pit bull chew toy

[Lynn LeFey]

I have a problem. In fact, I have 2. First, I have an idiot neighbor. Second, my idiot neighbor has a pit bull that keeps attacking me.

Pepper spray doesn't work on it. I know, because the last time it attacked me, I sprayed it and it had no useful effect. About 30 second after being sprayed, the dog sneezed once, then retreated. It's not doing me any good if my defensive measure allows another half minute before it starts doing anything.

We have police reports filed, and are petitioning to have the dog declared 'dangerous'. Seriously. It has attacked me twice, and is still not considered dangerous. After being declared dangerous, if it attacks someone a few MORE times, it will be declared vicious. After that, the owner will be required by law to build a secure enclosure.

So... I expect to be attacked by this thing a few more times. It is completely my legal right to kill this dog if it's on my property trying to attack me. But the more I think about it, the less I like the idea of killing a dog because the owner is a complete moron.

So... here's the idea. The Pit Bull Chew Toy.

It's the leg of a pair of jeans (previously already torn by the very pit bull in question). A big ball of material gives the dog something to attack, and latch its teeth into. Once it's doing that, you pin the dog, control the head, and unwrap the paracord handle to make a collar, to control the animal until the police arrive.





I feel like I'm being light years kinder than I ought to in this situation, but at least I'll have a clear conscience.

Also, this story changes completely if it ever actually manages to bite me or my hubby. Then all kindness is gone.

[sawman]

I hope that works out for ya... it sounds like YOU'RE his current "chew toy". 

[Mr. Whippy]

Bad idea.  Dogs are incredibly strong. Thinking you can control a dog's head is a very dangerous assumption.  If legal in your state, I would escalate to a taser.

You want to keep distance between you and the attacking dog, especially if it is of any considerable size.  Putting the dog on a loop pole and then calling the police after tasering would be fine, but remember, even on a loop pole, a dog can be difficult to handle.

[Taxi Dad]

Bad idea.  Dogs are incredibly strong. Thinking you can control a dog's head is a very dangerous assumption.  If legal in your state, I would escalate to a taser.

You want to keep distance between you and the attacking dog, especially if it is of any considerable size.  Putting the dog on a loop pole and then calling the police after tasering would be fine, but remember, even on a loop pole, a dog can be difficult to handle.

+1 to that !
don't try wrangling the beast Lynn it'll end badly
get a fire extinguisher, preferably CO2 ! big cloud of cold gas will freak it out for a second or two (enough time to retreat hopefully)
totally 'legal' to own AND justifiable to have ''laying about " on your property !
and if push comes to shove you can beat the cr@p out of the dog with the cylinder


*the police use them when 'storming drug houses', and they don't like getting bitten by pitbulls 

[derekmac]

Yes, please don't try and control the dogs head.  These are VERY strong/tough animals, and it will easily slip from your grip and attack you.  Can you get bear spray from a hunting shop?

[Lynn LeFey]

First, a taser, while legal is no easier to hit with than a pistol, and this is a fairly fast moving dog. (Edit: meaning no more likely to stop it before it bites me)

Second, bear spray is just higher volumes of any pepper spray, and on a solid hit across the eyes, the dog was unfazed.

You can't reasonably cary a fire extinguisher with you all the time. Even a small kitchen-size one.

Next suggestion? Like, heck, I dunno... having laws that actually protected the public's safety?

[Mr. Whippy]

First, a taser, while legal is no easier to hit with than a pistol, and this is a fairly fast moving dog. (Edit: meaning no more likely to stop it before it bites me)

Second, bear spray is just higher volumes of any pepper spray, and on a solid hit across the eyes, the dog was unfazed.

You can't reasonably cary a fire extinguisher with you all the time. Even a small kitchen-size one.

Next suggestion? Like, heck, I dunno... having laws that actually protected the public's safety?

Not sure you're right about the Taser.  My daughter's Taser has a series of electrodes, more like a shotgun than a rifle, as it were.  Also, the Taser will drop the animal, almost immediately since it short circuits the conduction system to motor nerves. 

Regardless, if you're destined to close combat with the dog, get a sharp, double edged knife, stab with blade parallel to ribs immediately right and left of the spine.  It will drop both lungs and likely cut aorta or vena cava, then try to cutting the throat, if you can do so without hitting yourself, otherwise stab liver and spleen from the back.  Sounds like the dog is so fast that fatally wounding is your best option.

[Lynn LeFey]

It's not super fast. I've dodged every time it's snapped at me. The best it got was tearing my jeans. But a knife is no better a solution than a pistol, and gives me no more range. The chew toy gives me more than a foot. Something for it to bite onto besides me.

I'm not trying to dismiss the suggestions out of hand, and i do appreciate them. I have a Wave on me at all times, and expect the blade will do the job if i need it to, but I'd really rather not kill it if it can be avoided. That's punishing a dog because of a stupid owner, and that just kind of seems wrong to me.

It's just a really horrible situation, and I'm really torqued off about it, and the legal system sucks donkey smurf.

[Taxi Dad]

umbrella ?
might be less 'fatal' than other suggestions (I'm sure there's not much love for the beast..... but still) most attacking dogs aren't quite sure how to navigate round a brightly coloured object that suddenly expands in their way.
still only buying you a few seconds head start but worth a try ?

[Mr. Whippy]

It's not super fast. I've dodged every time it's snapped at me. The best it got was tearing my jeans. But a knife is no better a solution than a pistol, and gives me no more range. The chew toy gives me more than a foot. Something for it to bite onto besides me.

I'm not trying to dismiss the suggestions out of hand, and i do appreciate them. I have a Wave on me at all times, and expect the blade will do the job if i need it to, but I'd really rather not kill it if it can be avoided. That's punishing a dog because of a stupid owner, and that just kind of seems wrong to me.

It's just a really horrible situation, and I'm really torqued off about it, and the legal system sucks donkey smurf.

If you have time to dodge and face off, then you can taser the dog.  Really, Tasers are not precision weapons.   It is non-lethal and gives you time to control the animal while calling the police.  BTW, in close contact combat (ie within arm's reach), a knife is more effective as a weapon than a gun.  It sounded like the thing charged and was on you before you could react. 

You do have one more option, contact a personal injury lawyer and sue the owners.  They will get rid of the dog or move.  Either is a win IMO.

[Lynn LeFey]

The problem is I haven't been injured yet. I could sue for 'distress and suffering' or some BS, but that's feeding into the horrible litigious crap I rather hate.

I will look into a Taser, but I'm not feeling great about it.

And if I can use a knife, the dog can use its teeth. Any offset of range would be preferable.

Taxi... I've heard other folks talk about umbrellas, but I don't want to lose sight of the dog myself.

[Taxi Dad]

I'd rather see through a telescopic sight 

[Mr. Whippy]

The problem is I haven't been injured yet. I could sue for 'distress and suffering' or some BS, but that's feeding into the horrible litigious crap I rather hate.

I will look into a Taser, but I'm not feeling great about it.

And if I can use a knife, the dog can use its teeth. Any offset of range would be preferable.

Taxi... I've heard other folks talk about umbrellas, but I don't want to lose sight of the dog myself.

Tore your pants.  That's an attack.  That is actionable.

[captain spaulding]

If the dog has just ripped your pants it seems as if hes toying with you. If you were attacked you would know it. I'm not trying to say the dog is not dangerous at all. It seems like it very well is, but what i'm saying is you have yet to really be attacked from what it sounds like. If he really waned to attack you he would not be pulling at your jeans. Obviously I am just going off what you tell us. I'm no trying to start an argument at all. In my opinion if any dog started ripping my jeans I would do anything to get it off of me. You show much more restraint than I would. I mean technically you have been "attacked" but what i'm saying is if the dog really was trying to kill you it would not have been pulling at your jeans.

My advice would be to be prepared as much as possible and report every incident. If you feel it is necessary then do anything you have to do to keep yourself from harm. 

[Mr. Whippy]

Let me just say from a medical/pathology perspective, dog attacks are not a minor deal.  You have warning that one is coming.  You should do what you have to, to protect yourself.  You do not want permanent damage to a hand, possible sepsis secondary wound infections or possible facial reconstructive surgery because you felt badly for the dog. 

Worse yet, a child on a bike could be an easy target.  Being an adult, the dog may not feel comfortable outright attacking you (yet), but a 60 lb child would be an easy target.  You don't want to think, "Gosh, I could have been more proactive on this"

An aggressive dog that has put teeth on your person is a real threat and needs to be dealt with equal aggressiveness (figuratively and possibly literally).

And you're right.  You want to keep distance between you and the dog.

[kirk13]

Hmm...think this us one up for the British nanny state. Here the cops would have taken action! What you've described is an attack by any reasonable standard!

Sorry I've nothing constructive to add except a neener neener on behalf of Her Maj's Law!

[Taxi Dad]

don't start me off about our stupid Dog laws !!! they are even worse than the 'stupid Knife laws' ! (yes that IS possible, but only just)
a spaniel only has to look at someone with menace to be considered 'dangerous' yet nobody knows what a pitbull is !!!

*here's a thought Lynn we could send Kirky round and you could throw him at the dog.... or would that be considered 'inhumane' 

[Syph007]

The taser would work but seems more like just delaying the inevitable.  How many times will you have to taser it and call police before the situation is delt with.  If you fear for you safety and have already tried all reasonable actions, I would be prepared for lethal force next time around.  If you have a gun and can carry it, that is what will end the situation, sadly.

[Lynn LeFey]

Firearm concealed carry license is in the works. I can carry the firearm concealed on my property without license, but that doesn't help me when we're returning home from somewhere.

Cap, the dog wasn't going for my jeans, it was going for my leg, but I don't just stand there and let it bite me. Even having moved, its teeth scraped (but didn't break) my skin. It was most certainly trying to injure me.

The thing is, I can see how this thing attacks. Pit bulls are notorious clamp-and-shake attackers. I just need to give it a target to clamp onto. Once it does, I SHOULD be able to control the situation. I am strong enough to pick the dog off the ground with one-arm curl (I estimate it to be about 40 pounds).

Also, any notion of getting a taser would require 2, one for me, one for the hubby. I'm looking more seriously into the laws now.

[Taxi Dad]

I really do want to warn again about the 'picking it up' idea ! you WILL get bitten and it WILL be nasty ! you may be strong enough to get hold of a crocodile but it might not be the best way forward and I'd advise against that too 
(if you do go down the wrestling it into submission route...get it on film..... it'll go down well on youtube)

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Sorry if this is a bit left field, but seeing as you know where the dog is and can gauge where the attack is coming from, could a high powered  whistle or airhorn be an option?

Certainly a whistle can be on you at all times and there's no legal issues, and it should stun the dog long enough to run for the car/house ect I'd imagine?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[captain spaulding]

Alright. I was just going off what I read. It does seem like the dog is quite a nuisance and dangerous to yourself and others. The only advice I can offer is to be prepared to deal with the situation and report everything. I personally don't think the Chew Toy is a good option, but that is up to you. Maybe a air horn is worth a try. Those bad boys are pretty loud and might scare it off. A taser that actually shoots the prongs is a good option, but its really a one time deal. If you had to use it often it would be a pain in the butt to replace and costly. I have heard that the Taser brand tasers will replace the cartridge and/or unit for free with a police report and if you register the unit. I have no idea if this is true, but was told this a year or so ago when looking into them. A good and viable option might be a heavy walking stick. It offers a striking weapon as well as possibly keeping distance between you and the dog. I believe that might of been talked about in this thread though. Have you tried this?

These are widely used for civilian self defense. I have personally handled these. If you get one I would definitely go for the one with the red dot and light. Not sure if its standard now or not.

http://www.taser.com/products/self-defense-products/taser-c2

[Aloha]

Lynn please don't try to fight the dog, please.  I have seen pitbulls smashed in the face with baseball bats and keep attacking.  They have incredible focus when attacking and short or what Mr Whippy said they will keep fighting.  I have known pitbulls who have been badly injured in dog fights not quit.  Why do you think those that hold dog fights shoot the looser?  This dog is badly injured and has no quit in it so better to kill than heal. 

I'm shocked that bear spray has no effect, good to know.  I believe some how this dog needs a seriously bad encounter with you.  A taser will stop this dog most certainly as the short circuiting of its nervous system is something it cant control. 

How about a cattle prod which would give that dog a jolt he won't soon forget?  There are some powerful ones that will leave that dog silly.  Short of shooting that dog I think Mr Whippy nailed it. 

Lynn I'm so sorry you have to deal with this crap but once that dog attacked you then it was on.  I love animals and have a hard time with what I'm saying but I would shoot that dog immediately and call it a day.     

[Craiger]

I would kill the dog, either directly or indirectly. It sounds like it is terrorizing you and your husband and you have exhausted a fair number of options trying to do the right thing. The owner is not going to help, the law does not seem to be helpful, and despite your kind and patient approach, the dog is already ruined and will most likely be a bad-dog for the remainder of his life. Your last "good person" option is to build a secure enclosure for your idiot neighbors dog, but that's crazy. He doesn't deserve it and he obviously doesn't understand the concept anyway.

I am dog person. I love dogs. But I do not put them on the same level as humans and I would not allow one to take over my neighborhood. A good dog is a dog that knows it place: Second in line to men, women and children.

I think the fake chew toy is a dangerous idea. Save yourself the grief of being attacked, learning that a small child has been mauled or whatever.

And above all, remember that the dog doesn't care that you care about the dog.

[Aloha]

I'm not so sure about the taser anymore. 

[scattergun13]

I'm trying to stay out of this discussion and so far the advice has been just as expected. I now feel obligated on behalf of MT.O's best interest, to state openly in this thread, the following to Lynn. DO NOT INDIRECTLY KILL OR CAUSE THAT DOG TO BE KILLED. You will then be in violation of several crimes some of which can be felonies. I promise you that if you do there is an attorney out there who will consider holding you, the poster and possibly MT.O accountable for the outcome based on that statement.
Stew...

[dmanuel]

In my experience a dog that wants you is not going to be placated with a chew toy just a foot away from his original target.

Tasers are definitely an option but may or may not be effective. Remember that dogs move differently and are built differently than humans, which the taser was designed for. They often don't make a good enough connection on dogs. That being said though, if you have to use one against a dog make sure to turn the taser sideways since tasers have a tall spread for humans. If you fire it like a pistol (up and down) you are likely to miss with either the top or bottom electrodes. Turning it sideways gives you a better chance. Also you should wait until the dog is 12 ft away or closer.




Some info on tasering a dog

DO NOT INDIRECTLY KILL OR CAUSE THAT DOG TO BE KILLED. You will then be in violation of several crimes some of which can be felonies. I promise you that if you do there is an attorney out there who will consider holding you, the poster and possibly MT.O accountable for the outcome based on that statement.
Stew...

This is completely dependant on local laws and whether or not there is a documented history of attacks, which there is. Human safety trumps animal rights in most locations of the US.

[Syph007]

I'm not so sure about the taser anymore. 

 

crap, that's scary!  Felt bad for the cop.  We have ban by breed laws, which sadly treats all owners the same to get rid fo the problem.  So good and bad dog owners alike cant get the 'dangerous' breeds.  Personally Im ok with it.  Seeing one mangled kid was enough for me to be ok with an all out ban, even if that means good dog owners cant get pitbulls.

[Craiger]

Lynn is well within her rights to protect herself and loved ones. Please don't try and make her second guess defending herself or feel bad about not wanting to be chased, terrorized and attacked by a bully dog. She is within her rights to walk about her neighborhood with a reasonable expectation of safety. Shame on you for siding with a dog.

And for the record, I am not giving advice. Just sharing thoughts. Have a nice day 

[jekostas]

I'm trying to stay out of this discussion and so far the advice has been just as expected. I now feel obligated on behalf of MT.O's best interest, to state openly in this thread, the following to Lynn. DO NOT INDIRECTLY KILL OR CAUSE THAT DOG TO BE KILLED. You will then be in violation of several crimes some of which can be felonies. I promise you that if you do there is an attorney out there who will consider holding you, the poster and possibly MT.O accountable for the outcome based on that statement.
Stew...

Lynn is well within her rights to protect herself from an aggressive dog.  Why should the dog's rights be above hers?