Call animal control? - Page 1

What would you guys do.  There are two dogs who pretty much daily are going around the streets.  One of them was one, who in the past (about 2 and 1/2 years ago; 90 lb-ish chocolate lab) jumped a fence and attacked my dog Buck (while I was walking my dogs) and pinned him down by the throat in the middle of the street.  Well that dog hadn't been getting out for a while after that happened, but probably two months ago he's been roaming the street with a "side kick".  And his buddy isn't so little either.  Daily they go in the fields next to our house or walk down the road itself, but today he went up to our front gate (on our property) and started trying to fence fight with my dogs.  I always watch my dogs from inside the house , or if the weather is nice I do my work outside, and they're up in the house when I'm not here.  Anyway, these dogs live about 4 tenths of a mile down the road, but they have been coming up to our fence every day for a while now. I went out when I saw them approaching and the white-ish colored one started fence fighting (which ticked my dogs off) and I ran him off; And then both dogs went down the road (in the field) and the Lab jumps back onto the road and almost got hit by the electric company truck that was going down at the time.   After that both dogs went off marking in other people's yards going back towards where they live.  I wouldn't care if these dogs were just passing by, but trying to fence fight with my dogs (which riled mine up to want to defend; Mine backed off when I commanded them, but still......) is not going to cut it.  Should I call animal control next time I see them? Or trap them myself?  In the past when that Chocolate lab attacked Buck, a Sheriff suggested I set a trap for it (he was even willing to set one).  Thoughts?

Should also mention when that happened two and 1/2 years ago I did call animal control they never showed up. 

I would call and complain and i would also complain to the owners. If nothing happened i'd be peppering their asses with my BB gun.

That was going to be my suggestion, BB gun.  Stings like anything, but generally does not do any damage.

Someone on here found a neat device on Amazon.  It is a motion activated sprinkler head.  I am not sure if it would deter the lab or just encourage it though.

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If you are out of the city limits, generally animal control will not come out; at least where I live.

fawndallas,  we're out of it as well.    You guys mentioning bb guns made me think of something.  What about a paintball gun? The dog will get a slight sting, but also the owner will see it when they see their dogs later.  Do you guys think that might be effective?   

Dragonfry, I may have to do that.  Though I remember back when the attack happened, I think there were just a couple of days after it where that Lab had gotten out again. I say that because thinking back, now I remember one of the owners (the wife) chasing the dog down with her SUV.  She got out of it (across the street) and went running after her dog, got it, and put it in the vehicle.  She said she wished her dogs were as well behaved as mine, and then after she said that I had told her about what her dog did.  She just smiled and drove on.......   So I may make a house visit, or leave a note if they're not home.  I'm not sure though, but I think the white-ish (it has black patches on it's body; It's probably 65 lbs or so) dog may belong to someone else.  They went up to the fence of a yard down the road as well, and that would have been a nightmare if the people had been home.  They have some very large dogs who get agitated easily; There would have been a full on fence fight if those dogs had been out at the other person's house, but thankfully the owner wasn't home so his dogs were in his house.  

I would first contact owner. If they still refuse to keep their dogs confined,then I would contact animal control.
I myself WOULD NOT shoot them with a BB gun. What if you get them in the eye?
It is aggravating, believe me, I know. But really, it is not the dogs fault. It is the owners.
It is dogs being dogs.

GSDguy, go to the owners home. Speak to them rationally and politely. Can you make
a short video showing their dogs actions? Explain that you would appreciate it if they took
measures to contain their dogs properly. If this doesn't rememedy the situation, set traps, 
call the police, call AC. Carry some form of defense with you while you are out with your
dogs. If you can catch his dogs, do so and take them to the pound. But, speak to the owners
first and explain your concerns. Then follow through with the other steps as needed. Don't
shoot the dogs, it's not their fault they have idiots for owners. If a serious fight breaks out, then 
depending on your city/county laws, you should have the right to defend your animals and shoot.
At that point, I am afraid I would be shooting to finish the fight for good. No warning shots.
 

Owners like this make me just crazy....but to be fair to the dogs, I would go and speak to the owners. I wouldn't say anything about your intentions should the owners not comply. But I would have a follow up plan anyway because you know it's only a matter of time before they are back. If you know that AC wont probably make it out, I would trap the dogs and take them to the shelter.

Why even have dogs if your going to let them run around the neighborhood.

Barb

the Lab jumps back onto the road and almost got hit by the electric company truck that was going down at the time.

Will you forgive me if my first reaction was 'too bad he missed'?   

Definitely SOMETHING needs to be done to prevent the fence fighting, which could have tragic results if the dogs ever manage to jump or dig under the fence.
Try talking to the owners, but usually this type of owner doesn't care enough to do anything.

Isn't there a law against dogs running at large?

I am not sure about a paintball gun.  I know those can leave some very nasty bruises and whelps on humans.  Can you control the amount of umph on the hit, like on a BB gun?  If so, your idea maybe what gets the owners attention.

I have had to resort to the BB gun to keep my cats away from Cirberus's kennel, as they get in after her food.  2 pops and they have gotten the hint to stay away from the kennel. 

Talking to the owner might help.
  1.  Sounds like the owner already knows that their dog gets out and really is not making much effort to resolve.
  2.  Some dogs are master Houdinis, my Baron is one of those, so the owner may be at a lose on what to do.  If they/you are friendly types, you may offer to see if you can help teach the owner how to better work with their dogs.  If this works, you have gained 2 things, a new friend that likes big dogs and a resolution to their dogs being a problem.