08 August 2008

K-9 Attack

Last night ranks as one of our scariest events since we've been married, and this is only a summary of what happened. Anyone wanting the full report, email me and I'll send it to you.
When we got home from our Family Day celebrating Em's b-day, we let Hannah out, as always, to use the bathroom. Eric asked me to come and watch them while he unloaded the car. When I walked outside, Hannah had already left the property and was at the next door neighbor's back porch. I called her and she started coming back. However, when she entered the ring of light our back porch was giving off, I noticed that another larger dog was in hot pursuit. About 10 feet from our back porch (and, therefore, 10 feet from where Emily was standing), this strange dog attacked Hannah and pinned her to the ground. I scooped Emily up and ran inside.
The fight continued and Eric came through the house. Both of us were yelling at the dogs and trying to coax Hannah to escape and find safety in our home. We put Emily in her room, as we didn't need her to get involved, while we tried to take care of this situation. Eric shot the BB gun at the dog while the other owner shouted for us not to do anything and that "His supervisor" told him that if the dog got in a fight, to stay out of it and just let it play out. It was also at this point that he informed us that this was a police K-9. Well, Hannah was not in a fight. She was being attacked and basically submitted to the onslaught.
All the sudden, Hannah was free and running towards the house. She came in, but we weren't able to shut the door before the offending dog following in after her. The fight continued in the house, mainly in our kitchen.
Blood was everywhere and we couldn't get the dog off of Hannah. The owner was not going to interfere and every time we did something to break it up, he'd tell us not to get involved again. Eric and I were both in closer proximity to the dogs than this guy was. Fearing that this K-9 was going to not only kill Hannah, but do it in our kitchen, I screamed for Eric to go get the shovel. He went into the garage and came back with a crowbar. Good choice. In the confined space of the kitchen, a shovel wouldn't have been nearly effective unless Eric was able to knock the other dog out with the first blow.
Eric was definitely guided in his protection of his home and family as he used the crowbar not as a weapon, but as a tool. He hooked the end around the dog's neck and lifted her. Hannah escaped only to have the dog get unhooked and attack her again before we could get her into the garage. Eric crowbarred the dog again and Hannah escaped into the garage, me shutting the door and latching it behind her. At this point, the dog was able to get loose again and started to hunt through the house (dripping blood all over the house...hardwood floors, carpet, walls and doors) searching for her prey again.
Eric shouted for me to get out of the way, at which point I clambered onto the kitchen counter/bar. At this point, the dog leaves the house...and the owner/handler (as we only discovered after he returned that he was a police officer and part of the K-9 unit and that this was his partner) never gave a command nor took hold of her in any way.
Hannah is okay. The Macon City vet is coming this afternoon to treat her. They already brought out antibiotics and collected our (3 page) police report. The K-9 supervisor and the Lieutenant of the Macon Police came out last night to take our initial statement and photos of the damage. Hannah was really good with them and only barked as a protector but didn't lash out at them. Pictures do not establish the real terror of all the blood and the event, but at least you can see a little why we spent over 2 hours cleaning up the blood last night before finally getting to bed around 1 am.

3 comments:

Ryan said...

I cannot say how UPSET I am over this for you! Since I am only a law student and not a lawyer, I am not allowed to give you any legal advice, but as a friend to another.

First - Call Internal Affairs! They are in the phone book, and make sure that you call the one that covers the Macon Police Dept, and not the Sheriffs Office. I happen to know the Sheriff's Deputy of Twiggs county and he said that Internal Affairs will definitely open an investigation on the officer. He said that they opened a case up on him because someone he pulled over complained that he called his truck "dumpy". So CALL.

Second - The police dept is going to try to minimize the situation and scare you into not taking any further action (i.e. saying that you will be cited, or that Hannah might be put down, etc). DON'T LISTEN TO IT. There may be a SLIM chance that something like that might happen, but they will make it sound like it is certain to happen.

Third - Keep all your pictures. Keep (and ask for) copies of everything that the Vets do and conclude.

Fourth - if you decide to get an attorney, then consider seriously going to mediation with the police dept instead of filing a case. It is VERY hard to sue a government entity without spending tons of money. And even then, it may not even be possible. Mediation will reconcile the interests of both parties and be MUCH quicker and MUCH cheaper.

Fifth - I would call the local news agencies and tell them your story. The last thing the police dept will want is for this story to go public, especially if Internal Affairs is involved. I hear MADE FOR TV MOVIE COMING. ;-)

Sixth - Let us know if there is anything we can do! We are just glad that it wasn't worse.

Lori said...

i'm sooo sorry!!! how scary and upsetting!!! what a nightmare!!!! i hope hannah heals quickly!!

The Doctors Wife said...

Oh my gosh! I can't believe the neighbor didn't do anything. I'd be suing or something. That is just rediculous. Next time turn a hose on them or keep shooting the dog. Don't you have a right to protect your property? not only that, the K-9 wasn't on duty right?
Before I was born my family had a white toy poodle. The neighbors basset hound decided to attack the poodle. They did nothing to stop it all the while my parents were trying to break it up. Our dog ended up being killed. How did Emily handle all of this?