Lucy bit a kid- Lawsuit pending?!

[Alex]

We have considered moderation and decided against it for the time being. We want this forum to be a happy self policing community created by Basenji owners for Basenji owners.

Several of us read the forums daily and we do get alerted by senior members if things get out of control. Then we just remind people about the forum rules.

So far our reminders about respecting each other worked well and noone had to be booted. Some members left because they just could not handle a difference of opinion or did not want give into the argument. But in the end we think it was the best for the rest of Basenji Forums community and the new people that are lurking around deciding whether to join or not.

[Larka]

I couldn't really get them for trespassing since I don't have a fence so we can't prove that they were in my yard. I've toyed with the idea of getting Child Services involved since this 3 or 4 year old should NOT be running the neighborhood without adult supervision. But it seems like it's going to blow over. At least I pray that it does.

Animal Control will be here at some point today to let Lucy off "house arrest". I think that we're going to celebrate with a trip to the dog park and a small shopping trip so she can pick out a new toy.

I've seriously considered giving Lucy up along the way. We got her from the shelter, she'd been returned twice because she was "destructive" and had spent 6 months in the shelter by the time I got her. She had about 3 months where she peed everywhere, destroyed everything she could get ahold of and ran off every chance she got- and it did a LOT to my nerves and I really wanted to give her back. But I toughed it out. And I didn't realize just how much I cared about her until she jumped on that kid and they were talking about taking her from me. She's my little kid and I wouldn't give her up for anything. Right now she's curled up on my sofa sleeping with my Husky laying his head on her like she's a pillow and I'm thinking "My kids are so cute, I love them so much."

[Tayda_Lenny]

So I just read this whole post and Larka, I feel bad for the situation you are in. I can completely empathize with what you are going through based on my previous experiences with Lenny/Tayda and the neighborhood kids when i was in michigan. I hope everything goes all right and I'm glad the AC guy was on your side. Today is Nov 7th! Lucy is done w/ house arrest now!

It also makes me even more certain that my move to another apartment is the right thing to do. For those who haven't read my post on "moving woes," my current landlords do not want me supervising my dogs in the yard because they feel it is an invasion of their privacy since their bedroom windows are at the same level as the yard. These landlords regularly have visitors (humans and canines) and I am 100000% sure i would not be comfortable having lenny and tayda meet people/dogs without me there.

[gbroxon]

@Larka:

I couldn't really get them for trespassing since I don't have a fence so we can't prove that they were in my yard….

Would they stoop to lying under oath? Saying that the dog was OUT of his yard when the bite happened?

I do hope it blows over. It sounds like it was blown way out of proportion.

[RockysWoman]

We had an issues a few years ago with neighborhood kids running thru our yard. (Our B is let out on a 45 foot run in the back yard… yard is not fenced). At any rate, we had explained to all the kids in the neighborhood who frequented our yard about the dogs "no touch" policy, etc. We had a couple of kids though who loved to terrorize our B (throwing sticks, taunting him to run and snap at the end of his line, etc). The first time it happend, we told this kids parents to have their kids knock it off. The second time, we called and reported the incident to the police. I wasn't about to let the third time happen with a dog bite and have the police confiscate my dog.

Advice for all: Anytime you start to have issues with kids and dogs in your yard, report it to the police. A paper trail thru your local precinct detailing the protective measures you have taken, as well as any trepasses and/or issues with the locals that you have, go a long way in a court of law establishing who actually is "at fault".

Best of luck. God love our sue-happy country. bleh

[ChristyRutherford]

Is there any update on this situation?

[Kris_Christine]

Larka,

Is Lucy up to date on her rabies shots? Make sure you have the documentation – call your vet for a copy if you don't have it at home (her life could depend on this).

If she is overdue for a booster, take her in immediately to get a rabies titer done.

Hopefully nothing will come of all this, but if it should, it's best to be prepared.

Kris

[Larka]

I know it's been a while, but I haven't been on in some time and figured I'd update everyone.

Nothing ended up coming of it. Lucy served out her house arrest with no issues. The kids no longer come in my yard, which is a good thing. But we still have issues with the kids running wild through the neighborhood. And recently have had issues with stray dogs running around. But I now work for the county Animal Control since the shelter I worked at went under. So when all the stray dogs come into my yard, I scoop them up and take them in.

[sharronhurlbut]

Glad it turned out ok.

[BDawg]

Larka, seems like everything worked out!

[dmcarty]

Thanks for the update - I hate hanging endings and love good outcomes.

[Larka]

I know we love good outcomes, but….

I replied about a month ago that everything was good...
Well these people got a new dog- a little lab puppy. The dog runs all over the neighborhood, no collar or anything. I found the dog 2 blocks away once.

Well, twice now the dog has gotten into my yard- messing with my dogs when I let them out. I have my dogs tied up, and the dog doesn't come fully into my yard. Both times I've picked up the dog and taken it back to it's house. Today I took the dog over there, and the mom was standing outside. I give the dog back, and try to give her a collar and leash, but she says she has stuff but he keeps getting loose. Well, I think that's crap because this dog acted like he'd never been on a leash before or ever had a collar on. So I give the dog back, and she goes- "I've been knocking on your door the past couple days, but no one has answered." She sounded really mad. I go- "Well, maybe no one was home." She rolls her eyes and goes- "I got the bill from EMS because my husband's insurance won't pay for it. It's $104- I need you to pay at least half." I'm thinking "Oh god, why now? Why is it suddenly 7 months later she's doing this?" I tell her that I have to discuss it with my roommate, and we'll get back to her. Well, we go over and agree on the half, so I now owe $52 bucks to this lady.

I still know I'm right, and I shouldn't have to pay- but I don't need this blowing up. And I wanted to tell her- "Don't you realize that the insurance won't pay for the EMS because you called them, then REFUSED to let them take your kid to the hospital?!" I'm so mad right now. But I guess I'm taking $52 over there tomorrow... Maybe I should go over there in my Animal Control uniform and ask if she'd like me to take the stray dogs off her hands.

[RockysWoman]

Hardy har har! I think you should go ask to claim the "stray dog"! Before you hand her a check though, talk to your insurance agent. If a claim was filed with your insurance in regards to this whole mess, it needs to go thru your insurance, or risk negating your policy or any further claims assistance from your policy (sorry… insurance agent in me speaking up here). Best of luck!

[Larka]

@RockysWoman:

Hardy har har! I think you should go ask to claim the "stray dog"! Before you hand her a check though, talk to your insurance agent. If a claim was filed with your insurance in regards to this whole mess, it needs to go thru your insurance, or risk negating your policy or any further claims assistance from your policy (sorry… insurance agent in me speaking up here). Best of luck!

I doubt the woman knows mine or my roommates names- so that would be interesting if they talked to our insurance… As far as I know- they didn't talk to insurance or anything.

I stated from the beginning that I'd be willing to at least cover the hospital trip- even though I wasn't at fault- and Animal Control and the sheriffs department were in agreement with me. I just didn't want this blowing up in my face- and now she's saying that if I don't pay at least half, that she'll get her money "other ways". Now, I have ALL the documentation from both the sheriffs department and animal control stating that it was the child's fault and not mine- but I don't want to drag this through court. I just want to pay her and have her leave me alone.

[TuckerVA]

You can always get your money back, rather, give yourself a level of satisfaction that you're 'getting even' just by performing about $52 worth of late night vandalism…

I am just kidding, but when people take advantage of other people, it really pisses me off. I think I would have punched that person in the face and then asked her to prove I hit her. Better yet, you could punch YOURSELF in the face and tell the cops SHE hit YOU. It makes about as much sense as what she is doing to you. I'm kinda a jerk when it comes to getting wronged and I feel you are getting wronged. There would be no end to the 'getting even' I would do with this person... Grrrrrr!

[sharronhurlbut]

I would pay her the $$ and let it go.
BUT I would pick up this pup she has and take it to the shelter as a stray dog.
That poor dog will be hit by a car or poisoned by someone who is yard proud.
Those neighbors are bad news…the farther you can stay from them, the better.

[Robin_n_Jack]

I would totally take the dog in. She doesn't have him on a leash or collar? Well, most states have leash laws, and if it doesn't have a collar or leash, well, then….it must be a stray, right?

[wizard]

For my two cents – don't pick up her "stray" at least not yet. If she finds out you work for animal control AND picked up her dog you'll have no end of retaliation problems. It will escalate big time.
You could just take your lawn hose and spray her dog the next time it comes over and pesters you - she wouldn't necessarily know you sprayed it, any neighbor could, but it might make her be more careful about letting the dog loose.
However, send her a copy (anonymously of course) of the local leash laws or whatever official documentation there is regarding dog statutes and whatever neighborhood association rules you have. Then when she doesn't comply, you'll havesome ammunition to send in Animal Control.

[Robin_n_Jack]

Yeah, you are probably right. I take it back. I never think about how things can escalate…..that just happens to be a big pet peeve of mine....people who don't watch their dog, keep them off leash, and their dogs pester mine.

[Larka]

This lady already has a huge file on her at animal control because of her chihuahua that runs the neighborhood. She's now managed to put a collar on that, and get a rabies tag- but it still runs loose and does not have a registration tag. This lab puppy is a new addition- and also runs the neighborhood without a collar or tags. She honestly has an animal control officer dedicated just to her- he's the one who showed up when this all started. He'd be the one to come get the dog or dogs- unless I find it several blocks away again.

And she was telling me yesterday that I couldn't have my dogs out on their lead- they had to be on a leash in my hand. I wanted to laugh. Cause while she was telling me this, the chihuahua was out on the deck with no leash and the lab puppy was running around the yard with no collar or leash. :rolleyes: And her puppy bit my hand last night… I know he was just playing, but I do have scratches all over my hand. I was really tempted to go "Look! Your dog bit me!!!!!!!!" but I didn't.