As much as I'd like to keep this blog focused on problems caused by nuisance barking, I've been forced to digress. The reason: A near attack by a pit bull yesterday evening.
During the 7 o'clock hour, I was coming home from
my weekly walk around Downtown Tucson. What should I see running loose on my street but a pit bull. White dog with tan
markings. It charged at me in my driveway.
I put my bicycle between my
body and the dog. (Thank you, DogsBite.org, for the safety tip.) That proved to be enough of a distraction for the dog, which was giving me that cold, reptilian stare for which pit bulls are infamous. It turned away from me and ran into the city park at the end of the street.
I hustled myself and bike inside my house, closed and locked the door, and called 911 and animal control. Since the dog was running loose in a city park full of joggers, children playing, and people walking their leashed dogs, I didn't want anyone to get injured or killed. One mauling death in this area is enough.
Shortly thereafter, a police officer came to my house. He said that
he saw the pit bull running loose. I advised him to be careful, as pit bulls lead this county's bite count by a wide margin.
This morning, I noticed that, in the public record of police incidents, the pit bull was not caught. So, my neighbors and I could still be in danger.
It's getting to the point that we can't even be safe on our own property
from pit bulls. And, to me, that is unacceptable. That is why I strongly support the upcoming Walk for Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs.
YQN: The barking and biting issues are virtually the same thing. Point being, its not really about the barking or the biting: Its about malicious and irresponsible pet owners taking our rights. Be that our right to sleep in our homes or walk to our mailboxes in safety. You are now a barking victim AND a dangerous dog victim. Soon, there will be enough of you to start your own political party.
ReplyDeleteBottom line is: Anyone's lifestyle choice to own a pet should NEVER bring harm or discomfort to ANYONE EVER.
"Anyone's lifestyle choice to own a pet should NEVER bring harm or discomfort to ANYONE EVER."
DeleteI couldn't agree with this statement more.
I wish there was a leash law for cats, as well as dogs, because I'm sick to death of picking up dead, maggoty animals and birds and cat crap with or without toxoplasmosis, from my fenced yard from the entitled neighbors who think it's okay to let their cat run free on MY property. I'm sick of MY property rights being taken from me when their tomcat sprays in my yard and I have to inhale those noxious fumes that make me sick. And, let us not forget the howling, fighting in the middle of the night that wakes me up. I work late hours and still have to get up early in the morning, but the cat owners who let their cats out at night don't really care.
It would be different if we were talking about feral cats because they could be trapped and taken to the local pound, but we're talking about OWNED pet cats, with owners who think they are entitled to inflict their cat into my life and onto my property. And when you approach them about the problems, they tell you they will TRY to keep the cat on their property but they take absolutely NO steps to contain the beast.
So, as you can see, I couldn't agree with you more!
glad you are safe, please stay that way.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to get to safety and take care of yourself. I'm glad you called the cops, that is definitely the right thing to do! It raises the hair on my neck knowing that that thing went into the park where all the kids and other people were....ugh. I hope no one was hurt. I'm so sick and tired of hearing of attacks, close calls, people's pets being killed by the vicious pit bulls, and people's children for that matter.
ReplyDeletePit bulls kill a person every 21 days in the US and someone is maimed by a pit bull every 4-5 days. These are frightening statistics!!! This is not a serial killer, not a psychopath, not a rapist....BUT, A DOG!!!! I just don't understand how law makers can turn a blind eye to this and still sleep at night.
Thank you neighbor, for what you do....so glad you made it home safe!
"I just don't understand how law makers can turn a blind eye to this and still sleep at night."
DeleteLawmakers are no more intelligent (or stupid) than the rest of the population. They are also no more brave (or cowardly) either.
I believe they are either too frightened to oppose the big pit machine OR they believe the nonsense that they are being fed about pit bulls being nanny dogs, getting an undeserved bad reputation, etc., etc., etc.
I know many otherwise very intelligent people who actually believe the pit bull propaganda. Frustrating, isn't it?
It is time to regulate the shithead dogs these shit head owners use to compensate for whatever they lack
ReplyDeleteI like your anger, Anne! Keep the heat on those owners, okay?
DeleteSo you weren't almost attacked at all, but instead a dog came near you?
ReplyDeleteClose call...
Indeed it was a close call, Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know what? I think I have the right to bicycle down my street, then pull into my driveway without having to beware of loose pit bulls.
I also think that my personal safety -- and that of my neighbors -- is more important than defending a certain type of dog that is well-known for its aggressive behavior and the viciousness of its attacks on humans, pets, and livestock.
It WAS a close call, despite what anonymous 2:59 pm above is trying to imply. You may not have known for sure if it was going to bite you, but anonymous 2:59 pm does not know for sure that it wasn't!
DeleteI've had many close calls too and I didn't appreciate them. Even if the pit bull wasn't intending to harm you (this time,) you shouldn't have to deal with someone else's animal approaching you, jumping on you, whatever. You just shouldn't have to deal with it.
I'm so glad you went inside your safe home, closed and locked your door, them vile pitbulls have a knack for using lock picks to break into houses to maul defenseless people. I'm actually training mine to drive cars so puny cyclists have no chance!
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. Here we have another responsible pit bull owner, training his/her dogs to be wonderful canine citizens. Thank you so much. We *really* appreciate it. (Sarcasm off.)
DeleteOTOH, your comment shows the use of proper grammar and spelling, and a logical progression of ideas. Those are often lacking in the discourse of pit promoters.