Sorry for the late notice, but as you can see the email went out very late. I received it from friend (who forwarded it) just 4 minutes ago (not sure why they didn't send this out on the general lists). Personally, I'm most concerned about the pitbulls roaming about without "leases," very dangerous. But seriously, we have a major unleashed dog (and pitbulls commonly) problem around here. Considering that two dogs recently attacked a child (and allegedly bit another neighbor), I'd say this is a real cause for concern.
I personally have a favorite neighbor who walks his dogs (all pits) unleashed. They have frightened more than one of my neighbors. They called animal control, and MPD after his dogs came at one on them on a certain occasion. He decided that I must have been the anonymous caller after I complained to him about the fact that he didn't clean up after his dogs when they defecated on my property. He, between sips of his 9am beer, screamed at me, and what he apparently now calls me to neighbors is unprintable. Nice guy. So attend if you can:
From: Thompson, Alice (EOM)
Sent: Sun May 03 12:36:30 2009
Subject: Mayor Fenty's Operation Fix--It: Monday, May 4th @ 10:00AM -- 1500 Levis St NE and surrounding areas
Good Morning All:
Due to complaints and concerns generated by emails last week-- we will visit 1500 Levis St., 1517 -1519 Queen St and surrounding areas. Monday, May 4th @ 10:00AM.
Issues of concern:
1. Vacant property
2. Trash and debris
3. Pit bulls roaming without leases
4. Tow trucks blocking the alley
5. Pot hole and sidewalk repair needed
6. Drug activity on 16th St -- we will need officers
Best,
Alice
26 comments:
Pardon me, but what leases are needed for dogs? Are you talking about the DC dog registrations, or vaccination tags?
As I was walking back from the bus some months ago, this ass who had his pitbull's leash hooked to the fence near the sidewalk while he talked to the woman who lived there said to me, "Watch yourself" as I was going to walk past his dog. I ignored him and he said again, "Hey, watch yourself!" and looked over at the dog. I looked at him and said, "Well, what's it doing in the street, then?" as in, WFT, you ass, if your dog's dangerous, why is it sitting there by the sidewalk waiting to bite people?
He said something about he was talking to his neighbor and he wouldn't warn me next time. Great call, guy. It's pitiful how some guys' manhoods are wrapped up in how dangerous their dog is.
uh, duh. WTF, not WFT.
-anon 11:56
Their liability is also locked up in how dangerous their dog is (if it isn't properly contained).
We have a pit bull, and we only let her off leash in enclosed areas. Our biggest moments of trepidation with her is when people have their dogs off leash, regardless of breed. If we lived in Faquier County, then fine. But as city residents, we all need to keep our dogs on leash, whether we have a golden retriever, pit bull, or poodle. I'm not sure why the city would only focus on one breed.
I have bulldog mixes as well and it concerns me that people are prone to single out the breed. It's not the breed that matters as much as the owner. If labs had become the dog of choice in urban areas, we be talking about labs instead.
With a responsible owner, pit bulls are no more likely to bite than any other breed. Unfortunately, owners who are not responsible seem to prefer them. And if you are going to get bitten by a dog, you don't want it to be a pit bull.
The defense of pit bulls ignores the fact that they were specifically bred to be fighting dogs, hence, the instinct to be more aggressive with other dogs (and other small things like children).
While the Mayor's agenda should include all dogs off leash, the danger associated with pit bulls can't be discounted or blamed on "responsible owners."
Does anybody know the next date for the meeting concerning the H street mural.
Elise - I know who you are talking about with the guy that walks with his dogs unleashed. I used to see him all the time in the alley behind the 1200 block of Florida. Last time I saw him he had a huge bandage on his arm, so maybe his dogs came after him. I haven't seen him in a long time.
If we can't attend this, is there a way to submit requests via email or something?
There is an unleashed dog on the 400 block of M Street, a giant german shepard, that makes me walk around the block when I see it. It stands on its hind legs and leans against the fence and barks constantly. It could easily hop the fence.
There's another guy who walks his dog around 6 or 7 a.m. around teh 200 block of M St. Well, more like he lets it run around unleashed while he stands there.
What are the actual numbers I call when this happens? At what point is the threshold when I have a right/duty/obligation to report scary unleashed dogs?
I agree, that dog in the yard in the 400 block of M is extremely agressive, and the fence is very low for a dog of that size. But I can't imagine there's anything that can be done about an owner that keeps a dog unleased within a private fenced area.
Re: Unleashed Dogs. You could try knocking on their door or saying hello and relaying your concerns. But then anonymity would be lost, so I guess it's a rock and a hard place situation.
In general, I support talking to the dog owner as a first resort. However, if knocking on the owner's front door requires going through the very yard that the aggressive dog is fenced within, that idea doesn't really work.
I would love to address the owner personally, but there is no way I'm going up those stairs w/ that dog there. Even if it is in the house.
I've addressed the other guy personally, he told me what I can do with myself and dared me to call the cops.
Don't waste your time trying to talk to the dog owner. What's more likely to happen is the owner will tell you to go ef yourself and/or put a gun to your face as what happened to a friend of mine 2 years ago in Eckington. Just call the cops or animal control and be sure to be anonymous. The last thing you want to do is get on a hoodlum w/ an impressive gun collection's bad side.
Essentially, cops and animal control would be extremely responsive to unleashed dogs if this happened closer to Cap Hill or Eastern Market
Keep making as many calls to authorities as you can--squeaky wheel gets the oil
Are there any laws against dogs that bark all day and night? A couple pitbulls live in the backyard of a neighbor on 8th St and just bark constantly. I assume they're out there for security but its really annoying to everyone in the neighborhood. I also would feel bad for the dogs if the incessant barking didn't make me hate them so much. They are out there all winter and summer, through the snow, heat waves. Nothing seems to kill them but it can't be a very pleasant life.
If you have a complaint about a dog you can call DC Animal Control at 576-6664. That includes dogs off leash, dogs barking at all hours, or even a dog in a yard you are concerned about not getting proper care (the animal control officers also do welfare checks).
The off leash pit bulls inked mentions are actually very nice dogs, but I have stepped in their poo piles (right outside my back gate) once too often.
Targeting pit bulls and other so called "dangerous" breeds of dogs is ineffective and it gives the community a false sense of security. I have worked with enough animal control officers on this issue to know there are better methods for dogs and people living together.
...although I too am curious about the fix-it item of "pit bulls off lease" -- did they not pay their rent? Or has DC de-funded a spell checker?
Most Ghetto Moment I Have Experienced in DC:
Driving down Bladensburg Road one Saturday afternoon and seeing a pregnant female pit-bull sitting on the corner near the BP, unleashed and unattended, distended nipples flopping in the breeze.
Got to laugh to keep from cryin'.
Oboe,
that was the funniest thing i've seen this week.
Does anyone know the outcome of the meeting? Was anything accomplished - any action items?
1) The same thing happens on capitol hill so keep your pity party to yourself. I love H street and this blog, but always shake my head at the comments that if X were happening on capitol hill it would be magically rectified. Take it easy, those of us on Cap Hill especially east of 8th are in pretty much a similar boat as yourself. Take a breath.
2) As far as the german shephard in the front yard, it is public space after all... should dogs be leashed in public space?
I disagree-- I used to live 4 blocks from the Capital in the late 90s and can't imagine the authorities doing nothing if unleashed dogs (pits or otherwise) were roaming the neighborhood. Not a pity party, just the reality as I've experienced it.
"As far as the german shephard in the front yard, it is public space after all... should dogs be leashed in public space"
I posted originally about the g.s. Is a front yard considered public space? I'm confused.
This entire discussion is interesting. The bottom line is that regardless of the breed, ALL dogs, large, small, mean, docile, are to be leashed in a public area. Period. That is the law. People who walk their dogs unleashed are irresponsible criminals. They endanger their neighbors, and their dogs. I have given up calling the police or animal control. It does absolutely NO GOOD. I am against all breed specific legislation. Just enforce the laws we have. As I understand it, in DC, your front yard is not technically your property, your property actually begins at your door,
Hello --
My name is David Klatt and I'm a reporter with WAMU 88.5 -- public radio for the Washington metro area. I am taking a closer look at the impact these unleashed dogs and their owners have on the Trinidad neighborhood (and across the District) for an upcoming story and I would love to speak with many of the people who have left comments here.
If you have a free moment and a story about how a pit bull or the owner has attempted to intimidate you, or if you own a pit bull and feel that these comments are unwarranted, please be in touch. My personal cell phone is 847-644-3169 and my e-mail address is dklatt@wamu.org
Best,
David Klatt
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