[Jeff Higgins]

One of my old hunting partners is having trouble with a pit bull in his neighborhood. He lives in a newly developed "nice" part of town that, unfortunately, borders a not so nice part of town. One of his "neighbors" from the "other side of the tracks" lets his un-neutered male just run loose. It's about three to four years old, in the prime of its life, and clearly sowing his wild oats and establishing his territory. He is very aggressive towards other animals (that are fenced in their own yards) and, unfortunately, people (who are not fenced in their own yards). It's attacked my buddy three times now. He has been successful in fending it off so far, with everything from a shovel to a 10 pound maul, but he's gotten tired of having to be on alert for this thing every time he goes outside.

There is a school bus stop right in front of his house. He has not seen the dog around when the kids are waiting in the morning, nor when they get home in the afternoon. He has now taken to watching from his front porch, with a rifle just out of sight but within easy reach.

He is going to kill this dog. He has said as much, and I've known him long enough to believe him. He has spoken with its meth head owners on several occasions, and has made it clear that since they have not been listening, have done nothing to keep their dog from wandering, that he is now down to killing it the very next time he sees it out. They don't know him well enough to believe him...

The police have been out not only when he calls, but when neighbors have called as well. He made it clear to the last officer who came out that he will kill the dog the very next time he sees it loose. Got no real response from the officer. Nothing changes.

This dog is an imminent threat; it would be a shame to wait until someone got hurt, like one of the school children. My buddy won't. He grew up in old school rural America, where there remain hard and fast rules for such things. He gave the owners a couple of chances. He gave the authorities a couple of chances. He was clear in his expectations, and his intent if those were not met. I just spoke with him this afternoon. Hell, I bet it's dead already.