Raining On My Parade

[Camilla and Darwin]

First off, I know there are a large group of people who are against taking their dogs to dog parks. I'm not one of them. Darwin loves it, and it has really helped him be well socialized. He has also learned to play well with dogs, and gets plenty of exercise because of them. We have had very few bad experiences. So, I know a lot of you may want to say "stop taking your dog" but that isn't really an option for us. Any other suggestions are welcome! 

The new apartment we just moved into has a dog park. I have been so overjoyed about this! It's less than a 30 second walk to a fenced in off-leash area. It's complete with agility equipment, and we just love going there ever night! Now, there is just one problem.

There is a guy at our apartment complex who insists on bringing his dog to the dog park, even though it is extremely vicious. He'll show up, take his dog out of the car, and stand outside the fence staring at you. He waits a few minutes for you to leave, and if you don't, he'll bring his dog in. Everyone I have met tells me they always leave when he comes in. The one time I came across him, he barged right into the park, with his dog off-leash and his dog IMMEDIATELY ran up to and snapped at Darwin. He gave me a dirty look and didn't apologize. Of course, I immediately leashed Darwin and left, before his dog attacked him! 

 This dog also doesn't like men, and apparently, has tried to bite the men who bring their dogs there. The guy doesn't care AT ALL. Even if there are numerous dogs playing together, he will force his way in and wait until everyone is scared out of the park. This guy is huge, and according to the other tenants, is NOT a nice guy. People have talked to him about his dog, and he just swears and tries to intimidate them. You know, he's one of those typical short tempered guys who resorts to threats and violence. Scary. 

This is so frustrating because all though I never go there if he is, it just so happens that EVERY time I take Darwin to the park, the guy shows up. I have gone during different times of the day too. It's like he waits for us to come, then barges in. Ugh! 

ANYWAYS, there is a sign right at the entrance of the park that says "all dogs must be well behaved and friendly" he knows it isn't allowed. I am thinking about complaining... but I'm afraid he would react badly. Does anybody have experience with this kind of thing? Any suggestions? 

[shelly]

I, on the other hand, would do everything Jane has said, BUT I would never have the courage to TELL him I was doing it!

[Rachel Tober]

I have heard about a story from a friend that has a vizsla that was attacked by a chow dog at her local park. The owner of the chow was unsympathetic, and based on the local laws there was no criminal action that could be taken. She had over 1200 in vet bills, and contacted a lawyer about suing. She would have had to pay her lawyer too much money to file the suit, so she just gave up. I would recommend leaving the park when this dog shows up, ad there is not much to be done if it attacks another dog. Good luck!

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

Well Jane, Let me start out saying that you are much nicer and more patient than I would be given this situation. But just like you I would not be intimidated by him.
I would:
1. find out from the owner what he intends to do. If nothing then:
2. Find out from the police how they will respond to a call from an innocent person and a dog that are being threatened and intimidated and SWORN at by a big bully.

It's my understanding of the law that this is not tolerated and even the THREAT (silent or verbal) of harm is enough to warrant a police call, regardless of the property issue. When your rights and safety are being threatened in anyway, you have the right to call for protection.

Jane, I think the time of ASKING and WARNING him are long OVER! He knows full well what he's doing and he also knows it's working for him so he's going to continue! What is everyone waiting for???? That next time that he comes in could be the time he attacks a dog and God-forbid it's Darwin! I see it as my responsibilty to enforce the rules of safety and always ask myself how I would feel if someone/ some dog got seriously injured and I hadn't done my part to prevent it when I was well aware of the risks?
It may not be "smart", but I would rather take that risk than have to live with the guilt of having not done something. But that is just me and I am very easy going too and don't see it as you being a "B.... " at all.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Everyone has great ideas - that is just a really bad situation for you. You could contact your police department and the local dog warden and talk to them about the situation. You might be able to find out if there have been problems with the owner or his dog in the past - it could strengthen your petition and case to the complex owners. I am sure we will all be curious to find out if he actually lives there or not

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I would do what Karen suggests....
Who would bring a vicious dog to a dogpark. Good grief!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

The same type of moron that brings a vicious dog to a campground with tons of kids!!

[Frannie & Callie]

People are INCREDIBLY moronic and think only of themselves and their own agenda. Dumb Dumb Dumb!!!

[Frannie & Callie]

Camilla - I do feel your pain, and think that you ABSOLUTELY should complain to the apartment's management. I agree with what others have said...talk privately and individually to other people who are affected by this putz and his dog and encourage them to also complain to management. I would not be surprised if it's in violation of his lease to have a vicious dog (there are many apartments in Atlanta where behavior is part of your pet agreement. There are breeds that they won't take, even as mixes, and if you have a vicious dog you can be in lease violation and evicted).

We love the dog park. There is one in my subdivision and one about 10 miles away that we go to just because I like the park and (most) of the people there. At both, I am the bad cop. I get absolutely enraged when someone thinks their agenda is more important than my dog's (and every one else's in the park's) safety. It's not. Your neighbor doesn't have the right to endanger or threaten you, your husband, Darwin, or anyone else and their dog.. He has the right to be a total and complete , but you don't get to control that. He is used to being able to intimdate and have people back down because he's so unpleasant when confronted. Not all bullies back down when confronted but all bullies are still subjected to rules, laws, etc so it is very worth checking out. My, I'm rambling but I'm SO angry for you! I want to come to Utah and unleash my bad cop/BIP (joke work nickname...b**th in purchasing) self all over this guy!

[Joyce & Wilson]

Pick me up on the way!!! LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bring Jacquie, too! She is the best "bad cop" at the dog park! You should hear her tell off these kinds of people, lol!

[Frannie & Callie]

Ha! We should do tag-team bad cop then. I made a friend of mine laugh and laugh when in the space of one week at the park I asked one guy to remove the sharpened spikes from his dog's collar or to remove the dog from the park (what was he thinking??), then told another lady who wanted to spend her dog-park time sitting next to me and bashing the government that "I keep politics out of the dog park", and then told a man who was easily a foot taller than I am that he and his non-fixed bizarrely aggressive dog had to leave park because everyone was leaving and he and his dog were the problem. These are county run parks and there is a sign on the gate that say "all dogs over the age of 4 months must be spayed or neutered". Hard to tell if they're spayed, but EASY to tell if they've been neutered!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Aggressive intact males and their matching owners are Jac's specialty!