[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by marlinguy

My friend and neighbor owns a standard poodle , Lucy, which is the sweetest, most well trained dog I have ever seen. Everyone stops to say HI! to Lucy. Yesterday, another neighbor joined Lucy and her owner for their usual 4 mile walk from our village (Hillsborough) through The Village of Lake Deaton and return. On this particular walk they saw another owner walking his two, large, black Labrador retrievers. When the Labs saw Lucy they launched a vicious unprovoked attack on Lucy badly mauling her. They attack was so vicious the owner could not control them, was dragged to the ground and dragged several feet before he turned loose of his dogs to continue the attack. My two neighbors grabbed the Labradors by their collars and managed to pull them off of Lucy. Luckily they did not turn on them. Lucy was taken to the vet for treatment of numerous puncture wounds and is recovering. Had Lucy been a small dog like many owners have most likely she would have been killed almost immediately. So, Dog Owners, Beware. I ride my bike in that area, I won't any more.

Were these two black labs on leashes? They have to be on leashes in this area.

[marlinguy]

The dogs were on a leash but were so strong and intent on attacking Lucy that he couldn't control them, was actually dragged on the ground for a few feet. The police were called but said there was nothing they could do as the dogs were on a leash,that is until they broke away from the owner. Lucy's owner delivered the vet bill to the owner of the labs. Personally, I agree with several of the other posts, that it is the owners responsibility to train his dogs. And I don't believe that Labradors by nature arbitrarily would attack another dog. I talked with Lucy's owner a while ago. Lucy doesn't want to go out of the house. Can't say I blame her. Will be a long time before Lucy is "Lucy" again. I imagine if it had happened to one of us we would pretty much feel the same way.

[Fredster]

I always thought and still think that Labs are basically a gentle breed,
but a friend had two golden Labs and unfortunately
one of them attacked a neighbors little girl.
As I recall that dog was put to sleep.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by marlinguy

The dogs were on a leash but were so strong and intent on attacking Lucy that he couldn't control them, was actually dragged on the ground for a few feet. The police were called but said there was nothing they could do as the dogs were on a leash,that is until they broke away from the owner. Lucy's owner delivered the vet bill to the owner of the labs. Personally, I agree with several of the other posts, that it is the owners responsibility to train his dogs. And I don't believe that Labradors by nature arbitrarily would attack another dog. I talked with Lucy's owner a while ago. Lucy doesn't want to go out of the house. Can't say I blame her. Will be a long time before Lucy is "Lucy" again. I imagine if it had happened to one of us we would pretty much feel the same way.

At a minimum, animal control should be notified. They may be able to do what the police could not - take the dogs until it is determined that they do not have rabies. Then it becomes a matter of record and a second offense might result in the dogs being put down.

I love dogs but there is no room for vicious animals or an owner who can't control them. The owner is probably lucky he wasn't injured himself.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by marlinguy

The dogs were on a leash but were so strong and intent on attacking Lucy that he couldn't control them, was actually dragged on the ground for a few feet. Lucy doesn't want to go out of the house. Can't say I blame her. Will be a long time before Lucy is "Lucy" again.

Poor Lucy, very sad situation. I hope she heals and gets her confidence back.
I don't know this situation, but in general, people who have no idea how to train large dogs should never have them.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Poor Lucy, very sad situation. I hope she heals and gets her confidence back.
I don't know this situation, but in general, people who have no idea how to train large dogs should never have them.

Agree 100%. Large dogs are very different from lap dogs like my Harry.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by dbussone

Agree 100%. Large dogs are very different from lap dogs like my Harry.

Moving into Lake Deaton in 2 weeks, about off the route Lucy and owner most likely took. My 10# maltese/poodle mix is well trained and easy to control, but he will "get in the face" of aggressive animals, so thanks for the heads up

Originally Posted by justjim

With so many dogs in TV (dog friendly community) I am sure something similar has happen before but not reported on TOTV. Labs are usually friendly---I hope Lucy recovers soon.
Incidents like this makes me think twice about pepper spay or a "club" when out walking.

I do not leave the house with our "girls" without my expandable steel baton. Those will inflict serious damage on dogs, coyotes, bobcats, humans.......

[Fraugoofy]

Originally Posted by capecoralbill

I am pretty sure that PEPPER SPRAY is legal in Florida, I think Harbor Freight sells it.

Or Amazon. Delivers in about 48 hours if you have Amazon Prime. Costs less than 10 bucks.

[BS Beef]

I'm astonished the police would do nothing. Even if you look at it in a sterile environment it should be damage to personal property (poor Lucy). I understand they were on a leash but the Lab owner failed to control them. And if absolutely nothing else animal control should have been contacted and brought into the situation.

[gerryann]

I've seen pepper spray at Walmart.

Very unlikely but......could Lucy be in heat?

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by BS Beef

I'm astonished the police would do nothing. Even if you look at it in a sterile environment it should be damage to personal property (poor Lucy). I understand they were on a leash but the Lab owner failed to control them. And if absolutely nothing else animal control should have been contacted and brought into the situation.

I concur completely.

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by marlinguy

The police were called but said there was nothing they could do as the dogs were on a leash,that is until they broke away from the owner.

Once they broke away they were no longer on a leash and were not under control. Police said they couldn't do anything about a semi truck in our neighbors driveway either, said it was a civil matter. Seems the police are telling us they can do very little about most everything anymore..????

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Fredster

I always thought and still think that Labs are basically a gentle breed,
but a friend had two golden Labs and unfortunately
one of them attacked a neighbors little girl.
As I recall that dog was put to sleep.

Yellow lab; golden retriever

We rented a house in SC next to a couple with two labs. They were rescued at different times, but had formed a pack mentality and would attack any dog that came around. She warned us because we had our golden retriever with us.

She and her husband would walk the dogs separately so they could keep control of them. They would go off in different directions because if the dogs were separated, they wouldn't attack another dog they encountered.

Some dogs will forma a pack and act aggressively toward other dogs as they see them as a danger to the pack. The owner should know this and not take more dog(s) out than he can handle.

I hope poor Lucy will overcome the trauma soon.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by marlinguy

My friend and neighbor owns a standard poodle , Lucy, which is the sweetest, most well trained dog I have ever seen. Everyone stops to say HI! to Lucy. Yesterday, another neighbor joined Lucy and her owner for their usual 4 mile walk from our village (Hillsborough) through The Village of Lake Deaton and return. On this particular walk they saw another owner walking his two, large, black Labrador retrievers. When the Labs saw Lucy they launched a vicious unprovoked attack on Lucy badly mauling her. They attack was so vicious the owner could not control them, was dragged to the ground and dragged several feet before he turned loose of his dogs to continue the attack. My two neighbors grabbed the Labradors by their collars and managed to pull them off of Lucy. Luckily they did not turn on them. Lucy was taken to the vet for treatment of numerous puncture wounds and is recovering. Had Lucy been a small dog like many owners have most likely she would have been killed almost immediately. So, Dog Owners, Beware. I ride my bike in that area, I won't any more.

Dogs are considered property and Lucy's owner may ask Lab's owner to either pay for the vet bills himself or contact his Homeowner Insurance.

For those two neighbors who grabbed those labs by the collar your a better man than me. Perhaps its because I have seen more than my share of the consequences of dog bite-fight results. And always, always the dog owner claims "my dog is not like that" "it would not hurt anyone" What we found following these incidents is that the dog had been beaten, the breed inbred too long, displayed vicious propensities in the past, trained to attack or the dog taunted by the individual attacked.

In my view if those were my labs they be gone or at least retrained at an obedience school. People first always I hope this lab owner keeps his animals away from town squares, stores and restaurants