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?
These are heartbreaking stories and I am so sorry. In my case, I have a German Shepherd and my anxiety is on the other foot, so to speak. Gracie is very reactive to other dogs and while she has never demonstrated aggressive tendencies, I wouldn’t take the chance. We walk very early in the morning and always on leash. My problem is the number of people who also decide to walk early and don’t have their dogs leashed. The dogs will come running, while the owner is strolling along and I’m yelling, “Call your dog!” Most of the time, the other dog doesn’t obey the recall and sometimes charge, barking, baring fangs, the whole deal. I end up hauling Gracie away, sometimes running away, to avoid any problems. Careless owners really need to get a grip. Stop being in denial about your dog. I’m tired of hearing, “Oh, he just wants to play,” or “Lady, don’t worry, he won’t hurt anybody.”
But since I’m the one with the “big, bad German Shepherd,” I must understand my responsibility for keeping Gracie out of trouble, even if I didn’t start it. Every owner must be responsible for their dogs with continual training, and obey the laws, for everyone’s sake. Try to raise good canine citizens. Let’s put a dent in the number of these awful, senseless, needless injuries and deaths of our beloved dogs.
I’m responding because I’m also on the ‘other side’. I have a dog who’s also reactive. I also keep him properly leashed and under control. But many times I’ve come across the small ‘safe’ breeds who are either off leash or on but not being controlled. I’m left yelling out that the owner needs to get their ‘safe’ little dog away or risk it getting hurt. All the while I’ve had to hear owners telling me how friendly their dog is and how it only wants to play. Never understanding that it’s not polite for one dog to run up to an unknown dog that’s leashed. Will my dog hurt the other dog? I don’t know and hope not. Unfortunately, if he does, that other owner will most likely blame him and want him labeled dangerous. Will he be at fault? Definitely not!
Yep the number of times I have dogs running up to my leashed dog. My dog is fine if dogs approach slowly and respectfully but not so much if they run at him which I do not blame him for. We have even had problems with people who have leashed dogs wanting to force a meeting. My dog is small and he had a Great Dane pulling it’s owner towards us. My dog ran under a car to get away. The owner of the Great Dane kept coming saying “Oh he’s friendly” I had to explain that my dog being under the car meant he was sacred and wanted nothing to do with her dog. You think she would have gotten the signal when my dog bolted under a car.
Keeping an electric bug zapper at hand will do nicely since the wet mouth and nose of a dog are extremely sensitive.
So sad! I am very nervous about this happening to my dogs while out walking to this day as it has happened to me before. I was walking my peekapoo and a guy walking 4 big dogs approached from the other side of the road. Correction *they were walking him*. Two of his dogs slipped their collars and attacked my dog. After what seemed like hours of several attempts to get the 2 dogs off of my dog (doing everything you’re not supposed to do… kicking, yelling, etc.) I was, by some miracle, able to get my dog away from them during the one second they were readjusting their grip. We rushed my dog to the emergency vet and after hours of surgery and tubes and multiple vet visits, he was ok. It’s a horrific experience and one you’d not wish on anyone. Doing some research as to how to handle the situation, you’re supposed to basically choke the attacking dog by twisting their collar. They have to choose air or continuing to fight. I’ve also heard of covering their eyes with a shirt or blanket to remove their visual stimulation and hopefully get them to release. Such a horrible situation. We reported the dogs and the owners only got a citation. Not 2 weeks later, the same dogs attacked another dog. Though the attack wasn’t fatal, the dog has lasting damage and will never be the same. After this incident, one of the attacking dogs was put down. It makes me sick to think after the degree of attack on my dog that there wouldn’t have be an assessment to determine the consequences vs. waiting for a second incident before taking action.
I can’t finish reading this comments. It is very triggering. I lived with a dangerous dog. Only given the designation bc he bit the vet after she thought he was sedated and she took off his muzzle. He was aggressive however, never trusting anyone after living with assholes, our neighbors, perpetually penned… and so when it came to living with us he lived like the boy in the plastic bubble, our job to protect from people who insist, “if he just smells my hand…” We chose to live this way. We loved him too much to employ “behavioral euthanasia.”
I now have a dog who is fearful but that almost every dog seems to want to go after. Throwing food didn’t help the one time I managed to do it. Things happen so fast so I think rehearsing in my mind is something I really need to work on. I carry a citronella spray and a whistle. Someone else suggested compressed air.
@WDJ @Nancy Kerns, I’d love to see a follow up on other suggestions for what to do. I heard there was a good NPR piece on this subject too.
Always keep an electric bug zapper at hand. It will change the dog’s mind in a second since the wet mouth and nose of a dog are extremely sensitive.
Not every dog has to be vicious to be a problem and a stress. My boxer and I were constantly harassed by a un-neutered Shepard cross that a lady had brought with her from France. We had met in the dog park initially where I observed her dog trying to dominate and mount everything in sight. Unfortunately it fixated on my male boxer (who was strongly alpha) and so I started avoiding them at the park so that a fight would not occur. Although our dog park is fenced, the fence was low and quite jump-able. The woman did not believe in leashing her dog and so while my dog and I were lawfully off leash in the dog park he would jump into it FROM OUTSIDE to harass my dog. If he saw us on leash outside the park he would charge over to again attempt to mount my dog. I complained numerous times to the city and at one point followed her to her apt to know her address so that the pound could talk to her. Nothing helped and nothing was done. This went on for over a year until I think she eventually moved.
I had this same problem many years ago with a very sweet Kerry Blue terrier I had called Parker. We had an intact male Boxer mount him and the owner just said it was what dogs did when I remonstrated with her! It was a very big, heavy Boxer and I was concerned that Parker may get hurt physically apart from him receiving this dog’s unwanted attentions! I bought a super-soaker water pistol and next time I saw the dog it came up to mount Parker I said a loud “NO” and it ignored this so I got it between the yes with a massive squirt! The look on its face was priceless but it still came back again for another attempt only to get another soaking. The owner meanwhile was completely oblivious to what her dog was doing as she was in the next field. My Kerry, although not liking what this dog was doing, was a very mellow submissive dog but this dog could have provoked other male dogs to fight and the owner was irresponsible and clueless.
Maybe 19 years ago, we had the summer from hell. We had e dogs at the time, a golden, an ACD, and a Mini Schnauzer. I walked the two smaller ones and my husband walked the Golden. All three were attacked at various times. The ACD was the worst, she was in hospital for 4 days and Rik some time to recuperate. That owner had allowed a neighborhood teen to walk the dog who looked like a lot mix. The kid had let the leash drop and had one foot in the door that passed for a leash. We were still in front of our house when out of the corner of my eye, I saw this dog running across the street and not even pausing, attacked my ACD. Both my ACD and my mini Schnauzer were leashed. One neighbor helped me, I called my bet and begged her to stay open so I could bring my Gracie Anne in.
I did Sue, but New York state considers dogs property so only the vet bills were paid. I still have flash-backs. The other two dogs were not hurt when they were attacked.
I agree with the person who said there should be a dangerous owner category, it most often is the fault of the owner who doesn’t train properly, doesn’t socialize, and who spends little or no time with the animal they so thoughtlesly bought.
Apologies for typos
If something like this happened to one of my dogs it would break me. I really need to make a point of carrying pepper spray with me on a regular basis.
Or keep an electric bug zapper at hand. It will alter the attacking dog’s mind in an instant since the wet mouth and nose of a dog are extremely sensitive.
I have the largest and most loving Rottweiler in town. He loves everyone and every dog. I know that some people have fear of him because of his breed and size and I protect him by having a very large six-foot chain link pen that he can come and go through the kitchen door any time he wants to go out. He has a Great Dane which comes to play about every day. I don’t walk him often even though I live in the country but if the day comes that I am physically unable to manage him (he does chase birds and chipmunks in his pen) I will stop walking him. I AM RESPONSIBLE for protecting him and making sure he does not cause a problem for anyone or anything else. I have always had Rottweilers and never had a vicious one but I have had a couple that I would not have loose in the house when a stranger was present. No matter what one says, some breeds are just not the cuddling type and owners who choose to have them should take extra precautions. In my opinion the easiest way to reduce the number of dangerous dogs is to make it expensive to own one. I like my Rotties because they have independent personalities and are not particularly needy or neurotic; however some personalities are attracted to the dangerous dogs because of their own personalities. Those folks are difficult to change.
Yes, sympathy to Zazu’s owners–what a sweet looking dog. So sorry. And thanks for the advice about sprays to research.
I live in an area that has very high wind from time to time. After high wind fences are down and dogs are loose on the streets. When I walk my dogs I carry an umbrella, treats and pepper spray. If yelling “No, go home” doesn’t work, so far a treat does. They usually take the treat and go somewhere else to eat it. Only one dog kept following us to get more treats. I have a goofball senior male GSD and a senior female black Lab that would not hurt anything, even if it was hurting her. What happened to Zazu is my worst nightmare. Reading these posts make me want to keep my dogs at home where they are safe, but that wouldn’t be fair to them or to me. I’ll add a taser, and possibly a gun to my arsenal. Thank you all for sharing your experiences.