I started helping out last week with painting at the apartment complex my wife oversees. That means Frankie has not been going for a walk everyday. Because of that, Rose insisted I take Frankie for a walk before work on Friday.
We live on a corner lot. The main road going into town runs along the side of our house. Frankie crossed the main road right away and we continued walking away from the main road.
After a block and a half it became clear Frankie had no intention of turning around. He might be the cat version of Lewis and Clark. I had to pick him up and change his direction.
When we were about four houses from home, we heard a dog barking near the corner house on the right, which is kitty-corner to our house. When we got a little closer, a Pitbull came trotting toward us, barking the whole time. I looked but no people were around.
When he got closer, Frankie hissed at him. I knew he was after Frankie so I picked him up and held him out of reach. The dog jumped on me, putting his paws my back and arms, while barking and trying to get at Frankie. I turned and yelled, “Stop,” but that just seemed to anger him more.
I walked faster toward home with the dog jumping on me and biting my calves. Fortunately I was wearing blue jeans instead of the shorts I normally wear in Florida. That, and the fact that I was moving made it hard for him to sink his teeth into my legs.
I was getting worried and called out for the dog’s owner but no response. If the dog started taking chunks out of my leg, I was going to have to do something drastic, like kick it in the face, and I didn’t want to have to hurt the animal.
When I reached the main street I heard cars coming. I hoped they would be a distraction. I quickly crossed the street. When I looked back the dog was lingering on the other side. I didn’t know if he would cross but I didn’t wait around to find out.
When I got inside I told Rose what happened and then put soap on my bleeding elbow. I think the dog got me with his nails. We still haven’t seen our moving truck so we had no antiseptic.
I then grabbed my lunch and went to the car. As I was backing out of the driveway, I saw Frankie walking down the sidewalk toward me. Really? I have no idea how he got out but it was very lucky I saw him.
I jumped out of the car and he gladly followed me to the back door. Once he was back in the house and I again tried to leave for work, I saw a man walking down the sidewalk toward me. He was one house down and across the side street. The dog crossed the main road because he was now harassing the man. He was barking and jumping on the man. The man tried to get the dog to stop to no avail. After fifteen seconds the dog moved on.
I got in my car and drove to where the dog was and snapped a couple of pictures.
When I got to work the manager there said she knew someone at the city that she would talk to. Later she said the guy told her talking to the police would be a waste of time. He also said the woman in charge of animal control was a POS and would do nothing about the dog.
Now I have to worry about taking Frankie for a walk and I especially have to worry about him escaping.
Bad Cat Chris 
Scary, awful and every other comparable word. This breed is often banned in some cities, though many claim they can be “good dogs”. Either way: NO DOG should be roaming off leash, no owner nearby. And inexcusable you’ve no authorities to call for assistance. That you have been physically attacked means the dog should be “contained”, is without question a danger to everyone (human and other pets) in your community. This said by one who loves dogs as much as I love cats. Hopefully, you, Rose and your kitties will be safe on all days to come.
Thanks so much. I assume that dog attacked me because I was holding Frankie but he was harassing that other guy who was alone.
Oh no….now that’s scary! This is at the W. Va. house where you are now? So glad you and Frankie escaped anything worse but with someone telling you “nobody would do anything” about that dog – it’s definitely still worrisome. I wonder if the police have had other reports about this dog. Glad you and Frankie are OK.
Hugs, Pam
Thanks, Pam. I probably should have reported it to the police anyway, but my wife was worried about retribution if the person reporting the incident was public record.
That is terrible and scary and we are so glad you and Frankie are okay!
Thank you.
Yikes! What a scary ordeal. I am glad you are both OK. I am not a fan of most dogs. It sounds like that one needs to be euthanized if it is so vicious and no one keeps it from attacking people. How sad that nothing can be done to help the situation.
Thanks. It’s bad enough when people let their dogs roam around off the leash but when you know you have an aggressive breed that is even more irresponsible.
No matter what that man said, I would still contact animal control–numerous times, if needed–and the police. Maybe if you harass them enough, something will be done. You and Frankie should not have to worry about walking outside your own home. You might also want to keep a watch out for the man you saw outside, whom the dog also jumped on.
My wife was worried about the character of the man who owns a pitbull and let’s it roam free. If his dog were taken away he would probably want to get revenge on the person that reported it.
I know, but you have to worry about your little escape artists now. Makes you wonder if animal control is afraid of the pit bull owner, too. No matter. I still think he needs to be told to take control of his animal. I wonder if the local animal shelters know anything about this.
Our house is in a small town with a lot of poor people, many of whom have drug problems. It is a world apart from our Florida home.
You and the cats be careful then.
Wow, that had to be super scary.
I was quite worried for me and Frankie.
What a scary experience! Glad you and Frankie are okay for the most part. I fault the dog’s owners for not controlling his dog.
Thanks. It is in the dog’s nature to be aggressive. That is why there are leash laws but some people just don’t care.
What a horror story. Many years ago, Cupcake was attacked by a pit bull that escaped his dog walker. She had to have surgery on her neck. It was awful. You were a quick thinker. God forbid that ever happens, picking your pet up is the right reaction and the quicker the better. I wish I had thought of that, but too many things were happening too fast for me. I kicked the heck out of the pitbull, which barely registered, but at least I was able to get Cupcake away from him. Ugh. Stay alert, Frankie. And STAY INSIDE!
Oh, that is terrible. I’m glad Cupcake survived the ordeal. It is hard to know the right thing to do in circumstances like that.
Chuck, get a photo of your elbow wound as well. And contact animal control and the police. Maybe they don’t care, but be persistent. I understand that Pit Bulls can be good dogs if trained properly, but I cannot believe any dog in any city has the right to roam freely. Frankie may have been the attraction for the dog, but if he was harassing another passerby, it seems as if anyone walking in the area would be in danger of being attacked. I see the dog has a collar but no visible tags. The dog may not even be vaccinated. This is all very frightening. I would suggest going in the opposite direction the next time you and Frankie go outside. Please be careful, and keep us posted on how this situation unfolds. XOCK, angels Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta & Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy, Sawyer, Kizmet, Audrey & Raleigh
Thanks. I ordered a spray to discourage dogs.
in our neck of the woods, if you would have contracted animal control, they would be out there in a hot minute and that dog would be off the streets pronto!
You must live far from us. 😊
here in trout towne, there’s a leash law and ACC would have been there faster than…pronto. While Frankie may have triggered this dog, apparently a “ cat “ isnt the dogs focus, the fact that he jumped you and another passerby. If a person who’s unsteady on their feet, or a child walks past …what then. Save these photos and get a check up, then save that invoice….hoping to cod the dog is up to date on shots etc, even if he didn’t actually bite. hope the other man was// is ok….and hope you find a way to keep frankie from getting loose. that is BS that the dog free roams like that. he’s a nuisance// danger to those on foot and those driving cars as well if he’s crossing the street….
Thanks. It is a shame that people are so inconsiderate of others. They must know their dog is aggressive but don’t care.
By the way, if interested, search for “Casper” on my blog for another pitbull story.
Thank goodness you – and Frankie ! got away all right !
Thanks. We were fortunate the dog was after Frankie and not me.
Wiow, Scary, the stuff of your worst nightmares.
Even though you were told of the animal control and police not caring or responding, I still think it would be in your best interest to do make a report, so that if you need to go to court or whatever you would have evidence of what happened, and what you did.
That dog owner is also a public nuisance as much as his dog. What was he thinking to let his dog run loose like that…though maybe in all fairness he escaped…though knowing what kind of dog these pitties can be, he should have made sure the containment was up to par.
Thank goodness it didn’t end up worse.
Be well, and take care.
(Our little Dalton is a biter too, mostly men; he’s a rescue pup with a ton of issues he won’t or can’t deal with, from previous abuse; even after being with us since 12/2017; so we have our tall fence and it has sally port gates. We make sure to corral him if we know strangers are coming to our house…and when I take him for walks, I try to avoid anyone else, by changing direction or going to the other side of the country lanes I walk on…)
You do the right thing but unfortunately too many people don’t care
That’s awful. What a scary experience. I imagine he’s chased other cats
There are stray cats around here. I assume they will run at the sight of a dog, unlike Frankie.
You should be worried. If Frankie gets out that dog will probably kill him. If it were me I’d kill the dog.
I ordered a dog repellent, which is like a pepper spray. Next time I won’t let him get close.
Having known a pit who was a pushover (he used to roll over for every person he saw in a uniform to ask for a belly rub and was bossed around by his older “brother” the chihuahua) and one that nearly killed a child, I can say without question owners make the difference, and this poor dog has a bad owner.
He has attacked two people, which means the police should listen, especially if both of you give sworn statements, and he needs to be quarantined and the owner not allowed to get another pet.
It’s sad they are going to wait for him to really hurt someone badly before anything is done, and the animal is as much a victim as anyone. I know I’m preaching to the choir here, too, but it helps to say it.
I agree. That’s why I didn’t want to resort to hurting the dog.