The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
My lease is up next month on my apartment. The complex has been pretty good...one noisy neighbor who didn't last too long...but now they've allowed a family with a Pitbull to move in! I am so upset. I know people here who might have pitbulls will defend them...but facts don't lie. I don't trust them. I asked the managers about this dog because I saw him on their porch barking nonstop for 2 hrs. They told me he was a "service dog" so their hands were tied. ummm....I told her no your hands weren't tied...you could have chosen not to rent to people with a pitbull! The crazy thing is in my lease they are listed as a breed they won't rent to! They are also allowing this family to park at a red curb. I told the manager if the dog continues to stay out on the porch and bark all the time, I will call animal control. They have rules about not allowing dogs to stay outside too. I am trying not to worry too much...but I think it's pure nonsense to claim this dog is a therapy dog of some kind. If it is a therapy dog, it should be with it's owner 24/7...not barking on the porch!! The fence surrounding our porches is only about 3-4 feet high. I had dogs that used to jump a 6 foot fence! I cannot afford to move right now and I have worse credit than ever before due to the foreclosure pending. I will try not to judge these people...but Pittbulls are scary and I always hear about them killing even their own family members. Their DNA is not trustworthy. Help! I am very anxious about this...they live right across from me....
I don't own a pitbull. Wanted to say that first. LOL I do have family members who have had them. My suggestion would be to start doing a bit of research on the breed. It may help ease your fears. They were originally known as the "nanny" dog. There was a very old TV show (black and white days) called The Little Rascals. About a group of young kids and the silliness they'd get into, etc. They had a dog called Petey that was always with them. Petey was a pitbull. It is not the dog's DNA... it is people who make them that way. Which is true of just about any dog. Again I suggest researching. Of course that won't help the barking problem. Sorry about that. I'd guess the dog doesn't like being stuck outside.
__________________
Let your light shine in the darkness. "I can't just bring my mind to meetings...I must also bring my heart."
If its in your lease then it looks like your right to complain or maybe moving out is the thing to do. Ive always felt sorry for these dogs that get a bad name, i think they are misunderstood and people only see the stereotype portrayed by the media. I think dogs are as good or bad as their owner, just my opinion.
-- Edited by el-cee on Friday 23rd of January 2015 02:35:09 AM
I can understand your concern, NLG. Pitbulls are powerful animals and can be dangerous animals, too, depending on their owners and their breeding. I feel bad for them when they are cooped up in small areas and not given space to exercise. On the other hand, I have a friend who had pitbull and lived in a mobile home with the dog. She (the dog) was sweet, well trained and smart. I agree that a pitbull being used as a service dog is a new one for the books and the landlord renting to a family with a dog that is not allowed seems to be a violation. On the other hand, the landlord can't refuse to rent to a person who has a disability and I'm not sure if there is any law on the books as to what type of animal would be considered a service animal?
I, too, have found myself at times fearing something that might never happen. The barking dog can be an annoyance but it may not be a dangerous dog? When I experience those fearful thoughts about a future over which I have no control or power, it helps me to focus my attention on the Serenity Prayer or what is happening in the present moment. Finding readings that help me focus my attention on a Step that seems to apply is also a help. Otherwise, I expend a lot of energy fighting a fearful future that isn't here yet.
-- Edited by grateful2be on Friday 23rd of January 2015 06:32:41 AM
NLG I have a friend who has a Pit bull as her "service dog" and she takes him everywhere. If this dog is outside barking for hours then I would call animal control. Program tools would help such as the serenity prayer and not projecting.
People can claim service dog status to get them in to
The apartment or anywhere else. All you need is a doctors
Note saying it is a service dog. I know a girl who did that
Has a dog where there are no dogs. Also once on a airlplane
Young guy had a pit bull in his lap, it was a service Dog ( he
Claimed and had paperwork)so he got away with it. Many
people were very upset,staff Said they could do nothing
about it. Staff did not like it either, It made for a long flight
With some very nervous people.
I have small pets because I am comfortable with them,I have noticed when I am around large breeds I am leery.My son was bitten by a husky when he was little,it required several stitches and the same dog followed me into my basement and was growling at me.Of course some small breeds can be aggressive.I called animal control after the bite,they took the dog for a couple of days,but returned it to the owner.I talked to the owner about it and he said the dog was older and this was the second person he had bitten.After we talked he decided to take the dog to live on a farm.I guess my thinking is it is unfortunate that people don't realize what a responsibility it is to have a large animal,it isn't like having a little dog.The barking would be annoying,I would watch the dog for aggressive behavior.I have a next door neighbor who has a huge Great Dane!,he was outside with the dog one day and asked if I wanted to pet him,I said no I am afraid of big dogs.He said he is a sweetheart and he slowly introduced us,I let the dog smell my shoe,now when he sees me he runs up to me to be petted.He is a good dog.Maybe you could strike up a conversation with the neighbor if you are comfortable with that.
i looked at my lease last night and they list 10 dangerous breeds they dont allow, one of course is the Pitbull. BUT, if the person says they are a service dog or a therapy dog of some kind, and they have paperwork, the animal is NOT considered a pet! wow. I told the manager if the dog continues to be left outside and barks a lot, I will call animal control. The back fence is very short, so it could jump over it easily. what also bothers me is when i moved in I was told no parking on the red curb. these people park on it daily. i will pick and choose my battles. the curb doesnt worry me as much as the dog. they also dont have to pay pet rent every month for a therapy dog...so i got to thinking...hmmm...i think my Chihuahua should become an emotional therapy dog. I could easily get that to happen and save some money on rent!! lol!! maybe the whole complex should do it with their dogs. i did do research on Pibulls. theres a great Wikipedia article and it says attcking is in their DNA. i believe it...because Ive heard of two cases in my area where pitbulls killed family members. The dogs were ok until one day they just attacked. they were bred to be fighting dogs. i will read about the nanny dog explanation....but I thought those were Rottweilers. My AH has a German Shepard and I trust her completely. i am not afraid of big dogs...just Pitbulls. I will do as you guys suggested...not project and do lots of praying! and i will also stay away from their backyard.
-- Edited by Newlife girl on Friday 23rd of January 2015 10:22:06 AM
I have owned pit bulls most of my life, family members have as well. I don't have any pets right now because I simply don't have enough time to invest in a pet . My mom is 78 and still owns one. They have not kept the lineage pure and have bred the dogs with bigger dogs or other breeds, this has affected the dogs temperament. The original staffordshire terriers were completely safe dogs, they were considered nanny dogs in England. Any bulldog takes a responsible owner. As they are kind of like a untreated alanoner(lol) they are very self willed and strong willed. So it's not the dogs that are the problem but the irresponsible owners. The owners that are not responsible and refuse to train their dog or give consequences are the reason people get bit or injured. It's kind of like a child in the way it's raised. If the child is raised right. It grows up to be a responsible member of society. I would try to use the slogan in the situation " keep a open mind". I would also try to use affirmations, like I am safe around the pit bull. I know for me what I focus on tends to grow. If I'm focused on worry that grows, if I'm focused on faith and my serenity that grows. As far as the barking is concerned, I would likely call animal contol if it was disturbing me especially during sleeping hours. Hugs and prayers ;)
-- Edited by karma13 on Friday 23rd of January 2015 10:29:11 AM
__________________
I needed these behaviors in my past they helped me survive I'm finding new and better ways to not just survive but thrive
they are the most misunderstood breed of dog...last decade it was the Rottweiler on the list, before that, the Dobie was shunned, then the german shepherd
I am a responsibile owner who takes care of /supervises her pets and my pets are for my protection...
however a barking dog is a nuisance no matter what the breed....and should be dealt with....i would tell owner dog is a nuisance and if it continues to bark, you will report it...
its never the dog...its the stupid, irrisponsible owners who make a pet undesirable.
JUST SAYING
__________________
Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
I hear you neshema...however when you read the history of the breed, it is in their DNA to be fighting dogs. Sorry...I just don't trust them. I am hoping these owners are decent people who won't keep leaving the dog outside. Yesterday it was quiet, so that's a good sign.
I don't think I am an expert on dog breeds or that its helpful to debate on the nature of pitbulls, although it is such an emotional topic for many people including myself.
But I understand your concern and I may be unpopular for saying this but I had a pitbull that I adopted when she was only a few weeks old and almost dead from neglect. She was so little she fit into my hand. She had been mistreated and bred from fighting dogs but I believed that would not affect her if I raised her well. I loved her like a baby and I took a lot of good advice and researched training etc and was very firm but loving with her. She was like a child to me and was beautifully behaved and I believe i trained her very well however when she was 2 years old my then-boyfriend took a downhill turn and then left our home and I had a bit of an emotional breakdown she became unsettled and she got really weird. She attacked another dog in the park one day out of nowhere and ripped it apart, almost killing it and about a week later she escaped and bit a lady in the park. It was so shocking from my sweet dog. She began to growl at me when I came home and on one occasion i was so scared I locked myself in the bathroom for hours because she was snarling and poised to attack me. I was so heartbreaking but I had her destroyed at the advice of the vet because I was afraid of her, and I am not someone who is afraid of dogs, believe me. So I believe that pitbulls who have been bred from a fighting lineage can be dangerous when their emotional security destabilises, that is what I witnessed in my own dog. So I am someone who absolutely loves the breed but I also think your concerns are justified and yes they can jump fairly high fences. So if you feel the dog might be able to jump into your yard then I would discuss raising the fence line with the neighbours maybe by adding trellis or something so that you are sure she can't jump into your yard, and of course a constantly barking dog is not an OK neighbour either. They may have a right to have a service dog that is a pitbull and the dog may be sweet and harmless but you also have a right to feel safe and peaceful in your own home. I would try to work with the neighbours first if it was me; if someone felt threatened by my dog ad told me so I would take whatever measures seemed reasonable to make them feel secure.
__________________
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see? (Lewis Caroll)
The most important piece here is you don't feel safe. I love all dogs and I honor my feelings when I feel afraid. Do what you need to do to feel safe within whatever humane measures need to be taken for the precious dog.
My issue isn't with pitbulls but rather the growing number of people who are using the "service dog" title to excuse taking their dogs where they just shouldn't be.
I had a friend who adopted one of the bull breeds from a certified shelter, one that tests the animals extensively. The dog bit someone and was unpredictable after that so she had to have him put down - she was told by the vet that some of the in-breeding causes the skulls to not grow big enough to accommodate the grown brain and can cause problems. I've also known some pitbulls who were jewels - no winning argument with them.
__________________
I am strong in the broken places. ~ Unknown
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another! ~ Anatole France
Melissa, Wow...what a scary story. That's my point...I just think they are generally untrustworthy. Maybe not all of them are unpredictable, but I am not willing to take a chance. In my apartment complex we can't modify anything. It is against the rules to leave any breed of dog outside on the back patio, so if they don't follow the rules I will be calling the managers a lot and animal control. I've told the managers this, too.
Likemyheart...I agree. i went online and found out you can buy packages to get your dog the paperwork you need to call it a service dog. They do require a doctors note...but I wonder if these managers really look carefully into the paperwork.
What scared me was when I heard the dog barking and I went to peak over the fence and it started to lunge towards me.
And if it is really a service dog,mit needs to be with the owner all the time, not left outside! ugh.
The most important piece here is you don't feel safe. I love all dogs and I honor my feelings when I feel afraid. Do what you need to do to feel safe within whatever humane measures need to be taken for the precious dog.
I agree...as a pit owner, the SECOND one of them turned, "bad" or unsafe for me, surroundings, i would have her humanely euthanized....i don't take chances....
all this inbreeding has messed up a lot of dogs.......my pits are very very protective of me, but if i let someone in, they are OK....as a kind of "loner" re: my house, they work for me....they are my protection from the bad people who seem to gain in numbers of late........you do what u gotta do to protect yourself....
__________________
Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
I have in-laws that have always owned nothing but pit bulls (they have had two since I've known them). We spend alot of birthdays and holidays with them and the dogs are sweet hearts. I think that they have gotten a bad rap in the past because we have all heard the stories about how they were originally bred to bite. If you could, why not approach your neighbors and talk to them about your fear of their dog to see if you ease your mind about it?
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it
does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart". ~ unknown
Debb, myfear is they would figure out it was me who complained tot he managers about their dog and their parking on the red curb. So...I can be polite to them, maybe we will talk someday. All I know is the dogs who maul/kill people are usually Pitbulls. So, I am being careful.
Newlife, I would be annoyed with the barking as well. Hopefully other tenants are complaining and the management does something about it. I am thinking that a service dog should be more well behaved.
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it
does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart". ~ unknown
I think that they have gotten a bad rap in the past because we have all heard the stories about how they were originally bred to bite. If you could, why not approach your neighbors and talk to them about your fear of their dog to see if you ease your mind about it?
I agree Debb, media victims...they don't talk about the other dogs biting, but as a dog owner for many years, I've seen bad in all of them...good in all of them....depends on how they are trained, treated, NOT inbred and not abused and taught to be aggressive......
I think if i had a barking dog next door and I was concerned , I would approach the neighbors..give them a chance to mitigate....they might be nice people, you don't know.....I would tell them about the barking and that the dog lunged at you......see what they do.....THEN go up a step if need be.......
__________________
Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
