One of my dogs bit someone on my property years ago, and they went to the hospitol for a check up. Just barely broke the skin. BUT, animal control did not take my dogs, because a Dr was involved I had to meet with athorities and anim control for a hearing.  If it was ruled my fault and a complaint was lodged total of 3 times my dogs would have been destroyed.  Fortunatly the person did not show up and they said it was not my fault and an control vouched for how I kept my dogs.  It seems very strange that they just come take your dogs, esp after anim control seemed fine with them.   Good luck.

Here is Rocky's little fenced in backyard world. My husband was not happy when I was planning this fence, but afterwards, he said it was the best thing I ever did. He would not have believed it in the world. Nice to not have to worry about Rocky going here and there and getting into trouble.

A broader view!! We do alot of tennisball toss in this direction!!

Vale46,

I'm very sorry how this has turned out for you and your dogs now in quarantine. 

Every state's 'dangerous dog law' is different, and last year PA included dogs attacking cats.  Google dangerous dog law and your state and it should come up - might take some manuevering to get to your state's official and most current document - and print it out.  Also Animal Law is becoming a specialty so you may want to contact your state's Bar Assn or Animal Law Society for a referral in case your current attorney is not well versed in dog law.

Deb Orpen

Wow ... I am so glad I live in Canada. We are not nearly as litigious here and this would likely be considered a nuisance case and thrown out of court. We are not as prone to having stray or wandering dogs in our neighbourhood since we mostly have pretty responsible dog owners in terms of keeping their dogs under control (but don't get me started on the picking up poop issue !!!).

I agree that going forward with a fence (a wood privacy fence, if you can afford it) is probably your best course of action.

This is a picture of our privacy fence.

It sucks that you are left picking up the bill not only for Bear's treatment, but also for the fence. What a terrible introduction to your new neighbourhood. It might also help to get sworn affidavits from previous neighbours attesting to your dogs good behaviour.

I am so p***ed off on your behalf right now!!!

Think if you build a solid fence in your backyard, that should do it. Don't think you will need a sign as our GSPs have a deep, gaurdy bark and that should be warning enough for outsiders not to enter  Good luck and hope your GSPs come home soon. The pain in your heart has to be unbelievalbe with them gone. Still deep in my prayers.

Colorado has a "make my day" law also for intruders inside the house (anywhere inside the house), and recent court rulings has extended this to outside the house in some instances (last year a very drunk college student was shot dead outside of a woman's house because he was forcibly trying to enter the house yelling, beating on windows and doors -- he thought he had been locked out of his house but was at the wrong house which was similar to his but one block down -- the woman, who was terrified, shot him and was released based on this law).

Regardless, dog attacks inside the house would fall under different laws -- and bottom line is the AR community is going to make this harder and harder.  I too am hoping our friend on this list gets this resolved -- neighbor problems are tough to deal with especially if animals are involved.  And this case just doesn't seem fair.  I'm going to be curious how the animal control folks can visit and rule one way, then reverse it based on hearsay -- sounds like an AR-like influence by the upper management to me --

Dave

This site may be helpful:

www.dogbitelaw.com/