two sundays ago, my neighbor across the street opened his door to let two golden retrievers loose (they stand about waist high on me) to run across the street and threaten me and my boys while we were walking to church. He played it off as soon as I turned to the dogs and told them "NO! GO HOME!" and started calling them to come home, though he made no move to come across the street after them. Even though he made a smartass comment afterwards about letting them bite next time, I let it go. Today, the dogs were loose to begin with, and again came across the street to threaten me and my boys in our own yard. They constantly threaten anyone walking down the road, or driving down the road, and anyone in their yards, even when on their chains, which the one breaks all the time.

Today, I called the dog warden about it, who is coming over to get involved. To be honest, if I had a shot gun, I would have gone back inside and grabbed it (sent the kids in immediately as it is).

I only see trouble in the future due to this, but I am not gonna stand by and let them terrorize us or others with their dogs. What do you think?

oh and I ran into my landlord while at the store afterwards, and explained it all to him, and that I was calling the warden; he agreed with my assessment. Mainly I was just letting him know as a courtesy, considering I rent his property ;)

people are responsible for their animals

tell him if he doesn't control and restrain his dogs you'll kick his azz

Hmm? I've never seen a bad tempered Golden Retriever.
It's the owner....btw, don't shoot anyone.

lol, I may have the wrong breed, I don't know much about dogs, but it looks like what I know as a golden retriever ;) I know my aunt had a mini retriever, and it was very standoffish and posessive of my aunt. It would attack anyone it thuoght was harming my aunt or her posessions.

And I was referring to the dogs getting shot, not the owner, lol. No matter how much I would rather it the other way around

Ted - I have not seen an ill tempered retriever as well, but sure they exist.

Daniel, defend you and yours. I'd talk to the dog owner firsthand, then if that fails, I'd contact local authorities. As for the gun - a bit extreme. (jmo)

WEll the right thing to do is call the dog catcher and let them take care of it. If it don't work the first time then do it again....

But to even think of shooting the dogs is sooooooooooooooo wrong it's not the dogs fault the way they were raised and you never said the dogs even harmed you and the kids. You might be surprised by the dogs if you took the time to be friendly with them..... heck I would rather see the owner get the crap beat out of him then the dogs being threaten with a gun not a good way to solve things........

I have tried talking to the owner in the past, and he is nothing except belligerent and self-posessed. And with the gun, I don't personally think it is extreme, considering the dogs are coming across the street to threaten my kids in our own yard.

When I lived in the country area outside of Albuquerque we had a big problem with people's dogs at night

they would just let their dogs run loose and the dogs would join together into packs and become dangerous

Many horses and sheep were killed. They attacked several kids

The rule was out there that any dogs running loose were shot on sight


A pet owner is responsible for the behavior of his pet. If his pet attacks someone he is financially and criminally liable.

go straight to the authorities each and every time the dogs are loose. Not only will the authorities get tired of visiting his home, he will be responsible for fines.

Shooting a dog??

That scares me

They can be retrained yes

(gives her furry boy a hug!)

I have tried being friendly with the dogs in the past as well, but they have been raised to be offensive; on the basis of being "guard dogs". I don't have a problem with this except for the fact that the dogs are "guarding" anything within site of where they are at no matter where they are. And though I agree that it isn't right for any animal to be shot because of how it is raised, when a dog is threatening my children, and I have to choose the safety of my children or the dog, I am sorry but the dog loses.

My daughter was bitten by two dogs that were "always friendly and never aggressive toward anyone". Never turn your back on a dog or run away. Stand your ground and make lots of noise.

As far as the way you handled the situation, I would have done the same. Aggressive dogs, like any other animal, will prey on the small and weak (your kids). If the owner isn't going to contol them, he doesn't deserve to own them.

exactly; and considering we have coyotes in the area, the same thing is true here in regards to "dogs" at night.

Do cats come over into your yard? If so are you going to shoot them as well..go over and give the dog owner a SLAP its not the dogs fault its the owners....jmo

Funny, when I was a kid a dog on a leash, was unusual. Most of the dogs I ever saw were just on the street. Rarely did I see someone walking their dog.
Now a days, it is the norm and I would notify the dog owner if possible, but calling the dog catcher is the right thing to do.

Funny thing though, the people across the street from me let their dog out quite a bit, and I enjoyed it when he came over to my yard, and I got to pet him. Maybe you could get to know the dogs?

exactly. Without turning my head away from the dogs, I hollered back at my kids to go back in the house IMMEDIATELY, and then started yelling at the dogs to go home.

If the cats get into my garbage, hell yes I will shoot them (and I normally keep a couple cats myself; landlord wont let me though ). And cats can be just as dangerous as dogs to a child. I know this from first hand experience.

Dont shoot the dogs..they can be retrained. But you dont want to go to jail either, with kids in the home. Discharging a fire arm in city limits is illeagal, so the dog would actually have to be on you for you to claim"self defence". Try a can of mace, bear spray,throw stones. The guy who owns the dogs should be givin a stern warning by animal control...leash laws are in effect and he is required to have them under control.

people forget that dogs are predators

they kill things

terriers were bred to kill rats, dachsunds were bred to kill badgers, poodles were bred as duck hunting dogs, retrievers were bred to fetch killed birds

I love dogs and they give that love back unconditionally. But I keep strict control over my dogs so they can never cross that line

When you buy home owner insurance you have to pay a higher premium if you have a dog. Because if a person comes into your yard at night and is bitten he can sue