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 have had run-ins with loose dogs a number of times. A former resident of my area had a few pit bulls and pit mixes that used to get out all the time! Most of the time this occurred while my wife and son, who is on the Autism Spectrum, were out walking our 2 small dogs. No one was ever attacked, but they would get uncomfortably close to my son and were not easily deterred. I called animal control on at least 3 occasions before anything was done. They have since moved, so things are back to normal.
This is heartbreaking. While it won’t bring back the dog, a lawsuit for negligent infliction of emotional distress and costs related to the dog’s end of life expenses could be brought. A judgement could be served against their house, or their homeowners insurance, or against their landlord. This could even be done by the owner in small claims court.
As much as we love our dogs, canine bullies are pretty common. There is a fine line between territorial barking and posturing and a fight that degenerates causing serious injury or death. We can’t read our dogs’ minds. This is one reason I would not trust my dogs to a dog walker.
As horrible as this is, it isn’t unknown, and if there are canine/owner bad actors in one’s neighborhood documentation by complaints to law enforcement seems necessary. I am not sure if anything would be effective against large muscular dogs like rotties, akitas, dogos, etc. acting in concert, but tasers, pepper spray, a stout hiking staff, and even a permitted pistol might offer some protection.
As ghastly as a pet’s death is, elderly walkers are also targeted. I remember an incident in north Chico, in the 1990s, when Akitas that escaped their kennel, killed an elderly man walking on the street. It may seem unneighborly to complain about your neighbor’s loose dogs, but it might prevent a tragedy.
Poor Zazu!!!
This is a travesty on many levels. The first is that two spoilt strong dogs were running free in public; the second that they are classified with other big strong dogs that are well-trained and well-behaved.
A spoilt dog may be tiny – but it’s the bigger ones that are given all the rap of being killing machines etc.
A badly behaved dog can be of any size – just like children there are the sweet ones and then there are brats!!! It’s all up to their parents and with dogs, their owners.
I know a huge rottweiler who everybody in my area knows to be totally amazing; whereas a little German Spitz bites and growls at anything.
Same thing about chihuahuas – they don’t all bark a lot – if they are well corrected they are little angels.
So really – don’t blame the breed – blame the owner.
I am so very sorry for what happened to Zazu.I am a retired dog trainer.I have come into a lit of dogs who are aggressive.When you get a dog you have to consider their DNA.Alot of aggression starts when young puppies all eat from the same big food dish.That starts Food aggression,then dominance to territorial aggression.You can tie any dog out on chains or cables and expect them NOT to have behavioral problems.You can have a champion best in show dog and then tie them outside after the show..You have to spend time with your dog.They NEED to be socialized NOT just as puppies, even if you get a dog from the shelter, spend time with it.Dont tie it outside to protect you.Quality time vs. Quantity time..If you don’t want an aggressive dog look at its DNA.If it has a problematic behavioral issue, it’s important to examine the breeds and consider what they were additionally bred to do..Would you tie out a golden retriever??? They were meant to hunt..consider all issues.Read the Akc breed standard book of breeds.Look at your life style with the breeds of dogs.What is your fit..
My heart goes out to Zazu and his owners. How sad. Living in the woods of NH, a lot of people up here carry Bear Spray, available at hunting stores. It is supposedly more powerful than pepper spray for a very large aggressive dog. Fortunately I haven’t had to use it yet, but I won’t hesitate to if need be.
Hi, I was told by an animal control officer after a near attack of my foster dog by a Pitbull to carry a second leash. She said pepper spray won’t work on some breeds. She asked me if I could put a leash around the attacking dogs neck and choke till it passed out, intention is not to kill it, but get it to pass out. In a situation of going after my dogs or me I could, but pray I never have to. I have a fearful dog and don’t walk her in my neighborhood because there is a neighbor who has an American Bulldog/pit mix that is about 70-80 lbs & tall and fence is only 3 feet tall. I also had a small dog try and bite my oblivious senior Golden/Spaniel mix in the backside & I kicked back and got him under the muzzle I think, and he ran off. I had yelled to the owner prior to get his dog that had been following us, he didn’t and he went after my dog. It is the owners fault not the dogs nor the breed, anything that has teeth can bite. Owners need to be held responsible and should monitor their dogs. I have a fenced yard, but I still go outside with my dogs, having a fearful dog (admitted abuse by her former owner) I need to monitor her surrounding and reassure her. She has come a long way and built a lot of confidence with trust, love and positive only training methods and classes.
I think it must be a common thing for cities towns etc who have leash laws dont enforce them.
I had a 12 year old female aussie years ago that a dog probably put mix slipped is collar and came over and circled my dog. Then latched onto her neck. Luckily it was her skin but I was in the middle of it holding on to her neck so he wouldnt rip her throat out. The woman walking did nothing. Finally my neighbor came out and managed to kick him off. She had a puncture so off to the ER we went.
We have a muzzle law for puts and wolf hybrids but also not enforced. I live 2 blocks from our city park and repeatedly run into people with loose dogs. There is a leash law and actually leash is not supposed to be over 6 foot.
I have now 3 times ran into an older couple who have 2 dogs that they have off leash. Very little control over the dogs. They do seem dig friendly but I am walking 4 dogs. One who can be leash reactive. I dont want anyone’s dogs coming up to me. I have repeatedly told them they are supposed to be on a leash.
Too many people have dogs that shouldn’t. If there is a leash law then keep your dogs leashed. Not everyone’s dog is friendly. The owners are not watching for anyone coming with a dog. I am not mad at the dog it is the owner I want to take a ball bat to.
People are so inconsiderate and pretty much do what they want to do regardless.
My heart breaks for these people losing their gorgeous aussie.
After one of my dogs was attacked and injured at I dog park, I stopped going to dog parks and started carrying bear spray on walks. In situations where it is not too out of place I also carry a hand carved but sturdy hiking stick.
I am very sad for the owner of the Aussie, this was a tragic outcome of poor management. I have 2 Rottweilers, and they are the 2nd and 3rd of the breed that I have owned. Two were/are Canine Good Citizens, the first was a therapy dog, and the 3rd is being groomed for the same work. They are not “killing machines.” This post seems to be devolving into a discussion on breed rather than proper management and recourse for the victim. Also, there were some serious assumptions made about the care of these dogs without including any facts. We don’t know that the dogs had 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.” We live in a major city, and my neighbors would likely not even know that we have dogs unless they have seen us out walking, as my dogs are not left unsupervised in the yard, unlike the many dogs in our neighborhood that are allowed to bark constantly. However, I don’t see many of my neighbors while we walk, so they would’t know how frequently my dogs are walked. They also wouldn’t know that my dogs travel with me, swim at least once week, take training classes and compete in dog sports. I expect better from WDJ.
Hi
I’m Zazu’s mom. I have lived in my neighborhood 27 years. I know my neighbors and I know nearly every dog. I also have neighbors that basically police the area during the day and know every movement people make. I have spoken with these neighbors (including one who lived directly across the street) and they are the ones who told us the dogs were for breeding purposes and said the dogs seemed very nice with people. So WDJ got this information from me, and as you will see in a moment, I believe it to be accurate.
When the police called me to come get my husband and Zazu, saying he had been attacked by two Rottweilers, I knew exactly which dogs attacked our dog (who was wearing a lighted collar and was on a special lead as well as my husband wearing shoe lights as it was still dark). These dogs lived one block over and I have never seen the owners walk them. We however, have walked by their home several times with our Aussie and three wieners. Although the Rotties always barked, they were behind an iron gate and we thought nothing of it. Someone left the gate open that morning. My husband was a block away. He battled the dogs for 15 minutes. At one point each dog had one end of Zazu and literally stretched him so his feet were off the ground. Christine…that is not a well socialized pair of Rotties. I asked the vet why they would have gone so far out of their way in the dark and HE said, “because they’re killers.” Now I know they don’t have to be killers…BUT…when it’s a backyard breeder that knows nothing about the breed and just lets them rot behind a gate…that’s a recipe for disaster. And that’s part of the the point of this blog. Will we sue? No. In CA there is little recourse and I don’t want my husband to have to keep reliving it. Animal control has sent them to a Rottweiler rescue out of the area. The female just gave birth..she was very pregnant at the time of the attack which we did not know. The owners never attempted to get them back. And although that makes me breathe easier, it also breaks my heart. They weren’t pets, Christine.
We do need to regulate dog breeding for those breeds who have a proven track record of being dangerous dogs. They must be bred by responsible, professional breeders who can demonstrate that they have the expertise to produce outstanding dogs. My hope is the backyard breeder becomes a thing of the past, that stricter laws be written to protect the victims, and leash laws be taken seriously. We will be meeting with the humane society next week to see what we can do (they asked us for the meeting). That’s the only way I can think of to bring some meaning to Zazu’s death. My husband suffers flashbacks several times a day…the shear violence of it has made this death very difficult to process. So Christine, instead of criticizing the Journal, how about thanking them for bringing attention to something that, judging from this extremely long thread, clearly resonates with too many other victims.
In my neighborhood, there are many dogs. It is a shame that when I walk my dog I have to carry a .380 Ruger pistol. I would get in much trouble with the police should I have to shoot an attacking dog, but my dog will live so I am ready to face the consequences.