Animal Advice, this could be serious and I don't know what to do

[flutes_and_fabric]

I'm looking for advice, so please if you have any idea how to handle the situation let me know.

My driveway and my neighbor's yard is separated by a small slope covered with greenery. They got this dog about 5 months ago. They used to tether it in a spot where it could get into our driveway. He'd come running over and he was always very nice. I have a lot of dogs so of course I gave him attention when he came over. He licked, played, did tricks, wagged his tail. I have a lot of dogs, so I know the signs of a friendly dog. I've had to go onto my neighbor's property a few times to untangle the dog when his tether got wrapped around the tree he was tied to. I informed the father once that tethers were dangerous, and leaving a dog unsupervised on a tether for more than a few hours can be considered neglect. He apologized, said he got the dog on a whim when their son was threatened at school, and would try to take better care of the dog.

A few months have passes and now they have an electric fence. It's a very very small area they've given him. The dog's literally outside 90% of the time. I do think they kept him inside during the cold, but now 6am through midnight he's outside, and the kids never play with him. I've only had contact with him one other time since they got the new electric fence. My senile dog got out and ran over there. I chased him. The dogs really got along well and again, I was met with a wagging tail. I picked up my dog and brought him back over to my house and that was that.

Today I got home and I was standing with one leg on my driveway, one in the greenery as I got something out of my car. I hear the dog barking, but he always barks. Suddenly I'm on the floor and the dog's coming at me. He bit my leg, I screamed and kicked him in the face. He backed off, then grabbed for my arm. I didn't want him biting any exposed skin (I was wearing pants) in case there's any sickness involved, so I leaned back, hit my head on the pavement, and kicked at the dog again. He backed off and ran back to his house where he promptly whined and scratched at the door. No one answered, so I don't think they're home.

I really do think that it's a combination of boredom, small space, and neglect that's caused this sudden shift in personality. I'm scared for the dog, and I'm not sure what kind of action to take. Should I wait and see what happens? Maybe the aggression has something to do with a physical ailment or the dog's just in a mood. My dogs have become aggressive before, but there has to be some sort of a trigger, such as food or a toy or something.

[SansDoute]

I say contact the local SPCA (whatever you call it).
The dog is being neglected and it has already shown to be aggressive.
None of this is the dogs fault.
And at least with some sort of intervention the dog is able to get some help, either by having the owner realise the problem they've created and looking after the dog more, or by having the dog removed from the dangerous environment.
The only problem is that I don't know if your state has no-kill shelters.

Whatever you decide, make sure it is the best for yourself and for the dog, but you should always come first.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Call the police or animal control. Don't wait and see, because next time could be worse. These people have no business owning a dog. Anyone who gets a dog "on a whim" and leaves it outside all day and night should be reported for neglect.

[jedimaster91]

This is very serious. A dog with a bite on its record has that much less of a chance of being adopted. Still call animal control because the next person the dog sets its sights on could be a child. While you're on the phone with them, ask if they work with any rescue groups that deal specifically with aggressive dogs. Our humane society can sometimes foster aggressive dogs and turn them into good pets.

Also, get yourself checked for rabies. If the owners are neglecting the dog's most basic needs, chances are they haven't kept up with the dog's vaccines.

[K'Z'K]

Also, get yourself checked for rabies. If the owners are neglecting the dog's most basic needs, chances are they haven't kept up with the dog's vaccines.

You can't get tested for rabies (not cheaply, easily, or reliably anyway). What you can, and should, do is CALL ANIMAL CONTROL and report both the neglect and the bite. Among other things, they'll check the dog's vaccination status. If he's not up-to-date on rabies, you'll need to be treated, assuming the bite broke the skin. He would then need to be either quarantined for 6 months or euthanized and tested (the only test for rabies in non-humans involves examining brain tissue). The owner will be liable for all costs.

This dog needs help. It sounds like he is being abused--for a pack animal, neglect is just as bad as being beaten. Dogs do not get into "moods." A once-friendly dog that is now attacking people has either a serious medical problem or is reacting to mistreatment. If it's the latter, a humane society or rescue group may be able to help him. Unfortunately, you won't be able to sign him up for a shelter, as he's not your dog. He needs to get out of that home, and that will only happen if he is either taken by the police or voluntarily surrendered by the owners.

Animal control will investigate and may take him or scare the owners into giving him up. Yes, the dog may end up euthanized, but anything beats the hell he's currently living in.

Call animal control NOW.

-K'Z'K

[draggar]

Electric fences don't work. PERIOD.

Call the police ASAP - their dog ATTACKED you. Tend to your wounds and if they seem to get infected - get to the hopsital ASAP. Document everything - even pictures of the wounds and damaged clothes. Even take videos of the dog's "living conditions" (how he's outside all day etc..).

Make sure the owner is also responsible for all damages and medical bills. By law he has to and if he doesn't, take him to court.

[Amina516]

PLEASE get yourself checked out AND call the po po and local ASPCA. You need to be looked at. This change in personality could also be rabies, since hes outdoors all the time, who knows what he's encountered. Please, take care of yourself. Keep us updated.

[Andara Bledin]

Document. Report. Document.

Do what you can to get that poor dog away from those awful people.

^-.-^

[RetailWorkhorse]

I have never seen that before. I'm truly shocked. Poor puppeh. Call animal control and get your wounds tended to.

[Talon]

I'll add another vote to the reporting poll. I feel for the dog as it's not its fault, but that's secondary to your own health and safety.

[Evil Queen]

Unfortunately, these days, the humane society will not adopt out animals that have a bite on their record. These dogs are... euthonized. Even if they are really sweet animals, they are still put down because a bite is immediately considered an act of aggression.

I feel for you and your situation. I really do. But I'm with the others. Report the incident, inform your neighbors, and hug your own digs tightly because you're going to feel very guilty. (hell, I already do!)

[MaggieTheCat]

Just agreeing with what everyone else has already said, make a report. It's not fair, not to you or the dog, and it sucks a lot. But just imagine if the next person the dog goes after is a child or something. Poor dog.

[Seshat]

There may be an organisation around you that handles aggressive dogs that have the potential to be turned back into sweethearts. If so, report him to them and ask them to help you report it to the SPCA/Shelter system in a way that gets the dog turned over to them.

When my parents moved house, the sellers had a dog that they didn't want to take with them, and asked my parents if they wanted her. Half the neighbourhood was scared of her - she'd bark and growl and seemed aggressive.

My parents settled her down in a few weeks - all she needed was a pack, and something to do. Being around her people, and being given basic training and some chew toys turned her into a total sweetheart who was safe with the children.

BUT: I agree with everyone else. Even if you don't have any options but a euthanising shelter, it's better for everyone, including the dog, for you to report her.

If you can find an experienced and willing dog-owner/trainer to foster her and fix her, and you can get her current owners-of-record to hand her over, that would be the ideal solution. (Make sure the experienced-trainer knows the dog has bitten at least once.)

But if you can't... SPCA. And pray they have a suitable foster placement to get the poor dog adoptable again.

[Red_Dazes]

I add a voice to Call the ASPCA and document, but I think you should definitely let them know that the dog has been always friendly to you up to this point. They are much more likely to try and help a dog who has shown itself to be friendly and nice, then a dog who is just vicious.

In any case, the dog bit you and that is not okay. It is always so sad that people don't take care of pets... honestly there needs to be a screening process to adopt animals.

[Flying Grype]

I know it's difficult to make the call to the police or animal control when you know there's a high chance the dog will just be destroyed. But consider what might happen if the dog is left where it is and nothing is done:

1) The dog could attack you again or someone else, maybe a child or someone else's pet. Someone much smaller than you could be killed.

2) The dog will continue to suffer in the cold outside with the electric fence. This may literally be a choice between euthanasia and letting the dog continue to suffer in neglect.

3) The owner could get another dog. If this one dies or escapes, and the police don't know that the owner is neglectful and irresponsible, another animal could end up suffering.

Turning in your neighbour and the dog is going to be the best thing all around, even if it doesn't look like it on the surface. It will prevent more suffering in the future.