PLEASE READ THIS WHOLE STORY AND SIGN SO MY FAMILY AND ALL OUR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR DOGS CAN BE SAFE AGAIN. WE HAVE CALLED THE POLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL. THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN, BUT DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO MUCH APPARENTLY. I'M REALLY HOPEFUL PUBLIC PRESSURE WILL DO THE JOB. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AT THIS POINT...

On Saturday, November 5th, Rosie, (of 1109 Stokes Avenue), who is an 80- to 90-pound dog with a concerning history of aggression, viscously attacked our dog Talula (a 50-pound Labradoodle) in our shared driveway. I'm not exaggerating when I say viciously. Talula received several deep puncture wounds and actual gashes that formed pockets where the flesh was ripped away from the underlying tissue. (Those wounds currently have drains in them that we need to empty 4 or 5 times a day.)

This happened because the owner is not strong enough to control Rosie on the leash, so she broke free and sank her teeth deep into our dog. Talula is lucky to be alive and my wife, who tried to break it up, is lucky she was not attacked herself.

I took Talula to the emergency room and had to leave her there for surgery. When I returned, I pleaded with Rosie's owner to have her put down. (I love dogs, but this did not come out of nowhere.) This dog has stormed into our yard and up on to our back porch in an attempt to attack Talula before. It has tried to break through our neighbors storm door to attack their dog. (That also happened with the owner holding the leash and basically being dragged up the walkway by Rosie.) It is also terrified of men and has always been extremely threatening toward me in our shared driveway. 

When I pleaded with the owner to put Rosie down, she looked me in the face, slowly shook her head and meekly said "Oh no, no, I can control the dog." That statement is not connected to reality.

After arguing for while I said "Ok, what's your plan for safety? I'm open to ideas." She had none. I said "Ok, talk to your husband tonight and come back with a plan tomorrow and we will listen with open minds." She complained that 24 hours wasn't enough time. I told her it was more than enough time.

I picked up Lula later that day. She was eventually going to be ok, but it was pretty upsetting to see her with all those stitches and drains hanging off her.

The next morning, the husband asks to talk to me. We sit down and he very reasonably agreed to pay the bills. He then said "And we don't want to you to live in fear, so we have decided to move the dog." I thought "Great!" "But," he said "we need some time, we need 90 days and I will be the PRIMARY one who brings her out and walks her."

I thought that sounded a little long but I figured, maybe it takes a while to find a refuge or something that will not put the dog down?

I'm a reasonable person, so I said "Ok, 'primary' tells me you can't always be the one to bring her out, your wife is going to have to do it sometimes. So how do we ensure nothing like this happens again over the course of 3 months? Will you please muzzle the dog?" (I should point out they have no fence!) He said "No, that's going to involve extra expense and training." I didn't really understand that (muzzles cost 20 bucks, their homeowners is going to pay the vet bills, and what training?) but I tried to be reasonable. I said, "Ok, how about you just text us when you're gonna bring the dog out back so we know not to bring Lula out." He said, "Noo, I don't think we need to let you know about our comings and goings." I said, "Uh, I'm not asking that, but ok, how about you just let us know when your wife will be the one bringing her out? Just those few times?" "No." He was basically saying to me "Your family just has to live in fear of the very real risk of another attack for 3 months." I was dumbfounded. I honestly didn't know what else to say or do. We left it unresolved. 

The next morning I tried diplomacy. I sent a text that was waaaay nicer than it had to be. I actually started by thanking them for making what I understood was a very difficult decision. Then I politely urged them to reconsider my plea to muzzle Rosie. No response.

We've tried to reason with him since then, but for some mysterious reason, they are refusing.  My wife is exhibiting pretty clear signs of PTSD and those symptoms aren't going to magically disappear when very real danger still lives next door with no immediate plan for safety.

They are putting my wife, my daughters, me, our dog, our neighbors and their dogs all in danger. I won't allow it. ESPECIALLY not when the solution is so simple, easy and harmless: Just muzzle the damn dog.

I'm begging you all, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sign this petition.