# Vicious Dog in Condo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131 "2018-05-14T14:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/1 "2018-05-14T14:02:31Z")
So my neighbors have a pit mix that is an absolute nuisance. It has attacked my dog twice, one time resulting in 14 stitches. There have been some other minor incidents too. It is so vicious if I see it outside, even with the muzzle, I wait til they are gone. My dog is scared to death at the site of him. Our HOA board, which I am president of, decided he could keep the dog only if it was muzzled at all times when outside. The owners adhered to this until this Saturday. We are having some work done outside and the dog was not muzzled and bit the foreman’s hand. The man ended up with multiple stitches in his hand and could end up with possible nerve damage. We have acted, but I am curious how others would have proceeded. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/2 "2018-05-14T14:36:54Z")
Oh, that dog’s gotta go. I am surprised it hasn’t been done before, he is obviously a known biter. I hate it because it’s really not the dogs fault. Too bad owners cannot be punished more. I am sorry for the workers hand. I just had a bad hand bite. Its not fun. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/3 "2018-05-14T14:43:01Z")
Yes, it should have been removed before. I agree it’s not the dog’s fault. The owners are to blame. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/4 "2018-05-14T14:46:21Z")
Are they required to have homeowners insurance? If so, and if you know the insurance company, I would notify them. Has the bitten foreman sued yet? [Insurance info](https://www.iii.org/article/spotlight-on-dog-bite-liability) ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/5 "2018-05-14T14:49:29Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Are they required to have home owner’s insurance? If so, and id you know the insurance company, I would notify them. Every owner has an individual policy for the interior. And then we have an association policy for the outside building. The man who was bitten and the president of the company say they don’t want to sue, but obviously that could change. Especially since we don’t know the extent of the injury. Thanks for link. Reading now. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/6 "2018-05-14T14:55:26Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Our HOA board, which I am president of, decided he could keep the dog only if it was muzzled at all times when outside. The owners adhered to this until this Saturday. We are having some work done outside and the dog was not muzzled and bit the foreman’s hand. The man ended up with multiple stitches in his hand and could end up with possible nerve damage… Fi the dog attacked a human the police should be called, full stop. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/7 "2018-05-14T15:06:38Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > The man who was bitten and the president of the company say they don’t want to sue, but obviously that could change. Especially since we don’t know the extent of the injury. If _I_ were the bitten guy, my first move (after filing a police report) would be notifying my disability insurance provider. I would provide them with all the details along with my plan to not work until I was fully recovered. I’d let them go after the dog’s owner, and I’m sure they would. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/8 "2018-05-14T15:46:53Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I hate it because it’s really not the dogs fault. > [@Living Well Is Best Revenge](#): > > I agree it’s not the dog’s fault. I find this as hard to believe as the concept that all human sociopaths are the fault of their parents. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/9 "2018-05-14T15:50:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I find this as hard to believe as the concept that all human sociopaths are the fault of their parents. A parent could not keep their child locked up 24/7, nor have their child killed if deemed too dangerous. A pet owner doesn’t have the same constraints. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/10 "2018-05-14T16:18:30Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > So my neighbors have a pit mix that is an absolute nuisance. It has attacked my dog twice, one time resulting in 14 stitches. When this happens, don’t you call the dog catcher or whatever? A dog can attack another dog to the point of needing 14 stitches with no repercussions? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/11 "2018-05-14T16:27:50Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > When this happens, don’t you call the dog catcher or whatever? A dog can attack another dog to the point of needing 14 stitches with no repercussions? Well there were repercussions. Me and the other board members allowed him to keep the dog provided it was muzzled anytime outside. In retrospect, that was not harsh enough. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/12 "2018-05-14T16:31:00Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I find this as hard to believe as the concept that all human sociopaths are the fault of their parents. Do you think dogs or other animals can be sociopathic? I am not so sure. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/13 "2018-05-14T16:31:07Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I agree it’s not the dog’s fault. The owners are to blame. I have personal knowledge of a bad dog. The owners hoped to show him and use him for stud, but he was uncontrollable. They did not abuse the dog and they tried everything suggested to train him. When the dog attacked the husband, they knew they had to have the dog put down. Their next dog, same breed, was a big old goof who, unfortunately, they were unable to show because one of his ears didn’t meet breed standards. Instead, he was a beloved family pet, and they pretty much gave up on the idea of having a show dog. Granted my anecdote isn’t any kind of scientific proof, but sometimes it is the dog, not the owners. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/14 "2018-05-14T16:51:40Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Do you think dogs or other animals can be sociopathic? I am not so sure. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > but sometimes it is the dog, not the owners. We can get into a semantic tangle here, but IMHO dogs functionally have no independent agency. It is NOT always the owner’s fault, however it is our collective fault as humans for breeding for certain traits. The result can unexpected negatives like overly aggressive or shy-sharp animals that will bite no matter what the owner tries to do. So while owners must always accept ultimate responsibility, it isn’t always directly their fault. The way I look at things it also can’t be the dogs fault - they simply can’t reason( enough ). Sometimes it is nobody’s fault. Which doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences - antisocial dogs cannot be tolerated unless carefully controlled( if then ). ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/15 "2018-05-14T16:54:13Z")
Why should this be a HOA matter? If the first attack(s) were reported to the police, then there would be no choice in the matter based upon your town/state laws. The dog may have to be put down now if a known dangerous dog continues to attack. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/16 "2018-05-14T16:55:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Why should this be a HOA matter? If the first attack(s) were reported to the police, then there would be no choice in the matter based upon your town/state laws. The dog may have to be put down now if a known dangerous dog continues to attack. No attack previously was reported to police. The HOA handled it, badly perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/17 "2018-05-14T17:29:31Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > So my neighbors have a pit mix that is an absolute nuisance. It has attacked my dog twice… > > We have acted, but I am curious how others would have proceeded. I would have: A) Called the authorities after each bite incident, as an HOA I would have mandated obedience training after incident 1 B) Imposed the HOA “must be muzzled” rule after the 2nd incident - if not the first, depending on severity and the circumstances around the “other minor incidents” and compliance with the training requirement C) Insisted that the dog be put down after incident #3 ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/18 "2018-05-14T17:37:08Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I would have: > A) Called the authorities after each bite incident, as an HOA I would have mandated obedience training after incident 1 > B) Imposed the HOA “must be muzzled” rule after the 2nd incident - if not the first, depending on severity and the circumstances around the “other minor incidents” and compliance with the training requirement > C) Insisted that the dog be put down after incident #3 Thank you, very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/19 "2018-05-14T17:45:44Z")
Shoulda, coulda, woulda. The damage is done. Dog has got to go. If that dog mauls a kid someone is gonna sue the HOA. It’s a ticking time bomb. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/20 "2018-05-14T18:01:52Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Shoulda, coulda, woulda. The damage is done. Dog has got to go. If that dog mauls a kid someone is gonna sue the HOA. It’s a ticking time bomb. Totally agree. And we are taking steps now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131.md?page=2)