Woman Uses Pepper Spray To Defend Herself From Pit Bull, Now Its Owners Are Threatening Legal Action

Edit: their dog was off leash.

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• October 18, 2023

In the quiet neighborhood of North Denver, a recent incident has stirred up concerns about pet safety and legal matters. OP, a petite woman with her small Shiba Inu, was taking her routine stroll near her home when an unexpected and potentially dangerous encounter occurred.

As OP walked past an elementary school with picnic areas, she noticed a couple about 25 yards away. Suddenly, a massive pitbull came charging toward her. The intentions of the dog were unclear, and OP had good reason to be concerned for her safety and that of her 17-pound Shiba Inu.

Having experienced a dog bite before and aware of the potential danger, OP swiftly reached for her trusty can of police-grade pepper spray. With a quick burst, she managed to deter the pitbull, which began coughing and appeared distressed.

The owner of the pit bull, in a state of distress herself, confronted OP, demanding to know what had happened and threatening to involve the police. The situation took an unexpected turn when the pitbull's owners claimed over a thousand dollars in vet bills, alleging that their dog "might go blind" due to the incident.

Despite the threats from the dog's owners, OP was hesitant to take responsibility for the medical costs. Now, OP finds herself in a potentially legal predicament, as the dog's owner has mentioned that her husband is a lawyer and intends to take legal action.

With her past traumatic experiences with dog attacks, OP remains apprehensive about the situation and wonders about the likely outcome if they end up in court.

OP strolled with his Shiba Inu through a residential neighborhood in the northern part of Denver, following the local leash laws unless there were specific exemptions.

During a walk, a pitbull approached OP, and out of fear, OP used pepper spray to deter it. The owner became upset and later claimed vet bills, threatening legal action.

OP is scared and doesn't want to deal with this

She may have to testify in court about letting the unleashed dog roam, which could lead to legal consequences.

Staying to witness the situation and call the police could have helped document the dog being off-leash

If their dog was running loose and charging at someone who used pepper spray in self-defense, it's unlikely they would have a strong case in court.

Without a leash, no legal case is likely.

The OP should present the situation plainly: a loose pitbull aggressively approached her and her dog, leading to her feeling threatened.

She's unlikely to win the case; her dog should have been leashed and controlled

Threatening a lawsuit doesn't always lead to a filed case.

OP has no obligations to them.

If a dog is off-leash, it's likely against leash laws, making the owner responsible

OP should not let her worries consume her. She acted out of fear for her safety and the safety of her small dog, making a responsible decision by using pepper spray to protect herself when faced with an unleashed pitbull charging toward her.

It's essential to remember that she did not do anything wrong in this situation. The responsibility for this incident lies with the owners of the unleashed pitbull, who allowed their dog to roam freely in an area where leash laws were in effect.

Their failure to control their dog's behavior and ensure it was on a leash in a non-designated off-leash area is a clear violation of local regulations. Given these circumstances, it seems highly unlikely that the owners of the pitbull would have a strong case in court.

Their claims may not hold up, especially since OP was acting in self-defense, and her actions were a direct response to the threat posed by the unleashed dog.

Damjan