To the Editor:
I thought the only bad thing that could happen to me on the beach would be not to find shells for my collection:
A big surprise this morning.
I delight every morning at the prospect of letting my 2 rescue dogs run free and have fun on the beach with me soaking up the beauty of it all.
There seems to be an unwritten code with dogs on the beach. Leash your dog if it is not friendly and beware…Let your dogs run free if they are the social and friendly type.
This morning was a shock.
My dog Roxy Girl was attacked by a PIT BULL…the lady who was the owner did not have her girl pit bull on a leash and it went right for my dogs… my dog Roxy was caught in the pit bull’s mouth and it was attacking the neck… the dog owner lady could not get her dog free of my poor dog… I screamed with horror to have her get her dog off… she was trying but could not for a long time. I feared the worst after she struggled to free my dog.
There was no blood that I could see… I carried her off the beach to examine her more closely. .. it appeared that she was scared and no blood.
The dog owner,. a lady with blondish hair, got her dog and left the beach… heading up towards Pitman … I was so shaken by this event that I can no longer be free of worry for fear a stupid dog owner that has a fierce dog will attack in the future.
Please find a way to tell the story and locate that woman and her attack pit bull dog.
The dog was tan and white… a long tail and I think it was a girl dog.
Please warn all unsuspecting dog owners.
BEVERLEE FISHER
Ocean Grove, NJ. Jan. 25, 2012
I was standing in my doorway and a dog walker walked by my house. She let the dog poo then started to walk away! I said “Excuse ME!!! Do you need a bag to pick that up?” She just shrugged and with her own bag walked back and picked it up. Didnt say a word. What nerve. Dogs are fine…people are rude! I try to keep my dog off peoples yards and utilize the public green spaces. Its the right thing to do…
I’m with you, Crazy. My husband calls it going out on Poop Patrol; always make sure you have enough bags for your own dog, and the five or six poops that must be too heavy for the “responsible” party. On two separate occasions, I had to clean up after another dog … *right in front of a bag dispenser!*
Gee…I would just be happy if owners would pick up the poop! So tired of wasting my bags on other people’s dogs….no pun intended.
Kathleen Reilly… I cannot believe that you say socializing dogs early is a bad thing! WIth many years of dog park experience I would strongly disagree with your generalization about inattentive owners at dog parks, especially at the Monmouth Parks. Google “socializing your dog” and you’ll see tons of links about “correcting” unsocialized adult dogs because people didn’t expose puppies to the real world.
Its great that you foster dogs… don’t you appreciate getting a social dog versus an anti-social one? BTW, the only bad experience I have had with a dog attacking my dog at Thompson Park was with a standard size poodle. The owner couldn’t have been more indifferent. Perhaps that breed is trouble.
On my walks around town, I observe a lot of dog behavior and owners who don’t sense when maybe they and their dog should steer clear of other dogs and owners. They should even be careful walking near yards. There is a red setter that leaps at his fence and barks and growls like an attack dog on one of the side streets. All it took was for him to leap at me once to cause me to walk on the other side of the street. Maybe dog owners should ask from a distance if the other dog is friendly then approach carefully not just assume that dogs nice or not are going to get along. About the beach, leash at all times -it is a law. A dog park would be good and, with hope, safety for all animals involved.
ahhhh, didn’t work. Just type in Fishermen’s Cove Conservation Area in Google Maps and do the same for Thompson Park. You can also find both of them on the Monmouth County Par System website. I found this:
http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2521
and Thompson Park:
http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2539
Sorry, Nancy. I mentioned it with the assumption that people knew about it. Now I’m going to be adding another person to the crowds there that I complain of. Grrr. Just kidding. I’m going to try and link you to it on Google maps and from there you can get directions. Actually, here it is with the directions included. I think this should work:
http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1CHLA_enUS433US433&q=clark+ave+ocean+grove&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89c22636be49f30b:0xc71663cb22390cd1,Clark+Ave,+Ocean+Grove,+NJ+07756&gl=us&ei=idElT_O7PLGL0QHNqpTqCA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA
and here is Thompson Park:
http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1CHLA_enUS433US433&q=clark+ave+ocean+grove&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89c22636be49f30b:0xc71663cb22390cd1,Clark+Ave,+Ocean+Grove,+NJ+07756&gl=us&ei=idElT_O7PLGL0QHNqpTqCA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA
Wolf Hill?? Thompson?? And now Fisherman’s Cove??? Please people, do tell. Details, please!
I agree, Kathleen. Places such as Fisherman’s Cove have become social centers where dogs run free. I love dogs and I don’t care if your dog comes up to me at all, but I don’t speak for everyone. It’s also kind of a shame that you can’t get any privacy there anymore since it’s the official dog beach of Monmouth County now. People come there from all over.
Sal, Good points, all. Especially about observing and asking. But where is Wolf Hill? And Thompson?
In regard to dog parks, Sal said, “get them to a park early for socialization skills”
I could not disagree with you more. I have forty years plus experience as a professional in the dog world: as a groomer and pet sitter for pure bred and mixed dogs; a breeder; an exhibitor in conformation and obedience; and finally and most importantly, in fostering homeless dogs.
In the best of all possible worlds, what you say would be absolutely true. However, in today’s world, too many pet owners meet up at dog parks for HUMAN socialization and completely ignore looking after their dogs. There have been many incidents of HUMANS becoming aggressive toward one another after someone has neglected to watch their dog.
I stopped going to dog parks years ago because the percentage of irresponsible attendees was much too high. Add to this the number of families that have dogs of inappropriate temperament or size for their lifestyle ( and perhaps those who should not have a dog at all), and we have a recipe for disaster.
Miss Lisa… You are missing some key information regarding the dog parks. They have strict rules that are enforced by the owners themselves. All dogs over 6 months of age MUST be neutered to have access. Within seconds of an un-fixed dog entering the park all the dogs begin acting differently and the “regulars” start looking for the outlaw owner. When this rule, something unenforceable on the beach, is followed I’ve never seen a problem in six years at either Thompson or Wolf Hill. Also, there is enforcement and monitoring of any bites (of dogs or humans) with the park rangers always within ten minutes of either park. Owners don’t bring food in, little children are encouraged to sit outside or perhaps enjoy the small dog areas. Dog parks are GREAT for both the dogs and owners and are much safer than a random dog wandering the beach or even Main Ave. Ocean County charges a small annual fee and has on-site rangers. Monmouth has yet to do that but has considered it.
For people thinking of buying a dog: Head to a dog park and watch the dogs interact and ask about the personalities of the breeds. Its a great way to become familiar before making a commitment. Get them to a dog park early for socialization skills too, that’s important for the dog’s comfort too.
Nancy, since our dogs have had a great play date together, I would have to agree!
My guess is that Bev’s dog would have been worse off if she had been leashed. More “trapped.” And the dog park is of interest because our dogs are off the beach as of May 1. And every dog should be treated with respect as potential problems, but the mindset and physical strength of some make them a much greater risk. Finally, legal recourse? Really. An odd leap.
I, for one, am very grateful that our beaches are a playground for dogs for a few months every year. It’s a priceless gift.
A partial clip from http://www.dogbitelaw.com
” The problem with statistics
The conclusions that we draw about dangerous canines is derived from what we know about them. Our information primarily comes from our own random experiences, accounts of friends and family, and what we pick up from our culture. Norman Rockwell, the movie “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off,” and countless works of entertainment have presented dog attacks as being prosaic or even great fun. Less often, we are exposed to media accounts, governmental studies, lawmakers’ arguments, reports from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control, and the opinions of experts who have conducted original research.
Unfortunately, however, there are serious gaps in the data on this subject, leaving our assumptions and conclusions open to doubt. One of the most serious deficiencies pertains to the nature of the particular attack, meaning whether it was an angry assault, a playful turn of the head that resulted in a tooth catching the victim’s skin, or something in between. In some cases, we are more interested in vicious attacks and less interested in pure accidents.
I hope your pup is ok!
However, it is very important that ALL dogs be leashed for this reason. I know it is a wonderful sight for all to see the pups romping and playing on the beach, but it can be a tragedy in the end. Most dog owners are responsible-but it just takes one irresponsible owner to make the day tragic.
As far as singling out one breed of dog, I thing that is just too “simple.” I have a boxer dog in my neighborhood that practically takes the owner for a “drag” every morning and snarls at every dog walking on the other side of the road. If this dog were to get away from it’s owner, my two little Shih Tzus would be dead in an instant. The dog is not trained, the owner has no clue and even though the police have visited the house to chat with the owner, nothing can be done until a terrible incident happens.
As far as suggestions to go to a dog park, I think your animal can be placed at the same risk as on a beach and if anything did happen you would probably have no legal recourse at the dog park.
C,
Where is Wolf Hill?
I’m hoping the OG “dog park” comes to fruition. I don’t want to have to drive to a dog park. Once I’m in OG for the weekend, I stay put, except for one outing to Wegmans. But I digress …
Bring your dog to Wolf Hill… HUGE area and the people there are friendly (as are the dogs)…picnic tables and you can just sit there and hang out while your dog goes off to be social. I’d like to know more about this “dog park” coming to OG? Or is that a rumor…
This is just a dose of reality to pop some dog-owners’ fantasy bubble:
“Pit bulls” are just that. They were selectively bred to fight and kill each other in dogpits. No amount of gentle handling can erase this genetic characteristic of the breed. Ms Fisher is only lucky the pitbull attacked her dog, and not herself. Even though pit bulls make up less than 5% of the US dog population, last year they were responsible for 71% of human fatalities (22) due to dog attack. 7 of 8 instances last year in which a dog killed its owner involved pit bulls. “Family dogs” comprised 65% of the attacks that resulted in death. They can, without warning, attack and kill adults, children or infants.
Pit bulls should not be bred or sold. The breed should be allowed to die out. It’s a crime that this animal is so popular when truly gentle companion dogs like the English Setter are fading away.
I am so sorry to hear about this pit bull attack. Maybe you should get your dog checked by the vet just to make sure that its throat wasn’t injured by the bite force of the pit bull.
Something like this happened to my parents but in another state when they were travelling last winter. Mom had taken her two small dogs behind the pet friendly motel where they were staying. No one else was around. Out of nowhere a pit bull came bounding down the parking lot, and immediately went for the dogs. Mom’s dogs took off in different directions but that didn’t stop the pit bull from attacking first one then the other. Mom managed to pull the pit bull off one of her dogs and in doing so the pit bull pulled out of his collar. Its owners came driving down the parking lot, picked up their dog and drove off. Both of Mom’s dogs were injured, one with a ripped open nose and one with a broken jaw. Thankfully they were not killed (being small dogs) but even today they still are afraid of large dogs. My parents never found out who the pit bull’s owners were since they weren’t even staying at the motel. And thankfully Mom wasn’t injured when she was knocked down by the pit bull.
Isn’t it strange that 9 times out of 10 when there has been a dog attack, it is usually a pit bull doing the attacking?
There is another county run dog park a little closer than Thompson Park (located just west of Brookdale College) and its over next to Monmouth Park race track in Oceanport. Wolf Hill Park offers almost three times the open running area as Thompson Park and also has gazebos for shade. A nice side benefit is that, because of prevailing breezes, its always 10 degrees cooler than Thompson Park. Both parks have separate pens for 1) under 35 pound dogs and 2) any size dog.
I too, allow my dog to run on the beach when it is empty. He is only 8 months old and incredibly sweet, not a pit bull. However, because I am afraid of what happened to you, I always have treats with me and as soon as I see someone on the horizon with a dog or otherwise, I leash the dog. When the person passes, with or without a dog (some free roaming, some not) we usually ask how old the dogs are and if they are social. We have had some great impromptu play dates on the beach with other responsible owners who understand temperament. plus, the treats help in refocusing their attention when they get excited. I am so glad your dog was unharmed. We need a “dog beach” or dog park here. It only makes sense.
agree
all dogs need to be on a leash… but it seems so wonderful for them to be able to run free….
I understand there will be a dog park soon at the north end of ocean grove beach….
can not wait…
funny thing happened today.
a man was walking his dog on a “clothes line”
his dog was friendly…… however ran around me while playing with my dogs around and around me …. practically tying me up for a big fall.
that was just before the Pit Bull incident…
the sun really was shining ……in spite of it all…
OMG…I’m sorry to hear this happened to you and your dog. Thank God your pooch is physically ok. I believe that the owners of these dogs need to know how to raise and train them properly…not all are vicious.
Keep your dog on a leash. Anything else is irresponsible.
Thompson Park in Lincroft has two dog runs. It’s a wonder that people do so well unleashed; you’re expecting a lot more of dogs. Plus it is against the law.
Most ‘specialty breeds,’ unlike the ‘average types,’ require a great deal of training and specialized care. Owners are ultimately responsible for their pets’ actions. A few years ago, a pit bull and its owner lived a few doors down from me. It was one of the most delightful dogs to be around. Gentle and playful, a friend to all with what could only be called a sweet demeanor without a mean ‘bone in her body.’ On the next block was another pit bull that was completely opposite. Very scary, very unpleasant reflecting the demeanor of it’s owner. I take what will probably be the unpopular stance of keeping dogs leashed all the time while out. Free roaming pets will not be subject to other less friendly pets or intimidate or bother other people that aren’t as pet friendly.
Just so everyone is aware, Neptune Township requires all dogs to be leashed in all public and quasi-public places, i.e., the privately owned beach. While some people may feel like their dogs are “good” dogs, you are in violation of Neptune code and could be cited by our Police Department.
I understand this is a scary situation, but if both individuals had been complying with the law, this attack could have been avoided.
5-3.3 Leashing Required.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit it to be upon the public streets or in any of the public places of the Township unless the dog is accompanied by a person over the age of twelve (12) years and is securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash not more than six (6′) feet long. (Ord. No. 264 § 21)
Same thing happened to a friend of mine at the AP Dog beach. Pit Bull came very close to killing her pup. I know people adopt them from shelters and I’ve even thought of doing it myself, but they are too unpredictable. Also for those who have pit bulls, its increasingly hard to obtain house or apartment insurance. More companies either will not insure you at all, or charge you a higher rate if you own one. If you have adopted a pit bull, I suggest calling your insurance company right away. If your dog attacks, and you get sued, your insurance company has the right to NOT cover you because you failed to let them know you adopted a pit bull.
i hope this incident was reported to the police…with a description of the woman and her dog
This is not the first such story I’ve heard about this breed of dog. I’m convinced that it’s almost criminally irresponsible to own pit bulls, to breed them, and certainly to allow them out among the public. They are really scary animals — which, unfortunately, seems to be part of the reason for their popularity.
Certain breeds such as pit bulls should ALWAYS be on a leash when outside..no ifs ands or buts