Westwood loose-dog concern continues, 2 weeks later

| Neighborhoods | Pets | West Seattle news | Westwood

That photo was taken today by the same Westwood neighbor who sent us the one in this report, during the aftermath of the attacking-pit-bulls-shot-by-police incident on Feb. 26. (Original coverage here; victim update here; dog-owner update here.) He writes:

We’re still struggling with the loose dog problem here in the Westwood Village neighborhood where Rosie the chihuahua and her owner were attacked last month. I wanted to ask if you could post the attached photo of two dogs running loose in the middle of Trenton Street 1/4 block from busy 16th Ave SW, along with the Animal Control number. These dogs are constantly allowed to roam free in the neighborhood. They do not appear to be dangerous animals, but they share their unsanitary droppings with all the neighbors and dig in yards and garbage cans. Also, they will one day cause a major traffic accident on 16th Ave SW. They have matted fur and look neglected. I hope that neighbors will call Animal Control and report these dogs for their own safety. I called this morning, but it usually takes 3-5 calls for Animal Control to do anything. The automated number is 206-386-7387 press 7 to report a loose dog. That is the LAST choice on the menu that you have to wait through, sheesh!

Here’s a map of 16th/Trenton (about a half-mile east of where the original attack/shooting incident happened). We’re checking with the Seattle Animal Shelter this afternoon regarding further followup on that original case, and will ask about policy on something like this.

Tonya March 12, 2008 (1:43 pm)

This really infuriates me. These dog owners just don’t get it. It’s their repsonsibility to keep their dogs contained safely. I wish they’d ticket these people or take the dogs from them and give them to a home that will take care of them.

animalover March 12, 2008 (3:22 pm)

Very much agree, however, perhaps someone should check and see if the dog owner in this case understands the situation. S/he could be elderly or infirm. If the dogs look neglected, there are support groups within WS animal rescue organizations that provide food, access to vet care for low income families. Please don’t condemn until you have all the facts.

Tippy March 12, 2008 (3:35 pm)

Why not gather them up and either call the owner or Animal Control to pick them up. I have tried this and on every occasion the owners are listed on the collars and they pick up pronto – usually with many thanks and apologies. Now mind you I didn’t try this with roaming pit bulls or lions, but you get the drift. We are all in this together.

PSPS March 12, 2008 (3:35 pm)

That’s a good point. I had an elderly couple next to me where I used to live, and they were in the habit of letting their dog outside in the morning when they got up. Then, later, the dog would be back and they’d let him in.

They really didn’t see anything wrong with it because they had been doing it FOR FIFTY YEARS (different dogs, of course.)

Of course, times had changed around them. So I built a nice fence around their back yard and all was well after that. I found it kind of endearing that this very nice elderly couple was still kind of living their lives as they had in the 50’s.

Delivery Dude March 12, 2008 (3:37 pm)

Who let the dogs out? Just call animal control and be done with it. No need to raise your blood pressure, people.

hiss March 12, 2008 (3:56 pm)

I don’t think that’s an excuse. If you are elderly or infirm, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong for neighbors to be annoyed at the way you are treating your dogs – especially if your dogs are running around where they can get hit by a car, and haven’t been brushed in so long their coats have matted. There’s NO excuse for that. You can still ask for help.

lazyanimalcontrolofficers March 12, 2008 (4:36 pm)

and on another note, just becuase the dogs dont look dangerous you never know. My brother in law was attacked by a Golden-doodle, although we still laugh at him to this day, he still has a scar on his stomach.

runforthehills March 13, 2008 (9:55 am)

Undoubtedly, loose dogs can be a hazard, and a public nuisance at the very least; however, does that justify the hysterics? Maybe the WSB could do a do a small piece on the proper way to deal with loose, and possibly dangerous dogs, rather than publish submitted emails as fodder for those with an ax to grind. I realize button-pushing journalism is one way to get eyeballs on the adverts, but does it really provide a service?

I Heart Jiggers! March 13, 2008 (12:48 pm)

I’ve contacted Animal Control twice regarding a neighbor who likes to walk the family dog by driving around the neighborhood chatting on her cellphone with the dog running unleashed around, in front of and behind her car (including thru blind alleys and intersections – and the dog is FAST!). It’s a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback whose only other walking is done occasionally by the family’s five-year-old who is as yet incapable of handling the dog or its excrement. Animal control has been out to visit and we haven’t seen the ‘around the car’ walk lately, but the kid keeps being sent out with this huge dog, no baggies and no supervision.

This is certainly not the level of risk of loose dogs, but Animal Control does make an effort to attend to our irresponsible dog-owning neighbors.

WestwoodWriter March 14, 2008 (2:11 pm)

to: runforthehills

Perhaps you didn’t read all the links above, but an elderly man and his small dog were attacked just a few blocks from where the attached photo was taken. The photo speaks for itself. Those dogs are running around in the middle of the street where elementary school kids walk to and from school. Would you mind elaborating on what is the “proper” way to deal with that. And, as an FYI, the same dogs are running around on 16th Ave SW today.

littlelostdog March 14, 2008 (11:28 pm)

today 6pm there was a cute little poodle running around by the roxy casino on roxbury! i hope someone claimed it!!! my bf wouldnt let me stop and help it… he was attacked by a yorkshire terrier and thinks all dogs are the demon!

kb March 15, 2008 (11:47 am)

i think these are the same dogs that I tried to find the owner for last summer. I was driving back from westcrest on Trenton, crossing over 16th when they darted out in traffic and were zigzagging back and forth all over the roads. I pulled over, tried to round them up to see if I could find where they lived (of course no tags!). This was on the corner of 17th and Trenton. The person who lived on the corner helped by getting some dog treats and getting them to come closer. They seemed like really sweet dogs looking for attention. I was worried though about the traffic and what might happen with dogs running across busy streets. Turns out one of the other neighbors knew the dogs (lived next door to their owner) and so we took them back there. I told the guy he should have tags on his dogs. his response…oh, they must of fallen off. Sounds like BS to me – both dogs? doubt that. Anyway, the neighbor told me they run around there a lot and ever since the owners had a baby, the dogs are sadly neglected. Shame! Two sweet dogs that are just looking for someone to pay attention to them and give them some exercise.

animalover March 16, 2008 (12:46 pm)

Thanks, kb. That’s the kind of useful information that can help determine what’s best for the dogs. So, what’s next? Like Tippy said, “we’re all in this together.” Animal Control can only do so much. Let’s try to help. Who will, the next time those dogs are loose, get them down to the Seattle Animal Shelter, and tell them the whole situation. Then either the owners will pay up, or the dogs will be released and be put up for adoption… and “button-pushing journalism” will work.

WSB March 16, 2008 (1:29 pm)

Missed the “button-pushing journalism” comment till now. We don’t do this to get “eyeballs on the adverts.” We sell adverts so we can do this 20 hours a day, rather than 10 hours wrapped around another 10-hour job, because there seems to be a need for it – people who didn’t have anywhere before to share REAL-TIME information and concerns about everything that’s happening in their part of town, the good, the bad, and the ugly. It seems to make something of a difference in some cases, whether it’s five more people showing up at a school book sale because they read about it here, or the DOT getting a paving crew over to “Bruno” the megapothole because a lot of very public noise got made about it. And yes, loose dogs in a neighborhood are important too. The story about the dogs that attacked various residents before police shot them made it into every citywide broadcast/paper – in this case, maybe neighborhood-level exposure will lead to a solution for the problem before another attack puts more people in the hospital and sends the citywide media barking back over here again.

WSB March 16, 2008 (1:31 pm)

P.S.
206/386-PETS is the city hotline for reporting urgent problems involving animals.
http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/ServiceRequest/ServiceRequest.asp
That page lists exactly what should be called in to that hotline, and what should be reported via an online form on that same page instead.

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