Pitbull off leash

If one has a neighbor and their idea of walking the dog is opening the garage door and letting it roam the street w/o supervision and/or leash.

For some perspective: Over the course of several months the dog has escalated to lounging, growling and now showing their teeth. I am 5' and wear a size 4. This dog easily weighs 70+lbs and standing on all 4's the dog comes up to my waist. However I am concerned that one day my back will be turned most likely taking my baby out of the car seat.

We've spoken to the owner at least 4 times - each time I open my garage to either get the mail, walk my own dogs or get into my car I am fearful that the dog will be there - would it be appropriate to contact animal control?

 

Hi Pea,
Yes, I would contact animal control and report it, especially since you have tried talking to the owner and it didn't help. Good luck!

 

Yes! The HOA can send a letter telling the owner than dogs must be under the owner's control at all times when off the owner's property, but animal control has the authority to remove the animal. Their number is 703-777-0406.

 

That's a tough situation. I believe the County leash law says something like this, all dogs must be on a leash or under direct control of their owner or custodian at all times when not on owner property and is roaming, running or self-hunting.

So technically, the pitbull does not have to be on a leash if he is near the garage (on owner's property). If he is "roaming the street", that's an issue. (Take pictures)

Does the HOA have a covent about dogs on leashes?

Pea, if you are feeling threatened I'd definately call animal control for advice.

 

Don't hesitate to call.

4 years ago when we moved in to our SF with our son, a house immediately next to us constantly let their PB out in the unfenced back yard (our yard was not fenced at the time either) without a leash. I kindly but firmly told them that if I saw the dog off its' leash again, I would immediately call animal control. I have not seen it without a leash since.

 

Dog lives 4 houses down and comes down to our yard b/c the fire hydriant is now "his". I posed the question b/c of the new ruling on pit-bulls in the county (i dont believe all dogs of this breed are bad) but this one has escalated its aggressive behavior.

 

Call animal control. File a report. Take pics if possible. You want to document everything in situations like these in case something unfortunate happens. This way the owner won't play the ignorant and "this was the first time he was out of the yard", card.

 

I called AC this morning and they assured me that they will only go out to educate our neighbor about said leash laws.

No fines or removing the dog - unless she ignores the first visit/warning. Thanks for the input.

 

Do these people have a few cells missing in their brains

A dog like that or any other wild critter being let out on there own is nuts. Do these people read or watch the news about people have gone to jail for a long time when their animal has hurt or even killed a person. I love animals but many animal owners should not be allowed the privilege when they do something as potentially as harmful as this, especially with a pit bull. I love some of the dog walkers in my neighborhood that use the dog walking as an way to sneakily go right up to peoples properties or actually in their yards as I have seen In my own yard late at night when they think they can't be seen . And all they are doing in many cases is on an neighborly snooping expedition. ha ha ha ha ha

Lee j

 

I recommend that you still follow-up with the HOA sending a letter in addition to animal control.

There is no reason you should be fearful to walk outside your home!

Good Luck

 

Now we should remove dogs before they do anything?

 

no not at all - loudoun adopted a new law with respect to pitbulls and I was concerned that if I called animal control it might impact the neighbor. I wanted to make sure that the dog would not be removed from the home etc..

 

Mrs Pea you make me look like a saint with my neighbors ha ha ha A lot of problems in the broadlands between neighbors and kids and future rec center and roads and hospitals and ha ha ha ha and stuff in swimming pools and on and on wow what an exciting place to live. Hey I am just teasing a bit here so try to be kind to me for once.......... Well I can dream can't I about the kindness to Lee part ha ha ha ha ha If Dalyn has a hard time being nice to me at times how can I expect this group to be ha ha ha ha ha ha

oh well

Lee j

 

Pea - when was the law active? I remember specifically searching for a pit law in June 07 and Loudoun allows adoptions of pits. (They don't allow adoptions of pits from the county shelters - just private/NP adoptions.)

I'm just curious because our dog is a mix of something but we've been told pit sometimes...

thanks!

 

It's just the Loudoun county shelter. They don't want to adopt out "pitbulls" to the public directly.

 

Just wait patiently on your property with your pistola, safety off, even entice the dog to you, once it steps a foot on your property, rat..tat...tat., pump it full of slugs, end of your worries.

 

and then get sued by the dog owner?

 

That's not even funny...

 

Not that I am condoning what bladerunner says but what would you do if you had small children and a pit bull or other large dog (with a reputation, deserved or not) constantly roamed into your yard?

If the owner does not control their animal and the county does not do it's job, do you WAIT for something to happen?

Slippery slope.