Dog Park Horror Stories

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We've heard a lot of horror stories here about many DK members having frightening experiences at dog parks, mostly about doodles being attacked by out-of-control dogs with irresponsible rude owners, occasionally even a story about someone's child being hurt by a strange dog. I know all of us have been upset and outraged by these incidents.

Recently, however, I read two stories that go far beyond this, to the point of tragedy. First, there was a story about a dog who was actually stabbed and very severely injured by another dog's deranged owner in California:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&a...

 

The second story is even worse than the stabbing story; in Maryland, a husky named Bear-Bear was shot and killed by another dog's owner, an off-duty officer, with almost no provocation. This is a very very disturbing story, and it bothered me for days after I read it. So, warning: read it at your own risk.

 

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2010/08/cop_kil...

 

The Bear-Bear story has gotten a lot of attention in the media and on-line. Here is the website Justice for Bear-Bear , for those who want more information.

 

After reading these stories, along with Camilla's recent post about Darwin being attacked at the dog park and all the other incidents we've seen over the past few months, I am feeling kind of paranoid about taking Jack to any kind of dog park, even though he doesn't engage at all with other dogs and we go off on our own. Apparently, we now have to worry about owners with weapons, ready to attack other people's dogs, in addition to the other dogs themselves.

It's getting too scary out there, folks.

[F, Calla & Luca]

To get significantly off topic, a good thing in this case I think, do they give allergy immunotherapy to dogs? Maybe that's one way the "universe" can take care of Jack--of course you would have to be the instrument of the universe for him. Knowing you, if you could be you would be so maybe he is getting this.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, he's been on immunotherapy for 19 months, and he's been doing great until now. The ragweed just does him in every year, and this year is worse than usual.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sorry to hear that. I had some immunotherapy as a kid and started again in June after the trees were a big problem this spring. The ragweed allergies had lessened over the years so I have no idea if they are doing any good for that. But Jack and I may be related because I'm getting treated for ragweed, trees, and 2 species of dust mites. Funny thing, I've never had recognizable symptoms from dogs but I'm , test-wise at least allergic to them, and there in the mix too. Unfortunately, despite my bad allergies to cats, the allergist recommended against the cat immunotherapy for me.

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

Wish for you both it would. Maybe that's why there is winter?

[F, Calla & Luca]

How do you manage this? I think sometimes the universe is awfully slow in meting out just desserts , if in fact they ever occur.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I know exactly what you mean. The area where I grew up was chalk full of these kind of crimes. People just don't value dogs as anything more than farm animals or things to keep in a backyard kennel.

There were several youth in the area I grew up that were transfered to different schools because of violent crimes against animals. One boy that went to high school with me set his neighbor's dog on fire and watched it burn to death. Thankfully he was placed in juvenile detention for that crime. I have even seen a person shooting neighborhood dogs with his bb gun. Just for kicks. You can believe he got an earful from me.

Some people are truly sick.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

When I hear about people doing these cruel and sadistic things to animals to always makes me think of Jeffrey Dahmer and are these people going to raise the bar like he did? Sick, sick society.

[Sandy]

We used to dog parks until about a year ago. Toby always seems to attract the dogs who want to hump, or show their aggression - perhaps because he is not aggressive, and will always give in. I never went alone, and we tried to wander alone, but other dogs always followed, and their owners didn't pay attention to calling them off. The last straw was when an owner came in with two dobermans. She had a ball and a thrower. She threw the ball. Toby beat the doberman to the ball. The doberman attacked him. I ran into the middle of it, and she ran over too. She grabbed her dog by the collar, and proceded to ream me out because she said obviously Toby started it. Everyone there saw, and was flabbergasted. We left, took down her license plate number "just in case", and warned the others walking in. One of the people said - "Oh right, that's the doberman that's supposed to be wearing a muzzle in the park." Excuse me????? I met someone who went again later, and the doberman was muzzled as soon as we left the park. She had it with her, and didn't bother to use it immediately, even though she knew her dog was a threat. I was never so scared for Toby, and angry as Toby's Momma all at the same time. Some people are idiots, and they ruin it for everyone else.

[Christy and Yoda]

I live 15 minutes from the dog park where the incident happened in Maryland. It is now getting local news coverage, but not until there was a large facebook campaign to arrest this guy. It is an unbelievable story and I can't imagine if that happened to us.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have not stopped thinking about it since I first read it. Heartbreaking what the family went through.

[laurie lehr]

We've followed Bear Bear's story from the beginning , this man shouldn't even have a job . It's scary to know that this man is a police officer and he has such poor judgementand is crrying a gun . Listen my Jasper was attacked at the dog park , We still go to the dog park , it's not fair that other people don't pay attention to what their dogs are doing . We don't stand in a group and talk , we keep moving , things tend to get out of hand when it's big groups of dogs.He still gets to play with his friends . That way you still see the red lights with some dogs and you stay away or leave if things get out of had .

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

It is a shame we are worried about taking our dogs to dogparks. We probably take Peri just a few times a year, but I get more hesitant about it each time. She gets to socialize at daycare (where they temperament test and watch them like hawks while they play - plus no owner is going to come in and shoot another dog). And Taquito and Peri can play together.

I agree it is scary. I hate feeling paranoid.