Tehachapi News

Dog Tether Issue:  Please let us know if you were successful in speaking with your neighbor.

M.

It's the beginning of the week-end, so I hope you can begin a talk with the neighbor and try to reason with him; this will be a hard-sell; I sincerely wish you well, because this will not be easy, but it is necessary for your current and future safety.

M.

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision. (Helen Keller)

California has a law, passed in 2006 and in effect since Jan. 2007, that forbids people from chaining their dogs 24/7. In fact, the law limits chaining to no more than 3 hours in any 24 hour period. The law makes exceptions for certain situations, but this does not sound like one of them. Please Please Please call your local animal control, sherrif, or whoever  has jurisdiction over dogs in your area. Trust me, you likely will get push back. They'll say they "can't enforce the law" or whatever. But please keep pushing.

Also, please check out www.dogsdeservebetter.org and learn how our grassroots non profit is working to change hearts, minds and laws and end the barbaric, antiquated practice of perpetual chaining. It is a huge, uphill battle, but the plight of the perpetually chained dog is desperate and this is truly one of the most overlooked and misunderstood animal welfare issues out there.

Please contact me at monicahayde@yahoo.com for more information. I can see if we have a representative near you who could possibly assist.

 California has a law, passed in 2006 and in effect since Jan. 2007, that forbids people from chaining their dogs 24/7. In fact, the law limits chaining to no more than 3 hours in any 24 hour period. The law makes exceptions for certain situations, but this does not sound like one of them. Please Please Please call your local animal control, sherrif, or whoever  has jurisdiction over dogs in your area. Trust me, you likely will get push back. They'll say they "can't enforce the law" or whatever. But please keep pushing.

Also, please check out www.dogsdeservebetter.org and learn how our very grassroots non profit is working to change hearts, minds and laws and end the barbaric, antiquated practice of perpetual chaining. It is a huge, uphill battle, but the plight of the perpetually chained dog is desperate and this is truly one of the most overlooked and misunderstood animal welfare issues out there. It is beyond imagining how so many of these animals suffer.

Please contact me at monicahayde@yahoo.com for more information. I can see if we have a representative near you who could possibly assist.

Just an added note: I let my cat out about 10 minutes ago and I heard a terrible noise. The flippin dog was attacking my cat, now I cannot even let the cat outside..He is not going to be happy but for his safety he needs to stay inside until this is all ressolved.

The owner's are going to get a nasty little note on their door with a firm warning that this needs to stop NOW!!!

I took some pictures this morning when he was out and added the date and time. The fence is about 4ft tall, give or take. I assume that he is jumping it. The deck where my dog's now live is about 6ft off the ground with steps. He gets up the steps, and aggressively attacks the gate by biting it and clawing at it. My dog's respond of course and it sounds like there is a huge fight out there.

I will contact the local sherriff's office if it still occurs after I speak to the owner's about the problem. The owner's did not have a problem comeing to my home to complain about my dog's barking early ( 7am) one Sunday morning. The barking that early will not occur again because I do not want to bother anyone's sleep. Their dog barks all day long because he is left outside alone and chained to a tree. Which if I was in his shoes I would do the same thing.

The thing I do not understand is why do people get dog's and then chain them up all day, what good is that? Don't these people get the fact that when you leave a dog chained up for hours that the dog will more than likely show serious aggression? I just don't get it.

One more suggestion:  Contact the local police department with your dilemma to see if they can offer you any advice.   Sadly, through no fault of his own, the dog has become out of control because of the owners; it is the operator, not the machinery analogy.  I love dogs, however, am very afraid of certain big ones.  When a dog is chained up all day and night, this is clearly animal abuse.  This is just an observation, but your new neighbors will remain elusive, all the while you are dealing with moment-to-moment fear, which is real.  TK suggested (as did I) to take photos and keep other documentation (when possible) concerning how often this dog is loose.  QUESTIONS:  Does the dog just return to his home on his own, after escaping,  how big is the fence, etc.

This is not over, by any stretch of the imagination, and I sincerely wish you well; once again, thanks to thoughtless, heartless "people" who continue to chain their dogs, this is a casualty waiting to happen, sooner than later.

Tehachapi News, if you are really monitoring these blogs, you need to do a story about this growing problem.

M.

It is not that the dog is a Pitbull ( I have known several great pits) it is the fact that it is chained up all day and becomes loose, then runs a muck and shows aggression. Honestly I was scared out of my mind to walk outside yesterday from the way that dog acted, and I feared for my children when they came off of their busses in the afternoon. My thought was if that dog is out there when the kid's get home I am going to be armed with something.

If and when I can catch the neighbor's home I plan to approach them and explain to them all that I have learned and what is going on with their dog. If that does not solve the problem then I know now what other measures I can take. I just know I do not have to put up with it and there are things I can do to keep my dogs and family safe.

Thankyou everyone for all of your comments and help with this I really appreciate it, for I had no idea what I could do about it.

Sparks, I'm not sure who the owners of the pits were, I've heard they are "good people" too. They certainly aren't good at being responsible dog owners - and the authorities were contacted. One of the pits only had three legs as it had been shot before...I don't get it either. I'm glad they are gone, though the method used would never be my first choice.

I used to have a rental home that was right next door to our home.  A tenant moved in with a boxer that would run loose and chase the neighbors cats and kill our chickens.  I fenced their yard with a 4 ft fence but he jumped the fence.   So I went out and bought a dog run.  The tenant still let him run loose.  So one day when he chased my cat on my property I took him for a little ride down to the shelter.  The shelter gave him back to the owners with a warning.  The dog chased my cat again and he went for another little ride.  Cost them $100 to get him back the second time.  And $200 for the 3rd time.  After that, they found a home for him with someone spent time with him and did obedience classes with him. The dog was happier and so was my neighbors and I. End of problem.

Joty, I remember those pit bulls,  I wondered what happened to them.  Sad to hear that they were shot.  ugh.  However, I do remember everyone being afraid of them.  It's like they kept some people prisoners in their own home.   WHAT I WANT TO KNOW is who owned them?  I get tired of people who are irresponsible and cause the death of animals by neglecting them.  I would not have shot them either.  I would have called the authorities (in this case).  Why, because they would have found out who owned them, and taken the proper action.  I heard the owners were good people...well, they weren't that good.  They disrespected their neighbors and caused the death of a few dogs that may have otherwise had happy lives.

As for eek I would talk to the neighbors first, you have to live next to them for a while and this way you can give the dog a chance before you have to call animal control.

Yes, it is harsh.  The dogs always pay dearly for their human's mistakes.  Maybe this will end well and quickly with the owners seeing the error of their ways and treating the poor dog better, at least up to code.  Eek, let us know if you need backup.  I love pits.  They make snuffly noises and wiggle all over when they're happy.

TK, I definitely can see your point of view, albeit a bit harsh, and don't know if I would have the cajones to pull the trigger, unless Kujo was charging right at me, and all bets would be off, hands-down, if my child, my dog, or I were in danger; okay, still see your point, scary as it is.   Okay, then, TK:  What to do about the neighbor; he isn't so easy to bag and take to Mojave . . . just stirring up the current debate  . . .

This is clearly a moral dilemma; Eekitsaspider, what do you think since you put this out there in the universe, or at least out in to Tehachapi?

There was a similar problem in Sand Canyon. Three beautiful pitbulls were not properly contained by the owners. They began to roam, developed pack behavior, attacking horses, goats and chickens. They killed my neighbor's beautiful white Great Pyrnees. They trapped another neighbor in his own tool shed. I don't know why the AC didn't respond. All I know is someone who was fed up took matters into their own hands and the dogs were shot. It made me sad, but I'm not afraid to walk down my dirt road anymore.

If a stray dog is on your land and is damaging your property you have a right in Kern County to shoot the dog dead.  Removing a stray dog from your property and delivering it to the proper government agency is not stealing.  I said it should be a last resort because the owners will probably not go looking for him and he will most likely be killed.  But, everyone has the right to defend their property from attack and their land from intrusion.  I see nothing wrong with that.  

 TK, I was with you 100% on the rules and regulations, right on the money, AND your excellent suggestion about taking photos; also, write down dates and times when the dog escapes.  However, you stopped me dead in my tracks about the crate and quick drive to Mojave . . .   Are you suggesting  it is okay to steal the neighbor's dog and take it to the pound in Mojave?  Do two wrongs make a right?

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.  What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.

Is the dog truly aggressive or are you worried because it's a bully-breed?  Fence fighting is common among all breeds of dogs.  Sounds like you neighbors are in violation of several Kern County Codes.  I'm pasting the address so you can see for yourself.  Title 7 has the Animal Codes. 

7.08.110 describes proper housing requirements

7.08.115 describes tethering limitations

7.08.150 describes how dogs cannot be loose on someone else's property

http://ordlink.com/codes/kerncoun/

How you approach this depends on how well you know your neighbors.  If you think they would respond to education then print out the ordinances they're violating .  If you think they couldn't care less or may be antagonistic then you may want to notify Animal Control first or along with putting your neighbors on notice.  The AC won't respond for several days, and the dog may be on the chain at the moment AC comes by, so if you have any dated photos of the dog on your property it may help them.  If nothing works and he isn't attacking you, a sliplead + crate + quick drive to Mojave can solve the problem.  Sad for the dog since he'll probably be killed so it should be a last resort. 

You are so welcome; if you get a chance, please visit www.unchainyourdog.org  it is an extremely informative website.

I agree 100% no dog deserves to be chained up for any length of time. We had a dog that we had to chain up because she could easly jump a 6ft fence and she tended to be aggressive towards people she did not know. I felt that we were being responsible owner's. She would not be on a chain no longer than an hour at a time and she would be let back into the house. We no longer have her for other those reason's and because of other circumstances.

I DO NOT know this dog or how he has been treated except by observations. I DO NOT trust this dog and not just because he is a pitbull, but because he has shown aggresive behaviors. Therefore if and when he is out again I will be calling animal control or someone who can do something.

Thankyou for the info and the advice it is appreciated

First of all, it is against the law to have a dog chained up ("tethered") for a certain amount of hours (double-check with Kern County Animal Control)  Since these people are gone most of the time and do not provide the correct amount of food, water, and shelter, this is inhumane, and keeping the dog tethered for endless hours is cruel, and I repeat, against the law (please go on-line to KC's Animal Control website or call them for the specifics).

This poor dog already has a bad rap since he or she is a Pit Bull, who can be very sweet if they are treated kindly (by the owner) and if mistreated, i.e., chained up, it makes ANY DOG aggressive.

Obviously, you do not want to cause trouble, however, when the dog gets loose the next time, he could cause harm to you and/or your dogs, as well as to any other innocent victim (adults and children, alike).

This is a disaster waiting to happen and if the neighbor is renting, then I do not know what the liability would be; it is difficult to get homeowner's insurance if you have a certain type of dog; that is a fact.

In a perfect, world, it would be nice if you could approach the neighbor with your concerns.  If Animal Control is called and they show up while the dog is loose, they will take him/her to the local pound; if said dog doesn't have a rabies tag, then there are specific laws as to how long they will hold the dog (and possibly/eventually euthanized).

I wish you well, because this is a very slippery slope, especially if the neighbor is so heartless that he/she keeps the dog (notice I did not say family pet) chained up on a continual basis.  That speaks volumes about their lack of concern about what matters:  the dog's safety, your safety, and your neighborhood's safety.

It will be interesting to hear what others have to say, if they have the courage to do so; I love dogs, but to tell you the truth, I would be very afraid to go for a walk in fear for my safety, especially if I had small children, which would be a HUGE concern, to say the least.