My Horrible, Horrible Scare

[Camilla and Darwin]

Something truly frightening that happened to me last week. It really made me stop and think about how much more careful I need to be about my pup's safety.

Darwin loves to play with a yellow lab named Mauii that lives at our apartment complex. We wanted to find a place at our complex that we could let them play off leash, so we didn't have to drive 20 minutes to a dog park. I doubted we would be allowed, but thought I'd give it a go. I asked our landlords if they were okay with us letting our dogs off leash to play with each other. They suggested an area nearby our apartment that is a huge grassy area, with very little person or dog traffic. We checked it out, and it's great. Huge, grassy, and secluded. It's about a 1-2 minute walk from my front door, so it's literally right next to where I live. Perfect, right? We take our pups there two or three times a week to play.

Well, this last time something truly horrible happened. As they were playing, a man walked by, with a HUGE looking pitbull on a leash. I think that he must have been a mastiff pitbull mix, because he was definitely over 100 pounds, and much taller than your average pitbull. My guess is around 30" at the shoulders. Well, Darwin decided to run over to say hello. I immediately called him back, prepared with a treat, but he ignored me and kept running. I saw that the dog was hunching down and growling so I called him more frantically, trying to get his attention.

Once Darwin reached the dog, he lunged at Darwin. I mean LUNGED. Like, yanked the man off his feet. Darwin quickly got the picture and ran away but the dog was chasing him down, dragging his owner across the grass. I was horrified, running as fast as I could towards them. The owner somehow jumped on top of the dog and pinned him down to the ground with his entire body. I got a hold of Darwin, leashed him up, and handed him off to my friends. The dog was STILL trying to attack. He was snarling, foaming, and snapping and desperately trying to get out from under his owner. The man had to pick the dog up and carry him snarling and struggling away from us.

He returned a few minutes later (he had walked over to his apartment and put the dog inside) and I apologized profusely for Darwin. He said there was no reason to apologize, and explained that his dog had MAJOR aggression problems. Apparently he has almost killed numerous dogs he has attacked. He explained that had his dog gotten away, he would have attacked and tried to kill Darwin.

Personally, I think it's dangerous to have a dog that aggressive, not under your control. But really, it wasn't a designated off-leash area, and Darwin was off-leash. so we were technically in the wrong.

We haven't been back to that area since. I have to say, I really try to be a responsible dog owner... and I feel so ashamed of myself. I can't even think about what could have happened, it's too horrible. Not only do I need to work on Darwin's recall, but that area isn't even a designated dog park. I really wish I had been smarter about where I let my dog play off leash, especially when his recall is less than reliable. It was just, so convenient, that I ignored my better judgement.

I am so glad nothing happened... and I have a whole new resolve to be more diligent with training, and more selective about where I let him play.

[Frannie & Callie]

So, so scary. Callie, Wilbur, and I are so thankful that you and Darwin are ok!!!

[Yvonne N]

Oh Camilla, we are so thankful you and Darwin okay. Be safe and give Darwin an extra hug.

[Adina P]

Wow, thoroughly frightening. I really don't think you did that much wrong. Yes it was not a designated off leash area...but usually the danger there is that a dog could leave the area and get hit...not run into a dog killing monster. Goodness! And what in the world would he want to BREED that dog for?

[shelly]

Oh my gosh, Carmill!. I am sure you have replayed that scenario in your head over and over. Thank God Darwin ran away and the owner was quick on his feet. I think Tori may have just cowered down right there. I am so glad everything turned out well and this experience just served as a lesson for ALL of us. I'm just so sorry you had to be so scared!

[cheryl & oliver]

Just this week my grandaughter was seriously bitten by a neighbors dog without provication. the dog had bitten another neighbor the week before, didn't break the skin but did cause bruising, but they did not report it. Well my grandaughter was over there playing with her friend, the dog was caged, and the older son took the dog out for a walk, As he returned and went to put the dog back in his cage, he broke loose and attacked my grandaughter. She was seriously injured with bites and bruises, and if my daughter in law did not throw herself on top of my gr.daughter, he would have gotten her in the neck by the jugular. He bit my dil on the back, legs and arms before they could pull him off. My grandaughter had 11 sutures in her back, three in the arms and 1 under the arm, 1 under the eye, and two over the eye, needless to say we were freaked out...they rushed them both to the ER, for suturing, and then animal control was called to remove the dog...Now they keep the dog for 10 days to assess the dog for aggression, and then the dog if found to be aggressive, he can be returned to the people but he has to be muzzled at all times and a sign must be on the property saying dangerous dog. Why people would even keep an agressive dog, when they have children of their own, and lots of children in the area is beyond me. My son said that the dog had to be part pit, he looked like a red nose pit, with something else mixed in, but mostly pit...I am a nurse, and I went to change dressings on this child everyday for a week, she is traumatized and only now is she coming back to herself. Monday she will go to have her sutures removed. They have two small dogs, and they are a dog loving family, they love Ollie & Renny, and I am hoping that she won't fear them now because they are so much bigger...Where they live they are not allowed to have certain breeds of dogs and they are listed right in their community docks...So, I know what u felt today, the fear with Darwin, thank goodness he is ok, but the other man should not have that kind of dog out in public. Even the sweetest animal like our doodles are still animals, and I never let anyone just come at them, I make sure it is a gradual process when meeting, and for sure I would never let any person put their face in the dogs face when he doesn't know them, or even if he knows them, I always rule on the side of caution...Ollie & Renny are sweet dogs and they love people and kids, but I still am careful at all times...

[Debbie and Thomas]

I have to wonder how people who are owners deal with a dog like this. I am sure they love this "beast" and he is probably great at home with them...BUT I would worry everytime I went out with him that he would attack a child or another dog and perhaps fatally injure it. If it was part Pitt..we have a law in our province that this breed of dog MUST be muzzled when out in public. There have been dozens and dozens of incidents regarding them in our city and province so bylaws have had to be mandated against them. People were up in arms about it but when I hear a story like yours....it is a good idea. Thank God Darwin recognized the danger and hightailed it out of danger.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I don't know exactly what he was, but definitely not pure bred mastiff. He looked like a pitbull, but way bigger. He didn't have any type of wrinkles, no mask, and was lacking the somewhat smashed in face of a mastiff. His fur was much shorter and sleeker. All I can say, is he looked exactly like a red nosed pitbull, but the size of a mastiff. It was very strange.

Yes, I agree. It was a great wake up call that I can't just assume every dog Darwin goes up to is going to be okay with his puppy excitement. He is a pretty big pup, and is still in that stage where he runs head on towards any dog he sees. He just doesn't know how to take a hint. I definitely need to work on that with him.

[Anna and Achilles]

I can't imagine how scary that must have been. You will probably keep replaying that in your head for awhile. Just remember he is safe and we all learned something from it. My other dog Houdini was attacked once while I was walking him. It was VERY scary, he didn't fight back because he was such a love. I think he was so surprised that anyone would ever want to hurt him. Give Darwin a hug from Achilles and me.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Laurie, thanks for the idea. There are tennis courts by where I live that are almost always vacant. I'll have to talk to my landlord about it!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Andy&Sharon. I agree with you, I don't know the whole story. Yes it is scary that the dog is so aggressive. But not only was the guy prepared, and stopped the dog... but he was very gracious to me, even though I was in the wrong. It did sound as though he was aware of the problems his dog had, and he was trying to work on it. After all, his dog was on a leash... and mine wasn't.

As far as whether or not he rescued the dog.. I doubt it. He told me that he plans to breed the dog (most shelters make you neuter when you adopt) as soon as he can. Not a good idea IMO... but again, don't know the whole story.