Drama At The Park, WWYD?

[krisykris]

I'm beyond upset right now. I posted a while ago about Emma being dominating over another dog at the park (growling). She was leashed, as well as the other dog she acted that way towards but there were 7 off leash dogs in one group.

Now, they are there every evening.. which is when we take our LEASHED dogs to the park as well.

They sit in lawn chairs, have about 3 cars there and the 7 dogs. None are ever on leash. Immediately, when we get there they rush us as we are getting our dogs out of the jeep.

Obviously this freaks our dogs out. They bark and whine because they are on a leash and the others aren't. This puts them at "risk" in their mind and I can see why.

The couple never does a thing to go after the dogs. They call their names and that is IT. They never even attempt to come get their off leashed (breaking the rules) dogs.

I'm also not one to play the size game and be afraid of bigger dogs or act like mine should get special treatment because they are small, but this is RIDICULOUS. The fact is that these are strange dogs, charging at me and my dogs and have easily 80+ pounds on them.

So tonight my little sister (11), myself and DH took all of the dogs to the park. She had Mckenzie, I had Emma and Sean had Lula and Bent.

The dogs immediately came over as we got out of the car, we shooed them away, and walked as FAR as we could away from them. All our dogs were on standard leashes (not flexis). They were pulling and excited but not barking at the other people or dogs at the park.

The off leash dogs came over to them, 3 out of the 7... charging across the park at us. Sean was a bit away, and Morgan and I were walking together. My little sister is really really afraid of big dogs and she picked up Mckenzie to protect her because she was shaking and barking and the big doberman JUMPED all over Morgan.

The other dog who looked to be a pitt mix jumped all over me and nipped at Emma. Morgan was screaming and in tears... she was so scared the dog was going to hurt Mckenzie.

I've called the police now twice, but they never show up when the people are there and they said all they can do is give them a warning. I'm just so upset. We've always enjoyed the park and I don't feel I should have to stop going seeing as I am doing not a thing wrong.

All my dogs are registered, wearing collars and tags AND LEASHES.

Any thoughts?

 

[SizzleDog]

Report them, no questions asked. Is there an Animal Control officer or Parks and Recreation person you could report it to? Calling the police sometimes works, but be sure to find someone to make an official report - get their license plate numbers.

Other than that... pepper spray? If they're off-leash and rushing towards you, if you were ever questioned you can say you feared for YOUR safety (don't mention you're afraid for your dogs, it might not be taken seriously) - sadly, officials react much quicker to reports of dogs harassing people than other dogs.

 

[milos_mommy]

No advice, but i'm curious as to what other people say. This happens to me, a lot, and since MY dog IS aggressive, i'd hate to see either him get hurt by starting a fight with a much larger, stronger dog, or to see him hurt another dog and have a lawsuit on my hands.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

I would call animal control and report them! Ignorant people ruin it for everyone else I see it at the place I walk all the time

 

[simon'smom]

oh my gosh- I am sorry you have gone through this!
I am not an expert and I so love dogs but when a human is in danger of being jumped upon and terrified by a dog- all grownups involved need to take action- like you did by calling the police- but those owners are being very negligent and irresponsible of their dogs and do not realize what could happen if someone even younger than your sister were to be mauled by an unleashed dog. The damage and lawsuits would be outrageous.
Now their dogs might be playing- but who really knows, apparently the owners don't seem to care either.
Regardless, you, your family and your dogs' safety are #1- above all else and if you feel the environment those owners have created is not safe for you or anyone else then make a BIG stink with the authorities.
I would not confront them directly, but stand firm in your right to feel protected and share the community.
All my best!

Amyjean

 

[DanL]

Baseball bat to the dog will send a message to both the dog and the owners that you are sick of this stuff. I would not tolerate that AT ALL and I'd do whatever was necessary to protect my dogs and my family.

 

[hedwig]

if it were me i not wanting to sound cruel but would of kicked the dogs and shouted at them.

maby the owners will think twice about letting the dogs off like that.
if it was my dog or their dogs safety it wouldnt be a contest

 

[smkie]

I Think that would be child endangerment on their part.

 

[DanL]

if it were me i not wanting to sound cruel but would of kicked the dogs and shouted at them.

maby the owners will think twice about letting the dogs off like that.
if it was my dog or their dogs safety it wouldnt be a contest

With big dogs, a kick wont' do much. You could kick my shepherd as hard as you wanted and it wouldn't phase him if he was going after something he wanted.

 

[eddieq]

Since mife wife, kids and Xena were attacked by the pit down the street, she doesn't leave the house without the pepper spray. These dogs would have gotten faces full of the stuff the first time they ran at her.

If you can't get it, I like the bat idea. Get one of those "tire checker" bats (basically a minuature baseball bat) and carry it with you. Crack the dogs on the head when they charge you. That should do it. It is a shame to have to hurt the dogs, so you could also crack the owners one while you're at it.

 

[FoxyWench]

i would have the number for ANIMAL CONTROL on speeddial on your cellphone. when you get to the park if you see these dogs call animal control imediatly and report them being off leash, make a formal report about them being out of control and freeking out your sister, tell them your afraid for your saftey...
EVERY time you come to the park, if you see those dogs off leash the minute you see them, call that number animal control are more likely to come out than the police...if animal control wont respond do the same with the police, just keep reporting everytime...eventually the cops will get so sick of it they will do something.

if there is a leash law in your area these people can be at the very least FINED for each dog off leash...

i would then find pepperspray, or if pepperspray is illegal in your area a can of "halt" is LIKE pepperspray but made specifically for dog attacks, have ti with you just in case. and even start walking with a large walking stick, a large stick has more of a physical presence and if the dogs owners see it they might be more inclined to keep their dogs away from you.

good luck, i hate people like that, its those people that give all dog owners a bad name when they cant control their dogs!

 

[Emmalee]

Next time you go, and if the people are there, you should say something to them. Maybe they don't realize what their dogs are doing is wrong.

 

[squirtsmom]

That is why I don't take Baby to the dog park. Not because I don't trust her, but it is the other dogs, and owners. I will not risk my dog being hurt or traumatized. Some wounds are not easily undone. And as we know, some people are asses. Like the ones you described.

 

[planet molosser]

I guess it is the Bklyn in me this happens at dogs shows allot and the look I give they come running.

My dogs are protective not aggressive , are never muzzled, or shown hands off or start with other dogs when on a leash or in my company.

But they are bred to protect me and ive told off quite a few dogs owners.

Then they say sometimes you dog should not be here if it is NOT a social dog.

And I state yes a lGD bred to KILL predators should be friendly to all strange dogs OFF leash? Dont think so. I never give a chance for my dogs to act aggressive because I am 10x more nasty than all my dogs put together.

I can read my dog and the dog in question and tell if my dog wants to play or dominate I dont have that time when one of them is off leash.

 

[BostonBanker]

Next time you go, and if the people are there, you should say something to them. Maybe they don't realize what their dogs are doing is wrong.

I've got to say, that would be my first step. I'd get out of my car without the dogs first, and ask the owners if they can hang onto their dogs while you get your dogs out and walk out of sight. Tell them your dogs won't tolerate others charging at them, and see what they say. If they apologize and comply, great.

If not, I agree that you call animal control (or the police) as soon as you pull into the park and see the dogs off-leash. Tell them the dogs have charged you and your dogs, and that they have jumped up on your sister and scared her. Sit in your car and wait for them to show up.

 

[krisykris]

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

When the dogs were jumping on us, Morgan my little sister was screaming PLEASE GET YOUR DOGS OFF OF ME!!!! and they just stood there and watched and never made a move. That made me more angry than anything because this is a young, little girl.

The minute that she picked up Mckenzie, I took Mckenzie from her because I know that a dog can attack a person attempting to get another dog. She didn't think anything of picking Kenzie up, it was just her instinct to protect her.

My dogs are hyper puppies, I won't lie. They pull on the leash and are VERY energetic still. I normally take only two at a time, but with having an extra set of hands wanted to attempt to take all four.

I made sure to keep them on regular, short leads and leave the flexis at home. After our past few encounters with these guys, I made the decision not to use the flexis if there are other dogs at the park.

It's just a mess. Their unleashed dogs charging us, my dogs barking and jumping around getting tangled in the process. As soon as I see their dogs, I change direction and try to get my group to focus on a treat instead, but when they are just rushing us.. no distraction for them is enough!

And even though my dogs are small, they still have teeth! I worry that they will feel so threatened it might end in a bite on my end and that absolutely terrifies me.

I will continue to call and hope that someone shows up. I so appreciate the help here guys <3

 

[Sweet72947]

Those people must be real A$$holes to just sit there and let their dog terrify a little girl.