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.        :(

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

This man's dog is 8 years old - socialize him?  A little bit late.  I guess I'm getting a little bit shocked at how many people are willing to stick up for an owner who's dog should NEVER be allowed off of a leash.  His dog lost the ability to be in a public place, off of a leash the FIRST time it bit another dog.  How many dogs does it need to bite before it needs to be kept on a leash?  An obedience class?  Please.  Having Bozo in the dog park at other times.  That is great - you, an innocent person that doesn't know this dogs history shows up while Bozo is running lose.  Good luck and insurance to you.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Jane, I don't know all t he details.  I realize you are upset.  My suggestions may be mute in these circumstances.  Since I had no idea of the details my suggestions may not be valid.  We all only have our own experiences to fall back on.  In my case, similar to your case, it did not go well.  I only wish I could have worked something out. 

As for sticking up for Bozo and his owner--NO.  I was thinking of  your Peace.   Stroke is a serious word and I wouldn't want that to happen to you.

I'm hoping you and your neighbor find a peaceful  and very SAFE solution.  Good Luck.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Joanne, I'm sorry if I came off a bit strong.  I'm just so upset.  I WAS shocked to see him.  Un-prepared to deal with that dog and all of the feelings of horror to see your puppy bleeding and screaming in pain. I know I need to get over it.  I thought I had.  He had not come back and I was letting it go - but wow - seeing that dog - sent me over the edge.  The man lied to me, he said he would not come back.  He knows we are there at that time.  

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

And do I need to add that he KNEW we would be coming.  As a matter of fact we were 15 minutes late.  I believe he did this on purpose.  Worked out ahead of time?  I tought it was worked out - he said he would never bring him again. 

[BG and Gavin]

I remember the trauma when Rooney was attacked, so understand perfectly your ire!  It sounds like the dog's owner is the BOZO and he got what was coming to him.  Status, shmatus!  Who cares.  How can he frame this to anyone to make you look bad.  "This crazy lady verbally attacked me just because my dog vicously attacked hers and I said I wouldn't bring him back to the park and I did.  Gee how unreasonable!"

[Kris & Brinkley]

LMBO!!!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Way to go Jane! I know exactly how bad confronting someone feels but I think you absolutely did the right thing. I can't believe his owner said "he's only bitten 3 dogs" ONLY 3? That is outrageous. And you know the other people who have had their dogs bitten will agree with you. Just know that all of us here on DK support you, and we know you were in the right. :-)

[Kris & Brinkley]

I right there with you RIGHT ON JANE!!!! There is a time for everything including standing up against the wrong. I think laws there are off, here in TX if a dog breaks skin of dog or human  s/he goes to the quarantine  at the shelter until s/he is tested & their temperament judged

[Camilla and Darwin]

To those of you saying that there is nothing wrong with the guy bringing Bozo there as long as he leaves when other dogs come in. I just wanted to give my point of view on how this actually works out. There is a man who lives at our complex who has a very aggressive lab. He will attack any dog, and any male person that comes into the fenced area. He claims that he only comes in when no dogs are there, and will leave when they come. But it doesn't end up working out that way. What actually happened is that after the complaints, he barely ever took his dog there, and left immediately if someone came. Then eventually, started coming more and more often, and would say "I'll be done in a few minutes" or "Give us a bit." Not wanting to get in an argument, we would just leave and come back later.

Now it is to the point where he is there all of the time! I think he just got comfortable thinking that nobody was complaining, and now he won't leave unless you want to get in a big argument with him. And he goes during the best part of the day, after work but before dark. So all of the owners who want our dogs to play have to either confront the scary guy or just not ever use the park. Basically, if Bozo's owner starts going back justifying that he will always leave, it's just going to build back up to the point where he will stay when other dogs come, or take up time that other people want to use the park. We already know that Bozo's owner took him there AFTER he had had issues biting other dogs. That is why poor Rooney was attacked. We already know the owner is willing to put other dogs at risk, if he is allowed to get away with it. And he was there during a time that Rooney usually goes, as well as other dogs, and it isn't fair to cut down on their time!

Bottom line, the sign says that aggressive dogs are not allowed. That is the rule, so too bad for him. If he wants to socialize his dog he can do it with other dog owners elsewhere. Non-aggressive dogs shouldn't have their park time limited because someone who is breaking the rules is there.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Camilla - I'm crying.  Thank you for getting it.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I agree completely. It is this kind of dog owner that ruins it for everyone else. There are so few places for us to take our dogs off leash. Someone using a special area with an aggressive dog will soon mean no one has a place for dogs to be off leash. Jane, you are protecting not only your dog but all of the dogs that use this area and their owners. These dog bites should be reported to the police. That way if the dog bites a person he will have a record.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Greg, I don't blame Bozo.  I blame his owner.  If Rooney were aggressive then I would still love him, still want him.  I don't want Bozo put down.  I want Bozo's owner to stand by his word and keep his dog under control so that he can't injure/hurt another animial.  I could call animal control - but I wanted to be a better neighbor.  I'd trust you if you said you'd not bring him back.  I lost it because I was startled, scared, shocked that he was there.  Bozo really is not the problem - it is his owner.  Very sad.  Very scary.  I'm not going to ask for vet bills, I'm asking that his dog is not allowed in our dog park.