If the law refuses to do something about dogs that kill neighborhood pets, what can the neighbors do?

Question

These dogs in our neighborhood keep getting away from their owners. The dogs have killed a couple of cats, and have been seen running in the grass at the local elementary school. These dogs might not be a threat to the children, but I'm thinking, why take the chance? If the law isn't doing anything to protect the neighborhood (they've been called several times), what can we do to protect ourselves, and more importantly, our children?

Answer 1

As far as the cats running loose, were they on their property?  In some areas, mine included, leash laws only apply to dogs.  Cats are allowed to run free.  Keep calling Animal Control every time you see the dogs running free.  Keep making the point that these dogs have killed peoples pets.  That is against the law.  The owners of the cats need to file charges.  Also, it is perfectly legal to carry pepper spray and use it if you or your property, (like your animals), are threatened.  The kids may or may not be in danger, but the dogs owners are breaking the law by allowing them to run free and kill pets.  They need to at least be fined.  

Answer 2

call animal control.  

i had this problem with neighbors once.  their boy let my dogs out to play with them.  they supposedly killed a rooster.  never saw evidence of this.  but i got fined.

their dogs were always on my property when they were hunting rabbits.  they actually hit my house a couple of times shooting.  the last time i called to complain.  the police said that the dogs were on their property and couldn't do anything.  i said well my dogs were penned when i got fined.  said they still couldn't do anything.  so i said fine, next time on my property i would just shoot them.  no more problem.

i wouldn't have shot the dogs, i would have shot the owners first.  but just saying it worked for me.

Answer 3

well mr. turdstone i suggest you throw something that resembles your name at the owners house! maybe then they would understand your plight!

Answer 4

When you find the dog out of its own yard, catch it, and then call Animal Control. Tell them the dog keeps getting loose, and has killed other people's pets, and is threatening children at the school yard.  They will handle it from there.  

Answer 5

Most dogs have some degree of animal aggression.  This type of behaviour is normal for dogs.  It however deemed unacceptable for dog to hunt and kill when they live in our human communities.  It is an owners legal obligation to keep they're dog contained for it's own safety and for the safety of the community.  

Human aggression is a VERY different thing, it is not a natural occurrence.  A dog is rarely born human aggressive, it is something they learn from humans.  There is no link at all between animal aggression in dogs and human aggression in dogs. They are two very different things.

However, it is unsafe to have strange dogs running loose where young children play, as children should never be unsupervised around dogs.

As parents you need to remove the dogs and physiclly take them to the pound yourselves!  If your not confident in doing this yourself then contact a dog trainer or canine behavior expert for advice. (Put a call out to the parents at the school, and see if someone is qualified.)

If you are considering hurting the dogs in some way, I would say that would be modeling some pretty cruel and inhumane behaviour for the very children you are trying to protect.  



EDIT.  I see your response to geekman.  I'm glad to hear it.  Two wrongs dont make a right and all that!

Answer 6

.45 caliber...works every time on dogs that may be dangerous to kids!

ADD: While I agree with you that shooting a dog is not a great idea, my kids are FAR more valuable then any animal will ever be.

To the panty waisted ones in here that think that shooting an animal that may present a clear and present danger to little children, grow up, remove your heads from your r****m and start realizing that human life is and always will be far more precious then any dog, ever!!!

ADD: Memphis Bell...when a dog is running lose and is causing enough of an issue for someone to come here and post a question, I have to be responsible and answer it in a way that will benefit the KIDS FIRST, not the dogs.

I am not a dog catcher, I do not want to become one, it is not my responsibility to catch others dogs, however, I have a HUGE responsibility towards the 2 little humans that I brought into this world and I will be damned if a dog, any dog, regardless of who owns it will ever hurt my children.

I hope I am clear enough on this for everyone and I also hope that everyone here values the life of a child more then the life fo a dog.

Answer 7

well the next time call animal control thats terrible

Answer 8

The owners sound incredibly irresponsible to allow their dogs to escape on a regular basis. The dogs could be harmed themselves (especially if there is someone like Greekman with a gun handy) or cause an accident if for example they ran out in front of a car.

Has anyone tried talking to the owners or putting a note in their letterbox? Has animal control been contacted?

Add: I agree that the safety of both adults and children has to be the overriding priority and if there is a real risk, then yes it justifiable to shoot the dogs to protect human life.

However, if the dogs are just milling around and not bothing anyone, shouldn't some attempt be made to catch them first?

Answer 9

There isn't much you can do .... the cats are running loose too - killing birds and any little animals they happen upon.

If people let their cats run loose, unfortunately - they become part of the food chain.

Why is it okay for cats to go around killing anything and everything smaller than them .... but if a dog has a prey drive (such as a cat does) - then all of a sudden they are a hazard?

The dogs shouldn't be running loose - but then again, the cats shouldn't be either!

edited to add:

Prey drive in dogs (or cats) has no bearing at all on how they act around people and children.

Answer 10

Contact animal control not the police, police don't catch strays.   As far as the cats if they were also running at large and off their own property then the owner has no recourse since they were also at fault.  (If the cats were on their own property then  the owner can take the dogs owner to small claims court for the value of the cat)    If the dogs attack or threaten to attack a person anywhere other than their own property of if they try to attack and animal that is properly restrained or on its own property they you are likely in your legal rights to take whatever steps necessary to defend yourself, someone else or your pet.   (check your local laws regarding this)  

Answer 11

as long as parents tell their kids to stay away from the dogs they should be fine alot of kids see a dogs a want to mess with it thats how they end up on the news