Dickens vs. Rottweiler, Round Two

For those of you not on Facebook or Twitter, or for those who have an insane desire to hear the full gory story, I am posting the police report I will submit this evening after Dickens, Ginger and I were once again attacked by the neighbor's Rottweiler last night. Having to leave all the variations of the word "fuck" shortened it up from 7 to just 3 pages, single-spaced. I will jump to the end and tell you Ginger once again probably saved his life. Dickens is bruised, punctured, and terrified of his own shadow again, but he will recover. Ginger got away with an ear scratch, but once again did everything she could to get that dog off of him--and me.

COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT COLUMBUS, WISCONSIN
STATEMENT OF: Nancy Dietrich

This evening I was taking my dogs, an American Staffordshire Terrier, Ginger, and a Chihuahua, Dickens, on our usual walk around the block (3x/day) when we approached the residence of 325 W. Prairie St. Both my dogs were leashed. We have had numerous run-ins with their dog, a male Rottweiler, over the course of the last year and a half. Accordingly, I watch very carefully for signs of the dog and turn back if I believe he is tied out or otherwise present. The yard was clear on Main St. so we proceeded around the corner. Just as we reached the edge of the property on W. Prairie St. (still on the sidewalk) I saw the Rottweiler race around the south corner of the house, possibly for a toy I saw lying there.

The instant he saw us he ran straight at us. The owner also saw him run at us and repeatedly yelled his name, to which he did not respond. He was wearing a loose collar. I yelled at him in a very loud voice to stop when he reached us, but he immediately started attacking both of my dogs, trying to get past my larger dog to reach the Chihuahua. I did not release my leashes so soon I was completely tangled up and on the ground with all three dogs. I tried repeatedly to grab my Chihuahua but he was terrified and was biting at everyone, so I got bitten badly on my right ring finger. I also tried grabbing the Rottweiler’s collar but he was too fast. Within seconds he had my small dog in his mouth and was shaking him like a rag doll. My small dog was screaming and my large dog was barking, trying to distract the Rottie. The owner of the Rottie at some point grabbed his collar and he immediately slipped out of it. He returned to attacking my Chihuahua. By this time we had been dragged off the sidewalk onto the grass. The other owner, too, fell, and soon all of us were tangled in dogs. In desperation, I rolled over onto my Chihuahua, hoping the Rottie would not attack me. He did not. At this point the Rottie’s owner was able to scruff him and get him in a restraining hug.


All were exhausted by this point so we all just stayed where we were for several minutes to catch our breath. I tried again to pick up my Chihuahua and he could not be approached. He was shaking, hurt, and terrified. (He was a rescue from May 2009 and has huge anxiety/fear issues.) I could see he was covered with saliva but the only blood I could see was on my right hand, probably inflicted by my Chihuahua. And no, he never bites me under normal conditions.
As we were sitting there, the owner asked me why I continued to walk by her house—which takes up almost ¼ the block—knowing that her dog will attack mine if he’s loose. A yelling match ensued as I told her that 1) I did avoid her corner when possible but that 2) we live 4 houses apart and I cannot completely avoid it. I also informed her that it was NOT my responsibility to keep her dog contained so mine would be safe. The sidewalk is public property. ALL the dogs—and small children that walk that street have a right to be safe from aggressive animals. And currently, they are not.

Prior to this attack, on several occasions last year and earlier this year, we would find ourselves in the area of her property (on the sidewalk, and leashed) only to see the Rottweiler come running from the other side of the enormous house being exercised or let out to do its business. It is impossible to see all sides of the property upon approach from either direction because it is a very large corner house. The first few times her dog ran up to us, my large dog and the Rottie faced off but the owner was able to reach him before he did anything. My dog did not, on any of these occasions, make threatening moves towards him. I have owned her since birth and she is NOT an aggressive dog. The Rottweiler was a rescue—his prior history is unknown. However, the two dogs the owner had prior to this one, a small one called Rex and a type of lab that ran away, were also always off-leash. They seemed to pose no threat so I never said anything to her about them.

On April 24, 2010, the Rottweiler surprised us again and he began to attack my dogs long before the owner could reach us. During the entire dog fight, she stood off to the side as I wrestled to scoop up my Chihuahua and restrain my pit bull, which attacked the rear of her dog when she witnessed the Rottie attack my Chihuahua. In this fight as well, the Rottie took my small dog in his mouth, shook him violently, and tossed him in the air. It was muddy that day so I was on the ground with them all as the owner stood by yelling at her dog. Eventually I rolled over my Chihuahua with my body and trusted my large dog to defend me from the Rottie. At this point the owner finally moved over and grabbed his collar. I was crying and too upset to talk to her so I told her I would inform her later of his injuries. I drove Dickens to Exceptional Care for Animals about 40 miles away in Madison where he was treated for pain and checked for internal injuries. He was diagnosed with bruising to the spine and ribs. I have attached the doctor’s report.

I visited the owner, Sherry, the following day to apprise her of Dickens’ condition and to present her with the bill of $184, which she paid. She was yelling at the dog in her house while it showed no aggression to me whatsoever, and I talked with her as calmly as possible, as a certified veterinary technician and owner of several types of dogs over the years, about her responsibilities as the owner of a large breed dog. I told her it was the law for our dogs to be under our control at all times. Since her voice commands had no effect, I told her she would have to leash or tie the dog when outside. She admitted that her husband was always yelling at her for not leashing the dog. There are dog parks for off-leash exercise, but I did not suggest that to her because I believe her dog would be a threat to other small dogs. I take my responsibility as a large dog owner VERY seriously. I cannot say the same of the Rottweiler’s owner, regardless of how many times we’ve had run-ins or how many times I have asked her to leash him. I really don’t think she gets the seriousness of this issue.

Following this attack in April, this Chihuahua I had worked with for nearly a year to overcome trust and fear issues, was terrified again, even in my own home, and panicked at the sight of any other dog on walks. He was too painful to manage my stairs for two days. My pit bull also became very defensive in her stance when we saw other dogs, so now I always cross the street to let other dogs pass. Though I wanted to avoid the Rottie’s house forever, I did not want my dogs to continue to suffer from their fear OR feel mine when walking on that side of our block, so we included that address at least once a day—unless I saw any evidence of the Rottie outside, in which case—and we did this dozens of times—we turned back and retraced our steps. My dogs stopped acting fearful after about a month. I never stopped fearing that house.

This neighborhood is filled with small dogs and small children. I am well aware of the danger constantly present at 352 W. Prairie St., but others are not. I did not contact the police in April and regret it, because perhaps this could have been prevented. I want NO CHANCE of this happening to either my dogs or anyone else’s—much less any of the small children (two right across her street) that play outside all the time and are very eager to approach any dog they see. Please don’t let this dog hurt anyone else. This may have been an accident—and she has been using tie-outs—but who has to get hurt, how many times, and how badly, before something is done?

At the very least I hope this woman and her husband are cited and/or fined for this dog’s repeated behavior, and I also ask that they post clear signs on both sides of the house stating that this dog may attack without provocation. I do not think this dog should be let outside at any time without a muzzle, but since he “slips past her” I don’t know if that would help. Ideally, I would like her to surrender control of the dog to a local shelter or animal control center. It is absolutely clear to me that she has no control over her dog and he has serious issues with small dogs.

Status update on dogs after last night: Ginger escaped with only a tooth scratch inside one ear but the veterinarian found that Dickens had a laceration from the Rottweiler’s teeth on his left stifle, and bruising on the right sternum. He is extremely sore in general and very frightened. Since I am forced to be away on business this next week, I will need to kennel Dickens at the hospital as I have no one that can treat him due to his current state of anxiety. I am asking that the Rottie’s owner cover both today’s vet bill, approx $400 and the cost of 5 days board next week, since I cannot cancel or reschedule my trip.

Personally, I suffered a major anxiety attack during and following the incident, and today am still suffering from major anxiety. I have a long history of difficulty with anxiety and depression and am not equipped to handle major stressors such as this. I have had difficulty breathing since last night and today my throat is constricted and I feel like there is an anvil on my chest. I am very fearful of this dog now because I have no doubt he will attack whenever he sees us. I am also extremely concerned about having to leave Dickens for 5 days so soon after the accident.

Lastly, the dog’s owner came to my house last night after the officer had left. She wanted to explain further, and make me understand how upsetting this was for her as well. I was still extremely upset and angry and I asked her to return home several times before she did. I was honest with her in telling her I was in no state to discuss what had happened. At that point I did not even know the extent of my dog’s injuries. She left me her phone number and said she would be home Monday evening after about 7 p.m.

If I can provide any further information I will be happy to do so. We are done living in fear of this Rottweiler.

Thank you.