A debate at work we're having

[whackichic]

My friend is a police officer. She was at home walking her dog like she does everyday. Her dog is leashed and all that good stuff. She walked by a house and out bolts their dog and attacks her dog. She got in the middle and yup got bit on her calf. We all questioned if she carried her off duty weapon on dog walks and she said she was going to start. Here's the debate I had. One person at work said
"I just let my dog fight it out. I hold on to the leash and let them til they stop, they always stop. She was stupid to get in the middle of it. Nobody better shoot my dog because he's loose. After one fight I put my dog on on heel and off we went" (I so can't agree with any of this)
I said "you let your dog fight it out? Are you crazy?" "I said "I have no idea how I would react if another dog attacked my dog I would panic too but I wouldn't let them fight it out." Am I not the one who is supposed to be protecting my dog from this as the "pack leader"?
She called the police dept and now regrets filing a report. The dad of the kid who owns the dog got cited. The wife/mother came over to her house and confronted her and said she better not walk by her house anymore. I told her she had to report it, what if a kid is walking a dog and the dog is loose and attacks them? It has to be on record this happened before. The dad was outside while this was happening and only calling the dog, he didn't come out to help. So there's no denying it was their dog. The dog is not known to be running loose and does not have a bad rep in the neighborhood.

So I ask you.......
Will she be wrong for shooting a dog as it's attacking her dog?
Should you let your dogs fight it out?
Should you report an attack like that where you get bitten?

I hope never to find out what I'll do but I am tempted to carry pepper spray as you never know. I carry it on my car key chain just in case.

 

[Squishy22]

YES, I would report it. And Yes I would shoot a dog if they were attacking me or my dog (prolly with a high powered BB or Pellet gun if anything). The owners fault that their aggressive dog is loose!

 

[ACooper]

So I ask you.......
Will she be wrong for shooting a dog as it's attacking her dog?

I had a little poodle come out and attack Orson as a pup on a walk........I just kicked him off (and the owners were PO'd) but I think if it had been a bigger dog and I had a gun, YES, I would do what I have to.

Should you let your dogs fight it out?

HE!! no............I am not going to risk the safety of MY dog to "let them fight it out"

Should you report an attack like that where you get bitten?

YES.........and those owners ARE responsible for that bite, their dog is THEIR responsibility at ALL times.

 

[whackichic]

The dogs in question
my girlfriend has a spayed 3 yr old german shepherd
the other a good size bulky dog - the breed won't be mentioned as I don't see as it was a breed incident, but these were not small dogs and I don't know if the dog was neutered or not.

 

[ACooper]

Orson was about 6 months old at the time, and this was a TINY toy poodle. So even if Orson would have "fought it out" who do you think would have been frowned upon? EVEN though Orson was a pup and on a leash..........it would have been all his fault

So yes, it is MY responsibility to protect him and the breed in general. I don't want one more story of "doberman bites xxx" if I can prevent it.

 

[shazbot]

Having seen dogs trying to fight to the death before I would definately try to break up a fight. I can't stand by and let dogs fight, when I know what the possible outcome could be. So yes I'd break up a fight.

Would I shoot a dog that attacked mine? Really depends on the size of the dog, a small dog, I would kick off...with no regrets. A larger dog, I'd only shoot if I couldn't break up the fight. BUT with that being said I would do WHATEVER it took to make sure myself and my dogs were ok.

YES...she should definately report these people and the dog. What happens if the dog gets some one else's dog or even bites some one meerly walking by? She's a cop and she's letting them talk to her that way? She should report that the wife threatened her also, so if something does happen again she has a stronger case against them.

 

[noludoru]

Will she be wrong for shooting a dog as it's attacking her dog?

IMO.. yes. I'd prefer if she went for less-deadly methods for keeping the dog away first, personally. If it's her last resort then shooting the dog is probably the best option, but she should look in to the legal ramifications for that first.

Bringing a staff, some sort of stick, or another weapon such as halt or pepper spray is preferable.

Should you let your dogs fight it out?

HE!! no............I am not going to risk the safety of MY dog to "let them fight it out"

Should you report an attack like that where you get bitten?

YES.........and those owners ARE responsible for that bite, their dog is THEIR responsibility at ALL times.

^Ditto.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Will she be wrong for shooting a dog as it's attacking her dog?
No, if I or my dog were being attacked I would protect him by any means necessary. Now, I don't own a gun, nor will I ever, but if that was my means to protect my own, I'd use it. Just as I'm not afraid to use things I carry with me, like my chuck-it, my lead (those things are heavy!) my feet to kick, etc. etc..

Should you let your dogs fight it out?
Absolutely not! I've never heard a more ridiculous thing!

Should you report an attack like that where you get bitten?
Any dog that bites should be reported, regardless of breed, size, what happened, etc.. What if a little boy or girl had been walking their family pet? It would not have been pretty, I'm sure.


People just need to be more responsible, for both themselves and their dogs. *sigh* I guess that's just asking too much these days.

 

[ihartgonzo]

All I have to say is...

I could NEVER bring myself to shoot a dog. Not even a dog who was harming my own. I would do everything I could to stop the fight (which does not involve reaching into the middle of it... *sigh*), but I wouldn't shoot a dog. In the midst of a hectic dog fight, you could accidentally shoot your own dog.

I agree, that it's incredibly overkill to bring a GUN on a walk with your dog. Pepper spray, sure. Mace, sure. A GUN? I would stop walking my dog around the neighborhood, before I felt a gun was necessary for protection.

Just out of curiosity, what harm was done to her dog? Although, I know some attacks are serious, the majority of "dog fights" result in very little harm done to either dog. They are mostly displays - when Gonzo got attacked, there was blood everywhere, you would have thought he had been seriously hurt. But, it was just the roof of his mouth that was really torn up, and a few puncture wounds.

 

[whackichic]

She's a cop and she's letting them talk to her that way?

I can understand her not wanting trouble in her neighborhood and not letting them know she is a police officer, it may invite more trouble and a phone call to our dept with false allegations. Nobody needs an internal affairs complaint for an off duty incident that wasn't her fault. (granted if she uses her weapon off duty she must report it, but for this incident it's not our dept's business).
Hopefully she will never shoot a dog and she's not the type to go looking for a reason to shoot anyone or anything. She's just shook up from the whole thing and rightfully so.
I still can't believe the other co-worker who lets her dog fight it out. Words fail me with her.

 

[whackichic]

All I have to say is...

I could NEVER bring myself to shoot a dog. Not even a dog who was harming my own. I would do everything I could to stop the fight (which does not involve reaching into the middle of it... *sigh*), but I wouldn't shoot a dog. In the midst of a hectic dog fight, you could accidentally shoot your own dog.

I agree, that it's incredibly overkill to bring a GUN on a walk with your dog. Pepper spray, sure. Mace, sure. A GUN? I would stop walking my dog around the neighborhood, before I felt a gun was necessary for protection.

Just out of curiosity, what harm was done to her dog? Although, I know some attacks are serious, the majority of "dog fights" result in very little harm done to either dog. They are mostly displays - when Gonzo got attacked, there was blood everywhere, you would have thought he had been seriously hurt. But, it was just the roof of his mouth that was really torn up, and a few puncture wounds.

Her dog is fine, my friend on the other hand was the one bleeding (all ovr the place she said) with a puncture wound on her calf. It wasn't just the dogs were fighting, that she got bit pretty bad in the process of breaking it up. She's lucky it was only a puncture wound and not a mouthful of flesh taken off. Hence the shooting of the dog, and she never has taken her off duty weapon on a dog walk but does take it else where with her, as the majority of the officers I work with.

 

[Amstaffer]

Would she be wrong....

Depends on the threat level....Could she stop the threat with a foot? a yell? then of course the shooting of the dog would be crazy. Is the dog much larger and a real physical threat (eg GSD vs a Whippet) then I would absolutely shoot. I think it is the humans number one duty to protect her/his dog.

Let the dogs fight it out...I think this is insane. That would be like saying if my 12 year old was attacked with a knife I would encourage him to pull out his knife and do the best he could.

Would I report....I would and actually have. Athena was attacked by a Keeshound, the dog didn't break the skin and I stop the attack with my size 13 shoes but I still called the police as the dog had a reputation. When the police arrived (hours later) they laughed at me because I had a Pit Bull and I called them about an aggressive Keeshound. That however is a topic for a whole other thread.

 

[CharlieDog]

I too am guilty of getting in the middle of a dog fight. I didnt have any other choice though, two larger dogs were attacking Ozzy at the same time, and one of the dogs did come after me, but got my jacket and I was able to grab Ozzy up (thankfully he weighs thirty pounds and not fifty) and I was the only one out there. The other two dogs could have killed him by the time I got help, so there was nothing for it I had to step in.

I did kick the other dogs rather hard, in the sides and that gave them enough pause that I could get Ozzy out of the way. When it comes to my dog, I have been known to have to beat the other dog with a metal pipe. (Long storty, long time ago, a dog came in our yard and attacked our dog)

 

[Dakotah]

Yes I would shoot another dog if it hurt me or my dog.
No I would not let my dog/s fight it out with another dog.
Yes I would report an attack.

I got a question, just wondering...
Is she a K-9 unit cop or what?

 

[JennSLK]

I would shoot the dog but only as a LAST resort.

 

[corgipower]

Would she be wrong....

Depends on the threat level....Could she stop the threat with a foot? a yell? then of course the shooting of the dog would be crazy. Is the dog much larger and a real physical threat (eg GSD vs a Whippet) then I would absolutely shoot. I think it is the humans number one duty to protect her/his dog.

Let the dogs fight it out...I think this is insane. That would be like saying if my 12 year old was attacked with a knife I would encourage him to pull out his knife and do the best he could.

Would I report....I would and actually have. Athena was attacked by a Keeshound, the dog didn't break the skin and I stop the attack with my size 13 shoes but I still called the police as the dog had a reputation. When the police arrived (hours later) they laughed at me because I had a Pit Bull and I called them about an aggressive Keeshound. That however is a topic for a whole other thread.

I agree completely ~ with amstaffy and everyone else who had the same views...I would do whatever was necessary to protect my dog. I would prefer that I be the one who gets bitten than have my dog get bitten.

The fact that the aggressor broke skin indicates that the dog probably has bitten before. The fact that the owner didn't come out to break up the fight, but just called the dog??? That is someone who shouldn't own a dog, IMO.

 

[whackichic]

Not a K9 officer, just patrol and her dog is just a pet, no schutzhund training or any protection training. The other dog is a pitbull. I know she told me she was yelling and pulling on her dog trying to get away.
My friend jogs thru the streets of east oakland and carries pepper spray due to all the loose dogs he encounters (he's not affiliated with the police) and has never used it.
I only brought up her being an officer because she has a gun that she can and does carry off duty, most of us dont' have one nor have a permit to do so.
Personally I hate guns, don't own one and only shot one once when I was kid w/my dad holding it out in a empty field.

The owner is the kid of the dad who was outside probably just not paying attention to the dog. The kid wasn't home at the time and I'm not sure how old the kid is but probably late teens from what she was saying.

 

[Dakotah]

Not a K9 officer, just patrol and her dog is just a pet, no schutzhund training or any protection training. The other dog is a pitbull. I know she told me she was yelling and pulling on her dog trying to get away.
My friend jogs thru the streets of east oakland and carries pepper spray due to all the loose dogs he encounters (he's not affiliated with the police) and has never used it.
I only brought up her being an officer because she has a gun that she can and does carry off duty, most of us dont' have one nor have a permit to do so.
Personally I hate guns, don't own one and only shot one once when I was kid w/my dad holding it out in a empty field.

The owner is the kid of the dad who was outside probably just not paying attention to the dog. The kid wasn't home at the time and I'm not sure how old the kid is but probably late teens from what she was saying.

Now are you an officer? And are you patrol as well?

 

[Romy]

IMO.. yes. I'd prefer if she went for less-deadly methods for keeping the dog away first, personally. If it's her last resort then shooting the dog is probably the best option, but she should look in to the legal ramifications for that first.

Bringing a staff, some sort of stick, or another weapon such as halt or pepper spray is preferable.



^Ditto.

I don't know about that. If the same dog, who has already bitten her badly enough to draw that much blood, comes after her again she may be more than just justified in shooting it. She'd probably be doing a public service.

If a dog capable of doing that much damage charged Strider and I, I'm pretty sure I'd try to beat the living crap out of it before it got teeth into my dog. He's a service animal and doesn't need to be rendered unable to work because he got attacked by some moron's uncontrolled aggressive animal. I don't carry a gun, but if I had one I'd rather shoot it than get chewed up myself.

I love dogs, but have little tolerance for animals who threaten the lives of innocent well behaved creatures, and human beings.

 

[whackichic]

Now are you an officer? And are you patrol as well?

are you kidding? I hate guns, don't own one and only shot one with my dad holding it when I was a kid. No way am I a police officer.
I'm a police dispatcher. We also don't work in the city where this happened.
Far from it. Well we both live far from each other and work together far from her house.