This happened to me on Thursday night and I posted it on fishtown.us. Hoping to get more information about this dog/owner:

Has anyone else had a problem with the Pit Bull who lives at 1813 Memphis Street? Last night the renter there apparently left her door open or the door was open somehow and her dog barreled down Montgomery Avenue and attacked my 14 year old Australian Shepherd/Collie Mix/love of my life, Walden. She claims this dog has never biten anyone but yet screamed out when she saw her coming out of the house...and when I asked her why she would scream, she said because she saw me and my dogs right around the corner. It doesn't exactly add up.

We spent the evening in the Penn Veterinary ER and they had to amputate half of Walden's ear in addition to obviously taking a huge risk of anethesia with such an old dog (the older the dog, the more the risk) but luckily he did fine. I picked him up at 6am from surgery and it's noon and he still can't keep his tongue in his mouth, he's drooling, he's whimpering and just keeps looking at me like I failed him. He's going to have to be on opiates for a week...and he has so many sutures that he will require sedation again to have them removed in a few weeks.

I'm beside myself...missing work today and god only knows for how long...he's mad about being hurt and bumping into walls...took off when I got him out of the car and ran 5 houses before collapsing. It's just so sad for something that didn't need to happen.

Does anyone else know this dog, this woman or the situation? I have no doubt in my mind that if Walden was a child that the dog would have bitten the child and probably killed the child. As it was, it took 3 adults to get this dog off Walden.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

Sorry to hear about your dog, I hope he gets better soon. Are you going to go after her for the vet bill?

Sorry to hear that Brooke. As a dog lover I feel your pain. I'm vaguely familiar with the dog but am unsure I can offer much information. I hear him more than see him but will keep an eye out. Feel free to PM for any info.

She has offered to pay the bill, yes. Unfortunately the real damage can't be quantified...I'm going to struggle with not freaking out every time I walk my dogs...my other dog was so freaked out he attacked the door when we were in the ER and I know from reading dog psychology that if I'm freaked out and scared, either they will be too or become aggressive.

Walden's ears are ridiculously cute as well--they're by far the most expressive part about him and I think I'm going to pass out when his head bandage comes off.

To listen to this 14 year old, defenseless partially senile and deaf dog cry makes me hurt so badly I cannot tell you. To carry him up and down the stairs because his sense of equilibrium is off...to watch for signs of infection and to have to go through another sedation in a few weeks...a yearly camping trip next week that I have to cancel...

...I am so angry I can't even tell you. The worst part was that given this dog's nature, the quickness of the attack and the strength it took to remove this dog, the operating surgeon at Penn said we were really lucky--that had the dog attacked Walden's neck or any other part of his body...well, let's just say we were lucky.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

I sort of know how you feel.
My last dog was attacked by 3 dogs that broke off their leashes. Luckily, there were small and she was big. She did not defend herself at all but for the rest of her days... she was dog aggressive. She was okay with dogs that we had time to socialize her with, but horrible with the "run up and sniff" type neighbor dogs.
It was very difficult and I hope your dog has not lost that trust.
best wishes on a quick recovery...

Brooke - so sorry to hear! Will keep you, Walden, and your other dog in my prayers!

Brooke, I am so sorry to hear about your dog. I have three dogs, several years ago when my oldest was just about one he was attacked by a bigger dog, and he has never really recovered. He wouldn't hurt another dog, but the second a dog acts aggressive towards him he freaks out and gets defensive.

Brooke, I am so sorry to hear about this. I hope Walden recovers quickly.

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Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. -- Justice Louis D. Brandeis

That is horrible. I have not had that issue on Memphis, but I did have two dogs attack my dog as the renter opened her door on Thompson between Berks and Montgomery across from the school.
Now I am more on edge during walks.

There is no excuse for Irresponsible pet owners who allow this to happen.
I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Teri,
I know that dog too--it's the dog that is sometimes in the fence next to the open lot, right? The cream stucco duplex? I have never seen that dog loose but that dog is not a friendly one...nor is the beautiful Rottweiler that lives in the house with the gated driveway...that dog apparently attacked another dog too.

We had our first walk this afternoon--no fear, a different path...and as always, treats at the end.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach