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Letter: Trapped in Home by Neighborhood Dangerous Dogs

What Rights Do I Have?
Americus, GA - Tyeesiah Harris writes a letter to the Americus Times-Recorder. It is a story that plagues far too many U.S. citizens: Being held prisoner in one's home due to dangerous dogs that authorities do not have the power to remove. Not only do individuals have few options before an attack, they often have few options following an attack too. In many U.S. cities, authorities only take action after a "second" biting incident.

Dear Editor

By Tyeesiah Harris, Americus Times-Recorder
January 19, 2008

I would be very appreciative of someone that can assist me with my rights as a homeowner when it comes to my property. For years now I have had several problems with my neighbor’s dogs (Rottweilers and pit bulls). In the beginning we brushed it off as a close call when the dogs would come onto our property or chase our visitors. There was an instance where their Rottweiler chased our painter in our yard; it chased my mother-in-law while she was visiting. On several occasions where I have returned home with my kids and was unable to get out of the car because the dogs would stand in my yard and bark at us until the police or animal control arrived 15 to 20 minutes later. There was an instance where I walked to my mailbox and on my way back to the house, both the pitbull and the Rottweiler ran towards me; I froze. The pitbull jumped up on me and the Rottweiler made several circles around me until the teenage neighbor came on their porch and called them back. I could only imagine what would have happened if one of my children had checked the mailbox that day...

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Related articles:
08/14/08: Comment: Reporting a Dangerous Pit Bull as Suspected Insurance Fraud
06/26/08: Comment: Use All Resources to Crack Down on Irresponsible Pit Bull Owners