Did you know that chihuahuas are actually far more violent than pitbulls? Poodles too. Pitbulls just get a bad rep because they were bred for dogfighting for so long, thus associated with violence. That, and when a pitbull loses it, they do more damage because of their brute strength and jaw muscles. But they are no more 'naturally' violent than any other breed of dog.
That said, I used to work in a kennel, and dealt with my share of violent dogs. We always had a can of pepperspray on our belt, in case one of the dogs we were handling lost it. I only had to use mine 3 times... and it is VERY effective. Even more on dogs than on humans... becuase they rely on their noses just as much as their other senses, and the pepper spray will affect that too. Even if they don't breathe it in, it will sting their eyes and nasal passages.
Definitely call animal control. DON'T WAIT for another person to be attacked... get statements from the people who have already been attacked, and file a complaint. Have your neighbors do the same. If they wound up hospitalized, then there is documentation. If enough people complain they will HAVE to do something, even if it is only to give the owners a warning to keep them leashed. Animal control usually gives second chances... but not 3rd or 4th.
Until then... walk the other direction. Or drive somewhere safe to walk.
There is a leash law where I live so I'm generally not afraid. However, my husband works outside and he actually had a pitbull break through through a locked storm door (glass) and start chewing on his leg. Luckily it was a puppy (a year old) and he (my husband is a big man at 6'7") managed to pin it down until the owner arrived through the broken glass. Carrying a gun is fine but with the legalities these days who knows what would happen if you shot someone's dog. Look at what happened to Sen Soles for shooting an intruder...he's been indicted. Call the police and ask them what would be the consequences if you were attacked.
Rottweilers, I've heard, actually grit their teeth and hold their breath when they attack so pepper spray is not going to help. I think your best bet is to take this issue before the city council. You can't be the only one that feels this way. Some cities ban aggressive breeds. Some cities fine and even imprison owners who don't take control of their dogs. Atlanta does seem to be overun with them.
The nastiest dog bite I've ever gotten was from a cocker spaniel. And I worked in vet clinics for fifteen years.
Any dogs running loose in the neighborhood, regardless of breed or size, need to be reported to and dealt with by animal control.
Until animal control gets a handle on the situation, find some other place to walk. Atlanta has lots of parks.
I have two pit mixes and a border collie mix. One of the pit mixes doesn't like strangers (he was an abuse rescue), the other two dogs beleive that the only reason human beings evolved with hands was to that we could scratch their ears. My dogs are inside my house or my yard at all times. I have Beware of Dog signs on my fence.
Any dog owner who will not keep their dogs confined, both for the dogs' safety and that of the neighbors, doesn't deserve to have a dog.
I had a neighbor with a rotweiler that wouldn't keep control of it. It chased my chickes into my garage. I heard the squawking and barking and went out to the garage with my loaded 22 rifle. When I opened the door the dog came at me. I dropped him n his tracks with a bullet in the head.
Before this happened, I went over to talk to the neighbor to warn her that her dog was chasing my chickens. She told me that if I did something about it to NOT tell her. So when I killed her dog I put him on top of a brush pile I was going to burn and lit it. 6 hours later there was no more brush and no more dog. When the neighbor came over to see if I knew where her dog was, I followed her instructions and said, I hadn't seen her dog for several days. (True) She missed her AKC rotweiller I guess, because her other dogs quit coming by too.
For your problem, I see the owner of the dog and tell her you have prepaid legal and if their dog bothered you again, you will let the lawyers sue and you will be going after punitive damages and equity. That should solve the dog getting out problem.
Report, report, report to police and animal control EVERY time you see any loose dog regardless of breed. I'd call them even before going out and ask them what is being done in the area to stop these attacks. Carry pepper spray as other say. Also carry something long like an umbrella with you -- thrust it at an attacking dog for the dog to bite at before it bites at an arm etc.
The fact there have been actual attacks documented in your area is very troubling. Frankly until it was known to be under control I would walk in another area or even inside a mall.
Having a gun on your own property is one thing, but I can't imagine carrying a gun while out walking on public streets and in parks with a child. If you had the gun on you and stumbled, what if it went off? What if you did shoot an attacking dog? The owner likely would sue you, even if you were in the right, and you would be tied up in legal fights and money fights. If you shot a gun and a bullet hit someone's home they could sue and the police would probably charge you as well. If you shot it at a dog and didn't realize another child was nearby -- imagine it. What are your area's laws on carrying guns? Does your husband know all that or does he just say, carry it?
Darnica, I would recommend physically going down to your police station to ask them what they are doing about the problem. I called the police on my sister's neighbor after his pitbull charged my young niece and infant son while we were getting out of our car. The police never arrived, so I WENT to the police station and found that they just filed my call and didn't cite the owner for not leashing the dog.
The mailman had actually been attacked by the dog, and refused to deliver mail on that street.
So, get reassurance from your police department. If there have been prior attacks, the dogs should have been removed and/or put down. I don't recommend taking a gun on a neighborhood walk. What if you accidentally shot someone? You would feel absolutely horrible.
The type of dog is less important than the fact they are running wild.
I'd take the 22 with me, I wouldn't stop walking and I'd be prepared to shoot an animal if it came near me or my child.
It's self defense.
(My husband carries his 9 mm everywhere permitted by law and he's never had any problems. You'll have to open carry if you don't have a concealed carry permit.)
Here's Georgia's laws regarding dogs: http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusgast4_8_21.htm
If you can kill a dog for it killing your livestock or chickens you can certainly kill a dog for attacking you or your child, and you incur no liability for doing so.
Report every incident and have animal control out every time.
Document everything.
Do what you can to have them patrol your neighborhood as frequently as possible.
It would help if the other Moms in your neighborhood could walk together as a group.
Also, if nothing gets done, and your documentation is getting long, consider going to the media with it.
carry a stick with you, i see that a lot. And i agree with you, those dogs have been bred through the years to be fighters. It comes more natural. I of course think that there can definitely be good pit bulls, but living things revert too easily back to their instincts in a blink. I wouldnt own one.
and please if you do decide to take a gun, learn how to properly aim it and shoot it at your local range first.
Personally, I would take the .22 and shoot a dog if it came at me or my kids. Pitbulls don't bother me because I grew up with them and never seen one bite anyone or act aggressive. German shepards though, I worry about. I have seen one rip a little girls leg off and there is one down the road from me that lunges at me everytime I walk down the street, thank goodness it's on a chain.
I was born in Miami and they made the pitbull bred illegal because of the incidents that you are describing. There were so many attacks that was done by pitbulls that it was dangerous to go walking.
I am sorry you are going through this, but it is an issue of irresponsible owners! We have a pitbull and she is a wondeful family dog, great with our kids, and a joy to have around :) we treat her good and she is a good dog! It is all in how you raise them. The dogs that you are talking about have probably been abused and not been taken care of properly! Instead of banning pitbulls, maybe nasty people like Michael Vick should be banned for the outrageous abuse he put thise dogs through. There are many websites you can view that show what wonderful dogs they are. The news always puts them in a negative light which is wrong!! I have never had any problems with pitbulls and actually when I was younger I got attacked in a parking lot by a German shepherd...there are much more vicious dogs out there besides pitbulls...trust me! Anyways, I would walk at the park...seems safer. Good luck!
I'm very sorry you feel so unsafe to walk in your own neighborhood!! I would be upset as well. Although I do not agree with your statement that ALL pitbulls are vicious and need to be banned from the United States. Animals are just that no matter the age, no matter the breed, no matter what ...they are indeed animals and any animal has its own aggressive nature when pushed. I have never ever owned a pitbull but I understand the love of a particular breed because I am partial to Dalmatians. ;()) I think the Pit Bulls get a bad rap and most cases aren't even given a chance. There used to be a show I watched called pitbulls and parolee's. She is a woman that takes in these poor animals that everyone wants to seem to just throw away and rehabs them but in the twist of things she also "hires" parolee's to help her take care of all these dogs because she feels like they too have been tossed aside by society and gives them the chance no one else ever would have. Your statement is by far a perfect example of what the media wants to portray and not educating and its very very sad and even more sad outcome for these poor dogs. I don't mean to call you un-educated by any means that is not what I'm saying at all -It bothers me that so many people can throw these statements around about these dogs and not truly understand that it's not the "breed" it is the irresponsible owners!!! Just like bee's- hornets/wasp tend to be an agressive type bee however other bee's such as a bumblebee can still sting you BUT they are not aggressive like a hornet or wasp would be. Does that make sense? I'm not trying to compare a dog to a bee by any means but there are just some dogs that tend to be more agressive than others but with the proper environment they can flourish....with a not so proper environment then they can become the monsters that their name has labeled them as-which in turn isn't their fault it's their owners or the environment they have been exposed to which in turn is lack of responsability on a humans part. Any dog can be taught to be aggressive and ruin their spirit.......it's the owners that should walk with their tails in between their legs and hang their heads down in shame.....not those poor dogs. That being said if you have seen the dog or know of the dog's owner -report them. Perhaps instead of going alone for your walks you could form like a mommy walk group or something not saying that the dog wouldn't and couldn't attack someone in the group but it would be less likely and at least there would be a group and someone could be in charge of having some form of protection to protect the group. Most importantly keep on Animal Control until they DO something about it. Usually when a dog attacks.... Animal Control is automatically involved so I don't understand why this situation isn't being taken care of especially when people have been hurt???? I would go up the chain line if need be-regardless of the breed.....it's the irresponsible owners!!!
I'm sorry to add this late, and sorry if it offends anyone, but what's wrong with taking your gun or baseball bat on a walk too? Nothing wrong with self-defense against a bad-minded animal that should be behind a fence or on a leash.
I decided to stop taking my baby for walks. Animal control in my area is so sorry. When I call them, somtimes they show up and somtimes they dont. And when they do, it takes so long that the dog is gone. I just walk on the treadmill and take the baby with us to the playground in the evenings for fresh air. I would just like to say that my comment about pitt bulls being vicious animals have nothing to do with the media. My comment is from a personally witnessing a pitbull attack a child and friends and family stories about being attacked. But when “the media” said that kids in my neighborhood were being attacked, thats when I began to worry.