I am so furious that I'm going to have a stroke!!!!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

As many of you know Rooney was attacked at our private dog park right before Christmas.  He got a bite on the back, a laceration in his mouth, a baby tooth snapped off at the jaw and a chipped tooth.  All of which he has recovered from, thank goodness.  The owner of the attacking dog, promised in front of several witnesses that he would not bring Bozo back into the park.  The owners offered to pay our vet bill which we declined as we live in a large golfing community and really just wanted to stay friendly and put it behind us - knowing that Bozo would not be back in the park.  At this time we had people coming to us to say that Bozo had attacked/bitten or tried to attack several other dogs.  Rooney goes to our dog park EVERY day between 3:30/4:00 till about 5:00.  Bozo's owner knows this as they have to drive past the puppy park to get to their house.  At 3:45 today as we are pulling into the parking lot I see the Bozo's owners car and I'm saying to DH "OMG is that so and so's car?"  He said he wouldn't come back.  So we get out and here comes Bozo's owner yelling "just keep Rooney in the car we are leaving".  Dear lord - I LOST IT!!!  I'm telling him (yelling) that you promised you wouldn't come back in here and he is saying that since only Baxter was there, who is Bozo's best friend, that he thought he would stop in for a bit but leave when anyone else showed up.  I told him I didn't give a rats butt why he stopped, he broke his promise, that his dog was vicious and should never be in public off leash and certainly not in the dog park.  It got UGLY.  So the guy leaves and now we are in the park and I'm so mad/upset that I can barely breath and feel like my blood pressure must be at stroke level when the a&$$ comes back!!!!!!!  Now we are inside the park and I'm yelling that I'm reporting this, that I had tried to be nice and that the dog lost it privileges when it bit my dog.  He said "Bozo has only bit 3 dogs.  What the heck?!!!!  The whole thing turned into huge drama and I am having a glass of wine trying to calm down but having no luck.  The owner's wife is a big time real estate salesperson here and he rides her coat tails, think he's hot stuff, owns the place, etc.  So, of all the people that have had to deal with the jerk, I'm the only one willing to stand up and say enough!  Of course they are way higher on the social scale so now I'm going to be talked/gossiped about but guess what - NO ONE is going to threaten me or my dog!!!!  He is messing with the wrong gal!   I went to the guard house and they got the boss on the phone who assured me that Bozo's owners have already been warned and will be getting a registered letter tomorrow banning their dog.  Wishing I could MOVE.        :(

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh Jane!  I know how confrontation makes us feel and it may take a few more glasses of wine!  Well, ugly or not you were correct in demanding he hold up his promise AND ONLY 3 DOGS?????  As IF!!!!  And you know I always figured if they were gossiping about me, they were leaving some other poor schlept alone. Don't worry, it'll be short lived and forgotten long before you even calm down. You go Mama Bear! So big shot on the social scale or not, he is going to be taken down a peg or two with a letter to Ban Bozo!  Something tells me this won't be over quietly, but either way, moving isn;t going to solve it cuz there is one in every crowd.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

It just really is so sad because Rooney is just the sweetest, most gentle animal that I have ever seen.  He wouldn't hurt anyone.  This guy is just an ass and a social bully, well I'm not going to take it.  And if the others don't want to stand up to him, well - I'm saving someone else's dog from being attacked.  I'm a nice person, kind and considerate but he really has messed with the wrong person.  And when he came back to the park - he left his dog at home.  he came back to harrass me.  Well, read the rules outside the park "NO aggressive dogs!"  I will call Lee Country Animal Services if I have to.  I didn't want to pursue this, I thought he was sticking to his word.  I SHOULD NOT be afraid to pull into the parking lot.

[Melissa]

Oh my!  I am so sorry you have to deal with this.  It is unfortunate that other people don't have the guts to stand up for what is right.  That dog should NOT be allowed back in there and you are doing EVERYONE a service by reporting it.  I hope life is not too difficult for you after the incident.  But bravo to you for standing up for your Rooney!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Wait a minute and calm down. You are right that the dog should not be in a public dog park, BUT you say the owner met you as you got there and said he was leaving.  If Baxter's owner is fine with Bozo being in the park with him and no one else is there and Bozo's owner leaves as soon as someone else comes, what is the problem for you? I agree that Bozo is vicious, but I also think that if the owner only lets him run when the park is empty.....

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Nancy, I'm trying to calm down really but . . .

1.  he promised to NOT bring his dog back there, just to see that dog is upsetting and THAT shouldn't have to be my problem.

2.  if you walked into the dog park while Baxter & Bozo are there AND you didn't know that Bozo was aggressive - how are you going to feel after he bites your dog?  He was leaving because WE were coming, he never said he'd leave if someone else was.

3.  an aggressive dog is not going to change

One a side note - I pity the poor little child that is going to get it's face ripped off by this dog because the owners just "don't get it".

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Have to reconsider point #2.  In the heat of it all I am now not exactly sure what the wording was.  BUT - he admits his dog has bitten 2 other times and I can round up at least 5 people who will say that their dogs were attacked or that he tried to attack. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You are absolutely correct Jane.  Where was my brain??? I made poor assumptions.  I ASSUMED that Bozo's owner was keeping an eye out for any other dogs or people and not even thinking that Bozo might attack outside of the park.  My DIL has a male whippet that is in no way vicious but he does not play nicely with little dogs that he thinks of as prey because of his race training, so she will let him into a dog park when when we go  ONLY if no one else is there. I was thinking responsible dog owner, and not Bozo's owner. Twenty lashes for me. I apologize.  I hope that your complaints are recognized and that steps are taken to ensure the safety of other dogs or people.

PS I am afraid of many dogs and always think it is MY fault for being afraid.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Nancy - I feel for the dog.  The owner is another story - lol.  The owner KNOWS his dog is aggressive and still won't get it.  Very sad for Bozo who really isn't a bad dog, just a dog that needs to be on a leash and not it the dog park.  Love ya!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Well Nancy, I was thinking RESPONSIBLE dog owner too.  Many of us want to Work Out The Situation--of course hoping for the best of all possible outcomes.  Sadly, many times it is not possible.   If he is not a good person it is not going to work.   Sad for him, his dog, and ALL the rest of the neighborhood.  It sucks--I have some really bad neighbors.  There is nothing I can do. I hate it. 

[Pat and Traveler]

OMG!!  I am SO sorry you had to go through this!  I've fallen in love with Rooney through DK, and it makes me furious too that he could be put into any kind of danger.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY???   Another sad part is that you're going to have to watch out for him in the future.  So, so sorry, Jane.  Good, good Tiger Mom!  :)  

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Pat - thank you.  This guy thinks he's the cat's pajamas, he is an idiot and I don't care how special, important or whatever he thinks he is.  The sign says "No aggressive dogs."  What part of that doesn't he get.  If his dog needs to play, invite Baxter over to his house.  The rules are the rules and I will now do what I must do to see that they are inforced.  Period.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

It would have been great if this was worked out before hand.   If Bozo's owner would have come to you prior to this incident and said he would like to use and enjoy the park also maybe you all could work something out with times and considerations?  If he had agreed to leave when you come to the park or kids come to the park would this have worked or is NO a NO without considerations?

I see NOTHING good coming out of two Tiger Mom owners ( I know he is a guy but you get what I am saying).   The county is not good an managing disagreements.  But I think two dog owners, who when finally have calmed down could come to a compromise. 

Maybe an email asking for a civil conversation.  Hey, what is put on paper and signed is Legal!   That may be a good thing too.

I've been in this situation.  It gets uglier and uglier.  No one wins--and yes, strokes happen.   Your dogs need you to be well   :)

I feel for the owner of the not so nice dog.  Maybe he is trying to socialize him slowly to become a nice dog?

Ask him to attend an obedience class first so HE KNOWS how to handle the dog when it is not acting correctly and then make a deal with park usage?   Make him earn his keep. 

Spud has been attacked. It is awful!  Awful Awful.  And yes, I argued with the owners. It got no where.  I just wish we could have worked something out.   I hope you do too.   I'm so sorry this is happening.