Reporting dangerous dogs?

[LondonLassi]

Something has been on my mind for a few days after hearing about the poor 12 day old baby who died after being attacked by a dog.

My sister’s neighbour has a 16 year old son who is regularly in trouble with the police. I spend a lot of time there. The screaming and shouting that comes from next door is horrendous and the police are often called out to restrain him. He is not in school. Smokes weed all day. I’ve never seen his face because he wears a hoodie over a face covering (even pre-COVID) I’m just trying to paint a picture of the kind of troubled youth we’re dealing with here. If you make eye contact with him he will swear at you, call you names and threaten you. He is quite frankly a bit scary.

About a year ago they got two puppies from the same litter. They are fully grown now and they look like some sort of pit bull cross. Possibly pit bull/mastiff. They are huge. I’ll attach a pic of what I think they might be. When we sit out in the garden we can hear them next door fighting and growling, they barge my sisters fence to try to get to her small jack Russell terriers. They’ve had to repair the fence three times already after the dogs broke it.

This boy walks the dogs regularly. They are not muzzled. If we happen to leave the house at the same time the dogs go up on their hind legs and get very over excited. The boy has to pull them back to get them away. They try to break free to get to anyone walking near them if they’re out for a walk. Tonight we happened to be leaving as the boy was walking home. The dogs immediately started barking at us and were trying to run towards us and had to be restrained. We often hear people shouting when they walk by because of the dogs trying to get to them. It’s very scary when it happens because they are big and intimidating.

I am terrified of what would happen if these dogs managed to get loose. They have been raised by someone with a violent, anti social background. I can’t shake the image of them getting hold of a child. The boy has a little brother in the house, probably around 6 years old.

What would you do in this situation? I’m thinking of reporting them as potentially dangerous dogs. If IABU please tell me. It just seems like an awful attack waiting to happen.

@Heffalooomia most dog attacks that happen wouldn't have had police, SS and other authorities round as much as this house seems too. For example most attacks you get the owners say oh he had never done anything like this before etc so therefore wouldn't in majority of cases been known to the police.

@LondonLassi
We don’t even know if the police know they exist? How can you just make that assumption and state it as fact? But you said they bark all the time. A dog that barked that much and of the size you're describing wouldn't not be heard by police or SS etc. You say that SS were involved for a younger sibling. Their main concern is if the environment is safe for them to live in, this would include the dogs, they would have evaluated them and if a banned breed or a danger to human life they would've been seized.
If they are aggressive as you seem certain about then they would've been aggressive towards SS Police etc.

@sunglassesonthetable

But you'd be fine with it?
Id be more concerned about the boys behaviour. However with the knowledge that all these authorities are involved, coupled with the fact the dogs are not running loose around the streets I wouldn't report the dogs for being 'dangerous' no.

Seems my bold has taken itself out of the quoted posts apologies

However with the knowledge that all these authorities are involved, coupled with the fact the dogs are not running loose around the streets I wouldn't report the dogs for being 'dangerous' no.

Question neatly ducked. How would you feel if it was you experiencing the 2 dogs behaviour?

We don’t even know if the police know they exist? How can you just make that assumption and state it as fact?*

Since NO ONE knows FOR SURE and posters are only PRESUMING that the police/SS know about these dogs.I think it is incredible that some posters wouldn't even check.

Mind you that's how problems always slip through the system. When people presume.

@sunglassesonthetable that’s exactly what I was thinking. These people are just arguing for the sake of arguing now.

tbh it's just not common sense.

Regardless of any feelings about breeds.

The owners are irresponsible, not the dog's fault, dogs are raised, especially big dogs. I had a German Shepard who was the softest kindest dog but she leant to behave like that with my 3 little children. I ensured she was like that from puppyhood. You are right to be nervous about untrained dogs. Three walks a minimum for dogs.

Slight thread digression here but our local council has seen fit to dispense with the services of dog wardens - just at a time when more people are owning dogs and haven't a clue how to look after them properly. So not sure who you report poor dog behaviour, or more likely, poor ownership to these days anyway. The police won't do anything.

Excited means that their socialized and their excitement can be frightening. They could notify the counsel and they could send the dog warden. This is confidential. Excitement does not always spell danger. Lead walking all the time by owners doesn't mean a walk. However on the street is the law. Local vets will advise, give them a call and have them explain their concerns. Hope that this helps. ❤😢

Just remember that if you report there's a strong chance the dogs could be killed. If they're believed to have banned breed in them they will be put to sleep regardless of their temperament. A charity near us posted recently about the softest, happiest dog they had taken in. Loved cuddles and was a total soppy git. He was found wandering the streets. He was decided to be a pit cross and was put to sleep a week later.