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My 2yr old rescue mastiff/rotti cross is a teddy bear at home with me and my kids, but as soon as he's in public - he's a monster. He wants to attack ALL other dogs and lunges at people, especially children. I have been trying to socialise him for 10 months but dont seem to be getting anywhere. I have used a behaviourist for the last 12months, but to no avail. HELP!!!!!!!
I dont want people thinking I have a vicious thug of a dog.
PS - I also have a staffi and he is fine with her.
Judy, I was told all of this information by a local animal control officer, who was called to my house by a friendly neighbour. Like I said my dog would bark like a lunatic at any thing that passed the house. My neighbours complained that my dog was useing the bathroom too close to their yard and when they would come out side he would bark at them. I am not trying to 'downplay' the situation, becasue it was very serious, and even tho he was neuthered he became more aggressive with each day. When she came to my house, she said that if she can not safely make it to my front door step, then she would have the right to 'put him down' her self. I too tried obeidience classes as well as spent a small fortune on an animal behaviourist who in turn told me I should think about getting my boy put down. I called the German Shepard Rescue of Nova Scotia, who told me that they were not allowed to adopt or 'rescue' any animal with aggression issues. And then went into the long drawn out story of how I could be held liable for his actions with a new owner. The lady from animal control seccond this, and told me about the front/back door. I am looking at my county's by laws to see if there is anything I can reference for you, I will post later today if someting is found.
. When she came to my house, she said that if she can not safely make it to my front door step, then she would have the right to 'put him down' her self. I too tried obeidience classes as well as spent a small fortune on an animal behaviourist .
Hi Aurora, the claim your neighbour made here is suspect. If this were the case, then any postal worker would be able to 'put your dog down' unbidden. I dont think that is a law, per se, IMO.
Gotta agree with "Tickle" - these sound like words intended to scare people into compliance. Maybe it's a policy, maybe it's a rule of thumb but I think you were misled.
Just from a legal standpoint - I DO understand why rescues won't take dogs that appear to be vicious (or proved themselves to be vicious). I also know that I investigate any number of dog bites where the first owner lied to the second about the history because if the truth were told the dog would be euthanized and not adopted.
A strict "if the dog proves to be vicious" law would cause EVERY rescue to refuse to re-home EVERY dog because of liability issues - my dog bites, I get sued, I point a finger at the previous owner, he/she gets sued.
I think the Dog Warden made it up as he went along.
I don't know if I am allowed topost this, so I willunderstand if it gets removed. This is from my counties dog bylaws.
Municipal Staff may, without notice to or complaint against the owner, kill on sight or
after capture any dog that:
(a) is fierce or dangerous;
(b) is rabid or exhibits symptoms of canine madness.
25. Municipal Staff may, after two written warnings have been given to the owner that a dog
has been running at large or eluding capture, kill such dog on sight of after capture.
26. Municipal Staff may, kill on sight any dog that is running at large and which the Dog
Control Officer believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, to pose a danger to a
person or a domestic animal or to property of persons other than the owner.
She also told me that even if my dog is tied in the yard and she can not obtain control over him then she can put him down. As this is considered running at large. I did have some problems with the neigbours, I was in the process of buying a piece of land, and I was unable to move to that piece of land until spring or early summer, so I was staying in a small rural community, there was a large green belt behind my house where I would take my dog to run and play, they would call animal control and tell them that my dog was runing at large and they were terrified to leave their houses. Of course non of this was expressed directly to me, and I was surpised when she came to my home with my "first" warning. She said if my neighbours called again to complain about him beig out side or barking that was my seccond warning.
It's pretty much the same here (I'm in NY State). If a dog is tied or chained and extremely aggressive or dangerous a homeowner can be warned and eventually (usually by Court Order) the dog can be seized and euthanized.
In theory a Dog Warden (Animal Control Officer) is trained and can spot a dangerous dog. In practice I have found in my community these are political appointees who like to wear uniforms and ride around in Town vehicles.
At any rate I continue to question the previous owner being automatically liable as well as the whole "sidewalk," front and back part.
I realize you can only find what you can find based on what you've been told and I have a nagging feeling you may have been "taken."
well I am starting to think that as well, I have the web site, and I really want to email the animal control officer, but we recently had some words after my dog was put down. I do not think she would respond to me any ways.
I am still looking, and have been googling, and unfortuantly I have not come up with much.
I am honestly sincere here - this is one of those situations where I wish I lived closer to you. I would LOVE to be assigned something like this. I would LOVE it!
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