Neighbor just got a pit bull...

[HawkeyesAndCubs1023]

Background:

• We live in a nice neighborhood -- nothing flashy, 2500-3500 square foot homes, with lots of salt of the earth folks.
• We have 3 kids -- almost 6, 3.5, and 1.5. There are a good number of kids in the neighborhood, and there are several who we often play with at the big common grassy field.
• There's a family that lives close to that grassy field who has lived in the neighborhood for 4-5 years, but they generally keep to themselves. We just met them as they have a 1st grader who is in the same class as my son's best friend (another 1st grader).
• Today, we were out there playing baseball (learning coach pitch) and the dad comes out with their new "puppy." This thing is a pit bull, had "been in his crate" all morning, and was full of energy. He was off leash, and jumping very high. Apparently, despite being 4-5 months old, this pit bull has deflated several footballs and soccer balls.
• I bit my tongue (pit bull owner was only there 5 minutes), but I unloaded to my friend (the other dad) after he left. I'm not a Karen -- I understand that there will always be dangers (high schoolers driving too fast, etc.), but a pit bull off leash, who apparently will spend Monday - Friday in a crate terrifies me as a parent. We have a lab, and it's inevitable that the dog will eventually run out the front door.

What do you think I should do? We have an HOA, but I haven't yet read through the 100 pages of rules and regulations. Should I communicate the concern to other homeowners, and start a "campaign" of sorts?

Eager for your thoughts. Keep in mind, this family has a 7 year old and 4 years old, and have decided to raise their kids with a pit bull.

 

[Thunderlips71]

I’m not a big gun guy, but carry a pistol and if that dog shows any aggression towards your kids put it down

 

[hydro2.0]

I would contact the HOA as it’s a matter of when, not if. Pitbull owners are trashy as fuk and anyone who chooses to have one as a pet is a piece of shit as well.

 

[SSG T]

Get an English Mastiff, intimidate the hell out of the pit bull.

 

[kc78]

All dogs can be crazy, especially as puppies. The bigger issue is letting the dog run off leash. I would check into leash laws in your area and try to enforce that. As for dogs, while I'm not a pit bull fan; they're not naturally more aggressive than many other dogs their size. A dog's temperament is more related to their owner than anything else.

 

[SF HAWKEYE]

Make sure it has a good chain or solid fenced in yard. My neighbor had a huge pitbull, he was an attorney and his dad is a very prominent attorney. That dog would bust his chain all the time and run the neighborhood. We had small children at home and ended up building a fence around our yard.
He moved out a year later and we toured his house which was in foreclosure, he basically let the dog have the basement as his room and the smell of urine and feces was enough to gag a maggot.

 

[IACub]

Honestly, buy some mace.

 

[Pete Malloy]

They’re not any more aggressive as a cocker spaniel, pits get a horrible and undeserved bad reputation. If the owners treat it with love and affection like they should it won’t be a problem.

 

[TonyTheTiger.1865]

They’re not any more aggressive as a cocker spaniel, pits get a horrible and undeserved bad reputation. If the owners treat it with love and affection like they should it won’t be a problem.

This is an out right lie. They are genetically bred for aggression. They are canine reactive and will attack a child if it screams.

The only dog I have heard of killing an infant in a crib.

Carry pepper spray and something to shove up the dogs ass . I was told by a lifetime pit owner that it is the only way they will break their bite grip short of killing it.

The trailer trash pet of choice.

 

[Lindemann]

All dogs can be crazy, especially as puppies. The bigger issue is letting the dog run off leash. I would check into leash laws in your area and try to enforce that. As for dogs, while I'm not a pit bull fan; they're not naturally more aggressive than many other dogs their size. A dog's temperament is more related to their owner than anything else.

Yep, and a lot of trashy people own pit bulls.

 

[hydro2.0]

Pitbull bingo up next…

 

[kc78]

Yep, and a lot of trashy people own pit bulls.

That part is true and it's why the dog gets a bad reputation. If the owners are responsible, the dog will be fine. If they're not, like any dog, it will have behavior problems.

 

[HawkeyesAndCubs1023]

Can a 4 month old cocker spaniel deflate a soccer ball?

 

[kc78]

Can a 4 month old cocker spaniel deflate a soccer ball?

I've seen several puppies deflate balls. If there jaws are big enough to get a grip they'll deflate it.

 

[Lindemann]

Can a 4 month old cocker spaniel deflate a soccer ball?

I'll bite. His canines know the tooth.

 

[JupiterHawk]

Background:

• We live in a nice neighborhood -- nothing flashy, 2500-3500 square foot homes, with lots of salt of the earth folks.
• We have 3 kids -- almost 6, 3.5, and 1.5. There are a good number of kids in the neighborhood, and there are several who we often play with at the big common grassy field.
• There's a family that lives close to that grassy field who has lived in the neighborhood for 4-5 years, but they generally keep to themselves. We just met them as they have a 1st grader who is in the same class as my son's best friend (another 1st grader).
• Today, we were out there playing baseball (learning coach pitch) and the dad comes out with their new "puppy." This thing is a pit bull, had "been in his crate" all morning, and was full of energy. He was off leash, and jumping very high. Apparently, despite being 4-5 months old, this pit bull has deflated several footballs and soccer balls.
• I bit my tongue (pit bull owner was only there 5 minutes), but I unloaded to my friend (the other dad) after he left. I'm not a Karen -- I understand that there will always be dangers (high schoolers driving too fast, etc.), but a pit bull off leash, who apparently will spend Monday - Friday in a crate terrifies me as a parent. We have a lab, and it's inevitable that the dog will eventually run out the front door.

What do you think I should do? We have an HOA, but I haven't yet read through the 100 pages of rules and regulations. Should I communicate the concern to other homeowners, and start a "campaign" of sorts?

Eager for your thoughts. Keep in mind, this family has a 7 year old and 4 years old, and have decided to raise their kids with a pit bull.

Just remember after almost every Pitbull mauling, there is the owner with their hands up stating "he has always been a sweet dog".

 

[Wendy79]

All dogs can be crazy, especially as puppies. The bigger issue is letting the dog run off leash. I would check into leash laws in your area and try to enforce that.

Yup. I don't trust a dog off leash.

 

[blhawk]

I would contact the HOA as it’s a matter of when, not if

This is straight up bullshit. I'd definitely be concerned and if there's a when it has the potential to be really bad as I've seen a pit bull attack up close in my park after it's shit head owner let it get loose (still had his balls) but I've also been around very gentle pits that could take a kid pulling their tail no problem

I'd have a man to man with the dad about my concerns, especially being off leash. If they are responsible people it can be managed but it would still make me anxious

 

[CoachJaxKnows]

I suspect that the OP would react the same way if a black family moved in.

 

[NoleinATL]

I would contact the HOA, I don't care what type of dog it is, from a small yappy dog to a bullmastiff with a mean streak, put your dog on a leash. I would be shocked if the HOA does not have a policy on leashes.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

Talk to your neighbors about your concern and offer to pay for the dog to be removed. When they refuse and you end up going the HOA route at least you'd have tried diplomacy.

 

[Whatsgoingonwitgyouguys0190]

A responsible owner should never have a dog outside of a fence off of leash.

I wouldn’t even take my dog to an off leash dog park, I don’t trust dogs that I don’t know.

 

[funksouljon]

Hey Karen, you should probably just move to a PitBull free zone or city.

 

[hydro2.0]

This is straight up bullshit. I'd definitely be concerned and if there's a when it has the potential to be really bad as I've seen a pit bull attack up close in my park after it's shit head owner let it get loose (still had his balls) but I've also been around very gentle pits that could take a kid pulling their tail no problem

I'd have a man to man with the dad about my concerns, especially being off leash. If they are responsible people it can be managed but it would still make me anxious

n the 10 years from 2009 to 2018, pit bulls killed or maimed 3,569 people in the USA and Canada. (Merritt Clifton, Dog Attack Deaths & Maimings, U.S. & Canada, 1982-2018 Log.) They killed over 80% of all Americans who are killed by dogs. (Colleen Lynn, 2015 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities, at http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2015.php.)

When, not if.

 

[NoleATL]

What do you think I should do? We have an HOA, but I haven't yet read through the 100 pages of rules and regulations.

Our HOA prohibits some breeds from being kept on premises. Pit bull is one.

 

[Finance85]

The dog needs to be on a leash.

Pit bulls, even with a great demeanor, can revert to instinct to dominate around children and other dogs.

 

[funksouljon]

The dog needs to be on a leash.

Pit bulls, even with a great demeanor, can revert to instinct to dominate around children and other dogs.

Any dog can. Leashed in public is the safest way to go. The breed shouldn't be the bridge to the discussion with the neighbor, the dog off the leash with kids should be the way to chat with the neighbor.

 

[TonyTheTiger.1865]

I suspect that the OP would react the same way if a black family moved in.

Your comparing black people to pitbulls?

Racist?

 

[NoleinATL]

n the 10 years from 2009 to 2018, pit bulls killed or maimed 3,569 people in the USA and Canada. (Merritt Clifton, Dog Attack Deaths & Maimings, U.S. & Canada, 1982-2018 Log.) They killed over 80% of all Americans who are killed by dogs. (Colleen Lynn, 2015 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities, at http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2015.php.)

When, not if.

To say that the dogs grouped as pit bulls are the most dangerous when they attack, I would agree, as do the statistics.
Your stating "when not if" is wholly inaccurate. Again using your numbers and taking into account that there are approximately 18 million "pitbull" and "pitbull mixed" dogs in this country, the numbers do not support your comment.
That is not to diminish the fact some can be very dangerous and I personally don't see the reward outweighing the risk of having one as a pet.

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

In Memphis, two "dogs" attack and kill a 5 month old girl and 2 year old boy.

A lot of horrific stories and videos about the pit bulls over the years. One that sticks out in my head was that little girl I believe out of Clinton where that pitbull damn near tore her face off three or four years ago. I remember sending money for that. Wonder how she’s doing today.? I was...

iowa.forums.rivals.com

 

[JWolf74]

OP opens with a lie. It's not a nice neighborhood if someone owns a pit bull.

 

[HawkeyesAndCubs1023]

They’re not any more aggressive as a cocker spaniel, pits get a horrible and undeserved bad reputation. If the owners treat it with love and affection like they should it won’t be a problem.

I suspect that the OP would react the same way if a black family moved in.

Assuming a father of 3 young kids is a racist because he is concerned about an off-leash pit bull?

 

[millah_22]

RIP your kids

 

[McLovin32]

RIP everyone in the neighborhood

FIFY according to some of the posts in the thread.

 

[TonyTheTiger.1865]

Pit bulls kill 29 cats at Alabama shelter: "These dogs just went on a rampage"

Two city officials say an Alabama animal shelter's outdated equipment allowed two pit bulls to fatally maul 29 cats

www.cbsnews.com

Blood Lust

 

[TonyTheTiger.1865]

Baby girl killed by pit bull that snuck into her playpen while she slept

A 17 month-old baby was fatally mauled to death in her playpen by a pit bull owned by a family friend. Marley Wilander was sleeping at the person’s home in early hours of Sunday morning while…

www.thesun.co.uk

OK pitbull advocates, find the stories of doodles or cocker spaniels doing these things.

 

[West Duval Nole]

Maybe try talking to the owner in a calm professional manner that dogs should be on a leash for their protection and everyone else's. If you want to mention that there are many people that may not be dog people or are scared of all dogs especially dogs of that breed whether he agrees or not. They most certainly won't know his dog specifically and will see pit and even if coming to play a scared person unknowingly could take it as an act of aggression and shoot it or hurt it.

 

[desihawk]

i was in worse than op’s position a couple or so years ago and had started a similar thread here, got a bunch of eye opening responses. what worked for me was the last thing i would’ve expected to work — i spoke with my neighbor who used to have the pit in his yard all day. crazy as it seems he totally understood and the dog hasn’t shown up since (it was his daughter’s).
in comparison i think op is in a much better spot since the dog isn’t right next door. you at least have the option to avoid the greens on dog days. in any case, talk to the owner, worst case you know your options better.

 

[TarponSpringsNole]

Yep, and a lot of trashy people own pit bulls.

And some very wealthy people as well. I see them all over upscale developments while I’m on the road working.


I’ve got nothing against the breed. Would own one before I owned a Chihuahua any day of the week.

 

[funksouljon]

Assuming a father of 3 young kids is a racist because he is concerned about an off-leash pit bull?

He didn't say you WERE a racist, he said he suspected you were a racist.

Quit clutching your pearls Kevin.