Yesterday was bad.....

[Cordelia]

I was charged at by a dog while I was walking home from dialsyis yesterday, I'm so upset about it. The owner, who was a real jerk, had the balls to tell me that I should NOT have been walking in front of his house, I couldn't believe it! I was so angry by the situation, I threatened to report him and report him- I DID.   

So, at most, he will probably get  a warning as they'll have an officer go out to talk to him in the next week or two. If his dog is not licensed then they will request him to do that too.

The dog was not on a leash and city bylaws here are that you must have a dog on a leash at all times......and the ower was clearly not in control of the animal, scared the bejeepers out of me so bad I was a wreck for the rest of the day.

I love dogs, but honestly, this is the second time this has happened to me by the same dog. I have to walk near this guy's house to get home from my hospital as I only live a 10 minute walk from there. Well, the snow will be flying soon and I likely won't be walking much anymore this fall because before I know it, the snow will be flying and I won't be able to walk for fear I slip and fall on the ice, so I'll be getting a ride. But, it just upsets me anticipating next spring, when I walk, will I have another encouter with his dog or not?     

I was so exhausted yesterday, I know my bp went through the roof from the situation, I felt so drained yesterday after that happened.   

[willowtreewren]

I can't believe the owner blamed YOU!!!

If the dog had bitten you (instead of "simply" scaring you and raising your blood pressure), the owner would have been fully responsible. Put THAT in his pipe so he can smoke it. 

I love dogs, too, but one should never be in a position of being attacked by one on public property.

Shame on that owner.

Aleta

[Riki]

I agree, I mean, geez.. you were just walking past his house, it's not like you were baiting the dog in any way.  There's no reason for the dog to have come at you at all.  It's the owners fault for not controlling the dog, not yours for walking past his house.  What a a-hole.  I'm glad you reported him

[Cordelia]

Thanks so much       I wasn't even on the guy's property. I'm still in shock over this, I'm SO glad I reported him. I have to keep track if it ever happens again in the future, report him again....then they can do more than just a warning.  That's exactly what I said too, what an a-hole!         

[boswife]

awful!!  so sorry you had to deal with that at all....  Im crazy for dogs, love them, but one charging me would stilll scare the crap out of me...  Hope you feelen some better...   

[fearless]

being charged by a dog and then yelled at by it's a**hole owner is one of the most infuriating things that can happen!  i hate feeling like I'm going to explode from the shock and the festering anger.  It's that they did something to me that hurts me physically even if i never got touched! 

Yes, the owner is TOTALLY at fault.  If that dog had even touched you, he would be liable for every damage.  Hope it never comes to that, but it good that you reported him - he must be made to understand that HE is at fault!  The dog should be under the owner's control at every moment.  That's the law everywhere except if it's expressly noted otherwise.

[lmunchkin]

Cordelia, many years ago when I was a young girl, oh probably 9-10 yrs old.  Neighbor across the street from us had a little picaneese!  It yapped whenever I went to see if their son could come out and play.  I had never encountered that dog out of their home without a leash.  One day I was pedaling my bicycle down the road and saw the mother chasing the little dog cause she snuck out and got away from her.  I stopped my bike and dog came towards me, and the mother said get her for her, I was apprehensive, and she said she wouldnt bite.  So I stood there saying for dog to come to me, and she did just that.  She bit the crap out of my ankle.

It was traumatizing to me!  I never got over that fear, I still am afraid of ALL dogs, especially belonging to another!  Our kids have dogs, and they put them up when Im around.  We use to have dogs as pets when growing up and had no problem, but that little "Picaneese" humbled me, that I will not approach dogs period!

Yes it is a frightening thing!  You will always have this moment in the back of your mind.  Nothing will remove it, because it is so traumatic! Its the attack that is so frighting.  I was told it wouldnt bite and it did, you were told you shouldnt have walked across his property, what is wrong with people!

In my neighborhood, people walk dogs all the time and on a leash.  But if I encountered one in my yard loose and no one with it.  Well, Im not going to say what I would do, but I would be in my rights to do whatever! And it is really not the dogs fault!

lmunchkin
 

[MaryD]

I remember walking back to school with my sister after being home for lunch.  I am the older and responsible one (ha! ha!).  She was 7 at the time and I was nine.

We were walking past a property when their little dog ran out to greet us.  It was definately a friendly greeting.  Susan screamed and leapt up into their privet hedge and proceeded to run up and down on the top of the hedge, screaming her lungs out.  I have never been so embarassed in my life and the poor little dog was so frightened he disappeared round the back of the house.

Susan had apparently been nipped by a dog while she was in a pusher as a baby.  She now keeps Rottweilers (? sp).  They are firmly kept under control

[Cordelia]

Thanks, everyone.         I'm feeling a little better today, physically. Mentally, I'm still traumiticized.      I just don't understand why people have to be so flippin' arrogant and rude like that, blaming an innocent passerby for something like that. It's inexcuseable!            Man oh man, I wanted to deck him for that comment alone!!!          

I'm scared stiff of this dog now if it ever sees me again, what will it do, will it bark ferocisously again or next time try to bite me!?   

[mcclane]

oh man, i hope you're ok cordelia.

You did the right thing in reporting.  There is never any bad dogs, just inexcusable owners.  If people aren't willing to discipline their pets, they should not be pet owners. 

I hope action is taken against the owner of the dog.

[fearless]

Cordelia - I forgot to say: you are within your rights to carry hot pepper spray.  If a dog comes at you aggressively, a quick spray will thwart him.  There are some designed especially for dogs (perhaps they don't need to be as potent since dog's noses are so sensitive) 
It sucks to have to use something like this, but you really need to protect yourself.  I know of SO many instances where dogs whose owners are just too plain lazy or dumb to keep their dog on a leash have hurt people or other dogs.  And of course the owner ALWAYS tries to blame someone else!  ALWAYS!  It seems the dumb lazy ones are also the ones who don't take responsibility for themselves and their dogs.

[Poppylicious]

Scary stuff.  And I think that poor doggie needs a better owner.  A-hole indeedy!

[Cordelia]

I think I'm ok now, thanks everyone, thanks Mcclane, fearless and Poppy     

A-hole, you said it so well, Poppy!

Mcclane, I doing better today, thanks.....I told the nurses about it at my unit today and they were all upset for me, the nerve of that owner-it's not the dog's fault, it's definitely the owner's problem.........

Fearless, Where can one get pepper spray for that? A pet store? I've never thought of it.

[fearless]

Amazon.com has some for sale.  I have the kind for people  because I often walk alone or with my dog who only weighs 7 lbs and is defenseless.)  I only learned recently that there is spray especially for dogs, and I need to get some myself - because it turns out I'm way more likely to get attacked by a dog than by a person!
just type "pepper spray for dogs" in a google search and you will find many options to choose from!   

cheers (glad you got some empathy from the nurses - that always helps dispel the anger  - knowing people are on your side)

[Cordelia]

Fearless, keep safe!     

You are so right, it always helps when you know people are on your side!          

[Big E]

Cordelia, someone who's just finished up a dialysis treatment should not have to worry about dog attacks, of all things!  Even a friendly dog could dislodge your bandages if he jumped up to greet you.  Your idiot neighbor needs to understand that he doesn't get to decide who walks in front of his house.

[Cordelia]

BigE, It's interesting you raised that point. I told the owner the same thing!  I surely don't need that coming off a D machine for four hours then to have the crap scared out of of me from his dog!

[Cordelia]

Didn't have any run-ins with the dog/owner today. Unfortunately, I HAD to walk home, I had no ride today.......

I was just happy either one of them were outside!     

[kevinswife]

My son and I were walking home from school one day and a big dog was outside in the owners yard without a leash.  The dog growled at us and started chasing after my son.  Luckly, we got away without getting bit, but it was scary.  After that, I bought pepper spray at one of those knife stores in the mall.  I think I paid between $8.00 and $12.00.  You may be able to find some at a sporting goods store.  I carry it with me when I'm out walking.  The pepper spray attaches to my key ring, so I carry it whenever I walk to and from my car.  It makes me feel a little safer when I am out by myself.  Luckly, I have never had to use it!

[Desert Dancer]

When I was 13 my two stepbrothers and I - I think they were nine and seven at the time - were out riding our bikes in the middle of the street. (It was a very rural wooded subdivision - all the lots were at least two acres - and still mostly empty.) Suddenly the neighbor's three huskies came charging down their driveway snarling and growling, teeth bared. We all froze. The dogs circled us, growling deep in their chests the whole time and with teeth that looked about THAT LONG. Danny and I could have been statues for all you could tell, but it was too much for Jimmy; he took off, pedaling as fast as his little legs could go. Needless to say that triggered the dogs' predatory instinct and off they went after him, with me screaming for him to freeze.  (I didn't know at the time that was exactly the right thing to do, it just happened that way.)

Well, they got him. I think he ended up with twenty stitches in his butt. The owners had the decency to be completely mortified and profusely apologetic, and naturally paid all the medical expenses with no hesitation. Apparently the dogs weren't normally loose but the gate to their backyard was accidentally left open. I don't think Jimmy ever rode his bike down that street again.

[Cordelia]

OMG! 20 stitches! OUCH!  How awful!                 I don't blame him for ever riding down that street ever again!