Advice on dealing with an American Bully XL nextdoor

[MichaelFlatleyLordoftheDance]

Bit of a rant, and I'd love some advice. I have neighbours who own an American Bully XL dog. When they first got the dog about 18 months ago, all seemed fine. The neighbours seemed to be taking good care of him and loving on him. While the dog made me nervous, I tried to take the "it's how you raise them" attitude and hoped my neighbours trained him well. One day, my family and I were outside playing when the dog, who was off the lead in the neighbour's front garden (I hadn't noticed it was off the lead as it had a harness on and the neighbours were also outside) came running towards us, bowling over my then three year old DD. There was no bite, scratches, etc but it certainly knocked my DD for a loop. Luckily she's a tough kid and after a few seconds of tears she was back to playing. The neighbours rushed over, tackled the dog and brought him back inside. They apologised profusely. We stayed calm as to not escalate things but asked politely they just keep her on a lead when outside. I wanted to call the police to report the incident so it was on file, because honestly I was furious, but my DH talked me out of it.

A few months went by, and a different neighbour told us the same dog attacked another small local dog quite violently. But, the female owner of the American Bully XL became so aggressive and verbally abusive towards the owner of the other dog, the owner of the other dog was too afraid to report it. Apparently the owner of the smaller dog was quite elderly, and though the dog sustained injuries none were serious. It's a small village, and I assume the woman didn't want to make waves. I understand this is hearsay, but it certainly put me on edge even more than I had been. The female owner of the American Bully XL is also a very heavy pot smoker. The odor comes from the house most of the day, everyday. She's often smoking as she walks the dog. I only mention this as I don't think she's at her sharpest most of the time.

One night I popped outside to get something from my car which was parked across the street. As I jogged over to the car I heard loud growling - it scared me half to death!! It was dark so I couldn't see it but I knew it was the dog. Sure enough, just as I opened the door here it comes down the driveway - no lead, no harness, no neighbours. I jumped into the car and slammed the door, but cracked the window slightly and sweetly spoke to the dog, "hey (name) it's me, you're ok, everything is ok." A minute later the female neighbour comes out. Yelling for the dog. I called to her, said I was ok and that the dog was by my car. She ignored me completely - though definitely heard me - grabbed the dog and took him inside as I stayed locked in my car. No apology.

Since the new laws came into effect, the neighbours do muzzle the dog when taking him for walks; however, they continue to leave the dog off the lead, out of the harness, unmuzzled and unattended almost daily in the front yard. The dog is free to roam. This has gone on ever since they got the dog. Typically he stays in his own yard, but what's to stop him if he decided to take off after someone or something? They also tend to let him off the lead and remove the muzzle as they walk back up the street towards their house. I have months of photo and video evidence of this from our security camera, but I'm not sure what to do about this. I'm terrified to take my kids outside. Even to take the bins out I check to make sure the dog isn't out, and if it is, I wait until it's back inside. Every single house on the street either has young children, people with mobility issues, or is elderly. I definitely agree that any dog can be dangerous in the right circumstances just as any dog can be properly trained. I just feel like my neighbours are playing with fire leaving a dog with this size, strength and reputation, outside unattended, unleashed, unharnessed and unmuzzled. I don't know if the dog is registered or not, but he's still not been "fixed" so that to me makes him even more terrifying.

Does anyone have advice or input on this? Do I report them? If so, to who? Do I send an anonymous letter to them and ask them to keep the dog secure at all times? We've asked them once to secure the dog and they didn't. I may sound like I'm worrying too much, but having young kids, one of whom who's already had one negative incident with this dog, it just makes me so nervous and not worth the risk. Thanks for letting me vent.

@BitOutOfPractice .. I’m a cat owner actually. But whatever.

“…Just occupational hazard of being a small child in a public space”

I do believe that some dog owners should also be muzzled. FFS

Report it now OP - you don’t want it on your conscience when he attacks someone. Sounds like it is only a matter of time.

Exactly, the Dangerous dogs legislation deals with this. OP please read this https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

There is absolutely no need for further dilly dallying when your child’s (and others) welfare is at risk. irrespective of the breed of this dog it’s not under control and is therefore in breach of the law.

I disagree with the pp who said you’re being dramatic etc . No it’s not part and parcel of being a small child - I’d be furious and take action if a child in my care was knocked to the ground by a dog. The same way as if I would be angry if a careless jogger knocked them over.

The dog has literally already caused harm to their child, thankfully in this case it wasn’t serious.

It’s hardly far fetched to imagine it may have attached a smaller dog but even if it hasn’t surely you act first to protect your child and yourself rather than waiting patiently for a “confirmed” sighting of the dog attacking someone?

Unless of course you want that confirmed sighting to occur to you and yours.

Even a non violent dog can cause harm if it’s not under control, my daft neighbour thought she’d let her very hyper poodle mix jump all over me and it scratched my leg. I reported her to the housing managers and it now has to be On a leash in our apartment building. I wasn’t going to wait until it decided to give me a “friendly nip” next time to add to the “friendly clawing”.

If I’m understanding it properly then the dog doesn’t have to be on a lead or muzzled when in it’s own garden as that is private, however it does need to be muzzled and on a lead when out walking etc so if they are not adhering to that then you can report it, although what will be done about it is anybody’s guess. Our local police have been quite vocal about the fact that there simply isn’t enough staff so if it was my neighbour I’d not expect police to act.

You say you have months and months of evidence but actually the restrictions have only been in for a few weeks, so any “evidence” of off lead, no muzzle etc before that isn’t an offence.

That made me laugh.

In all seriousness, OP. Report the beast.

It's just a matter of time before it attacks someone seriously and you'll never forgive yourself if it's your kid that's hurt and you knew the dog was a risk and you did nothing.

Sounds horribly stressful- not even being able to take your bin out without checking if this dog is on the loose. Definitely report your irresponsible neighbours to the police as soon as possible, it’s brilliant that you have photo evidence. I would also do whatever I could to make your front and back gardens as secure as possible so that the dog can’t get it. I hope that the police respond robustly. I have zero sympathy for anyone who’s stupid and selfish enough to own one of these dogs.

That’s awful 😣 I don’t know what I’d have done. I hate the “they just want to play” nonsense, it’s like a. erm well I don’t???! And b. That’s what every dog owner has said right before the dog takes a chunk out of someone.

Those extendable leads aren’t suitable for all dogs / situations including the one you’ve just described. I hope the new legislation on XL bully breeds etc doesn’t allow for extendable leads.

In Germany they actually specify the length of the leash allowed in certain circumstances eg. Dogs in cafes, trains, built up areas which I think makes total sense.

I was on a UK train recently and This smart ass owner decided was using a long lead and let her dog wander and bother other passengers across the aisle and basically the lead and the dog together were a trip hazard. But strictly speaking she was complying with the policy which just states dogs must be on leads. IMO this is why It’s far too vague to just say “dogs must be on leads”.

@Frasers I understand. I did say I understood the attack on the other dog was hearsay, but it left me concerned either way. The dog is muzzled and on a lead for walks; however, typically, as the owner and dog come up the street towards their house, the dog's muzzle is removed and the lead is unhooked. So it runs up the street alone without safety measures. The dog is also regularly alone, in their front garden with no fence, no lead, no muzzle. I'm just concerned for the safety of my kids and these people seem to think they can follow the law only when they feel like it.

@Mybootsare thank you so very much for this information!!

For the dog's safety and that of other people he should not be in his front garden if it is not secure and he can just wander off. That goes for any breed of dog. I have dogs and an open front garden. They are not allowed outside the front. They don't need to be in the front garden. They have plenty of walks and access to the back garden. No one else where I live where the front gardens are open let their dogs outside without a lead.

OP please report the owners to the police or local dog warden.

Regardless of breed, if a dog is going to be in a front (or any) garden, the front garden needs to be secure so that the dog cannot a) escape and b) lunge over the gate and wall.

Surely that only makes it an even more idiotic answer then @Ballygowenwater

Wtf with some of these comments? 'Well it didn't attack the other dog. Well it only knocked the child over'
The point was it was out of control and could have attacked and killed a dog or child.