Got a call today from a "friendly competitor". He told me earlier this week he was going to Busch Gardens (Virginia) today. He said he had a regular customer whose husband owns one of the successful communications companies in my area who called him about some spilled paint. He is almost to Williamsburg, can I help her out? Sure, be glad to. We often help each other out, so no problem. He gives me directions. She's actually at one of her friend's houses, painting the baby's room while her friend is at the hospital having said baby. She knocked over a bucket of paint. I tell her what to do until I can get there. As I am on my way, I call her. She had to leave and is on the way back. I pull up in the driveway and there sits this back black dog. No problem, I'll wait for her to get there. As she pulls in, the 2 huge, and I mean huge, Rottweilers from across the street join her as well as some other mutt from somewhere. As she gets out, the Rotts come up to my van and begin to bark and growl and one starts biting my tire as he was doing earlier when I was trying to find the house while driving by on the street (obviously I had already met these 2 "friendly" dogs). She gets out and says come on. I very politely tell her I am not exiting the vehicle until the dogs are put away. There is an outside pen for the owner's dog. It's not my responsibility nor my job to shoo away the other dogs (I didn't say that, just thought it). I also tell her I have been bitten by dogs "who don't bite". I'm also thinking, "lady, you don't even live here, nor do you own any of these dogs. How can you say they don't bite?" I'm also still looking at Rott # 1 who's standing by my door still barking and growling. She says that something needs to be done and that she has places to be and this paint needs to be removed. She says she will just call someone else. I tell her very nicely that I am sorry for the inconvenience, but that I am not getting out of the van and I'll be happy to call someone for her, which I do.
For me, it's different if you own the dog. I know the chances are good that I'm okay and that the dog is gonna listen to you. I have a friend that has an extremely aggressive Boxer. He cannot control the dog. I don't visit him unless the dog is in the back yard locked up. I have watched this dog go after several people, and I'm not gonna be one of 'em.
Anyway, so now she's angry and my buddy is probably gonna be too. But ya know what? I don't care about this one. If this had been a prospect, I'd probably have swallowed the bullet and gotten out and taken my chances. I'm not gonna get bitten because my buddy ain't here. Maybe that's a bad attitude, but my attitude changes profoundly when I see a bad dog that you don't own!
Thanks. Just wanted to vent.

She must have figured that it's not her house, if you get bitten she doesn't get sued. If the customer wants to get mad and has no regard for the safety of others, you don't need that customer. What is so hard about putting away their dogs?

Trust me a dog bite is no party, I was also bit by a dog the didn't bite.

I had to get one week of IV antibiotics, damm dog got me on my right hand wrist.

It was a smart move on your part.

yep, you chose wisely. i'd have done the same thing...i definitely have a healthy fear of animals.

thanx --- Derek.

I've never had a fear of dogs. A friend had a MEAN Rot. I came by one day and the dog is barking like she means business, so I stuck my hand right into her mouth and started playing with her. The owner was shocked and said.. "I've NEVER seen anybody do that with her before". No fear! Or was it bo brains? I'm not sure.

Well last year when my fearless self got bit by a Pit Bull. And now a little common sense has slipped into my silly fearless brain. I now give strange dogs their space.

You did the right thing. If the dog was biting at your tires he obviously didn't like the way your truck was lettered. His owner must have been one of your competitors.




Rick Gelinas
encapman

any of ya's ever watch the "Dog Whisperer" on cable? can't recall the channel, maybe Discovery or Animal Planet. now THAT dude is crazy!