"The neighbor next door was not confortable having a pit bull next door."

I lived in my house that I live in now for 2 years with 3 pitbulls before the neighbors even realized that I had dogs. As soon as they saw me walking my dogs one day a couple of the neighbors called animal control. I went to talk to them and asked if there had ever been a problem with my dogs. When they told me that they didn't even know that I had dogs before they saw me walking them one day I had to laugh.
Just because they are pitbulls people freak out. I know all of the animal control officers because we have attended the same training classes. They have known my dogs personally for many years so they got a good chuckle out of it. All of my current neighbors now love my dogs and come to play with them. A new neighbor is moving in next week and they expressed concern about my dogs after they heard that I have pitbulls.... here we go again. My older pitbull is almost 16 now. I really doubt that at this point in her life she is suddenly going to become ferocious. People just have a real knee-jerk reaction to larger dogs.

 

I have 2 Mastiffs and had our homeowner's cancelled because they barked at the State Farm agent. They are very intimidating but they are babies. We live out in the sticks with the closest neighbor 1/2 mile away and I have posters at the front of the driveway and close to the house. I went round and round with the insurance and finally had it reinstated under the conditions that I pen them up when we are not at home..yeah right. They have already foiled one break-in attempt and have probably kept who knows how many thugs away.

 

You'd think that they'd give you a discount for having such good security

 

All very valid points and some good story telling too.

I think the consensus is that once you are not in control of your animal (fence, leash) and it harms someone else you are at their mercy. Especially when you are talking about in his front yard.

I would suggest a fruit basket, maybe a gift card to a local eatery.

Is there anyway to make nice with the guy to help with the pending litigation?

I'm out in the boonies and my Mom was bit on the ankle by our neighbors dog. She was a good sport about it, he immediately offered to pay for any medical bills. It can happen to anyone, with ANY dog at any time. They're animals.

Spunbearing: Last time you posted in regards to your dog (the "my dog is cuter than Jacks thread), you had me on the American Pitbull Registry site looking at puppies. That dog is awesome! I realize thats not reason enough for me to decide to buy one, but I am working on the wife. She wants some kind of ankle biter, I want a dog that EATS ankle biters!

Good Luck Ripper, 95% of the population has a unfounded hatred for Rotties and Pits, mainly due to the negative stigma caused by the media ONLY reporting attacks and killings by those breeds. The truth is that many breeds attack, you just don't hear about them.

 

If a strange dog was in my yard and growled at my family or myself ,I would kill it on the spot. I have 5 dogs, 2 mastiffs, 1 lab , 1 german shepherd and one mut. They have about half an acre fenced in for them to run. I love my dogs but if they left my yard and acted aggressively to someone it would be MY fault if they were put down. Sorry to say it but they are your property and you have to control them. If you dont then you have to pay the price.

 

about 2 years ago my rottie got through my back yard fence and bit my neighbors terrrior. He didnt do it on purpose he was just playing. He ended up hurting the dog. I offered to pay the vet bill and we brought over a basket of doggie biscuits for little muffy. Everything worked out. IMO a lot of people blow things out of proportion when it comes to large breed dogs, especially in california. Ive had Rotties and English Mastiffs in SUBURBAN areas. Ive had them for two reasons. One, I love dogs and 2. for protection. If your going to have dogs classified as "aggressive", whether it be doberman, rottie, mastiff, pit bull whatever, I have one word for you INSURANCE and be prepared to pay alittle more. It was always worth it to me

 

My only comments:

1) You acknowledge your are responsible for what your dogs do. If they hadn't gotten out, all else is moot. You don't much have a leg to stand on.

2) No dog is worth your peace and sanity, or relationship with a community. Give the dogs away to someone whom you know will care for them and give them a good life, or put them down. It's up to you if the hassle and expense of having them is worth the joy they bring. In the end, it's like everything else, if you play, you may have to pay.

jmo

 

what i cant stand is breed profiling. My grandfather was a police officer and during a raid they confinscated severl american stafordshire terriers (pit bulls) that had been run on tread mills for training for fighting. He ended up keeping one and we never had any trouble with her. we had many other dogs on the farm and they never fought. they just had to understand she was boss. somone stole her, probably to fight her.

Later we had a neighbors german shepard almost kill our catahoula lepord dog unprovoked. everydog has a personality and should be treated as such, not giving a breed a certain stigma.

we also had a rottie that would come over from the neighbors from time to time it was old, and it always got along with our dogs and us.