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It's interesting to hear people try to shift some of the blame on the neighbor. Even if there were no fence at all, she still can't really be blamed. Her dog was self-contained on her property. The OP's dog breached property lines, and killed the neighbor's dog. It's really that simple.
Sure everyone could have done more, but what's done is done. Even if the dog was on a leash, accompanied by the owner, would that have really stopped the OP's dog?
I actually agree with you. An animal (or child) should be safe on its own property. And you're correct in that even if the killed dog had been on a leash, it would have been in danger from the other dog. SHOULD is the operative word here.
But the fence and responsibility for having one is shared. Had the victim's owner put up her own fence on her own property, her dog would have been safe.
Never, ever delegate the safety of your own dog to someone else. And don't assume your dog knows the meaning of the human words "fence" and "yard".
Dogs don't think like humans and only fools think they do.
The neighbor didn't have a fence of her own. She can't expect animals of any kind to know not to enter her yard or know where property lines are.
If you want your dog to be safe, you'll put up your own fence.
Last edited by Dale Cooper; 03-20-2013 at 11:33 AM..
My former neighbor had a rottweiler that jumped partly over her fence and nipped my neck while I was mowing next to it. It wasn't major as far as I was concerned, but another neighbor saw it happen and called the police. Police showed up, asked me what happened, looked at the mark on my neck and wrote up a report. She was charged, had to go to court. I even gave her a ride, as I had to go too, to testify as to what happened.
I told the judge I wasn't upset about it and wasn't looking for anything, as the neighbor and I had always been on good terms. He didn't care. He considered the dog a threat and ordered my neighbor to destroy the dog, find a home for it outside the city limits, or build a second fence at least four feet inside her current fence. I just bring this up, because you could be looking at something similar, in addition to your neighbor's loss.
If that dog had jumped the fence (or knocked it down) and killed my small dog, I'd have wanted the dog destroyed. No ifs, ands or buts. I'd want total reassurance that it would never happen again. As mentioned uptopic, what if it had been a child in your neighbor's back yard. You've got a problem besides a bad fence.
I agree. I would called the police and the dog would have been put down as "vicious". I would not want to keep a dog that would want to attack or kill another dog. It has happened once so how long before it happens again? What if the dog gets out? If you can't control a pet, it is time to either get help or give the pet up. I am surprised the neighbor did not call the police but perhaps she was in shock. I'm guessing she is getting a lot of outside advice on this. I know a lot of home insurance policies will not cover a Rott.
Why do you own a dog that would kill another dog? I just don't understand this. It was your fence, you had the responsibility and good conscious to repair and/or replace that fence. If your dog killed mine, replacing with another dog would not placate me. Sure, I would feel responsible because I couldn't afford to fix something that was not mine. Now you will literally fix the barn door after the "cow"..."rott"....got out. How about the next time, there is a small child living next door? No dog is born vicious....if you never want to be sued, then you know what you have to do. You may not be awful people, but in my opinion, you are awfully ignorant.
I have not commented on this thread until now. I feel horrible for the OP and for the deceased dog's owner. It was an accident, could it have been prevented? Yes, most accidents can but the OP is doing everything they can to do right by their neighbor.
Also, an dog that is dog agressive, or even just small dog agressive or has a high prey drive does not translate to people agressive or that it would hurt or kill a human.
You call the OP ignorant, well, I'm sorry but in my opionion you are the one that is ignorant. Why would the OP own an dog that would kill another dog? Dogs are animals, with teeth, if it had killed a cat, a squirl, a mouse would you still ask this question?
OP, I hope one they the neighbor can forgive your dog and you for what happened. In the mean time, fix the fence, leash the dog, don't leave your dogs unsupervised and lend your support to your neighbor. Hopefully your neighbor will take you up on getting another dog, not that it will replace the one that died but it might help heal her pain if she gives love to another pup. =)
I have not commented on this thread until now. I feel horrible for the OP and for the deceased dog's owner. It was an accident, could it have been prevented? Yes, most accidents can but the OP is doing everything they can to do right by their neighbor.
Also, an dog that is dog agressive, or even just small dog agressive or has a high prey drive does not translate to people agressive or that it would hurt or kill a human.
You call the OP ignorant, well, I'm sorry but in my opionion you are the one that is ignorant. Why would the OP own an dog that would kill another dog? Dogs are animals, with teeth, if it had killed a cat, a squirl, a mouse would you still ask this question?
Yes, the level of ignorance about prey drive and dog-on-other-animal aggression is just astounding. It's people projecting their own human values on to dogs. Stop thinking about dogs as though they have human brains, please. I hope most of these people don't have dogs themselves because they don't understand the species or the fact that they are domesticated carnivores descended from wolves. A wolf isn't going to hesitate to kill a small dog either.
My boy is Lab mixed with Border Collie. He is dog aggressive. So much for that theory.
and my fear aggressive towards dogs fella, Dave, is lab mixed with boxer and possibly shepherd.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnywhereElse
I agree. I would called the police and the dog would have been put down as "vicious". I would not want to keep a dog that would want to attack or kill another dog. It has happened once so how long before it happens again? What if the dog gets out? If you can't control a pet, it is time to either get help or give the pet up. I am surprised the neighbor did not call the police but perhaps she was in shock. I'm guessing she is getting a lot of outside advice on this. I know a lot of home insurance policies will not cover a Rott.
so, since my Davey-Long-Legs is so terrified of other dogs he reacts with aggression when he sees one, I should have him put down or i should get rid of him??
Yes, the level of ignorance about prey drive and dog-on-other-animal aggression is just astounding. It's people projecting their own human values on to dogs. Stop thinking about dogs as though they have human brains, please. I hope most of these people don't have dogs themselves because they don't understand the species or the fact that they are domesticated carnivores descended from wolves. A wolf isn't going to hesitate to kill a small dog either.
Yep, the dog world is different than ours. There is absolutely no reason to believe this dog is dangerous to other people. This was a dog thing.
The OP is liable for damages if the neighbors sue. The cost of the dog and substantial amount for pain and suffering.
late, as already pointedout rehoming an agressive dog is irresponsible so yes, Davey should be imediatly euthanized as the agressive evil potential killer he is...
As should every one of us because heck even if theyve never shown any agression prior as this thread points out a "frinedly" dog could suddenly turn agressive and kill another dog..so why take the risk at all?!
The dog is not a Rottweiler, it is a mix. I have no idea why people keep calling something with even a hint of a breed something it is not.
Typical predator-prey situation; just as dogs kill mice, squirrels, etc, dogs are predators. Cats also are. The hysteria over this is ridiculous (in regards to the dog itself, the situation is tragic), a dog is going to be a dog many times, even when unexpected. It could even have been an alpha assertion gone wrong.
The dog is not a Rottweiler, it is a mix. I have no idea why people keep calling something with even a hint of a breed something it is not.
Typical predator-prey situation; just as dogs kill mice, squirrels, etc, dogs are predators. Cats also are. The hysteria over this is ridiculous (in regards to the dog itself, the situation is tragic), a dog is going to be a dog many times, even when unexpected. It could even have been an alpha assertion gone wrong.
True, my parents doxie likes to kill rabbits, thank goodness the rabbits are usually faster than him. Between him and my retriver they killed two birds last year. I guess they ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOO AGRESSIVE because they have a prey drive. They are animals. What happened sucks but it happens in the animal world.
Lesson learned - the next time someone thinks or utters "my dog wouldn't (fill in the blank)" - think again.
Real cases: My dog wouldn't go after that German Shepherd at the dog park. He ended up looking like he was doing a WWF event with that same dog until me and the owner broke it up.
My dog wouldn't turn on me. Almost true except for the time he bit me when I broke him and another dog he was fighting up.
My dog is not an "aggressive breed." Nonetheless, any dog can be aggressive - to other dogs, to people, to prey, completely out of the blue. Training can help but there is no such thing as a foolproof way to avoid all possibilities.
If a dog kills another dog there is no going back (to echo some others' comments). To think a dog confuses another dog with prey (somehow ignoring all scents, hormones, other dog-to-dog communication methods) is incredibly naive.
There are those who understand risk management and those who don't.
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