Dealing with neighborhood bully

Grizz wrote: Shoot him. Your families safety > someones dog.

Min pin

Snaps at me I shoo it away

Snapped at my wife she shoos it away

Tried to bite my kid - .22 Bearcat fixed the problem

The sad thing is, I love animals. Took me a couple of days to get over it but I did.

The problem wasn't the dog, it was the owner who didn't train the dog.

The two scenarios I see is this.

1 Legal route, I call the law report attempt to bite child, dog is destroyed, owners are cited, they have to pay fine and disposal of dog, difficult living situation for duration.

2 I destroy dog, no one knows, everybody goes along and neighbors just think the dog went missing.

.22 shells are cheap and sometimes fix problems that don't need to be mentioned.

Curmudgeon wrote: In the short run, get one of those small air horns from Wally World and keep it on your person. Dog growls at you in your yard, you give him a short blast. The dog is probably used to being yelled at and it doesn't really faze him/her, a loud and abnormal type noise will startle them and they will take off. That's a non-injurious way of getting them to back off.

Citronella spray is another similar option that is very effective. I've seen it break up fights at a dog park. Won't stop a charging dog, but it won't piss one off either. It's most effective for stopping the behavior of mildly aggressive dogs. Basically, the smell is so strong that it really confuses and distracts them.

aussiesmg wrote:

Maroon92 wrote:

Grizz wrote: Shoot him. Your families safety > someones dog.

if you do have a gun with you, I would argue that you had intended to kill the dog from the outset. Not cool.

I carry a firearm all the time, legally, so I most definitely would be prepared to protect my family on my property.

+1

For the record.....

On one of the early calls I made to animal control, the dispatcher said that they would not send anyone unless a person had been hurt. I explained that I felt threatened, had guns, and that if the dogs entered my property and growled at me again, I would kill them.

The dispatcher sent an officer immediately.

This exchange was early in the process. Soon after, I spoke to a former Sheriff, who has a daughter that works in animal control. He told me that responses are seldom made to nonspecific calls (i.e. "big dangerous dog in our neighborhood") but that animal control responds very quickly to specific calls with a history. ("The big dangerous dog from 302 main street is running loose and growling at people again. I feel threatened. This is the fifth time we've called about it. Would you like the previous dates?")

The Sheriff didn't mention the camera. Some of the other people on our street figured that out after the owner weaseled out of a couple of the fines because of lack of proof.

A much more powerful, but still non-lethal option, is the grizzly bear mace. Sold in cans the size of rattle cans, sprays 10-15'. Sporting goods stores. It will work on any dog.

cwh wrote: A much more powerful, but still non-lethal option, is the grizzly bear mace. Sold in cans the size of rattle cans, sprays 10-15'. Sporting goods stores. It will work on any dog.

I like this method but I think it needs to be stepped up a bit. That dog has decided it is OK to challenge humans anywhere and anytime. Even if you scare it it may just decide you are a lousy target and everyone else is fair game. I'd say get everyone you know some method of dominating that dog every time it challenges a human. I'd go out of my way to make that dog scared of being within eyesight of me or my family. Bear mace for everyone!

That bear mace is some serious stuff. A friend of mine showed me a can that was nearly as big as his cat! I don't know why he needed it camping in black bear only country, but I guess better safe than sorry. Speaking of non-lethal dog deterent, my dad is a repairman and often has to deal with poorly trained dogs. He has one of those dazer things that emits the high pitched thing that makes some dogs run and is harmless. The key word there is some dogs. I'm sure bear mace would work on ALL of them. Plus you get bonus points when the owners get covered in it from petting the dog later.

Rufledt wrote: . Plus you get bonus points when the owners get covered in it from petting the dog later.

Nice. That's some ninja action right there.

Tripple "S" is a good option, I think. However, first off, next time that dog is on your property, call the animal po-po or cops or whatever out there. They blow you off, dog comes around and growls or acts aggressive on your property, bu-bye. As mentioned above, quick and painless. The next two "S" things (shovel and shut-up) come in at this point if no one noticed. I like the bear spray idea. Backed up with, say, a soft ball bat or axe handle.

I don't tolerate threats to me or mine, including my "livestock" (dogs, cats, etc.)

Some years back when I was walking from my shop to my house on a public sidewalk I was charged by a snarling ,barking dog. The owner was standing there and doing nothing to restrain the dog. I drop kicked the dog about 10' ( it was about 20#) and the owner stated yelling at me. I informed the owner that if the dog came at me again I would kill the dog and then come after him. To my knowledge that dog never ran loose again.

Two words: Paintball Gun

That worked really well when we lived in L.A. and the crack whores started fighting with the homeless crazies on the street. Lay a few dark red paint balls on their thigh and chest from an unlit third-story window and they think they're dead. They start running and screaming like... well... crack whores and homeless crazies.

I actually saw a mugshot on TV of a cracked-out lady that I had shot the night before and she still had my red paint all over her boob.

T.J. wrote: ... I figure these dogs are loved by whomever owns them and that they are sure that these are just harmless members of the family...

I disagree with this premise.

Dogs loved are not allowed unsupervised, unleashed, unhoused.

Seriously I'd go psychological operations and poison the damn dog. Let the owner watch their "beloved" pet die and maybe they'll learn a lesson. Maybe an anonymous note sent to them to rub it in and a warning that any dog who threatens the neighborhood will be dealt with in a similar fashion. If you shoot a dog there will be many questions you'll end up talking to the authorities etc. Feed the damn dog some poison and let it work out.

I don't know that I'd have the heart to do that to a non-nuisance animal. Vermin is a different type of indirect threat, as far as poisoning.

Also, if the poison ever got back to you, you'd have to answer to the same authorities. If the animal didn't represent an immediate threat, which it can't by legal definition if you're poisoning it, then you will be charged for animal cruelty and will lose in court. Its more defensible to shoot it on your property.

If the dog runs off when confronted, there's still hope to save the dog, which is all I would care about at that point. If it doesn't back down, the dog requires rehabilitation most folks won't be able to give.

benzbaron wrote: Seriously I'd go psychological operations and poison the damn dog. Let the owner watch their "beloved" pet die and maybe they'll learn a lesson. Maybe an anonymous note sent to them to rub it in and a warning that any dog who threatens the neighborhood will be dealt with in a similar fashion. If you shoot a dog there will be many questions you'll end up talking to the authorities etc. Feed the damn dog some poison and let it work out.

berkeley that. Anyone who'd consider poisoning an animal is an shiny happy person who deserves to have the E36 M3 kicked out of them.

I'm very puzzled by this lack of leash laws. I can't remember the last time I saw a loose dog (I'm in RI). There were "neighborhood dogs" back when I was a kid, but that was a LONG time ago.

These same irresponsible owners are the types who don't spay or neuter. They just want to be a blight on society.

+1 on the mace. Maybe even an air horn.

Grizz wrote:

benzbaron wrote: Seriously I'd go psychological operations and poison the damn dog. Let the owner watch their "beloved" pet die and maybe they'll learn a lesson. Maybe an anonymous note sent to them to rub it in and a warning that any dog who threatens the neighborhood will be dealt with in a similar fashion. If you shoot a dog there will be many questions you'll end up talking to the authorities etc. Feed the damn dog some poison and let it work out.

berkeley that. Anyone who'd consider poisoning an animal is an shiny happy person who deserves to have the E36 M3 kicked out of them.

+1

I consider a bullet much more humane. (I take care of groundhogs with a .22) If the animal suffers, its short term till you double tap the head.

I would get the mace and use it while trying to build a case for animal control. If the thing corners me or mine though, poochy gets ventilated if the mace is ineffective.

Heres the thing

poison = cruel, inhumane, with legal consequences of animal cruelty. (possible jail time)

shooting = defense, but a setup for mild legal bull. (most likely civil suit, plus possible firearms discharge citation depending on locale)

mace = legal and humane, not a permanent solution, but it is a solution.

My newly-moved-next-door-neighbour's dogs barked at me a lot, initially.

Under the cover of darkness, I "marked" my territory.

The dogs have accepted my presence, though the "markings" need freshening up every once in a while....

Even here in rural East Tennessee, you rarely see a roaming dog anymore. Irresponsible owners have messed up the whole thing for everyone. Animal Control will respond to any complaint.
I have been involved in numerous dangerous dogs cases and one thing to do is research the local ordinances on the issue. I ran into one such ordinance that allowed a dog to bite two humans before being declared dangerous but one dog fight was enough. Clearly badly written but just shows you that most jurisdictions are pretty serious about it. Blame pit bulls if you want; german sheppards and dobermans were the dogs to watch out for in my youth. It really doesnt matter; an out of control dog is dangerous regardless of breed.

curtis73 wrote: Two words: Paintball Gun That worked really well when we lived in L.A. and the crack whores started fighting with the homeless crazies on the street. Lay a few dark red paint balls on their thigh and chest from an unlit third-story window and they think they're dead. They start running and screaming like... well... crack whores and homeless crazies. I actually saw a mugshot on TV of a cracked-out lady that I had shot the night before and she still had my red paint all over her boob.

Berkeley Curtis – write a book!

Pump BB gun has worked really well for me. Enough to let the dog know "this place sucks" - not enough to injure the dog. Have I mentioned I berkeleying hate dogs?

And yes, poisoning a dog/cat is berkeleying horrible. My wife worked at an animal hospital for a long time. It is a miserable, excruciating death. Please don't even joke about it.

Lesley wrote:

curtis73 wrote: Two words: Paintball Gun That worked really well when we lived in L.A. and the crack whores started fighting with the homeless crazies on the street. Lay a few dark red paint balls on their thigh and chest from an unlit third-story window and they think they're dead. They start running and screaming like... well... crack whores and homeless crazies. I actually saw a mugshot on TV of a cracked-out lady that I had shot the night before and she still had my red paint all over her boob.

Berkeley Curtis – write a book!

I remember laughing so hard at this one lady. She always got drunk and started smashing glass bottles (which she had spent all day fishing out of trash cans) and screaming at nothing. I popped her with one right on her shoulder. She grabbed her cart and started running until it hit a curb. She rolled right over the handle face first into the cart and just passed out there.

In reply to Maroon92:

I have personal experience with out of control dogs, and still carry the scars, 35 years later.

If a dog is on my property growling at me or my family, it is no longer innocent, it is a direct threat. I have two small children who like to play in my yard. If this was happening in my neck of the woods, it would be irresponsible to let those dogs live, in my opinion. If animal control doesn't deal with them, I have an obligation to do so myself.

I'd sleep a lot better at night with a dead dog and unscathed children than I would if one of my kids even got a scratch I could have prevented in advance. Think about it.

Wow I love people who don't put a problem in perspective. If a ravenous animal is a threat use human knowledge to resolve the issue. I never mentioned a specific poison but people don't get up in arms if you put out raid for rats. If a vicious animal comes around and you have the ability and knowledge to humanly dispense of it, go at it. An end is an end, what makes a dogs life any more important than a rat's which is much less threatening? Not everyone has a gun and likes authority to deal with animal control? And if I fired a gun in my neighborhood I'd be up to my armpits in piggly wigglies.

Just remember there are many solutions to a problem and each person has there own solution. Upon rethinking the situation, I think the vicious dog just needs some aroma threrapy and a massage to realize its issues.

benzbaron wrote: And if I fired a gun in my neighborhood I'd be up to my armpits in piggly wigglies.

Thank you for reinforcing why I live in the county.

Do your best and good luck

In reply to benzbaron:

berkeley rats, nobody gives a E36 M3 about them. Dogs and cats are different, a few millenia of domestication kinda puts them above vermin.

Again, never poison. I've had to deal with a cat who someone fed antifreeze, it's not pretty. You don't want the fuzz showing up, hit the damn dog in the face with a stick until it gets the hint.