L
Linrue
Guest
We live in Florida. Last summer, my nine year old son was riding his bike on our street when our neighbor's chow, who was being walked by the neighbor's twelve year old mentally handicapped son (he's on the level of a six year per his mother). Dog chased my son into our yard and bite him three times (witnessed by two other neighbors). He was treated at the ER, required no stitches but had two very deep puncture wounds (still has scars). The dog's owner came to the ER, acted very concerned and offered to pay medical bills. As we only had a small copayment and the owner promised to keep the dog locked up, I didn't pursue any further. We moved from that neighborhood approx. 2 months later.
Last week, I received a phone call from an old neighbor who told me that the this same dog had bit another child and had killed two of his cats (on his property). He wanted me to sign an affidavit with our local animal control folks (known as PAWS) in order to have the dog declared dangerous, I readily agreed although there was a previous report made of my son's dog bite. In talking with the Exec Director of PAWS, she told me that the owner was not willing to have this dog destroyed and the owner had promised to fight any action to do so. She also told me "I should't be telling you this but she also said your son was a hell child and deserved to be bitten".
I AM MAD and I'm turning into hell mom. Do I have any recourse now that it's almost a year later??? I want this dog destroyed and I want this woman to take responsibility for her dog's actions. I could kick myself now - maybe if I had done something when this initially happened I could have prevented another child from being bit and saved two cats. So much for trying to be the "nice neighbor". Also, there is a lady in our current neighborhood who walks her chow daily - if my son is outside playing and sees this dog he makes a beeline for home (even though he says he's not scared).
Does anyone have any advice?? Can I still take action? Thanks for any information you guys can provide.
P.S. She is in the military - dog is 8 years old - is there any way of finding out if this dog has previous similar behavior if I know where she was stationed?
Last week, I received a phone call from an old neighbor who told me that the this same dog had bit another child and had killed two of his cats (on his property). He wanted me to sign an affidavit with our local animal control folks (known as PAWS) in order to have the dog declared dangerous, I readily agreed although there was a previous report made of my son's dog bite. In talking with the Exec Director of PAWS, she told me that the owner was not willing to have this dog destroyed and the owner had promised to fight any action to do so. She also told me "I should't be telling you this but she also said your son was a hell child and deserved to be bitten".
I AM MAD and I'm turning into hell mom. Do I have any recourse now that it's almost a year later??? I want this dog destroyed and I want this woman to take responsibility for her dog's actions. I could kick myself now - maybe if I had done something when this initially happened I could have prevented another child from being bit and saved two cats. So much for trying to be the "nice neighbor". Also, there is a lady in our current neighborhood who walks her chow daily - if my son is outside playing and sees this dog he makes a beeline for home (even though he says he's not scared).
Does anyone have any advice?? Can I still take action? Thanks for any information you guys can provide.
P.S. She is in the military - dog is 8 years old - is there any way of finding out if this dog has previous similar behavior if I know where she was stationed?