defensive force, up to deadly defensive force, to protect yourself, others and even your pets. Have read many reports of joggers, hikers etc. out on a neighborhood dog walk/run or out in the country being attacked by domestic and wild animals all across the country. One has to be prepared to consider how one will react in such encounters and think these situations through. Pepper sprays, up to and including bear sprays for those living in bear country, pocket knives and firearms are escalating defensive weapons. Learn the laws of defensive force in your state and be prepared. If an encounter occurs, defend yourself and others including pets, administer first aid if necessary, then call 911. Tell them where you are, what you need-police/ambulance, your name and what you’re wearing if you are carrying a firearm and holster it once the threat is neutralized then hang up. Seek legal advice if necessary and read your state’s statutes. Know the laws so you don’t become the one who lands in jail.
My husband and I both have a CCW license. I would not hesitate to shoot a dog or dogs attacking my beloved English Lab. If you don’t have a CCW think about a pellet gun, anything that will deter you or your beloved dog from being attacked. Now days you must be responsible for your own safety!!
An electric bug zapper may also help. It will alter the attacking dog’s mind in an instant since the wet mouth and nose of a dog are extremely sensitive.
Yes. Having been in a similar but not as tragic situation.
Follow the advice of animal control. Report the dogs. Canvas the neighborhood and see if anyone else has reported the dogs before or is willing to report them for another instance. Sue the owners in small claims court for the final vet bill and cremation and anything else you can. If the dogs are still released and you are concerned then be a stalker. Monitor those dogs with a contact in the neighborhood to make sure they are reported in the future every time they get out and every time they attack. It’s not being vindictive. As you say in your article. The next time it could be a child or older adult that is mauled or even killed.
I had a similar problem with a dog in my parents’ neighborhood and the neighbors at the corner. They adopted a rescued German Shepherd. They were having him trained and we met on a walk and I slowly introduced the two. When my dog looked a bit skittish and the shepherd looked like he might lunge I stepped between them facing *my* dog. Instead the German shepherd turned and bit me on the thigh. I didn’t report it then as everyone was so remorseful, my parents were adamant I not report their neighbors and I felt it was partly my fault for stepping between.
But it happened again without any provocation. We were walking the dogs and I had my dog sit at the corner waiting to cross. Their son opened their gate and the German Shepherd came running out over to my dog and started attacking him. The son ran after and the Dad soon followed and they got him off and my dog was not hurt. But I had warned them after I was bitten that if it happened again I would report their dog for all of the reasons you state. And I did. My parents were angry with me but I said what if it was a small dog and it was killed? What if he attacked a child? What if someone else was bitten?
These people were very careful with their dog but I learned a few years later from my Mom that he’d done it again and more than once. No dogs were killed or people harmed but he had attacked at least two other dogs in the neighborhood. I’m not sure if he was reported or not. He still lives with them but is very old and now has Degenerative Myelopathy and is no danger to anyone.
But it is important that ANY dog that attacks anyone or anything be reported for any attack. If they do it once they’ll do it again. If they keep doing it, the next time an animal could be killed or a human injured or even killed. We’ve all read stories of packs of dogs running loose and killing a human.
So my advice is follow the law to the full extent you legally can. Sue them for all damages. Monitor those dogs and encourage anyone that has had encounters to report them. It is tragic that the dogs will have to suffer for the sins of the owners. Some people shouldn’t own dogs but unfortunately you can only address it after the fact when there has been a tragedy.
I would also get a coyote collar, you can buy them online. They have needle like extensions on them. . They also sell jackets of the same nature. If you live in coyote country and your dog runs loose.
Pepper spray! I keep it on (not in) my fanny pack and ready to use in a nanosecond. Sadly, I have used it, aiming for the attack dog’s nose. I pity any dog I must spray (pepper spray is so caustic!), but my dog is overly friendly and submissive. She has scars to show that even “friendly” dogs who have “never attacked another dog” do, indeed, attack. I take no chances. It’s my duty to protect my dog from danger at all times.
First, I want to say I am so sorry for Zazu. To have to watch your dog being mauled to death is beyond awful.
I would pursue any avenue possible to get these owners held responsible and to not allow them to have dogs, ever.
Secondly, rottweilers are not innately aggressive, no dog is. In Germany rottweilers, GSDs etc are all living peacefully in cities, intact. They are trained and well-socialized.
It seems to me that too many people here think that all a dog needs is food, water and a chain…and often not even that.
Thirdly, I agree that these dogs should be euthanized. We had found a pitbull running the street. He was very sweet with people, but took a dislike to our female husky. He started going after her and became increasingly more aggressive until he mauled her. Thankfully, he did not do major damage but we knew where it would end, so had him euthanized. It was heart breaking but the best thing to do since we had no idea about his past life.
Lastly, we live in the country, in Texas, and loose dogs are always a danger. Thankfully, neither myself nor my dogs have ever been attacked, although it came close multiple times. I usually just yell at them to GO HOME and NO, so far it has worked. But based on so e of the comments, i might get maze or pepper spray.
Where i live it is legal to shoot dogs who attack, although i don’t have a gun…lol
Two and a half years ago, my husband was walking our two terrier mutts about 5:30 in the morning, as usual. Suddenly two mastiffs attacked our dogs. My husband was able to grab our smaller one, Henry, (who had just had surgery the day before for cancer in his head) but he was unable to also pick up our Molly. My husband was finally able to save her by kicking one of the dogs in the ribs and throwing a large rock at the other one. Molly’s neck was split from one side to the other where her leash lays and her whole rear hip area was torn up like hamburger. We got her into our vet as soon as he opened and he couldn’t believe the damage. Her whole back was shaved, her neck shaved, stitches and tubes for drainage put in. In spite of all this and medications, infection set in. Poor thing smelled so bad I had to keep candles burning in the house. We took her to the vet every other day for about four months. Her neck healed fine but her hips still bear the huge scars where the skin died and no hair now grows. Animal control gave them a warning and the irresponsible owners finally paid all the vet bills. We understand they finally got rid of one of the dogs because they couldn’t keep it in. The trauma of this whole thing has stopped us from walking our dogs in the neighborhood. Every morning we get in the car and drive to the shopping mall to walk them (we actually have four dogs.)