rottie fears
// 2008.08.26 | permanent link to this photoUgh. Normally I'm the most level-headed of ladies; I rarely succumb to fear with a big F - thieves, rapists, muggers, terrorists... these are just not things I'm willing to go crazy on. I know the odds, I know what dangers are likely to befall me (or not), and I'm not about to live my life in fear over things that are less likely to happen to me than winning the lottery. :)
But... (and you knew there was a but) we recently found out about a new pooch on our small street, a Rottie rescue. (Before you Rottie lovers jump in, let me say I don't discriminate on breed - there's a pitbull on the street too, but she's just the sweetest thing ever and she runs over and bumps up against me until I give her a good rubdown, always frustrated that she can't lick me because of her by-law muzzle.) The Rottie, though, is apparently quite vicious - leashed, but walked by a female owner who can't really control him. He snarls and goes after kids and other pooches alike. At least one pooch has been bitten, and at least one kid was lunged at. Animal Control was called, but, so far as anyone on the street knows, the dog is still in his home. No, I'm not sure why.
I spent a bit of time this morning researching how to defend you (and your pooch) from a dog attack, as a result. And what I found - or rather, didn't find - didn't reassure me greatly. :) Lots of different suggestions, but many that seem that they'd either be questionably effective (ammonia spray) OR further enrage the pooch in question so it turns on you (yelling at it, throwing things at it, pulling its back legs). It's silly, I suppose, that I was hoping for a "here's THE way to deal with it, that will keep you - and your pooch - safe" type of answer. :)
Sigh.
If any of you have ideas or, even better, links to professional advice on the subject, please feel free to share in the comments below. For now, we'll just stay on the alert and give said Rottie a wiiiide berth. :)
