Railcruiser Let me begin that i am only afraid of 4 types of dogs alive-dead big-small Let me also say that without exception I always have my pet Daring the anole on a leash when we go for a walk.

As to the sheriff response I question his understanding of the law. A person can be charged with assault and battery simply by an increase in vocal volume and placing his/her hand on another's person's body. The owner of that dog committed at least battery because the owner's weapon was that dog.

I am afraid of strange dogs because as a kid I had one attack me without provocation.

I find it misguided when I hear/see a dog owner place their love for their dog over the safety of human beings

That pretty much says it all.

I am not surprised when dog owners do that. When I have seen a dog attack a person, the dog owner usually says something like, 'What did you do to make my dog bite you?"

Of course, this is just human nature. We all tend to put our interests ahead of others and we think our actions are always right. When we finally realize we may have hurt someone, we usually say, "I'm sorry you were hurt" instead of "My actions were wrong and I am sorry my actions hurt you".

Expect nothing from other people and you will get through life just fine.

Before moving to Florida, I used to walk every evening and there was a family down the street with an aggressive white dog named Blizzard. They let it run loose and it would come into the street and bare its teeth at me. I had many words with the owner who tried to tell me how to behave around the dog. I told him in colorful terms that it is his behavior and the dog's behavior that needs modifying, not mine. I had the law go talk to them several times but it didn't help. I finally decided to pepper spray the mutt. He never came at me again after I hosed him, and I got some lagniappe when the owner tried to comfort the dog and got pepper spray all over himself while hugging the dog.

Lagniappe
 

Lagniappe.............. a word I learned during my six year assignment in New Orleans. Yes, I know what it means to miss New Orleans............and the French Quarter, the food, zydeco, and the people. Friendships that have lasted for over 35 years.

Humm. I guess I've gotten off topic. Back to it. If a dog attacks you, make him decide that he will never make that mistake again. Golf club.

You may want to go talk to the Small Claims Court people in Bushnell to get the paper work needed and the like. It might be a few months though before you could get a person to hear your case. http://www.sumterclerk.com/index.cfm/small-claims-forms

Small Claims Court in Bushnell.
 

Copy and paste this link. http://www.sumterclerk.com/index.cfm/small-claims-forms

All is I want is this lady to take care of her dog. I'm sure it is a great dog . Most are. As we all know it's the owners that are the problem. As I said before I know my dogs on angels they are spoiled rotten. However, I have had them eight and six years respectively and have never had this kind of confrontation with another dog out in public, dog parks, traveling 4000 miles on the road every year. I feel bad for this dog. It is not going to have a happy ending if she doesn't take care of it

Hi Tal, I was wondering when you would weigh in on this. It is Dori and Ellie from doggy Doo run that this happened to. I really do not want a court case. Not sure what to do at this point since all I have is my word against hers unless I can find the people that came to my aid

Oh. I see that now. Maybe try having the woman over for lunch???

I have someone I really care about whose dog was mauled badly. She tried to do it the nice way and have a friendly chat with the owner of the dog and get them to agree to pay the bills in a reasonable manner but they ignored my friend's decency and now she has a small claims court date.

I would try to get some statements from people who know this woman and her dogs just in case you do have to take it to small claims court.

The vet could also give you some kind of statement.

I have avoided going to court too as much as I can all my life. Never much fun.

Just try to document stuff in case you do have to go to court for the vet bills and the like.

I've known and experienced a lot of people over my life; I'm going to side with the dogs. No offense intended.

Yes. It was tongue in cheek. However, I have had several encounters with aggressive dogs, some attacking me and some attacking another dog. I have responded to a medium sized dog by shoving my hand down its throat, which immediately ended the aggression. Although I did get my hand bit a little. I have been attacked while running, getting bit in the leg (small dog). I have stuck my arm between a dog attacking another dog, only to get bit on the hand and arm. I've never dealt with a German Shepard or Rottweiler. Those breeds are intimidating, especially if they have been following you for awhile at night. I guess it depends mainly on the size and breed of the dog. I have never seen an aggressive Golden Retriever or Labrador. I honestly don't get the fear so many people have regarding an unleashed dog. My first thought seeing an unleashed dog, is I hope it doesn't get hit by a car. I don't call the police, animal control, or take the owner to court. Wild dog packs, I understand fearing those. But pet dogs. I just don't see that much fear and hostility to a neighbor's dog that may bark aggressively at you. Just ignore them, and they usually will calm down. And let's not even start on unleashed grand kids driving golf carts...

That actually works sticking your hand down a dog's throat??

In that specific case, it did. The dog wanted to get my hand of his mouth as quickly as possible. Caution: don't try this with a pit bull.

Or an alligator.