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Rottweiler attacks for second time

13K views 45 replies 13 participants last post by  njb 
#1 ·
I am not trying to start a war here--but what are you thoughts on how to handle situations like in the story below?

First let me say--I believe that 99.99 percent of the time, people are the blame. I don't favor any kind of breed specific bans, but I guess what I am asking is what the whole animal control and rescue community is asking--what do we do to stop this?

Personally--if it was me trying to walk my dog and I got attacked by the same dog for a second time--I just might be ready to shoot it. Though the 'owners' are more than likely the ones that need it. I have a real problem with forcing a dog to live in a cage and giving it back to the same folks that let it attack an old lady walking down the street twice.

Rottweiler attacks for second time

By TJ Aulds and Kevin M. Cox
The Daily News

Published February 2, 2007
A Rottweiler dog attacked a San Leon woman Thursday and mauled her pet Chihuahua, Galveston County Animal Control officers said. The victim told authorities the same dog killed another of her pets in a previous attack.

Martha Reeves said she was taking her Chihuahua, Precious, for a walk in the 800 block of 13th Street in San Leon when she happened upon a neighbor’s Rottweiler. It wasn’t her first run-in with the big dog, said Reeves, who blamed the dog for killing another Chihuahua three months ago.

Reeves, 75, said when she saw the Rottweiler she picked up Precious and tried to get away. The bigger dog chased the two down, knocking Reeves to the ground and then mauling Precious.

Reeves suffered cuts and bruising to her face while the Chihuahua’s stomach was torn open, according to reports.

She said Precious had made it through surgery and was expected to survive despite the massive internal injuries.

She said Thursday was likely the last time she would venture outside unless something is done about the Rottweiler.

Galveston County animal control officer Joshua Henderson said it wasn’t his first trip to the area.

In November, he responded to a report that the same Rottweiler attacked and killed Reeves’ other Chihuahua, Buddy.

Henderson cited the owners for allowing the dog to roam at large.

He did the same Thursday, but also planned to recommend the dog be declared dangerous.

A dangerous dog declaration means the dog’s owners will have to keep the animal penned with warning signs on all signs.

The owners, who declined The Daily News’ interview requests, will also have to get a $100,000 insurance policy for the dog and pay a $50 annual fee to the county health district to register the Rottweiler as a dangerous dog.

Brian Rutherford, the county health district’s director of health planning, said the dog will have to be quarantined for 10 days to ensure it is not rabid.

It was the same procedure the owners went through following the November attack, Henderson said.

Determining if a dog should be classified as dangerous is a call made by animal control officers based on the circumstances, Rutherford said.

The fact that Thursday’s attack was the second for the Rottweiler and involved injuries to a person prompted the push for the dangerous dog declaration.

The Galveston County Daily News
 
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#2 ·
How scary. In our county, the rottie would be put down. Just by nocking the lady over and injuring her, that would be the end of it. I'm not saying that's the best solution, but the owner's are obviously not looking out for the public's safety. And locking the dog up 24/7 isn't fair to the poor dog.

I guess there are just no winners in a situation like this. :confused:
 
#3 ·
Strange situation isn't it. First of all, why would she walk near that same dog AGAIN. Maybe we should blame people, even stupid ones that go back for seconds. :doh:

I'm not taking up for this dog, the dog is only doing as it has been allowed to do. These owners should be the ones shot. My goodness.
 
#4 ·
I did not post the bottom part of the article that mentioned how many 'dog at large' calls they get by section of the county--um--we rank no. 1--I can't tell you how many times I have been chased by dogs, my kid quit riding his bike to school over it.

I tend to think the lady, you or me deserves the right to walk down any public street we want with our dogs on a leash and not be afraid of being attacked.

What really boggles my mind is that after TWO attacks--they are going to give the dog back! What?
 
#5 ·
I totally agree. She should be able to walk down any road BUT if i knew this dog was in this neighborhood and was still there, no way would i be stupid enough to take the chance. It's a shame that there are too many at large dogs around in your area but knowing that, i would be very cautious and NOT go someone where I was attacked before. That's just stupid i think.

I agree with you also on not giving this dog back. I mean, ***.
 
#6 ·
I am guessing, since she is 75, she must have thought TPTB took care of the dog or the people would actually take measures to keep the dog contained.

Sadly--in my area--if you leave your house with you dog--the chances of getting chased/attacked are fairly good. I am very very careful what hours I walk Julie--and try to remember the roads not to take. I can't tell you how many times a dog has climbed the fence to get to us when we pass by. I have gotten to the point now that when a dog chases me--I whip around and chase it back--ohhhh and the cuss words start to fly...:)

Fortunately, so far, they have all stopped dead in their tracks and run the other way. Normal dogs just don't seek out that much conflict--

I don't know how to stop this kind of stuff--but I do think for one microchips should be required by law-and actual enforcement of existing laws. I am all for pet owner rights--but folks need to be able to walk down the street without being afraid too...
 
#7 ·
njb, we usually agree on things, but not here.. certain breeds seem predisposed to this behavior.. i do agree that with the proper owner they might be fine.. but most pet owners should not have a pit or a rottie.. the purpose of these dogs is to fight as far as i know..they were bred for violent stuff..
in the proper hands, i suppose a bear would be an ok pet..but i wouldnt want one in my neighborhood..
seems like the stories always say that the owner was shocked..he never behaved that way before..
any dog can bite, but certain breeds just seem to do it more and when they do it they go much further than just biting..
realize this can start a whole discussion, but its how i feel about it... goldens can and will bite..but not sure if anyone has been killed by a golden this year.. probably not..
 
#11 ·
.goldens can and will bite..
Im picking a golden up tomorrow who bit a 5 year old girl....... The dog was sleeping and the lil girl went up and tried to give the dog a bear hug while sleeping.... and got bit...... apparently the dog has growled at this lil girl a few times.... Hes fine with the other kids and the kids she babysits....I asked the lady why on earth would she leave a young kid alone with ANY dog....I myself would never put a kid in this situation what so ever.....let alone let them tug on the head of a dog......Makes you wonder.....
 
#8 ·
Texas right? I'm curious what would have happen had the women been 'packing' and shot the dog.

Poor woman, she probably should have been armed with mace or some similar item. However, I will NOT blame that woman because she was simply doing what I regard as an American right... to stroll your neighborhood without having to be worried about being mauled by a vicious dog on the loose or any other predator. I think if the owners had been fined $2500 the first time, it surely would not have been roaming a second time. I mean it KILLED the poor woman's pet the first time... that really should have been taken seriously... I hope she sues the $hi+ out of the owners and wins a BIG settlement, that's probably the only language those jerks understand.
 
#10 ·
Gregg-the only reason I don't support breed specific laws is because I don't like the idea of the dog getting the blame for stupid people--agreed that some breeds you need to be an experienced owner to own--no doubt.

Mono--in Texas that woman has every legal right to shoot the dog--I hope she sues them also--but in all honesty--do people that let a dog get that really care? I am sure they have the dog to for all the wrong reasons...

So--seriously--if you had to write the local policy for this type of stuff folks--what would you write?
 
#13 ·
I always trusted my goldens totally with my kids.. i worried more about the dog getting hurt than the kids..but the kids did know how to treat the dogs and they never mistreated them..my daughter would get in the whelping pen with penny and her pups..pups would be all over her..she alternating between giggling hysterically and screaming...it was a riot.. and penny never even thought about making one threating move toward her..
 
#15 ·
I trust mine as well...but IM not risking that a kid could hurt them and I cant say that if my dogs got hurt they wouldnt protect themselves by biting......I just dont risk leaving smaller child alone...... But everyone is different
 
#18 ·
I trusted my first golden that way-and Julie--heck one of my fosters fell asleep with my 3yo grandsons fingers up his nose--they both slept that way all night. But--kids still have to be taught to respect dogs, which I am sure you did.

How does a dog get so screwed up to want to attack people waking down the street? I say you have to work at it....I just don't think it is natural in the domesticated dog.
 
#19 ·
IMHO I feel the rottie should not be given back to the owners for now it has tasted blood twice and that is not a good sign..All owners are responsible for their dogs social skills and training. These people apparently did not care enough about their dog to get the problem fixed the first time.
 
#20 ·
People choose to buy a certain breed of dog.. why do all of us choose to get a golden and WHY to some people choose a pit bull?.. i really question the motives of why a person would buy a pit bull knowing their predisposition to violence..I know and understand that there are many that do not and would not bite or injure, but there just seems to be many that do.. and when they attack it is awful..
If they require special training, then if I am on the city council, I vote to ban them.. It would just require too much to assure that they were only in the proper hands and that they got the required training.
 
#22 ·
Well, i hardly think these cute rotties were gonna attack LOL

Isn't this the cutest picture.

This is a friend on my rottie forums daughter and dogs. As you can see, i don't agree with certain dogs being bred to do certain things. I think any dog ANY can be taught to fight. I just think that the powerful breeds such as pits, rotties etc are stronger.
 

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#23 ·
And, like i stated before, Lexie (my golden) is the antisocial dog in our family. Lexie hates everyone and is NOT to be trusted around anyone. I never leave her unattended with children, mine or anyones. Hooch my 1 1/2 year old Rottweiler LOVES everyone and is out during every social event I host. He is 100% trustworthy. I feel he is because of his extensive training that i do with him daily and take him to his trainer weekly. I do wish i had done this with Lexie while she was younger. It would have made my life alot easier. Hers too i'm sure. So i feel any dog can be trained properly. I have a product of great training (hooch) vs. no training and anti social (lexie) . Goldens you hear are suppose to be bred for family atmospheres. Ok then what happened with her? This can go either way. Greg, you felt that pits and rotts are bred for fighting and goldens aren't. They are more family dogs. I totally disagree. Lexie is a product of my lack of doggie knowlege. I wish i had this forum 6 years ago when i got her. I would put her up during every social event instead of teaching her how to act around people. The way she is is because of ME. Not her breeding. I did it. I feel powerful breed owners are responsible for getting training and social skills for these dogs. I think people should be screened BEFORE being able to license this dogs to help on irresponsible dog ownerships. That is just a start. :D
 
#24 ·
Documentation of professional training from approved facilities would be one way to make the loser dog owners bow out of buying powerful breed dogs--

I tend to feel that we have lots of laws already on the books but they are just not enforced--I am still in awe they are going to give the dog back to the same folks--again.
 
#25 ·
ok..then why is it that the most horrid attacks that we hear about in the news are by pit bulls.. do only pit bulls get bad owners?... i think not... yes.. i think goldens can and will bite..but i do not think they will finish the job the way pits and rotties will...
i also do not think that one pair of dogs make a very good statistical analysis... I am sure that there are pits that will not attack just like there are retrievers that wont retrieve..
I just havnt heard lately about a golden killing anyone.. but it jumps up on the news periodically about the pit bulls.. maybe they just have a bad pr department.. i dont know..
so im still going to maintain that certain breeds are overall more likely to be violent with dogs as well as people.. and i said more likely.. not guaranteed...
 
#26 ·
I remember a couple of years ago reading an article (online) in the Toronto Star that Golden Retrievers were the city's number one breed for reported biting incidents. Do they inflict the kind of damage a pit might?... I seriously doubt it.

But rather than attacking the breed (pun not intended), I would be more inclined to suspect aggressive behavior might be more related to the type of people who are attracted to owning such breeds with aggressive histories and reputations. And though I believe there does exist some genetic influence toward protectiveness and/or aggressiveness within those breeds, I also think the aspect of controllability was never bred out of them (now that would have been dumb)... and so they should respond to training and pack structure. How much of an effect training and early socialization and a strong pack structure can have on an individual dog is still variable, I'm sure, but only a truly mentally damaged dog will attack without provocation. I cannot tell you how many mild mannered Rots, GSD, Dobies and Pits I've met but there's been enough of them that I know its not really a breed problem so much as owners who are clueless to the challenges of properly raising and caring for such dogs and probably should never have been allowed to own any dog of any breed.
 
#27 ·
I agree with you guys that the owner plays a part in the dog's behavior, but I feel it's ridiculous to think it's fully the owner's fault. I really believe genetics play a role in the prediction of dog behavior. Goldens were originally bred for retrieving, and they typically are oral dogs. They generally love to have things in their mouths and enjoy chewing. It's very difficult to fight that instinct in them. Pitbulls were bred to fight, hence it's in their lines to do so. No dog is the same...some Goldens are more orally motivated than others and some pitbulls may have a stronger drive to fight than others. But to deny that it's in their genes is absurd to me. JMHO. ;)
 
#28 ·
It used to be that a dog who killed or even chased livestock was shot. I know ranchers and others that still do this. Why? Because a dog is a great thing, but we should not have to work around it's misbehavior to make things work. It is an animal, not a human, and if it poses a serious threat, I think it should be put down. No matter what breed. If an owner allows their dog to be out-of-control and dangerous like that all the time, they don't really care about the dog's well-being, anyway.
 
#29 ·
Cooperluv...
Yes, but the same way we can chose to develop control in the retrieving instinct in a Golden that has the drive... we can also suppress this desire as well. Any well-trained field dog can be directed not to retrieve when not appropriate. A dog that cannot be controlled is pretty much worthless. Its not possible for me to imagine pits with so much killer instinct that their owners could not even handle them... how would you get them into and out of the pit? All these dogs possess the ability to obey and curtail their genetic instincts to kill... provided their owners know how to properly train and care for these dogs.
 
#33 ·
Some like to 'kill' stuff toys. I don't think pits were bred specifically to kill but rather to dismember things... (which in the case of a living thing that would be killed)... there is theory that says all dogs' "working" abilities are merely exaggerations of various aspects of the hunting ritual. Many dogs 'kill' and dismember inanimate objects... and this is all they ever kill. I believe its through encouragement by stupid owners that the true killer instinct is brought out in these dogs... and like toothpaste, once out of the tube its kinda hard to get it all back in again. However, Cesar has had some success in this area... so not all hope is lost.
 
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