We got bit by a pit
There was a VERY dog aggressive pit mix at the park today. She was off leash and Waffle was off leash and we entered the park at the same time on opposite ends. The park is actually a soccer field, but it’s used as a dog park when there aren’t any soccer players or kids in it. Not knowing whether the dog was okay or not, we stuck close to the fence and moved as far away as possible. The other dog’s owner was just kind of standing in the other gate not making any moves or otherwise indicating what was what so we just stood in the corner and did the same. The other dog ran towards us and STILL the owner didn’t move or anything or even call her dog, so I was like, “Well, okay, it must be nice then!” expecting the dog to try to play. That is the unwritten etiquette of the soccer field dog park—if the dog is okay, you let it go do whatever, and if it isn’t, don’t have the dog off leash. With no warning, that pit was on Waffle trying to rip his throat out. Waffle gave out a shrill yelp and wriggled free but the pit chased him down again. I jumped on top of them and grabbed the pit’s back legs and yanked her feet into the air. She lost Waffle and he got up and circled towards the gate. I told him to wait but he was pretty much like, “UM, I’M NOT SAFE HERE,” and he left the field and started heading home, about 0.25 miles away.
I stood there hoisting this dog’s feet into the air while the owner started walking towards us. I watched Waffle get further and further away. By the time I let go of the dog’s feet, he had been out of sight for a while, but she ran towards the gate even though her owner was calling her. Seeing that she may take off down the street after Waffle where I would have no chance of rescuing him at all, I entered feral mode. I slumped my shoulders, bent my knees, held my arms out, and growled the deepest, loudest growl I could muster while moving quickly towards the gate. She stopped moving, buying me enough time to put myself in the gate opening. She tried to make it past but I blocked her. She bit my arm (which I put in front of me to just in case—good thing I did!) and pulled at it—fortunately I was wearing my heavy winter jacket. I think she realized that she was biting a human, so she let go and backed up. A few more moments of me intimidating her from the gate and her owner calling gave way to her finally leaving me alone. I then took off towards Waffle at full speed and saw him reaching the end of the street. I called him and he turned around and stopped.
I caught up with him, hugged him and slipped his leash on him before he could keep going home. I checked him for wounds. There was a lot of spit on his neck and on his shoulder, a little red skin, but no actual wounds. Then I noticed my pants were ripped open and I got bit in the leg, probably before I managed to pull her back legs off the ground. The owner caught up with me finally—she was pregnant, which would explain her lack of running or anything, really—and told me she was up to date on her shots and she would buy me new pants and pay for any medical bills. She didn’t see us enter the park at the same time she did, even though I was wearing bright blue and Waffle is bright orange… but okay, I guess. I told her not to worry, the bite wound isn’t bad at all, but I would like new pants.
I took Waffle back to the park so we could calm down and get some running in. We met up with our neighbor’s dogs when we got back to the apartment so he could have a good experience with a dog before we went back inside. I hope he’s okay. He hasn’t been the same since our old roommate’s dog attacked him the first time they met, so I hope this didn’t escalate his dog-fearing issue—at least not permanently.
This is a situation that could have been avoided if that lady had kept her dog-aggressive dog on a leash and was paying even a modicum of attention to her surroundings. Fortunately I am understanding and pretty dog saavy, but if this were someone else or even me with a different dog, it may have ended in tragedy for both of us.
Comment
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Comment by Priscilla, CARLY, and Frankie on February 10, 2012 at 10:52pm
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O MY gosh!!! i would have been terrified.. people are so neglectful!!!
We almost had a issue tonight while walking .. I had taken frankie home because he doesn't like to walk as long as Carly does .We were on the next block over and a huge pit was standing in his drive way no human around, the minute i looked at him to see if it was what i thought it was, a loose dog ,he started lunging toward us , i was across the street and i screamed STAY, which he did briefly. Then i started walking back ward with carly and he begin toward us again. So i yelled STAY again louder and he stayed..thank God, no body came out i walked quickly away , passing a man in his garage he looked at me and said that dog bit a lady next door this week already!! I said knew a pit was on this street but ive never seen it.. he also has been know to kill other dogs and cats.. apparently the police came and gave a citation thats it!!
Im so afraid to ever walk that way again, if i would have had frankie it would have been worse..
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Comment by Mark Sleith on February 10, 2012 at 10:22pm
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You absolutely should report this - to have her dog attack Waffle, and then you and the owner admits it's an aggressive dog? She has no business having this animal, regardless of how nice she seems or what her background is. Clearly there's a common sense disconnect in how she handles her dog. Jake was attacked by a German Shepherd about a year ago, completely unprovoked. He needed 11 staples in his neck - he's lucky he wasn't killed. I reported the incident and the owner was investigated and the dog was determined to be a 'dangerous dog' based on the facts of the event. The owner was able to keep the dog as long as he had it fixed, keeps it in a fenced in area and displays a 'beware of dog' sign on his property. The kicker? His wife runs a daycare out of their home. He's lucky his dog didn't attack one of those kids or he'd be in a world of hurt.
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Comment by Beth on February 10, 2012 at 10:04pm
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So scary! I'm glad nothing terrible came of it all. We had a pit charge Jack once. He actually slipped out of his harness for the sole purpose of attacking Jack. He went right for the back of the neck (the kill bite) but thankfully in his blind rage he misjudged the size of Jack's neck and came up short. My husband charged the pit twice, yelling as loudly as he could, and after two more attempts to come at us the dog turned and fled.
I also think you should report the incident. The thing is, the woman knew the dog was dog-aggressive and still let it off-leash. That is so incredibly irresponsible. Honestly I think if I had a dog that was that dog-aggressive I would have it put down. I know it sounds awful, but I could not live with myself if my dog got loose and killed or maimed someone's beloved pet, and a dog who is that intent on doing harm that it will charge up just to attack and then try to follow a fleeing dog WILL get loose at some point, no matter how careful one is.
I know some dogs who make a lot of noise at other dogs on a regular basis, and might fight if engaged, but a dog who will go out of its way just for the chance to hurt another dog is trouble.
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Comment by Chelsea and Wyatt on February 10, 2012 at 9:36pm
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I'm so sorry you had to experience that! The woman definitely should've had her dog on a leash due to the fact that she was physically unable to keep up with him--not to mention the fact that she has an incredibly aggressive dog that needs to be under control. I hope both you and Waffle recover swiftly and smoothly!
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Comment by Bev Levy on February 10, 2012 at 9:34pm
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Wow, you were really brave and I am glad both of you appear to be OK. I agree that you really need to report this. I know it is harsh but you are really assuming that a person that behaved irresponsibly will not do it again and I am not sure you can count on that. Hugs!
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Comment by Rebecca And Clue on February 10, 2012 at 9:21pm
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That would scar the life out of me. It's a good thing you reacted so quick to save Waffle.
I'm glad the both of you are okay, and I hope Waffle will be able to put it behind him.
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Comment by Jennifer Markley on February 10, 2012 at 9:20pm
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I hope you guys are OK! Poor Waffle. I'm glad that you let him have a positive experience after...irresponsible dog owners make me SO mad. Be sure to clean your wounds good and watch for infection.
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Comment by Rachael & Waffle on February 10, 2012 at 9:15pm
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The bite wound on my leg is barely a wound--the teeth just grazed my skin and it happened because I got in the middle of the fight. The bite on my arm was of similar magnitude, no big deal, and lasted very briefly and she let go once she came to. I got her contact info and she is sending me the dog's vax records and some money for my pants. I don't believe this dog is a threat to people and because my bites happened in, uh, very passionate circumstances, I will not be reporting it. I did request that she NEVER let her dog off leash again and she said that was "the most reasonable" thing to do from now on. She seems like a very sensible lady (she's a professor at Virginia Tech) so I think she'll follow through with that; have no reason to believe she is lying to me about anything. This is NOT her dog's first offense in regards to dog aggression but it is the first time her dog injured a person. I think now that she knows what can happen, she will be careful about preventing it in the future. I cleaned my wound with soap and water and Bactine... it's got a big bruise now but it should be fine assuming no infection happens. I'm glad it happened to me and not someone else, though I'd prefer it didn't happen at all.
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Comment by Zigward & Kimberly on February 10, 2012 at 9:07pm
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i dont think i would even be able to be halfway civil with the lady afterwards:/ that could have been way worse than it was and not to mention hellll-ooooo... if your dog gets that crazy over another dog, why bring her offleash to a place where not only other dog, but other PEOPLE are-it's a risk not only to the people but to her dog, especially being a pit mix. so easily she could get her dog to get put down. how sad. im so happy that waffle is okay! i dont think i could report her. at the very least, i would give her an option. either find the dog a new home with someone responsible or you report her... course, youd only have her word to trust so..:/ thats a tough situation, because the dog is going to have to suffer the consequences, but another pet or kid or person may if you dont. i hope the lady just takes that as a lesson and learns from it.
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Comment by Laura and Tommy Jefferson on February 10, 2012 at 8:58pm
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oh my gosh, I am SO sorry this happened to you!!! I hope Waffle is ok!!
I am SO sick of aggressive dogs being off leash! Tommy and I had a run in with a German Shepard that went after him in our neighborhood a few weeks ago - it terrified him! I truly don't understand why these dogs aren't on leashes!
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