A dog attack waiting to happen.

[pat]

I went outdoors a few minutes ago, headed to my car to get something. As I started down my front walk, I noticed a strange dog standing in my yard. I couldn't identify a breed - a face sort of like dogs which I have seen called "pit bulls," although I know that designation applies to several breeds, but the size of a pretty hefty lab. Although I stopped, the dog advanced toward me growling and snarling loudly, teeth bared.

Mind you, this dog was not on the sidewalk. It was a good fifteen feet into my yard, at least, almost to the front of the garage. I do not own any dogs myself, so it was not reacting to another dog. It was threatening me. I started to back up, and the dog snarled louder.

I was almost too scared to breathe. The dog was big enough that it could inflict a good bit of damage even on someone my size. I was afraid to turn around and go back in the house, terrified of turning my back on the animal.

At that point the owners, who have been walking this beast without a leash, and who have gotten ahead of it, yelled for it to catch up. The dog stopped, growled some more, then ran off as the owner called it again. The owner never came back to see what his dog had been snarling at, let alone apologize for the animal's behavior.

I don't want to think what would have happened had it been David out there, who tends to cry or scream when he's very frightened.

I think it's only a matter of time before this animal hurts someone, possibly seriously. Anyone who can do such a poor job of socializing an animal -- not to mention walking it without a leash -- has no business owning one. I hope that if the animal does end up hurting someone the owners get tossed in jail.

It's going to take some time for the adrenaline to leach out of my bloodstream.

Comments

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you are safe. Report this incident to the local authorities, police, animal control, whatever you have in your area. It's important to get official involvement.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

What tsjafo said - the owners must be held accountable for not controlling their clearly dangerous animal.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I'm appalled that they didn't even apologize, but still, that dog should have been on a leash, not bounding ahead, and certainly not threatening people in their own yards. Write down a description of the dog and people, keep your eyes open for them in the future, and call either animal control or the non-emergency police number and ask what your next step should be, as there's likely not much they can do now . . . but there might be something in the future.

[p3aches.livejournal.com]

report this incedent to the animal control department. give a description of the dog.