[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by Bennysmom

The sidewalk in front of the house is normally not considered your property. I wouldn't worry too much at this point. Don't try and contact her, even if you see her down the street, until you speak to the attny first. That way, you are doing everything right, and no heated moments can arise from any confrontations.

At this point, if this is the first time someone has claimed a bite from your dog, that is a plus. Also, if your dog really did bite the dog bad enough for vet care, You would of heard the dog screaming, and the lady.
It is probably all fabricated in this ladies mind, just because she is one that wants to start trouble. It seems the ones with the little tiny dogs are always trying to get our big dogs in trouble.

good advice.

i never worry when i see large dogs running up to my guys...but when little dogs do, i am always a little cautious as it doesn't take much for one of them to get hurt (esp. if they have been pampered their whole lives and haven't built up the normal muscle mass and bone strength dogs get from playing)

[Caillera]

Originally Posted by brosati

Last week I opened my garage door. Unfortunately at that very moment, two young ladies walking their dogs just happened to be crossing in front of my driveway.

Before I could stop them, my two labs ran out to greet the other (smaller) dogs. The ladies were very startled, picked up their dogs, and one of them started kicking at my dogs. As soon as the garage door finished opening, I saw what was happening and called my dogs. The ladies began shouting at me because my dogs were not on a leash. I told them that I was sorry….”my dogs are very friendly and just wanted to play” (they are accustomed to playing with other dogs at the dog park). One of the ladies kept insisting that I either put my dogs back in the house or on a leash and that if I didn’t do it immediately, she would call the police.

I told her that since my dogs were in their own yard and under my control there was no need for me to put them in the house or on a leash. This infuriated the lady. She yelled at me for a few more minutes, and then she and the other lady continued on their way.

The next day an animal control officer knocked on my door. He wanted me to bring the dogs outside so that he could take their picture. I asked him why. He said that a complaint had been filed against me; that one of the ladies claimed that her dog had a puncture wound caused by one of my dogs, and that she wanted to press charges against me. He then asked to see my dogs' Rabies Certificates. I told him I would have to look for the certificates, but that they did have their rabies tags on their collars.

He said that I did not have to give him the certificates, but make sure I have them when I show up at court.

He also said that since he did not see the incident, his job was to report it to the DA's office and the District Attorney would make the decision as to whether or not the case would be worth prosecuting. He said that I would be getting a letter from the District Attorney’s office advising me as to whether or not and when I would have to report to court.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Should I hire an attorney?

Research attorneys, but don't go through the expense & hassle of hiring one unless the DA orders you to court.

Don't contact these women in the meantime.

Do you have any good friends in the neighborhood? If you can find one or two who "just happened to be looking out the window" *wink wink* during this alleged attack, who will testify in court that your dogs only approached but never touched or bit their dogs ...

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by guinnessjim

and hope the lady isn't a neighbor! if she was witchy enuf to file a complaint, she might be thorn in your side every time she she's your dogs off-leash.

Originally Posted by cjski21

I wish you the best however, and keep us posted because I too have a Lab and could see this happening with one of the rat dogs in my neighborhood and the high strung women who walk them or carry them in their purses.

Originally Posted by brosati

The animal control officer told me that the woman wanted to press charges because she told me to put the dogs back in the house or on a leash and I refused to do so.

If I had to do it over again, I would have done what she asked, but I was upset when I saw her kicking my dogs and did not want to give her the upper hand.

This all happened in my driveway right in front of my house. I don't know if the sidewalk in front of the house is considered to be my property, but other than that, my dogs never left my yard.

Even if it doesn't go to court, I would most certainly want to pay any Vet bill she may have received if in fact one of my dogs in any way injured her dog.

I asked the officer for her name, phone/number and/or address, but he wouldn't give me that information.

Originally Posted by guinnessjim

i have no respect for her sneaky tactic of filing a complaint behind your back w/o talking to you like an adult.

Ahhhh...so that's those 'friendly' LV neighbors that everyone has been writing about! These must be the same 'friends' that I think guinessjim was referring to (remember, these people that you see when out with your own dog or that you wave a friendly 'hello' to are much more than acquaintances!)

I thought that you Vegans have (and pay for!) homeowner associations that control situations like dogs not on a leash, cars parked on the streets, what brand toilet paper to wipe with, etc.

Yes, you most definitely need an attorney....is Oscar Goodman available?

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by Caillera

Do you have any good friends in the neighborhood? If you can find one or two who "just happened to be looking out the window" *wink wink* during this alleged attack, who will testify in court that your dogs only approached but never touched or bit their dogs ...

Yes...please check this out. There has to be SOME 'friends' and neighbors that are willing to help you out! I've read SO many posts here on how LV is a very friendly town, where neighbors and friends really pull together to help their fellow kind!

[Bennysmom]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Ahhhh...so that's those 'friendly' LV neighbors that everyone has been writing about! These must be the same 'friends' that I think guinessjim was referring to (remember, these people that you see when out with your own dog or that you wave a friendly 'hello' to are much more than acquaintances!)

I thought that you Vegans have (and pay for!) homeowner associations that control situations like dogs not on a leash, cars parked on the streets, what brand toilet paper to wipe with, etc.

Yes, you most definitely need an attorney....is Oscar Goodman available?

AW JFK, lets play nice now.

Not all communities here have homeowner associations.

Unfortunately this is a serious matter for the OP. I have dealt with Animal Control and dog bites on many occasions here. ( not involving my own dogs), It is not a pleasant experience. I have been involved in evaluating dogs temperaments after a bite complaint, and sometimes it can get really messed up.
I gave the OP an Attny's name, as as long as things are handled correctly by the OP, things will turn out ok. It doesn't sound like the little dog really got hurt.

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Ahhhh...so that's those 'friendly' LV neighbors that everyone has been writing about! These must be the same 'friends' that I think guinessjim was referring to (remember, these people that you see when out with your own dog or that you wave a friendly 'hello' to are much more than acquaintances!)

I thought that you Vegans have (and pay for!) homeowner associations that control situations like dogs not on a leash, cars parked on the streets, what brand toilet paper to wipe with, etc.

Yes, you most definitely need an attorney....is Oscar Goodman available?

you are an angry sad man. so much wrong in your post just so you can slam vegas. (sometimes you try too hard)

1st: go back and look at what i referred to as friends...not some lady bitching about her little dog or even people that say hi when i walk my dogs. i referred to people i hang out w/ at the dog park...1-2 hrs a day, almost every day...often over beers. people i legitimately call friends.

2nd: many of us have no HOA to deal w/, so you thought wrong.

3rd: as of yet, no charges have been filed, so as of yet no attny is required (although, as several ppl have said, a free consult might not be a bad idea)

[cjski21]

Originally Posted by guinnessjim

you are an angry sad man. so much wrong in your post just so you can slam vegas. (sometimes you try too hard)

1st: go back and look at what i referred to as friends...not some lady bitching about her little dog or even people that say hi when i walk my dogs. i referred to people i hang out w/ at the dog park...1-2 hrs a day, almost every day...often over beers. people i legitimately call friends.

2nd: many of us have no HOA to deal w/, so you thought wrong.

3rd: as of yet, no charges have been filed, so as of yet no attny is required (although, as several ppl have said, a free consult might not be a bad idea)

I agree 100%, good post. Some people just sit and wallow in self pity and make fun of a city 2600 miles from them. It truly is sad. I'm glad you like it here, guiness, cuz I love it here.

[jfkIII]

...and you've both lived there a total of less than 3 months between you! Let's check back after the honeymoon phase is over....but of course, you won't post back then.

No self-pity here....just trying to save others from making the same mistake that you made. I consider it a duty and a service.

[cjski21]

As I have said before, I have the outlook to make any place enjoyable. It's called optimism, you should give it a try.

[jfkIII]

I absolutely LOVE where I live. I am truly optimistic about upstate NY. I didn't care for Long Island that much (too much like LV East, but without the casino fun)...and almost made the mistake of moving to LV...and am very happy where I chose to live when I moved here back in 1992.