So Called Service Maulers and Their Owners.

from a guest blogger...


Today was beautiful; sunny, clear, blue sky, 65 degrees and crisp. As one of the first great days in a region famous for half a year of chilly rain, everyone was out enjoying the day.

This is how I found out we have not one, not two, not three,  FOUR " Service Dogs" for "emotional support". Naturally, ALL are pit bulls.  There may be more, as there are 150 apartments, these are just the ones I saw outdoors TODAY.

There is huge white Am Bull in another building, and a (never leashed) boxer in the front. They probably have ADA excuses too as dogs this size are restricted, as are ALL dogs over #35, and under one yr old. ALL of these people moved in without their pit bull "service dogs". This way they cannot be denied upfront; once they have a lease, they get maulers.

Did I mention these are small apartments, in a densely populated area, with no yards, and no fences between buildings or around playgrounds? It's park-like, which used to be wonderful, now it's a liability.

As far as landlords go, these "pets w vests" are the same as a guide dog by state law, and they cannot discriminate by size or breed if they get a prescription. I was told lots of liberal docs will write one for anything, and we all know you can buy one online for about $65. Their hands are tied. I think this is a new law, because when I moved in, and until a few months ago, I never saw a big dog, certainly not a pit bull, living here. It was great, my small kids could play freely, like I did at that age, my cat could be outdoors unmolested by grippers. It was an oasis, now ruined by the selfish pit owners. I feel I can not be outdoors without hovering over my kids, fully armed. My only hope is that these people will move, turnover is very high here.

Management is just as frustrated and angry as me. I'm not the only person complaining for once, though most are apathetic, or think pits are great/no worry. Site Manager tells me what to document to get them evicted, and he hopes I do it. Corporate is involved now, and this is one of the biggest landlords in the area. They realize the liability is huge, which is why they restricted bigger dogs to begin with! They admitted it will likely take a tragedy to make changes to this law, if at all. (NOT TO ME, NOT TO MINE.)

Now on to the resident "Emotional Support Monsters"...

One apartment in my own building has a red nosed APBT puppy, already big at 7mo. These 2 owners are fit, young, clean cut, Mexican men in their late 20's/early 30's. They can at least control a large, strong dog, keep it leashed, and have appropriate harnesses, etc. They go to work all day leaving "service dog" home... They walk it a few times, otherwise I never see it.

*Their backdoor opens to the playground, and is 10' from it.*

The Second family, has TWO 4 mo old maulers. They are a young, low income, white trash couple w bad tats, stretched earlobes, plus their kids, and the young grandparents. Supposedly mutts, one dog is all pit, the other has a touch of lab, but are related.

One gripper belongs a 9yr old, to "emotionally support" her, so "she stops pulling her hair out". She can barely control a puppy, let alone a full size, raging mauler! The other mutt belongs to the entire family. Each tenant can have their very own service mauler, so I am lucky they have 2 of them not 6. I am unclear about the excuse they used.

*Their door also opens about 50' off the playground, and right to an area where 15+ small kids play, and ride bikes, daily.*

BOTH of these are within sight of one of my doors.

The FOURTH is the worst by far.

This is a mid 30's, white man, tatted up with job stoppers and huge stretched earrings. He lives with his 5yr old daughter, whom roams outside for hours unattended, playing on other peoples patios. Not sure who else lives there.

When asked how he was allowed to keep such a dog, he bragged to me that "there are ways to get around the rules". He did not care that people choose to live there because of the restrictions, to avoid such animals. (Typical pit nutter)

*His back door opens to another building where a lady has an after school kids club. 10+ kids play daily with other small animals. Same apartment is housing a stray and feral TNR and rescue.* The cat population may be out of control, but I don't want the well cared for, s/n cats, torn apart- especially in front of kids.  (The "slow kill" city refuses to PTS, or shelter, all ferals or strays. It's horrible. More on how slow kill is inhumane, and causes maulings later.)

Now, In the category of YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS SHIT UP....

Earlier, I was at the apartment above with my kids, and the club was in session, pets and are everywhere. Nutter comes over, and my friend asks him how he got to keep this dog, and tells him it makes me uncomfortable. He says it's a service dog, for emotional support. Of course. She asks what it is trained to do- she has one that retrieves medicine and other practical things, as she has severe spinal defects.
GET THIS- the dog "helped him through a rough break up, when he almost broke down."

That's it! GTFO. I ask him to keep his mauler away from my kids (which are there).

Then, he goes home, and brings the HUGE mauler out, barely able to control it, with all the kids there. I ask him again to stay the F away from my kids, point them out, He says he will.

**He said he just wanted me to meet the dog, so I would be reassured it's ok.**

I said NO THANKS, please get that thing outta here, if you were ripped up like I was, you wouldn't want them around either. He tells me he got his forehead and part of scalp tore off by a pit, but "it's not the breed! Its the owner" so it's OK!!! OMGF- uber nutter.

As I stare is disbelief, he repeats that he just wanted to reassure me, about 5x.

Then the ladies small legit service dog comes up to say hi to Mauler, the dogs have been friendly to each other for a while now.

AND, PREDICTABLY, THE PIT BULL ATTACKS THE SMALL, OLD DOG!!!!!!! RIGHT IN FRONT OF 12 KIDS.

Owner choke chains the dog quickly, and manages to get gripper off before he locks on. He drags it off while I shout "WOW! HOW VERY REASSURING! THANKS!" The small dog limps away, with a hurt leg, but ends up OK- LUCKY. Several kids were terrified, one so much she climbed the tree to escape (smart kid).

THAT'S WHAT ALLOWING SERVICE PIT BULLS BRINGS YOU, THANKS TO ALL THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.