Dog Bite Lawsuits

Dealing with a dangerous dog in your neighborhood can be an aggravating task, especially if you have a neighbor who refuses to acknowledge a problem or refuses to do anything to fix the problem. Here are some tips for dealing with a dangerous dog in the neighborhood.

Talk with Your Neighbors

The first place to start dealing with a dangerous dog in the neighborhood is with your neighbors. Talk to them about your concerns, and ask if they have any issues with the dangerous dog. Talk with the dangerous dog’s owner and present your concerns. Remain calm, polite and civil at all times.

Start a Record

As soon as you are aware of a dangerous dog situation in your neighborhood, begin keeping a record. Things that go in the record: dates and times of aggressive behavior from the dog, dates and times of discussions with the dog’s owner, a description or photos of where the dog is kept outside, along with any fencing that may be present, dates and times of calls to animal control authorities, along with any other bits of information that document the dangerous activity of the dog and/or negligence on the part of the owner.

Contact the Authorities

If you see a dangerous dog loose in the neighborhood contact the police or animal control authorities, especially if it is actively exhibiting aggressive behavior. Do not try to approach the dog yourself. Provide the authorities with a clear description of the animal. Give the police or animal control authorities the name of the dog’s owner and his or her address, if known.

Even if the dog is not exhibiting any dangerous behavior at the time, you should strongly consider contacting the animal control authorities. As dogs are allowed roam, they begin to include more and more parts of a neighborhood in their territory. This in turn increases the likelihood of a dog attack.

Don’t Provoke the Dog

Common sense says don’t provoke a dangerous dog. Provocation includes a wide range of behavior, such as making threatening gestures, stalking the dog, making eye contact and yelling at the animal. As a dog becomes more sensitized to these behaviors, they become more aggressive as a defensive response, which heightens the danger for you and every one else in the neighborhood.