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| The 16-year-old victim, who was bitten by the brown female pit bull, received multiple puncture wounds to her left calf. She was taken to Dyersburg Regional Medical Center emergency room for treatment. According to the police report, most of the bite marks were too jagged to receive stitches. |
A 16-year-old girl was attacked by two pit bulls on Browning Street close to Hawthorne Avenue.
The juvenile was walking down the street when two pit bulls approached her. One was a brown female and the other was a grayish-color male. They ran toward her and went for her jacket, which she immediately took off.
The gray pit bull then began biting her leg as the brown one latched on and wouldn't let go.
The girl tried not to move and did not fight the dogs off for fear of them attacking her further.
Two other people saw what was going on and tried to help the girl. They attempted to pull her away from the dog, but it held steadfastly to her leg.
Finally, the dog released its grip and ran away with the other one.
A family friend was driving down the street and rushed the girl to the Dyersburg Regional Medical Center emergency room, where she received treatment.
 |
| This female pit bull was one of the dogs that attacked a 16-year-old girl on Browning Street and is alleged to have done the most damage. After the attack, two bystanders were able to chase it and another male pit bull off. The dog had to be shot with a tranquilizer gun to subdue it. |
Her wounds consisted of bite marks, scratches, puncture wounds and bleeding. One deep wound had to have a suture, while the others were too jagged for stitches.
The wounds were cleaned and she received antibiotics and a tetanus shot.
 Animal control officer Barry McCord stands next to the male pit bull that is involved in the attack on a 16-year-old girl. The female pit bull in the background is believed to have done the most damage to the girl. Both dogs are currently being held at the Dyersburg/Dyer County Humane Society shelter while Dyersburg police search for their owners. |
The brown female had to be shot with a tranquilizer due to its aggressive nature, while the other one was caught with a hog catcher. The brown one that did the most damage was a pregnant female.
"This kid could have been killed," said animal control officer Barry McCord. "If it had been a smaller kid, it probably would have crushed her leg."
McCord and fellow officer Tim Hatch are concerned about pit bull attacks becoming more common as the weather turns warmer.
"This has been my second one (bite case) in a month's time," said Hatch. "Honestly, I think something needs to be done."
McCord said that he believes the owners, if found, should not be able to get these pit bulls back.
"I don't care if they built a pen out of gold, they shouldn't get these dogs back," said McCord. "Because nine times out of 10 somebody's going to have to pay these medical bills and they're not going to pay them."
The victim's father, John Higgins, is angry that his daughter was bitten by the pit bulls.
"Whoever these dogs belong to, I'm going to press charges," said Higgins.
After the incident, he drove around the area where his daughter was bitten.
"There are a whole lot of pits over there," said Higgins.
A police report was filled out on the dog bite and efforts are being made by the Dyersburg Police Department to find the owners of the dogs.
"On dog bites or reports of vicious dogs, the police make every effort to locate the owners," said DPD spokesman Capt. Steve Isbell. "If a violation has occurred, citations will be issued. We enforce the leash law, as well as the vicious dog ordinance."
Police reports show that there were 21 "dog bite" reports written by the DPD in 2008. The figures show that out of the 21 reports, 10 of those bites were from pit bulls, 10 were from dogs whose breed could not be determined and one was from a greyhound.
So far this year, there have been five police reports written on dog bites and four reports written on attempted dog bites. Of those reports, three were on pit bulls and the breed of dog was not known in the other two.
The dogs in this case are being housed at the Dyersburg/Dyer County Humane Society. McCord said they would hold the dogs for 10 days and then ask for their destruction. During this time they will be kept under observation for signs of rabies.
Figures from the Dyersburg City Attorney's office show there were 35 court cases involving dogs within the last year, in the city. Of the 35 cases, 29 of them involved pit bulls. Also, there were six dog bite cases and all of those were from pit bulls. All six of the pit bulls were euthanized, due to either being court ordered or the owner's decision.
From April 12 of last year to March 31 of this year, 278 pit bulls came through the humane society shelter and 211 of those were euthanized. The humane society had 49 total court cases, which included the county and city. They also had 21 cases of dog bites. Not all dog bite cases go to court according to Dyersburg/Dyer County Shelter Supervisor Derek Avery. Ten pit bulls were included in the shelter's 21 dog bite cases and eight of them were euthanized. The two remaining pit bulls are the ones involved in this particular case. According to Avery, most of the dog bite cases ultimately end with the dog being euthanized.
Dr. Carol Feather, president of the Dyersburg/Dyer County Humane Society, said they often run out of room at the shelter to accommodate dogs in court cases.
"Sometimes we have to put down some lovely dogs to make room for the dogs in court cases," said Feather.
Within the city of Dyersburg a dog must meet one or more of the following criteria to be classified as vicious:
* Any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals.
* Any dog which, without provocation, attacks, bites, or has attacked or bitten, a human being or domestic animal, on public or private property.
* Any dog that, without provocation, barks excessively, snaps, bites or manifests a disposition to bark excessively, snap or bite.
* Any dog owned or harbored, primarily or in part, for dog fighting or any dog trained for dog fighting.
* Any dog not owned by a governmental or law enforcement agency used primarily to guard public or private property.
* Any dog that tends to endanger the safety of a human being by the habitual chasing of automobiles, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, or motor scooters on either public or private property.
If the owner of a dog can be determined then they are issued a summons.
The judge must determine if the dog can be deemed vicious or that it has been maintained under the requirements of the city ordinance.
If the dog is determined to be vicious, then the judge can levy a fine of up to $50, require that the dog be maintained under the city ordinance or order the destruction of the dog.
The judge can also assess court costs, any fees that the animal shelter has incurred due to the care and boarding of the animal and can hold the owner responsible for the costs of the humane destruction of the dog.
If a dog is allowed to go back to its owner, certain requirements must be met to allow for its return.
One condition would be the confinement of the animal inside or in a securely enclosed, locked structure outdoors with signs indicating the presence of a vicious dog.
Next, the caretaker of the dog is not able to go beyond the premises unless it is restrained on a leash with a secure muzzle.
The owner must also provide proof of liability insurance in the minimum amount of $50,000 within 30 days and have the city of Dyersburg as an additional insured so they will be notified if the insurance is terminated, lapses or is canceled. Finally, a permit must be issued from an animal control officer saying all conditions have been met and a $25 fee must be paid for the permit.
So far, only seven permits were issued last year in Dyersburg. Of those seven permits, just one was for a dog bite case, but it was unconfirmed and could not be proved it was a bite.
The owner of the two pit bulls in this case has not been located at this time.
If anyone knows who the owners of the dogs are in this case they are encouraged to call the Dyersburg Police Department at 285-1212.
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MY SON WAS BITTEN BY A PITBULL LAST AUGUST.I TRIED TO GET THE OWNER TO PAY THE INSURANCE DEDUCTABLE(100.00)BUT NEVER COULD.IT WENT TO COURT,THE OWNER DID NOT SHOW AND WAS ARRESTED.SHE BONDED OUT AND AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS AND COURT DATES THE JUDGE ORDERED THE DOG TO BE PUT DOWN,AND HER TO PAY THE FINES,THE SHELTER FEE'S AND ME.I THINK THE AMOUNT WAS CLOSE TO 2000.00,THE OWNER HAS MOVED AND I HAVE NOT SEEN A PENNY.I THINK THE COURT SYSTEM NEEDS TO GET TOUGHER WITH THESE OWNERS.OR ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOME CHILD TO BE KILLED?
I have been a victim of a pit bull attack as well. It is extremely terrifying. I had a hard time going outside alone or being around big dogs for several months following the incident. I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome as a result, but I truly believe it is not the breed that is the problem. It stems from the lack of care from the owners. There should be stricter regulations on pet adoption and ownership.
i can certainly understand the father's anger. his daughter could've been killed because someone wanted to keep big mean dogs around for who knows whatever reason. its probably a good thing they couldn't find the dogs' owner right after this happened.
All pitts are not aggressive. However, they are taught to be mean. The meanest dog I ever came across was a mix breed hound.
I noticed that the female's ears are clipped.
I've heard that people who fight pitts clip
their ears and tails so the other dog
can't grab them. Is that true?
What day did this happen? Did I overlook the date in the story?
My little spaniel jumped between me and a pit bull one day when I was walking him and his ear was torn.
The owner of the pit stood on the porch and watched while I pulled the dogs apart and got my arm scratched up in the process.
When all was said and done, the owner finally walked out, grabbed his dog, and laughed saying "Oh she wouldn't really of hurt anybody."
She already HAD.
I should have called the cops. I didn't.
This dog looked A LOT like the pregnant female in this article. I sincerely hope it's not her.
Pitbulls do not have to be taught to be mean. They can be the most gentle dog in the world until one day it snaps, due to the fact that its skull is too small for its brain. The same is for dobermans...I do not believe that pitbulls should be allowed in the city limits of any town with or without liability insurance on them. They are just too dangerous.
Called the police department to let them know who the dogs might belong to. Was told to call the Humane Society tomorrow.
Why ask us to call them if they're going to refer us elsewhere?
What are the county rules? I think they should be the same as the city rules.
When will our aldermen get off their fat butts and do something to procect the people of dyer sburg? This breed of animal needs to have a secured place to be in and a insurance policy in case someone gets hurt or the animal needs to be put to sleep ? no ifs or ands about it. if you cant fine the owner, turn the animal loose and see where it goes?
I am a owner of 2 pittbulls and I have the 2 most loving dogs I have ever had , I also have a lab and he is meaner than my pitts. A dogs attitude depends on how they were raised and mine were raised with my children and other animals and are not vicious by any means. It is all how the dog is raised not just its breed.
Start killing these dogs and putting the owners in jail for assault and lets see how many empty dog houses start popping up.
Look folks. You can't rely one someone else for your own protection. Cops and the dog catcher can't be everywhere. Get your permit to carry and the problem would of been taken care of quickly and with alot less damage to the childs arm. It is sad that our country has come to this but it is the truth. Take care of yourself.
I have a relative who had a pit ,they got it as a puppy and it was raised with their children.When the dog was 7 or 8 it attacked their 4yr old. It is amazing that the little girl survived. The dog had papers and was registered, The owners of the dog even knew the breeders and the dogs she was bred from. They were both great dogs,just as this dog was before it attacked their daughter. That is what is so dangerous about pits.
Seems that Pit Bulls have it rough. But, as friendly as they seem, to many of them turn. Having raised Akitas, German Shepard dogs, Boston Terriers, Shelties, Dalmations, Dobermans and unwillingly having a hybrid wolf left with me, I will say that socialization is key. But, after investigating the history and present of pits, the story is strange. Seems the Pit Bulls that are actually bred and trained to fight are the best with people. Why? Because the trainer must be able to reach in and stop the fight without agression to the handler. The majority of pit owners have no clue how to socialize or train these dogs. They think it's cool to have a bad a$$ dog, and chain or kennel them with no thought of the repercussions. I really send my heart felt prayers to this young lady. Her injuries were because of ignorant dog owners. Folks, take the time to educate yourself on the type of dog you need for your surrounding. If everyone would do so, this sort of thing would be very rare. Take the time to educate yourself on a breed before bringing them into your home. Border Collies and Greyhounds need room to run and work, or they will be aggressive. Pit Bulls need a lot of care and socializing, and most are fine. Too many potentially good dogs turn bad, due to lack of education of the breed.
So Mr. Hatch, who WORKS for the Humane Society, thinks that something should be done??? ummm... huh? is HE not the one who should be doing something? I walk my dog everyday, she is very well trained, and knows who her owner is. My father trained various dogs for the state, and ANY dog has to be trained AS A DOG, not a family member or child. The reason dogs attack small children is the fact they are not taught that the child is higher up in the pack rank than they are. Instead I see parents do the "oh how cute" crap. It blows my mind the irresponsibility of dog owners. I have seen numerous dogs in this city that are starving, mistreated, unleashed, not confined properly, left without water, bark theirselves to death, beg to be exercised, even seen them laying dead, etc., all while the "dog catchers" of this county pass them by and do nothing. THey see the same things I do, and ignore them. I would volunteer at the shelter, but I am not sure I could handle the ignorance. If the police would get off their "it's not my job" attitude, and work with the shelter, they MIGHT make a dent in these problems.
Dogs don't kill or harm people, their owners do.
Through improper training, neglect, nievity, or just plain ol' stupidity.
Thanks vixenvol for the info. I agree with your statement "take the time to educate yourself on the type of dog you need for your surrounding. If everyone would do so, this sort of thing would be very rare" but how many of us will take time to do so? Just one irresponsible dog owner in our community can lead to a tragedy.
What recourse does this leave us?
Dizzylizzy...Mr. Hatch WORKS for the humane society. There is only so much he can do. He has rules to follow too. I don't know him personally, but he has been out to my house BECAUSE OF MY NEIGHBORS PIT BULLS and the humane society employee's hands are tied to a point. Like I said, they have rules to follow too. They told me that they cannot take a dog that has attacked another dog and hold it. The only way that they can take the dog and hold it is if it attacks a person, and then only for 10 days. So I am still living near a Pit bull that has attacked four dogs now...because the owner refuses to get rid of it and refuses to acknowledge that they have a vicious dog. According to the criteria above, the dogs fit three of the points listed. What am I supposed to do? I can't move!
It's crazy that people always seem to think that their pitbull is the exception to being vicious....you always hear, not my pit....But you hear the story of these attacks all across the country everyday......i hope they find these owners and do the right thing.....it's a shame that you can't even walk down the street...pits have a desire to fight, just like a lab have a desire to swim and chase rabbits.....it doesn't take much training for a pit to become vicios...it's in them....look around..
Dizzy Lizzy....often in the past I have disagreed with comments you have made on certain topics. This one I must say you have hit the nail on the head! I have a pit, who is well confined, fed, watered, & properly loved...but he does know who is master is...and that is me..He has never been around other pits..never been fought or even seen anything close to that. I imagine these two dogs who were roaming freely and attacked this young girl knew nothing else. That has probably been their purpose...(B/C OF THE OWNERS)...their whole life...and they probably left them to roam b/c they have no use for them anymore...they have probably been fought to the farthest extent. I guess I learned a few things from my father as well when it comes to dogs...He is known in the county for training coon dogs..& he didnt play. We also always hat rottweilers, German shepherds, and boxers. And I must say..none of these three breeds are anything to toy with if you push the right button...ITS NOT THE DOG...ITS THE OWNER!!!
& For the record..Mr.McCord looks like he's scary anyway....first and foremost u treat a dog like a horse..look him in his eyes and let him know you feel them and your not afraid....He looks like he would probably be afraid. And one more thing...CATS!!!!! DOES THE HUMANE SOCIETY ONLY THINK ABOUT PITS...I HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD CATS THAT TRAMPLE ALL OVER MY CAR...TEAR UP MY GARBAGE...& AGRAVATE MY DOG....CLIMB THE FENCE & GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY..LIKE HAHA...U CANT GET ME!! ALL THEY DO IS MAKE BABIES EVERYWHERE....SO WHAT THA HE..DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS....CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT!!?? HOW HARD IT IT TO CATCH A PUDDY CAT MR. MCCORD?
The employees of the Humane Society should have the ability and self-responsibility in their position to educate themselves on how to handle these situations. It has nothing to do with rules they must follow. They are there for the paycheck, period, if not, then they need to stop appearing that way to the public. You think that might be the reason they do not receive more assistance from the public??? duh.... excuses are not reasonable for this situation.
What do you have to say for the owners that have had their pit bulls since they were tiny? That never had been aggressive up until the point that they attacked someone? A dog that had been taken care of, nurtured, loved on, trusted...then it snapped? What excuse can you give for that.
I'm not going to argue about the Humane Society. But I don't think the Humane Society is making any excuses in this case...they are FOLLOWING the laws that are set. If you don't like the laws, that's fine..I don't either on this subject. But don't blame the people that have NOTHING to do with making the laws.
I still want to know about county regulations. Are there any at all??
Alderman Walker and Dudley have been trying change the dog ordinance for some time now. In fact if you go back and look at board minutes you will see. At the end of 2007 Walker made a motion to have a public hearing to hear citizens input regarding this vicious dog problem we have. 7 alderman were present. All voted yes and the mayor voted NO. To this day there has still been no public hearing. The ordinance now basically says a dog has to bite someone before it is declared vicious. Then and only then will the owner be required to have liablility insurance. TOO LATE. Alderman Walker and Dudley were trying to be proactive instead of reactive. Walker even stated that we have a "Pit Bull Epidemic in Dyersburg" and that we should not wait until it is too late.
People also don.t teach kid,s about dod or cat,s, I see them pull there tail,s .ears, kick them, that.s when the animals strike back. I don,t like cat,s on my car either. Sound,s like our mayor is holding back? It is wrong to see ahuge heavy chain on a dog, then you know it,s dangerous, pulling the owner almost in a run.
I see my post about the sweet little kitty cats has been removed....!!! like i said..WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT DIS PROBLEM..CATS WALKING ON MY CAR...TEARING UP MY GARBAGE...HAVING KITTENS UP UNDER MY HOUSE...THEY ARE NOT MINE..& I WANT THEM GONE..WHEN I START KILLING THEM MYSELF DPD WILL BE TRYING TO CHARGE ME WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY...BUT ITS NOT JUST PIT BULLS...THERE ARE OTHER ANIMAL NUSENECES AS WELL...WHAT WILL THEY DO ABOUT THAT?!!
Maybe it's been removed b/c the subject is about VICIOUS animals that can POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE. Not about nuisances.
Stray cats running around could have any type of diseases...we dont know..THEY ARE A PROBLEM..JUST AS THE DOGS....
Well, what's left to say? Maybe that's why I have
headaches...my brain is too big for my skull ...anyway, we can always kill off all the
big dogs and maybe the big cats too and not
take responsibility for our part in their actions.
Any animal can be mean if not trained and sadly
this time it's the pits...before it was German
Shepards....on and on. It all falls on the
responsiblity of the owners. They are just like
us...depends on our upbringing how we turn out
The city/county ordinance states dogs must be confined, there is no city/county ordinance about cats. That is why cats are not picked up. One dog and its offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just 6 years; one cat and its offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years! That is why it is so important to spay or neuter the pets you now own. People must be responsible pet owners and thankfully, most are. It is the ones who aren't, who have no regard or responsibility for their pets or the safety of others. Laws should be stricter and enforced. Judges must get tough. The next victim might not be so lucky and lose a life!
To the lady that is the "concerned guest" , the ordinance does NOT basically say that a dog has to bite someone before it is declared vicious. In fact this regulation was amended last year to make it more effective. If you read the story again you will see that the ordinance addresses all dogs that : bark excessively , snaps , chases , endangers your safety , manifests a disposition to bark excessively , etc... so if you feel threatened, call the police, they can locate the owner and issue them a summons to court and the judge can enforce the regulations, if the owner wants to keep the dog they can do all of the things required in the ordinance, if not, the dog is put down. I got a copy of the regulation from city hall and am in the process of getting my dog registered, and she has not bitten anyone.
Pit bulls ARE different from other breeds. They are more aggressive, they top the list for causing human deaths and attacks by a long shot, and when they bite they do more damage.
It's not "training," it's not "responsible owners." Even pit bulls that have never been abused and have been properly trained are mauling.
They aren't like other breeds, no matter what the pit bull breeders claim. (and there is a big dog breeder business lobby creating all kinds of lies and propaganda to protect pit bulls from regulation)
Look at http://www.dogsbite.org
There is a growing list of dead and mauled victims, while the pit bull breeders and dog fighters opppose regulation because they make a lot of money from pit bulls, and don't want regulation interfering with that.
These people don't care about public safety, they don't care about the dogs. They care about the money they get from the dogs.
How long are we going to allow ourselves to get pushed around by a group of selfish dog profiteers? How many lives will it take before some rules get put in place and enforced?
"All voted yes and the mayor voted NO. To this day there has still been no public hearing. The ordinance now basically says a dog has to bite someone before it is declared vicious"
It is a sad day when the mayor caters to dog breeder lobbies and dog fighter lobbies.
These breeder lobbies want dogs to get "chances" because they don't want their tax cheat aggressive dog breeding operations troubled by laws.
The mayor needs to stop listening to the dog breeders, and start caring about children and citizens.
"They told me that they cannot take a dog that has attacked another dog and hold it. "
Many of the pit bulls that are attacking and killing CHILDREN start by attacking other pets.
It is the high prey drive that is purpose bred into these dogs.
The laws need to change, but until the mayor can be pulled away from the dog breeder lobby that is enabling these incidents and opposing laws, more will be mauled and eventually there will be fatalities.
twolee, Pit bulls are getting the attention because they are CURRENTLY bread most popularly by those who use them for gambling, drug house protection, and owned to be "cool". THey are a perfectly fine breed of dog that should be given/sold to an irresponsible owner. Yes, they can be fine for years, and turn, 99 percent of the time due to an incident the owner failed to control, due to reasons they are mostly ignorant of.
STOP MAKING EXCUSES. IT IS NEVER the dog's fault.
And better laws? yes.. more training for the employees, top priority. You've got to make what you have work before you add rules and money to it, or you'll have a bigger disaster.
For GOd's sake, these people can't even handle cats.
Get a grip.
Let me reiterate, I once owned a dachshund, for 8 years, perfectly trained dog, sweet, loving, adorable, fine pet. I ran in a store to grab a drink, left my window cracked, and while I was in the store, a 5 year old unattended child tried to DRAG my dog through the crack in the window. My dog liked to have died, and it took time to work that incident out of her brain. SHe wanted to kill every child she saw for a week. You complain about certain breeds having small heads, brains too big, b.s., these dogs are being hit in the head, beaten, even if you're not doing it, if you're not supervising your dog or caring for it's safety at all times, you don't know WHAT is happening, same with your child. It's no wonder our children have grown up to produce a worse society socially, look at how people treat their own dogs?
I HAVE A PIT....I LOVE HIM VEEEERRRRY MUCH....I HAVE HAD HIM FOR TWO YEARS!!! I DO NOT USE HIM TO MAKE $....I DO NOT RUN A DRUG HOUSE...& I DO NOT GAMBLE....BOA...YOU PEOPLE COME UP WITH SOME SHIZNIT....& DIZZYLIZZY...I AGREE...LITTLE DOGS ARE VISCOUS WHEN PROVOKED..I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY YOUNGER BROTHER WAS AGGRAVATING A WEENIE DOG AND IT BIT HIM RIGHT UPSIDE HIS FOREHEAD!!! HE HAD TO HAVE STITCHES...TODAY HE IS A MARINE...KINDA FUNNY..."HEY SRG. WHERE U GET DAT SCAR?"...OH...A WEENIE DOG..lollol.!! ONE LAST THING...SOMEONE SAYS PEOPLE HAVE PITS TO BE COOL....NO, NO, NO....NOT THE CASE WITH ME....IM A COOL BIA WITH OR WITHOUT A DOG....THIS CRAP IS CRAZY!! FOR EVERY PIT...THEY SHOULD KILL A STRAY CAT!!! THAT IS A GREAT IDEA....!
twolee, r u serious, do u really think the mayor is being influenced by dog breeder lobbies and dog fighter lobbies, get real, this is dyersburg, not washington d.c
I WAS NOT COMPARING A CHILD TO A DUCK!( VIXENVOL ]EVERYONE KNOWS THOSE DUCKS OVER AT PARKER PLAZA ARE LIKE PETS.A WELL TRAINED PET WILL NOT KILL ANOTHER ANIMAL! OR ONE WELL FEED,NO MATTER THE BREED!ONWERS OF ALL PETS SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY RESTITUTION.VICIOUS DOG ORDINANCE!WHERE NOT HERE! I'VE SEEN DYER COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY PICK UP DOGS,THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND, LOSE NOT VICIOUS.NO ONE SHOULD BE SCARED TO WALK DOWN A STREET,I PRAY NO ONE IS KILLED, BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE.
Justme30,
there is a legal way to take care of your neighbors dog. Steps have to be followed but you can take them to court. We had to do the same thing to one of our neighbors many years ago.
DBURGIRL,
First of all, there really is no need to shout all the time. And then, you must not have owned many dogs if you think that even the most docile and well trained dog won't go after a bird, rabbit and such. It's the way dogs are. They evolved from wolves, OK? Even the sweetest dogs are tempted when a rabbit or bird hops or flies in front of it. Quite different then when a child or person (even a cat for the most part) crosses their path.