Good Dogs vs Bad Dogs vs Stray Dogs

[bearkat]

I didn't really think about what to title this topic, but I have a few issues I would like to address, stories to tell, and prayers to send.

I have always been referred to, from the time I was a child, as Dr. Doolittle. My first "adoption" was a purse full of worms when I was 3 years old, and I wanted to find "homes" for them. The other kids went to their parents and said "Val has a purse full of snakes!!" My mother opened my purse and found it stuffed with earthworms and nightcrawlers!! Thus, my story begins.

I have always had an affinity towards animals, and they, to me. I can honestly say, that from growing up out in the country, with every animal you could think of, there has never been ONE that I couldn't befriend. As a child, I had raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, deer, mice, rats, pigs, horses, well, you name it... they have been in my life...with the exception of spiders... I DON'T DO SPIDERS!!

The story that has come from Spokane about the 2 Rottweilers running loose just broke my heart. If those dogs had been running loose around me, I would not have chased them, yelled at them, or otherwise made them uncomfortable. I would have tried the gentle approach... hotdogs work great, as does a calm demeanor, and a gentle voice. Of course these dogs would have been agitated! Wouldn't you be, as a person, feeling threatened by all the noise and confusion, strange people yelling at you??? While I would never discount the strength and power of the Rottweiler, I feel I must defend them as well, because SOMETIMES the larger breeds are the victims.

Over the past 10 days or so, my husband and I have been watching these 3 dogs running loose, getting closer and closer to our property. One is a red heeler, and the other two are chocolate Labs. Yesterday morning, after Jack went to work, I was walking my 3 Rotties, one on a leash, the other two left to roam our property... The 3 stray dogs were within about 10 feet of our property, and when Jack called home, I told him I was concerned about the possibility of these dogs coming onto our property, and how my 3 dogs might react if this happened... Gisela would kill them on the spot, and Rotten and Clyde would be there to pick up the leftovers.

To make a long story short, I had my 3 Rotties in the house with me about noon yesterday, and suddenly, they all went CRAZY!! Rotten was trying to go through the storm door (the window part is about 3 feet from the floor), and the hair was standing up on all my dogs. I looked out the backdoor, and here were 2 chocolate Labs, chowing down on dogfood that had been left in the garage. I went out, made friends with the stray dogs, and noted their condition. They were starved to the point that you could see their ribs all the way to their shoulders, they "kowed down" and ducked their heads when I tried to pet them, and they were about half the size of the normal Labrador of their age. Naturally, because I am "Dr. Doolittle", they decided that I was cool, and I fed and watered them, and called the Animal Control. They came within 30 minutes, and by this time, I had the dogs settled down to where they were lying in my lap, and my dogs were still apoplectic in the house. (Apoplexy means having a fit, a seizure, a major emotion)

After loading the strays in the truck, I invited the Animal Control lady to meet MY dogs.... Well, they weren't labs, and she knew it, but overall the meeting went very well. Clyde and Rotten made a beeline for her, loved her, kissed her, made clowns of themselves (all off leash,too), and I brought Gisela out on the leash, and Geese did this "lean thing". She leans on people she likes, and she wanted her to pet her. After the Animal Control person took her hands off her bra straps (Gisela is a very big, domineering Rottie), she petted Geese and everyone made friends. Upon visiting with the animal control lady, she told me that even though the 2 Labs had been running loose, as strays, if my dogs had gotten ahold of them and done serious, or fatal damage, I could be held liable, simply because the stray Labs would not have had a chance against my 3 Rotties.

The animal control lady was impressed that even in all this confusion, my Rotties did a sit-stay (even Clyde, at 6 months, and I was so proud!!) but she left me with the feeling at even though I have GOOD Rotties, they are BAD (simply because they are Rotties), and the stray dogs were within their right to come and go as they please, and my dogs are not supposed to act upon their natural desire to protect what is theirs, i.e., their property, house, and me...

I will say prayers to all the people I know of, whether children or adults, that have been attacked by Rottweilers, GSD, pitbulls, Dobies, even the "dust mops", as Lady B has put it. These people,no matter their age, didn't deserve what they have experienced.

Logic tells me that no matter what kind of animal you encounter, the size of the animal is really the issue. How badly could you be bitten my a robin chick??? On the other hand, what about a bite from a tiger?? Seems to me that the smaller the animal (dog, in this case), the better their chances of credibility.

Even though my 3 ROTTWEILERS exhibited control, they have been found GUILTY of a non-act....

So, who is really guilty here? My dogs for throwing a fit, confined, or the stray dogs for roaming around? Or me? For trying to protect these labs I knew would have no chance against my kids? My personal feeling is it is the stray dogs, because at least in my case, we would have not have had anything happen without them being here!!

Thoughts???

[Hellothere]

Hi
Unfortunately I recognise part of the story you tell.
In our neighbourhood two dogs broke lose a Belgian Shepherd and some kind of Husky. They were caught by their owner again and Nobody made a fuss bout it.
The moment I take my two Rotties out even when there on leash (and they behave well) I have two withstand all these comments.
Just because they're rotties.
Especially in Belgium the emotions are going sky high because a few weeks ago a little girl was killed by three Rotties.
And of course I do not have to explain the media hype.
So now my two lovely rescued Rotties are also accused before having done anything .

Even people who have a big mouth about how bad racism is, have no trouble being racist to dogs.

But I'll cope with that. Fortunately their are the good moments. People who visited our house have seen how lovely they are( They know how to sell themselves as very pettable dogs!!) slowly change their opnion about Rotties.

[katheyt]

I have 3 Rotties and an invisible fence ! The police know my address by heart because they get calls about Rotties running loose. I'm usually outside with my dogs or just inside the door so I always get to chat with the officer when they stop to write their report. No one has called about the 4 other invisible fence yards with barking dogs ! I also just hired a property manager who informed me that they don't rent to owners of "banned" dogs. Of course Rotties were #1 on the list. After a heated discussion, my contract states that we will consider "banned" dogs. More people are killed by doctors each year than Rotties, maybe I'll not rent to doctors !