Neighbour walking his pitbull without muzzle or lead?

After the incident in Wexford recently, is it possible law enforcement may pay more attention to this matter?

Since I moved into my apartment this time last year, some knuckle head in an adjacent building walks his pitbull around the common area, no muzzle and no lead.

I wouldn't have bothered to report something like this in the past as I've reported much more serious offenses to local Gardai and basically been told in so many word to "kick rocks", they apparently had either no intention and/or resources to look into the matter.

Like a dude last year trying to break into my building, I reported him, the officer on the phone said no one else had reported him so no action could be taken, then later that night the offender didn't just try - but in fact successfully broke into the building, causing hundreds of euro worth of property damage.

So, dog without muzzle? In the past I wouldn't have wasted my time but given recent events (including discussion such dogs should be outlawed completely), perhaps the probability they may investigate is higher?

How would one more adeptly report such activity, to optimize a positive result?

Take a picture of the dog sans muzzle and drop into local five-0 with the relevant complaint?

Sardonicat

Ring your local council - they have a dog warden. Or ring the local SPCA

Jim_Hodge

Easily solved. Contact the local Dog Warden.

The only listing I can get for a dog warden in my locale is to contact the city council?

Does that sound about correct?

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120001491#Comment_120001491

Absolutely. They're employed by councils.

rock22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120001491#Comment_120001491

Yes, they are employed by the local authority.

But be aware, there is probably only one warden for the whole county. I know that is the case for me

ittakestwo

So one of the problems you will have is proving it is a pitbull. Unless the dog is KC registered it is legally a mongrel.

Also would the owner be obliged to show the dogs title?

You say you're in an apartment. House rules of a lot if apartments will say no pets tho this is not adhered to in most developments. But if it is a house rule put a pressure train on the management agency to get rid of the dog.

Zak Flaps

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058275958/neighbour-walking-his-pitbull-without-muzzle-or-lead

When it comes to pit bulls, there is a lot of confusion. I don't think they are actually a breed (bar maybe an American pit bull terrier). What people regard as a pit bull is usually a mix of a few bull breeds or a bull breed mixed with a different terrier. Seemingly more than 20 dog breeds get mistaken for a "pit bull" due to similarities in their appearance.

Do you know much about this "knuckle head" ? Does he think he's a bit of a tough guy? Maybe if you walk by him some day, ask if you can pet his dog, he might be a nice guy and you might discover the dog as being super friendly (but just looks mean). If he's a scumbag, there's a chance the dog could be unpredictable as scumbags are notorious for mistreating their dogs or trying to deliberately give them a vicious streak. If that's the case, defo report him.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002115#Comment_120002115

I vaguely know him and yes, absolutely the "tough guy" type, but not an out and out degenerate at the same time who would mistreat an animal.

However, definitely the type who would keep such a dog for the tough guy "image" purposes.

But yes it's possible also the dog is just being friendly, I have petted the dog in the past and inquired with the owner as to whether his dog is cool and he seems largely friendly.

However the fact remains many dogs are friendly..... until they're not.

There's another individual in my locale also who walks two massive Alsatians, also without a muzzle who I never reported, but since the Wexford incident and increased awareness of the law on this issue, have every intention of reporting in future (keeps them for the express intention of "image" and intimidation, which is the primary reason for keeping any such dog).

.........

As to my neighbours animal, it's one big heavy set dog that yeah, looks like pitbull? Heavily muscled, aggressive looking dog.

Should they not be muzzled?

apache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002099#Comment_120002099

The house rules of most apartments state you can have a dog as long as it dosen't interfere with your neighbours. Rightly or wrongly a good few people in apartments have dogs.

Furze99

I don't think I'd be petting a dog like that or Alsatians, unless I knew them really well.

ittakestwo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002678#Comment_120002678

Alsation = German shepherds, only old brits call them alisations. They are one of the best family dogs you can have btw They dont belong in treads talking about random pitball attacks. They're highly intelligent and easy to train and fearless which is why the police and army use them as their number one choice.

ittakestwo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002606#Comment_120002606

I would say most apartments built before the boom have no pets as a house rule. Mine built in 2001 has it but it is not adhered to. I think later developments got more relaxed about it.

Get some photos of the incidents. It will strengthen the case of the dog wardens.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120012337#Comment_120012337

You don't need to strengthen a case. If you tell a dog warden of your concerns or suspicions he'll follow up and decide for himself.

CramCycle

So you've petted him and the dog Seema fine? The case in Wexford involved local drug dealers starving three pit bulls and turning them into savages as a defense for the property. One stupid f*** in the house left a gate open and a child's life is destroyed. This would have happened regardless of breed, it's just worse because of it. You've petted the dog, any reason bar it's looks to assume it's dangerous.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120012347#Comment_120012347

The dog Warden may not see it being walked. If he has photos, he has evidence to take it further.

Squiggle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120012426#Comment_120012426

A Yorkshire terrier wouldn't have destroyed the child's life which is why it's not on the restricted breeds list.

It's irrelevant whether the pit bull is dangerous or not, it's a restricted breed because of the potential danger and must be muzzled and on a lead in public.

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1991/si/123/made/en/print

sunshine2018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120004547#Comment_120004547

They are also on the restricted breed list though

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120004547#Comment_120004547

I absolutely agree with you but at the same time they are on the list only because they have the power to cause serious harm if provoked.

Like all dogs, none of them are “bad” by nature. There’s no such thing as a “bad dog” only “bad owners” as the saying goes. If a German Shepard is raised poorly he will almost assuredly act poorly. And as I said, these dogs are big and strong.

But absolutely gorgeous and I’d love one also haha.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018584#Comment_120018584

I think you are missing my point. The OP has petted the dog, and appears to be friendly. Yes it may legally need to be muzzled, but I am just saying there is a huge difference between their neighbour walking their dog unmuzzled and the absolute scrotes in Wexford who should be pinned to a wall and shot for what happened, for what they did to the dogs and for what they do in general. Plenty of dogs not on that list that would destroy a childs life if they were raised like that. An adult would only be injured but too a child, lets say a poodle in vicious form, could easily ruin their life. I have seen Collies that would rip your flesh from your bone with ease. We have four dogs, the biggest one is super friendly but I am under no illusion that he could destroy a childs life with ease if raised that way.

On a seperate note, the dangerous breeds list, if we get down to it then, simply stop breeding them. They are pets, it is not ecologically damaging to stop them being bred, so make them illegal and the breeding of them a crime. Have it that in the case of a reported case, whether they have a card or not, the local vet makes the call, end of discussion. Its a weird thing, we ask for them to be muzzled because of the possible danger when the obvious answer is, if it is dangerous, we simply ban them going forward.

Graces7

Is the requirement that dogs be on a lead in public not so that they are fully under control physically? Whatever happens eg meeting another dog...