Dog Laws, very concerning situation (Pocatello, Idaho Falls: house, neighborhood, fence)

[norcalmom101]

Will my dogs be next?

There is a family in Shelley that is facing having their dog put down because he got off leash and ran towards someone. The dog has never bitten anyone.

Family needs help to save dog | KIDK CBS 3 - News, Weather and Sports - Idaho Falls - Pocatello - Blackfoot, ID - Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Blackfoot - Idaho | News (http://www.kidk.com/news/43601497.html - broken link)

This is very concerning to me. I have a neighbor who lets their dog roam around harmlessly. I do not have a fence. I walk my dalmation mix on a leash, on my own property, but she goes crazy when she sees this dog loose, so (I imagine) she appears to observers to be the problem, compared to the loose but unthreatening dog.

We just adopted a very large doberman pinscher, totally friendly but about as fearsome looking as it gets, and with an established high prey drive. I now spend time worrying that my dogs are at risk because of other peoples fears, and not even whether or not they misbehave. My dalmation did get loose yesterday while I was trying to get her into the house because of the roamer. She went chasing after the roamer, nothing came of it, she came when I called, but that was just the luck of the draw. If it had scared someone, and they had reported it, my beloved companion could be put down, and that seems downright wrong.

Here is a question, if an intruder were to run into my two pals in my home, and was to suffer injury as a result, could I be liable for their injuries?

There is also a neighborhood cat that actually approaches my dal on my property. When this happens I bring her inside, as the cat just keeps coming. Our doberman has a history with cats. If I have a fenced area on my property, and the cat is stupid enough to enter the fenced area, will my dogs be put down for attacking it, or will I be liable for its loss?

[Rickers]

Let the cat visit and let your dog chase it. I doubt that your dog will catch the cat and it would be not only be fun for the dog but good exercise for both the cat and the dog. Liability issues ? I don't know, you may be swimming in untested waters. Just put up a sign on your fence that says "No cats allowed"

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by rickers

Let the cat visit and let your dog chase it. I doubt that your dog will catch the cat and it would be not only be fun for the dog but good exercise for both the cat and the dog. Liability issues ? I don't know, you may be swimming in untested waters. Just put up a sign on your fence that says "No cats allowed"

I like the cat sign idea! I've seen my dalmation get cornered by a cat and taught a lesson, but the newest member of our family has proven himself a competent cat eradicator, for better or worse. And he's as big as I am. Too bad about the off leash hysteria, he's trained to stay off leash in public areas.

I'm in love! Thank you cleosmom for helping this heaven made match!

If you look carefully you can see how competant I've become at making windows out of plastic and duct tape, but I didn't skimp on the dog!

[DESERTRYDER]

Oh that big old dog would scare the Gasman

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by DESERTRYDER

Oh that big old dog would scare the Gasman

Looks are deceiving, he is much nicer than I am !

[Rickers]

I was attacked by a dobie in front of our house when I was five years old. My wife and I were both attacked and had our faces bit by two different dogs before. I still love dogs. I blame the owners.
Here is a pic of my buddy "Meathead" He belongs to a friend of mine and has very little training. He is a great guard dog. I'm glad he likes me ! I think that Dobermans were bred down from Rottweilers.

[pimit2]

Forget the Gasman....he'd scare the gas outta me!

What, he's much nicer than you, norcalmom101? I'm tryin' to get my head around that claim....


pimit2 (Bob)

[norcalmom101]

Aww, you are sweet pimit2. Just like our new dobie! He's very gentle (unless you are a cat) and he seems to have some conflict resolution skills, at least he's been able to defer to my dalmation without taking it where she'd gladly bring it. Our gasman is a dog man too, but Apollo is pretty scary looking, with a thunderous bark. I'm going to sleep tight tonight, knowing no cats are gonna get me.

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by rickers

I was attacked by a dobie in front of our house when I was five years old. My wife and I were both attacked and had our faces bit by two different dogs before. I still love dogs. I blame the owners.
Here is a pic of my buddy "Meathead" He belongs to a friend of mine and has very little training. He is a great guard dog. I'm glad he likes me ! I think that Dobermans were bred down from Rottweilers.

Yep you are right, about the owners and the Rottweilers. This one was raised with little kids and seems pretty difficult to provoke, my understanding however is that if the other dog really wants to go at it he will come out on top, which is nice but still puts him at risk, although he might get blamed anyway just for being a doberman. I feel like I'm walking around my yard with a small horse. Maybe I could harness a push mower or a tiller to him....hmmm...

Rottweiler, Weimeraner, Greyhound, Great Dane, some others, and my very favorite of all, the Beauceron.

[norcalmom101]

Anyone have any ideas to help the family in Shelley save their dog?