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Dog owner responsibility

Should a dog owner be punished?


  • Total voters
    44
The owners of these dogs should be held accountable, arrested, tried and sent to jail. It's evident from the number of serious dog attacks that owners are not taking the steps necessary to protect others from their animals.

And its increased dramatically in the last 15 yrs...people have a right to feel save walking in public...they have a right to feel safe in a park...jogging...walking their dog or riding a bike..
Each case needs to be investigated and the punishment determined by the results of the investigations....but this needs to be slowed down...it can never be stopped totally..
 
So, what do you all think about you having a guest (Say an aunt) over to your house. While this relative is at your house your dog is eating his food. Lets say that the aunt reaches for the dogs food bowl and the dog growls at the person. The person backs off and then goes back for the food bowl. The dog again growls. The third time the food bowl aggressor reaches for the bowl the dog jumps up and bites the person in the face. Is the home owner at fault (Say this happened over a few seconds and the dog owners were out of the room).
 
So, what do you all think about you having a guest (Say an aunt) over to your house. While this relative is at your house your dog is eating his food. Lets say that the aunt reaches for the dogs food bowl and the dog growls at the person. The person backs off and then goes back for the food bowl. The dog again growls. The third time the food bowl aggressor reaches for the bowl the dog jumps up and bites the person in the face. Is the home owner at fault (Say this happened over a few seconds and the dog owners were out of the room).

Thats not the same thing were discussing Jryan...were discussing dogs running loose untended and attacking people....there are always going to be dog bites
 
So, what do you all think about you having a guest (Say an aunt) over to your house. While this relative is at your house your dog is eating his food. Lets say that the aunt reaches for the dogs food bowl and the dog growls at the person. The person backs off and then goes back for the food bowl. The dog again growls. The third time the food bowl aggressor reaches for the bowl the dog jumps up and bites the person in the face. Is the home owner at fault (Say this happened over a few seconds and the dog owners were out of the room).

Dogs like children are not born knowing right from wrong they need to be taught, most dogs are very capable of learning and actually like to please their owner, One of the very first things I do with a dog is teach it not to be food aggressive, growling is being aggressive and is not a positive trait for a dog to have. The aunt should not have reached for the bowl the dog should not have displayed an aggressive response. If the dog owner was in the room at the time the dog should have been disciplined before it bit. The aunt should have had better sense then to provoke the dog but the next human might have been a child who did not know better
 
Over here we've had a recent incident where a dog escaped its yard, broke into the neighbours house and killed a 4 year old. Under current laws all the dog owner receives is a fine, and there's a debate over whether the owner should receive jail time or not. So what do you think, should there be a charge of negligent homicide or something like that for owners who allow their dogs to escape and cause death?

I think it depends on the circumstance. If the owner was irresponsible or if individual being attacked, provoked the attack. If an person owns a dog and raises it to be viscous, especially in dog fights, then they should definitely go to jail if their dog attacks an innocent person.

If it's somebody breaking into your house, and your dog rips a them up... the owner shouldn't be punished at all, even though they have been fined and charged under those circumstances before.

I have only ever known one child who was attacked by a dog, and she constantly teased the dog and was mean to it. Dogs are special creatures with their own social structures, hierarchies, and behaviours living among us. The dog's response to being teased and being treated cruel, as it probably perceived it, was natural IMO, and putting the dog to sleep for viciousness would have been extreme. The little girl's mom also made it clear as to why the dog attacked her, and she learned to respect animals as a result.

I think it's hard to say what should happen, because every circumstance is different. I definitely wouldn't say that the owner should go to jail 100% of the time though... just seems extreme given the things I have seen from my personal POV
 
I think it depends on the circumstance. If the owner was irresponsible or if individual being attacked, provoked the attack. If an person owns a dog and raises it to be viscous, especially in dog fights, then they should definitely go to jail if their dog attacks an innocent person.

If it's somebody breaking into your house, and your dog rips a them up... the owner shouldn't be punished at all, even though they have been fined and charged under those circumstances before.

I have only ever known one child who was attacked by a dog, and she constantly teased the dog and was mean to it. Dogs are special creatures with their own social structures, hierarchies, and behaviours living among us. The dog's response to being teased and being treated cruel, as it probably perceived it, was natural IMO, and putting the dog to sleep for viciousness would have been extreme. The little girl's mom also made it clear as to why the dog attacked her, and she learned to respect animals as a result.

I think it's hard to say what should happen, because every circumstance is different. I definitely wouldn't say that the owner should go to jail 100% of the time though... just seems extreme given the things I have seen from my personal POV

Each case has to be investigated based on the circumstances...but there are too many of these dog incidents anymore..and unfortunately the lionshare of them are pitbulls running loose or just losing it.
I know all the stories...its not the breed its the way they are raised etc etc etc...thats not altogether true...pitbulls are instinctively aggressive and territorial...yes the way they are raised has bearing...but again unfortunately many owners dont own pitbulls to put bows on their heads.
 
Dogs like children are not born knowing right from wrong they need to be taught, most dogs are very capable of learning and actually like to please their owner, One of the very first things I do with a dog is teach it not to be food aggressive, growling is being aggressive and is not a positive trait for a dog to have. The aunt should not have reached for the bowl the dog should not have displayed an aggressive response. If the dog owner was in the room at the time the dog should have been disciplined before it bit. The aunt should have had better sense then to provoke the dog but the next human might have been a child who did not know better

My sister is always talking about how she is training her dog... She is always trying to train them for this and that. I am so happy I have a cat. My cat can be kind of annoying sometimes, but that's mostly because he talks a lot and he is constantly under my feet... but that's it. He came potty trained and he can bathe himself. I haven't trained him at all, and he is nearly perfect. lol
 
My sister is always talking about how she is training her dog... She is always trying to train them for this and that. I am so happy I have a cat. My cat can be kind of annoying sometimes, but that's mostly because he talks a lot and he is constantly under my feet... but that's it. He came potty trained and he can bathe himself. I haven't trained him at all, and he is nearly perfect. lol

Training cant cure all behavior...right behind me is a K9 officer and her husband..we are very good friend...her dog had a face from hell...he was the most unnerving damn thing..he would be in his pen and whenever I was out in my yard...he stood perfectly still didnt utter a sound and just stared muscles tense...he was a huge black with tan markings shepherd...extremely well trained and listened to her explicitly ..for the 3 yrs he was there...she would let him out to run a bit and put him back in on her days off ....he bit the neighbor next...she let him out of his pen to go to work and he shot past and jumped the neighbor for no reason...didnt tear him up to bad because she was right on him...the neighbor sued...3 months later he did the same thing this time to his wife...no rhyme no reason and the attack was much worse...they took the dog from her and deactivated him...unfortunately they most likely will put him down....training doesnt cure all...it of course is necessary
 
So, what do you all think about you having a guest (Say an aunt) over to your house. While this relative is at your house your dog is eating his food. Lets say that the aunt reaches for the dogs food bowl and the dog growls at the person. The person backs off and then goes back for the food bowl. The dog again growls. The third time the food bowl aggressor reaches for the bowl the dog jumps up and bites the person in the face. Is the home owner at fault (Say this happened over a few seconds and the dog owners were out of the room).

The owners' fault. If they have a dog that's a resource guarder, then they shouldn't be feeding the dog without supervision when other people are around.

Any owner with a dog that shows signs of unwanted aggression is responsible for managing the dog to ensure that no one is harmed.
 
The owners' fault. If they have a dog that's a resource guarder, then they shouldn't be feeding the dog without supervision when other people are around.

Any owner with a dog that shows signs of unwanted aggression is responsible for managing the dog to ensure that no one is harmed.

My Catahoula pup bit the **** out of me for trying to take something she grabbed away from her.

She only did it once.
 
Training cant cure all behavior...right behind me is a K9 officer and her husband..we are very good friend...her dog had a face from hell...he was the most unnerving damn thing..he would be in his pen and whenever I was out in my yard...he stood perfectly still didnt utter a sound and just stared muscles tense...he was a huge black with tan markings shepherd...extremely well trained and listened to her explicitly ..for the 3 yrs he was there...she would let him out to run a bit and put him back in on her days off ....he bit the neighbor next...she let him out of his pen to go to work and he shot past and jumped the neighbor for no reason...didnt tear him up to bad because she was right on him...the neighbor sued...3 months later he did the same thing this time to his wife...no rhyme no reason and the attack was much worse...they took the dog from her and deactivated him...unfortunately they most likely will put him down....training doesnt cure all...it of course is necessary

That's really sad because it sounds like she was a good owner.
 
The owners' fault. If they have a dog that's a resource guarder, then they shouldn't be feeding the dog without supervision when other people are around.

Any owner with a dog that shows signs of unwanted aggression is responsible for managing the dog to ensure that no one is harmed.

What if the owner didn't know ahead of time that their dog was a resource guarder. Say said owner can put his hand in his dog's food bowl or take his food from him etc etc.
 
My Catahoula pup bit the **** out of me for trying to take something she grabbed away from her.

She only did it once.

There's a saying in dog trainer circles...Once is an accident. Twice is a habit. Three times is a lifestyle
 
What if the owner didn't know ahead of time that their dog was a resource guarder. Say said owner can put his hand in his dog's food bowl or take his food from him etc etc.

If the dog had never done it before, then it wasn't a resource guarder. But from the description given, that dog was one.

Dogs, like any other mammal, can be unpredictable. No one can eliminate all risk. But known risks should be addressed.
 
Im obviously late to this thread but only reading the OP theres no reason yet for me to want the owner to go to jail.

How did the dog get out?
Did the owner know it was loose?
Did the owner know it to be violent?
Was it being trained to be violent?

etc etc etc

theres lots of questions that matter to assessing responsibility to the owner. Maybe more facts are in this thread but like I said I only read the OP so far.
 
If the dog had never done it before, then it wasn't a resource guarder. But from the description given, that dog was one.

Dogs, like any other mammal, can be unpredictable. No one can eliminate all risk. But known risks should be addressed.

Right (This was actually the story of my dog biting someone) now when we have guest over, he has to go in his crate.
 
That's really sad because it sounds like she was a good owner.

She was a great K9 officer...my point was shewolf that even an extremely trained canine with a well trained Master cant predict an animals behavior...She lost the dog for allowing him out of his cage unleashed which allowed him to bite two individuals...The agency was not wrong taking the dog...those two lawsuits will cost the taxpayers in the hundreds of thousands of dollars minimum.
 
Right (This was actually the story of my dog biting someone) now when we have guest over, he has to go in his crate.

Where he should be if he has any tendency whatsover to biting...and he obviously does
 
Back on subject, I don't think the owner should be responsible if it is the first or the second time (although the dog, sadly, should if it is the second time or the first time was severe, ie murder).
 
Back on subject, I don't think the owner should be responsible if it is the first or the second time (although the dog, sadly, should if it is the second time or the first time was severe, ie murder).

Ive said this before in the thread..each case needs to be investigated and reacted to on the information from the investigation...I dont think we can put a 1 or 2 time pardon on owner irresponsiblity anymore...if the owner isnt fulfilling his responsiblity as a dog owner and his dog serverely hurts someone...he has to be held accountable in my mind...theres just too much of it anymore...we have enough to be wary of walking around in public we dont need to be afraid we will be attacked by someones pet.
 
Ive said this before in the thread..each case needs to be investigated and reacted to on the information from the investigation...I dont think we can put a 1 or 2 time pardon on owner irresponsiblity anymore...if the owner isnt fulfilling his responsiblity as a dog owner and his dog serverely hurts someone...he has to be held accountable in my mind...theres just too much of it anymore...we have enough to be wary of walking around in public we dont need to be afraid we will be attacked by someones pet.

With jail time though? I mean I can see if it is dog abuse (ie they are making dogs fight) but for just, oh **** I didn't know, or you did know and the dog got loose.
 
With jail time though? I mean I can see if it is dog abuse (ie they are making dogs fight) but for just, oh **** I didn't know, or you did know and the dog got loose.

I have recently had 3 different experiences with aggressive dogs, 1 a pit bull that was not on a leash, a large German Shepard and large black Lab both on leashes. Having a dog under control does not just mean having it on a leash, when the dog can pull the owner across the road to get to you that animal is not controlled.

I looked up the local laws concerning dogs copied and printed out enough copies to put into every mail box in the neigborhood along with how I was going to respond to aggressive dogs. Air Horn, pepper spray and if required a baseball bat I will not nor will I allow my dog to be chewed up by an out of control dog, if I have to use the bat to discourage an attack I will , if I have the need to go to the bat the dog will not need a vet
 
I have recently had 3 different experiences with aggressive dogs, 1 a pit bull that was not on a leash, a large German Shepard and large black Lab both on leashes. Having a dog under control does not just mean having it on a leash, when the dog can pull the owner across the road to get to you that animal is not controlled.

I looked up the local laws concerning dogs copied and printed out enough copies to put into every mail box in the neigborhood along with how I was going to respond to aggressive dogs. Air Horn, pepper spray and if required a baseball bat I will not nor will I allow my dog to be chewed up by an out of control dog, if I have to use the bat to discourage an attack I will , if I have the need to go to the bat the dog will not need a vet

Heh, I have a Labrador and he is aggressive towards small dogs. People in the park are so face palm, they get all out of control when my dog attacks theirs, (theirs is off leash mine is on). I had one woman say she was gonna file a lawsuit, I was just like good luck here is my cell. People with off leash dogs need to seriously consider growing a brain. I can only see an off leash dog if your dog is well trained and perfect, even then, when another dog comes along, you should put the dog on his/her leash because I'm not jumping into the middle of a dog fight and getting bit to save some stupid Chihuahua because the dog's owner wasn't smart enough to figure out leash laws.
 
Heh, I have a Labrador and he is aggressive towards small dogs. People in the park are so face palm, they get all out of control when my dog attacks theirs, (theirs is off leash mine is on). I had one woman say she was gonna file a lawsuit, I was just like good luck here is my cell. People with off leash dogs need to seriously consider growing a brain. I can only see an off leash dog if your dog is well trained and perfect, even then, when another dog comes along, you should put the dog on his/her leash because I'm not jumping into the middle of a dog fight and getting bit to save some stupid Chihuahua because the dog's owner wasn't smart enough to figure out leash laws.

You are being irresponsible by bringing a dog-aggresive dog anywhere near a dog park or any place where you know that dogs are likely to be running free.

For one thing, everytime your dog attacks a dog that comes close to it, you are reinforcing your dogs aggressiveness. This not only makes it more likely that your dog will continue to be aggressive towards dogs, but it also makes it more likely that, in the future, your dog will respond with aggression in other, non-dog related, situations.

You're training your dog to be aggressive. Everytime your dog is aggresive towards another, you are reinforcing the idea that "aggression works" in your dogs mind. It's just a matter of time before your dog applies that lesson in other situations, like towards another person.

And you're wrong about off-leash dogs. The law does not require dogs to be on-leash. Only that dogs be kept "under the control of it's owner". That means if the dog comes when it's called, and isn't aggressive, then dog is "under control"

It's YOUR, aggressive, dog that is not under control....unless you're commanding your dog to attack other dogs (I'm assuming that attacking other dogs is NOT something you want your dog to do). If that happened and I was there, I would advise those people to sue you because they would win and your dog would eventually be taken from you and destroyed because your dog is a menace
 
You are being irresponsible by bringing a dog-aggresive dog anywhere near a dog park or any place where you know that dogs are likely to be running free.

For one thing, everytime your dog attacks a dog that comes close to it, you are reinforcing your dogs aggressiveness. This not only makes it more likely that your dog will continue to be aggressive towards dogs, but it also makes it more likely that, in the future, your dog will respond with aggression in other, non-dog related, situations.

You're training your dog to be aggressive. Everytime your dog is aggresive towards another, you are reinforcing the idea that "aggression works" in your dogs mind. It's just a matter of time before your dog applies that lesson in other situations, like towards another person.

And you're wrong about off-leash dogs. The law does not require dogs to be on-leash. Only that dogs be kept "under the control of it's owner". That means if the dog comes when it's called, and isn't aggressive, then dog is "under control"

It's YOUR, aggressive, dog that is not under control....unless you're commanding your dog to attack other dogs (I'm assuming that attacking other dogs is NOT something you want your dog to do). If that happened and I was there, I would advise those people to sue you because they would win and your dog would eventually be taken from you and destroyed because your dog is a menace

Overview of State Leash Laws

Website informing you on leash laws, which I'm pretty sure you are disobeying.

First lets get our facts straight, in North Carolina it is illegal for you to have your dog off leash AT ANY TIME. Second, if a person is dumb enough to have their dog off leash and his or her dog runs up to mine and mine attacks. I'm not putting my hand in that fight to save your dog. Thirdly, if their dog gets killed off leash they were breaking the law, they are liable. Lastly, I think they should be jailed, leaving a dog off leash while walking him or her is negligence, even if the dog is "well-behaved".
 
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