Today my dog got mauled by three pit bulls in my own fenced back yard. This is the second time the pitties have entered my yard by barrelling under the fence. The first time was less than a month ago. On June 25th, I let my dogs out for their morning constitutional, a few moments later, the neighbor did the same with his dogs. One of his dogs just ran straight at the fence, crouched and came right through. He and my male dog engaged, by the time I got to them I thought it wasn't too bad, not like I feared. My dog had his dog by the ear and was keeping his body safe by pressing against the pit with all his strength. When the neighbor came over to break up the fight, his dog got away from him and pinned my dog briefly on the ground, I believe this is when my dog, Vinnie, got hurt. The neighbor quickly grabbed the dog off again. The pit suffered a small cut to his ear, my dog suffered several puncture wounds to his shoulders, requiring vet treatment.
I spoke with the neighbor about tying down the fence so it couldn't be gone under like that again, he said he would take care of it and we both agreed to make every effort to be sure the dogs weren't out at the same time. I paid my vet bills and thanked God my dog was alive.
Back to today. I looked out the back door to make sure the other dogs weren't out. I didn't see anyone or any dogs. I opened the door to let my dogs out, and followed them out. In an instant I knew I had screwed up, I saw the dogs running toward the fence. My first thought, thank God they can't come under it anymore. I was wrong. Without even slowing down, 3 pit bulls were in my yard, and one was on my dog. I screamed for the neighbor, she seemed freaked out and hesitated before finally coming over to help me. She and I are both trying to separate them, my dog has her dog's snout, I thought her dog had my dog's throat. We were unable to separate them. In the mean time, her other 2 pit bulls joined in the assault on my dog. My other 2 dogs did not engage, one stayed on the porch seeking safety(thank God) and the other followed us around the yard as we tried to get these three very large and unrelenting dogs off my dog. I got nipped as I tried to pull my dog away. After that point, he was on the bottom of the pile and I focused on trying to pull the pits off him. I was aware of my fingernails bending back beyond the quick as I tried to get a grip on thick pit bull flesh. The neighbor got bit, pretty bad, I heard her say "Oh my god, you bit momma" and I got a glimpse of insides coming out of her arm. We kept trying to break up this fight. I was screaming for help but no one was coming. Finally my neighbor brought a broom to the fence. I looked at her like she was from Mars - then it hit me - the broom is a weapon. I grabbed the broom and started hitting and hitting dog heads. Broke the broom into 3 peices. By that time, the same girl went to a male neighbor's house, and he braved his way into the yard, he began kicking and hitting dogs. I could see my dog giving up, he was in a fetal position, at one point I saw three dogs, each pulling on a different body part. I was sure he would be dead. Somehow, we managed to clear the way for him to limp up to the porch where my other 2 dogs were waiting by the door, and I was able to get them in.
I took Vinnie straight to the vet, he had flesh hanging off his bones. But he was able to walk. He has extensive injuries, a lot of flesh and muscle tissue is missing, he has quite a bit of nerve damage, his vein was exposed and the vet remarked that just a little deeper bite and he would have bled out before I could have gotten to the vet's office. He has since undergone surgery, he made it through. He has a long road of recovery, and is still not out of the woods completely.
In the meantime, Animal Control has visited with me and my neighbor. My dog is up to date on all shots, but still has to be quarantined for 10 days (which is ok because he needs to be at the Vet's that long at least) and also, my other 2 dogs who were not involved have to be quarantined here at my house. I've found out that the neighbor - who went to the emergency room for her wounds - filled out a police report saying that she was repeatedly bitten by MY dog. ACO told me that they(edit: they being the neighbors) have plans to press charges. I've been advised to go to the County Attorney with my side of the story and witness statements. What's notable is that I did not want to pursue court involvement, I only want the fence to be secured. I would never ask that dogs be put down, but it seems that with her great lie, she's putting my dog in that position.
The neighbors who came to my aid are encouraging me to take this to court, they want the neighbor's dogs out of our neighborhood.
I'm asking you guys and gals to please pray for the recovery of my Vinnie, and to offer any advice you think will help me as I defend my dog, my property and the safety of my neighborhood.
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