Legality of stopping a 'perceived' dog attack

[Cosmoline]

You seem unable or unwilling to understand the distinct points I was making. As far as attacking a guard dog with a knife it's really rather simple. You don't want to reach your arm in there to stab at it, because that action exposes your arm and your vitals to attack while at the same time putting you off balance and bringing your upper body closer to the dog's level. That's why I keep saying use a stick or a club or anything that allows you to use leverage and major muscle groups, stay upright, protect your vitals and keep some distance from the dog. I really don't think you've been nailed by a big dog before or you wouldn't be continuing to make these claims. There's a sudden POW as the animal's fangs hit you. By the time your brain processes the fact that you've just been bitten badly, the dog has hit you a few more times. Being bitten triggers some deep and instinctive terror in a human. I've been nailed while breaking up dog fights and it's quite an eye-opener. And those were minor bites that had no real intent behind them and were mostly absorbed by my carharts.

And even if you're dealing with one of the 90% of big dogs who are BLUFFING you don't want to stab at them. Even a big coward of a dog who will certainly run off if you challenge him or thwap him on the head will fight like a tiger if you stab him. And the first thing he'll hit is your hand with the knife. It's even preferable to kick a dog than try to stab it with a knife. Again it allows you to stay upright and pits a major muscle group and large leg bones against the dog, not the tiny muscles and fragile bones of your hand and forearm.

Putting all legal issues aside, what I'm offering is sound tactical advise based on many years of being around big guard dogs and seeing how they fight and attack. You might seriously wound or kill the dog with a lucky knife strike. K9 dogs have been killed that way. But they aren't STOPPED with a knife slash. They die later on after they calm down and bleed out.

 

[MFH]

Something else to be considered. It may not be as simple as the entire front yard being private property. In most municipalities, there are easements for utility or street work. Most people do not realize that at any time deemed necessary, part of the front yard can become a construction zone. With that in mind, it may even be illegal to construct a fence within the easement. Or at best may require a waiver or permit to place it there and even then there is the understanding that if needed, it will be destroyed. The city easements in this case would probably be more than 2 feet from the sidewalk. The owner at least was stupid in placing the fence that close to the sidewalk,especially with animals that are aggressive as these apparantly are. The fact that this was "invisible" fence should not make any difference legally, other than you can get away with it since it is not visible to the average person.....That location may be one reason that the fence was unmarked.

FWIW

MFH

 

[ArmedBear]

MFH-

True regarding private property, as well as fences, signage, etc. An invisible fence should at least have a sign, and probably doesn't count, legally, as a fence.

Realistically, though, someone with a couple of human-aggressive guard dogs and an invisible fence is obviously trying to scare people off. To me, that means that they are probably involved in something like the drug trade. Around here, that's what it means, even in a good neighborhood. It could be the high-end drug trade, but it's probably something illegal they're into. They don't want anyone even going to the door, but they also want to scare people.

So, I'd say the best course of action is to move on. If a dog attacks you or your family, shoot it, and THEN move on, quickly. You don't want to pit your carry pistol against a pissed-off drug dealer/producer with a full-auto.

The point? The situation described tells me things that go WAY beyond a potential threat from a guard dog. WAY beyond.

 

[Atticus]

That's a beautiful Shepard Cosmoline - my favorite breed! I used to have a 75 lb female that would have made some nice pups with that guy.

Some good points brought up here in spite of a few "rough spots". Thanks

 

[The Crazy Gobbo]

Lupinus, the dog did not walk away. The man initially attacked did not have the time to strike the dog mid air, I wouldn't either, but back to the ground with the dog on top his friend was able to give the dog a really good whack. The dog was observed to have, well, lost its head, or at least most of it.

To loosely quote David Koresh, "a tank can run over my body, but I'll be biting the track." Even if its with a pool noodle, I'm going to be between an attacking dog and my family. With ya there.

Cosmoline, you don't have to let your dog know you told me, but, he's chasing flies, isn't he? Our female rottweiler would even catch the occasional bee/wasp if it didn't interrupt her afternoon naps.