New subject: [East-CAC] Dog attack at 2119 Millbank St. (Lockwood neighborhood)

2 Mar 2012

Dear Neighbors,
I am sorry to report that there was another dog attack incident in the
Lockwood neighborhood this week.
My husband was mowing our yard at 2119 Millbank Street on Tuesday while I
was out of town when a pit bull from our neighbor's backyard dog-breeding
operation broke through the wooden privacy fence that serves as his
enclosure and launched himself in attack mode over our four-foot chain link
fence at Mike, who managed to escape by jumping the gate into the driveway.
Our bulldog Chance came tearing out of the house straight toward the pit
bull, whose name is Deebo, grabbed him by the chest, and pinned him to the
ground. The melee that ensued involved Mike beating Deebo over the skull
with a rake handle in hopes of scaring him off, all while screaming for
help and dialing 911. It also involved enough blood to make Mike queasy.
When Raleigh Police and Animal Control arrived, the dog's owner ranted
about what terrible people we are. "Why do you always take their side?" she
shouted at them, referring to the half-dozen or so times we've had to call
the authorities because her dogs escaped from their yard or tried to break
through our back fence or barked and howled outside all night while in
heat, leading to various warnings and citations. Community Police Officer
James Kryskowiak is helping compile the complete record.
Mike is now out of town on business, so I spoke with Animal Control
Supervisor Alford today. He reported that my neighbor was cited for
allowing her dog off the property, and said the investigation into whether
my neighbor's dog should be designated as dangerous continues. As I told
Supervisor Alford, given that the dog attempted to attack my husband on our
property and menaced us previously when it's gotten loose, it is clearly
dangerous and needs to be secured appropriately before someone gets
seriously hurt. Not everyone is capable of leaping over a gate in a single
bound.
At this point, though, Animal Control says they cannot compel the owner to
build a more secure enclosure. My neighbor did have workers there this week
shorting up her wooden privacy fence, but the dog has broken out of this
type of fencing before. It has even ripped through our chain link in places
along our property line, requiring multiple patches.
The good news is that while our dog did require veterinary care for
puncture wounds and cuts on his face, he will be OK. The neighbor did not
offer to pay for the damage she caused, however, so we will be exploring
our legal options. If anyone has any recommendations for a good animal-law
attorney in Raleigh, please pass them along.
In the meantime, please be careful if you are in the area of Millbank
Street and Downing Road. Until this dog is secured with something more than
wooden pickets, we remain at risk.
For anyone who missed our previous discussions about dangerous and loose
dogs in the East CAC area, you can find some background information here:
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/140071-rampant-ongoing-problems-with-stray-an…
Sincerely,
Sue Sturgis