Pit Bull Advice.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I as a person am not against pit bulls in general. I think some can be very sweet. IN fact I picked one up that was wondering the street once.. I didn't recognize it as a pit bull because his tail was not docked and he was a mix.

Anyway, my neighborhood has several pit bulls in it. Mostly I never see any of them unless they are on a walk with their owner.. or they escaped.

My friend has a pit bull however that is scaring the crap out of me. The back round on this dog is intense and scary to say the least, First he was rescued because he was used as "fighting dog"  So the people "rescued him" and they were using him as a hunting dog.. Literally to go after pigs and hunt it to it's death.. Yuck and I can't even think about it.

This dog was being kept in a kennel with a bunch of other pit bulls and fighting/hunting dogs but he got in a very bad fight and had his ear ripped off because he was fighting for alpha spot and lost.

Now my friend who really is just an acquaintance brought this dog home, It was supposed to be just to heal.. He has been here for about six months. He is only on an e collar... He used to be very timid and shy but now that he has been around.. He is getting really ballsy.

I used to be able to walk Jack by him without any problem, Jack is afraid of him and doesn't even look at him.... The dogs name is Tig... He now barks non stop when we walk by almost always but sometimes not.

It is getting bad because he is not listening to me when I tell him quiet.. so obviously to him, he is dominate over me.

I have no other way to walk around him I live on a cul-de-sac so I have to pass his house. I have tried talking to him etc.. He admits if the dog wants to he can kill and attack and said "that is what he is trained to do"

THe dog is great with kids because he has kids over all the time.. THe dog acts like a puppy with the kids just wanting to play too.

With Jack and with other dogs he is fiercely protective of his property.. Today he broke though his e collar.. THank God Jack and I were not out.... but really an e collar isn't going to stop him.

I have to stop walking Jack. I was considering getting a tazer gun but I don't have the money and i don't think that would even stop him, This dogs whole history is to seek and kill either with pit fighting and now with pig hunting.

I have tried to talk to this guy so many times, he is a young kid with no money... I believe this dog fits the "dangerous dog" law in our county and I can report him ...but I have to sign the report and since I have been talking to the guy he is going to know it is me.

WHat do I do? I can't walk Jack or Molly... I don't want to start a war with my neighbor and I want to protect Jack as the guy  admits if Jack growls at him which Jack AlWAYS growls at big dogs when he is scared but if he growls at Tig this guy thinks Tig can attack Jack...

I asked him about sending the dog back to the hunting kennel now that he is healed but just last night the alpha dog there killed another dog so now he doesn't want his dog to go back there until they get rid of the alpha.... I can't imagine what the kennel looks like and the fighting that must go on there.. It scares me.  

Given all these circumstances what would you do? How would you handle this? I owe it to Jack to keep him safe 

[Lynn D.]

I would get in my car and walk the dogs on another block.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I wouldn't walk past with Jack or Molly, no way until there is some better solution.  For now I would drive out of the cul-de -sac and walk from there.  The reporting etc should be done but perhaps you need to think about how to do that more carefully with advice.  From what you say this is a dangerous dog in the hands of an inexperienced owner.  A lethal combination.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree.  I would definitely walk Jack somewhere else.  We usually take our dogs in the car and find new places to walk them, and it's kind of fun. 

[Jennifer and Jack]

I know and just because I have the right to walk him there doesn't mean I should. This dog if he got a hold of Jack would kill him period... So we are looking into other routes.. I really liked to be able to walk out my door with him, I don't get to get out much and I liked the socializing I got to do with other people... I can take him on a trail.... but if something happens to me there is not a lot of people around to help me... still not worth taking the chance/

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Actually just thinking more about it.  Those children who visit are most definitely at risk.  All it takes is for one of them to start running or doing something that triggers that prey/kill instinct which is there and the child will be dead.  You need to find a way to report without putting yourself at risk in any way.  Is there a residents association? or some local community office?  speak to other neighbors and perhaps go collectively rather than as an individual?  Just thinking aloud...

[Bonnie and Kona]

I completely agree, Nicky. Those children are definitely at risk. 

My suggestion for Jack is the same, too. Drive out of the cul-de-sac to walk him. This is a time bomb.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I feel like it is a time bomb too.. It is just a matter of time.. he just needs to be a little more comfortable.. I will never forgive myself if something happens to one of the kids..  

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

That is such a sad situation... For everyone. Lynn's advise is a great one! I'm so sorry you have to go through this. It's so sad that pit bulls get this reputation but its because of really short minded people like your neighbor. Why on earth would you save a dog from a dog fighting situation only to make him do the same type of aggressive work ?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I would do some checking with your apartment or condo manager.  Many times they have breed specific restrictions.  One other option would be to go nicely to your neighbor and explain your concerns/fears and ask them if they wouldn't feel that it might be safer for everyone if Tig wore a muzzle while outside on the off chance of a problem - hey - it can't hurt to ask right?

[Jennifer and Jack]

I own a home with a fenced in  yard... We do have a home owners association. I just looked up Lexington County dog owners rules and if this dog is what they consider a dangerous dog.. He is not allowed to be on an e collar he is supposed to be behind a gate with no more then 2 inch slots and or in a crate that is pad locked...

I would imagine he is what they consider a dangerous dog since his back round is fighting and now hunting to kill...

I am sitting on it right now, I have tried to talk to the kid.. like I said we are friends.. It is just hard because if I report him he is going to know it is me, then I have to fear retaliation ... which is a real thing.. any one can throw poison in my yard 

[Jennett Pulley]

Not only is your dog's safety in danger but so is yours, the children that visit and anyone that comes onto the circle.  I would not hesitate to tell your neighbor exactly what you have told us here and follow up with a certified letter telling him that as much as you hate to do it, if the dog isn't taken care of; either left inside, contained in a kennel or removed from the premises, you will be forced to report the dog under the county laws.

By sending it certified, you will have a receipt, you will have given him ample notice and you will have proof that you gave him a friendly warning in advance. 

I would not want to create bad blood with my neighbors either, but I would much rather that then sit back knowing that something could happen that would create real bloodshed and I did nothing to stop it.

I, too, have a neighbor with a pit bull.  She is beautiful and seems very sweet.  That said, I am not comfortable with their 8 year old child coming home to an empty house, letting the dog out the front door to eliminate and then leaving her out there unsupervised for an hour or so.  If the dog was to become vicious, the child could not contain it and with four different buses dropping off children during the afternoon, my new puppy being trained in the yard I paid big $$ (yard and puppy!), for, as well as my personal safety, I did not hesitate to ask my neighbor to rectify the situation.  I couldn't care less about their finances.  That is their problem now that they have put their child and the neighborhood in a precarious situation. 

And yes, I would say the same if the dog was a rotty, a lab or a doodle.  Dogs are dogs, with natural instincts that are unpredictable.  If nothing less, the dog could run into the street causing a horrific accident for it's own well being and that of the driver.  That's more important than a mad neighbor.

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Jennifer, I agree with you about pit bulls. My brother-in-law has one that is a very nice dog. He and Cosmo have played together very well. In fact, it was Roy (the pit) who taught Cosmo to pee like a boy, much to DH's relief. LOL!

At the same time, I think it is important to be aware of breed characteristics when deciding how to train and manage a dog. Pit bulls have been bred to ignore pain and continue in pursuit of their goal. It seems to me that an e-collar is one of the least reliable ways to contain this dog. And for this particular dog, with his background of fighting, the owner, you, and your neighbors need to know this dog is reliably restrained.

I agree with everyone else that, to protect yourselves, you, Jack, your mom, and Molly should not walk on your street but drive to a safe place to walk. And that, in the meantime, you report the situation to your condo manager, homeowners association, or whoever has authority over your neighborhood and try to persuade the owner to come up with a better solution. Let them all know that, if no changes are made, you will report the dog to the county.