Close Call, letter I sent to dog owners -UPDATE -Ellie just attacked

[sred98]

Good thing you know how to "go alpha"...a lot of people don't. Still, it was a big chance to take with a dog like that.

Glad you went ahead and reported it. Have a copy of the letter you sent her ready to go, too. Cover all your bases.

hopefully this will get taken care of soon.

Shelly

 

[SpottedCrow]

Crud, Judy!!!

Being an Alpha works on people too, jes sayin

I'm so sorry you lost your job...Wanna come and scoop animal poop with me?

Rhodies are really something...sheesh I was explaining that to a customer one time when she was complaining about how hers was uncontrollable. I figured she wouldn't like to hear a bullet in the ear would be a good solution.

I can say that I DO NOT like JRT's (sorry folks) They kills rats and can dig like a bugger. So your birdies aren't safe from them.

Hope your hand is fine.

I heard the "OH NO!" when Obelisk escaped Buddy by flying over the fence and I went and told his owner to get him the heck home before he didn't.

 

[chilling in muscadine]

A few years ago a woman in Alabama died from rabies so please stay on top of that. A paper trail and quarintene{sp} will not hurt the dog for now anyway. You need a record just in case there is trouble to come.

 

[jjthink]

Thank you.

She has not yet responded (pretty remarkable actually) so I just also left a voice mail for the animal control officer. It's a week tomorrow so it's getting time sensitive. Thanks for the nudge to stay on top of it. The week from hell distracted me for a bit.

Brenda, I think my title already is pooper scooper! But I'd rather do it along side you!

JJ

 

[horsejody]

If you don't have proof of vaccination, you may have to get the shots to be safe. Call the dog owner and tell her you need proof of vaccination, or you will charge her for the medical care. And if she is too busy to train and supervise her rhodesian ridgeback, she is too busy to own one. They are a high energy dog with a strong prey drive. If the owner is unwilling or unable to socialize the dog and give it a ton of attention and exercise, they are trouble waiting to happen. According to a prominant RR organization and rescue group, it takes a minimum of a 6 foot high fence to keep a bored RR confined. They are also good at digging out. Even if the idiot owner tries to keep it in, it will be back.

GET THAT PROOF OF VACCINATION!!!!

If she is too busy to take care of her dogs and too busy to respond to your letter, she may have been too busy to get it vaccinated. If her dogs will stand and your yard and snarl at you and bite you, they are dangerous.

 

[jjthink]

Thank you for taking the time to write in the midst of your own impossible nightmare - it's so kind of you. When confronted with this dog, I immediately thought of the horrors you and your birds have endured and I wish you every success in nailing the irresponsible humans and I also wish you peace.

The animal control officer called me back this morning and she's going to go see them today, since they still have not responded to my note. The ACO told me these folks have been reported before, for having the Jack Russell loose and causing trouble.

These people are breeding

She said they admitted at the time that they also had a puppy - well, a RR puppy is enormous!

If she can't produce proof then it looks like I am going to have to add rabies shots to the mayhem that is my life right now. The cuts were very minor but there was saliva and I didn't get to wash it off for awhile because it took forever to get her dogs back to her, which I had to do because I couldn't leave them unattended and no one else was around. Grrr. I'm sure the dog isn't rabid but drat, I guess you just can't sensibly roll the dice on that. What a day, December 1st! Lost my job, got bit by a Rhodesian Ridgeback and had an angry encounter with its dopey human, and went public about the destruction of my property. But I thank the universe that my birds seem okay, and I am angry with it on behalf of you and your sweet birds.


JJ

 

[Fudgie]

Quote:
Make animal control come out take the dogs and have them tested PERIOD!!!! That is not your undertaking to do, that is the dog owner's responsibility...

 

[newchickmom]

I would have called the police right away, or at least that evening. I am glad your hand seems to be healing nicely. I am also happy to hear your pets are doing well.

I believe the normal "test" is 10 days confinement (other than killing it and inspecting the brain). This is what they do here: When a dog bites someone, the owner has to keep it confined for 10 days wether it has been vaccinated or not. If the dog is not showing any signs of rabies by now (or in the next 3 days at most), you should be able to assume you are safe, wether it has been vaccinated or not.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
So much time has gone by, that the 10 day confinement won't help. Years ago while on a camping trip, my son was bitten by a cocker spaniel. It was totally unprovoked. My son was waliking to the beach to join his friends. The dog was tied to a tree on a very long rope. The rope was long enough to allow the dog to leave its owners campsite. The dog ran out and bit my son. My husband was out fishing so I handled it. The owner was totally unreasonable so I got the park ranger. The owner almost got into a fist fight with the ranger!

Anyway, the jerk took the dog and hid it. His father tried showing rabies tag for it, but they turned out to be for a different dog. The Sheriff's Dept was looking for him. There is only so much time before rabies shots can be started. Once symptoms show, it's too late. By the time the dog was located, it was too late for the quarantine. The dog was put down and its brain examined. The other alternative was to have DS start the shots. BTW, the dog had a history. It had previously chased down a jogger and caused quite a bit of damage to her leg. Why somebody keeps a dog like that with no further training, supervision or vaccinations is beyond me.

Good luck!

 

[chilling in muscadine]

Don't worry you will not have to have the painful rabies shots as long as the dog is quarantened for that 10 days and comes out clear. You could pitch a fit since she has not corprorated{sp} with you and have them send the dogs head for testing but being an animal lover I think that is extreem. So this lady already has complaints against her. That is why she did not respond to your letter. Keep a paper trail and stay on animal control. If you slack off any I'm sure you will end up with a dead bird or even worse, you hurt. I'm hoping for a good ending to this drama.