2:18pm
Dogs roaming 'at large' (loose)
1 comment
I do not blame the dogs, but rather, their 'owners.' Anyone owning a dog and scoffing at laws banning dogs from running loose or "at large" is the real bully. The breed and size of the loose dog (or dogs) must be a factor, because damage increases exponentially with the size of the dog, its mouth and its TEETH. I'm sure a Chihuahua can bite -- so can anything that has teeth -- but the damage inflicted is almost always less than the damage caused by the teeth of a larger dog.
What do St. Bernards, pitbulls, Chows, German shepherds, collie mixes, and boxers all have in common? They've all been running loose (i.e., they had owners) and have attacked Wiggles Blue Heeler as he was quietly walking on leash with me.
The St. Bernard grabbed Wiggles by the head and Wiggles' whole head disappeared in its cavernous mouth, leaving him with 14+ visible puncture wounds and a major chewing tooth with a microscopic fracture that eventually decayed from the inside out and had to be surgically removed: in 7 pieces.
The black Chow attacked twice. Both attacks were viscious, without provocation and totally silent. The first attack left Wiggles with large, permanent scars on his throat that are still painfully obvious to me as a reminder, every summer when he's in his summer haircoat. The second attack was on me. Thank God I had a large golf umbrella and was able to keep turning and letting the Chow hit the umbrella instead of me (which totally DESTROYED the umbrella), until I finally lost my footing and fell. I'd been saying in a loud, strong voice, over and over, "GO HOME" to the Chow, which did not break off its attack on me until a neighbor saw what was happening and screamed. I do not know if I'd be alive to tell this story if she had not seen the attack and screamed. Wiggles was spared in this second attack, but my left leg sustained Major Deep Bruising and is still larger than the other leg, five years later. The dog's 'owner?' In prison, with his mother 'dogsitting' the dog, which lived with her until it died. She thought both attacks were funny and she and her neighbors lost no opportunities to make snide remarks when I walked Wiggles after that. The 'dog warden' at that time was a milquetoast and actually afraid of dogs. Thank God he's retired and we have a real, first-rate, top notch dog warden now!
I tell these true stories about dog attacks on my dog and I to let others know that such attacks are not limited to breed, although breed is a contributing factor, but by the type of 'owner.' Those impotent bullies that think it's funny when their dogs terrorize a neighborhoood, have yet to face the family of a child torn to bits and killed by one of their dogs. Unless and until the punishment for tearing one's pet to bits and killing/maiming it is ramped up to being the same as if it had happened to a person, such attacks will continue. No dog attack should be considered a misdemeanor if the 'owner' allowed the dog to roam loose. Felony endangering and premeditated actions resulting in injury or death to others -- whether to people or animals -- should be punished the same way. No tolerance.
4 months ago