Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - update regarding dog attacks (+just impunity for....)

update regarding dog attacks (+just impunity for....) (reply)

LadyM in Zihua — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:04:06 +0000

Locals just use rocks. It's worked fine for them for generations. So well that nowadays we only have to pretend to pick up a rock and throw it and dogs run with their tails between their legs.

Personally I just bare my teeth and growl back and I've never had a problem.

I have never really had a problem with dogs, other than the dog of Hannibal that bit me a few years ago. It happened so fast and from behind that I had no chance for a rock. For older people walking their dogs it is much different for them than for you, Rob. Most are not just able to bare their teeth and growl and scare everything and everyone in sight like you do. If I had a small dog that I walked, I would definitely be prepared to deal with force concerning these vicious animals in Madera area.

update regarding dog attacks (+just impunity for....) (reply)

K&B — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:02:03 +0000

Has anyone considered that the elderly woman with a chihuahua in her arms, being attacked by a pit bull, may not be able or unwilling to deploy pepper spray or throw rocks at the attacking animal. Perhaps somebody may want to intervene on her behalf, since the local government is unwilling to take care of it.

update regarding dog attacks (+just impunity for....) (reply)

ZihuaRob — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:47:30 +0000

Locals just use rocks. It's worked fine for them for generations. So well that nowadays we only have to pretend to pick up a rock and throw it and dogs run with their tails between their legs.

Personally I just bare my teeth and growl back and I've never had a problem.

update regarding dog attacks (+just impunity for....) (reply)

jbmass — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:53:18 +0000

I'm friendly with a few postmen and they carry a thing of pepper spray on their bag for just that purpose.They've told me it works every time and usually don't need to do again.

update regarding dog attacks (+just impunity for....) (reply)

frostbite — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 21:43:53 +0000

Since our place is just down the street from where this has been happening, I'm giving serious thought to bringing down some bear spray and/or a cattle prod. Of course, this might give the folks at TSA a shitconniption if they find it.

update regarding dog attacks (+just impunity for....) (reply)

jaui — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 21:17:51 +0000

4/26/2015

Hello rojo

I agree that the issue IS MORE SERIOUS than other common citizen's complaints.
An excerpt from your reply is:

....."just impunity for the offending party."

That, IMO, sums up the whole lawlessness "Wild West" situation here in Mexico!

It seems that from my 16 years experience here in Z, people do whatever they want, however they want, whenever, and wherever they choose, fully knowing that "no pasa nada".
Very seldom is some type of fine, punishment, etc., applied, or other legal action carried out against either a minor level offender, up to the big-timers.
The delinquents just about "get away with murder", which, not surprising at all, literally is all too common.

update regarding dog attacks (reply)

rojo — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 18:07:46 +0000

Yes, I agree that talking to the other party is possibly the best way to resolve differences for issues such as noise issues, cleaning after oneself and their pets messes. But these circumstances are a little more serious with the attitude of the offending irresponsible dog owner. There have been issues with these dogs for some time and the owner seems totally defensive and non compliant.
These people have in the past just ignored persons calling for them from their front gate and is quoted by a neighbour as saying that it was the fault of the older woman because the older woman was trying to pick up her little dog, with which instigated her pitt bull attacking her and her dog. This woman (owner of the pitt bull ) was in the presence of the attack and never offered nor assisted the injured woman
I firmly believe we are all have certain rights as long as these rights do not infringe on other peoples rights to safety,peace and comfort.
Going through the prescribed channels that I was instructed by the police and go to the health dept. ended with no resolve to the issue, just impunity for the offending party.
Tourism seems to be down this year and it seems the local authorities are going out of their way to decrease it even further with their ongoing inaction with tourist and citizen concerns

update regarding dog attacks (reply)

jaui — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 03:18:10 +0000

4/25/2015
Hello rojo

The "lack of resolve" you mentioned, not only relates to the problem you mentioned, but, any thing that has to do with civic problems.
The noisy neighbor with the music up all the way, with the bass tones shaking the earth, the barking dog, the person who puts the trash on the street in hours when they should not, people not cleaning up after their pets, etc., are all problems that although may possibly be contemplated in the "Bando de Policia y Buen Gobierno", there is no office set up to deal with any of that.
Your pretty much on your own, I would say, when it comes to these type of issues.
IF possible, (and that's a BIG IF), the best thing to do, is deal directly with the offender, and see if the problem can be corrected that way.

update regarding dog attacks (reply)

Madrina — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:38:15 +0000

I have walked the neighborhoods of many Mexican cities and many of the beaches over the past 10 years with and at times without my small Mexican poodle-cross who we rescued in Zihuatanejo 8 years ago. Mostly, the "guard dogs" who are either on rooftops or behind gates never make a peep when persons without dogs walk by. Add a dog of any size, or any personality to the equation and those dogs will react aggressively each and every time. Luckily, they can't "get you" as they are restrained. People visiting Mexico with their companion pets need to know that many dogs in Mexico have not been socialized to be with other animals and owners must be wary at all times. I'm not "blaming the victim" as there are clearly problems with those dogs in La Madera,and their owners very unresponsive attitude that needs to be corrected. But I have learned that even dogs who initially appear to be not aggressive change when they smell and "read" that you have a new dog on the block. Sad but true!

update regarding dog attacks

rojo — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 02:02:52 +0000

Since the terrible attack on an elderly woman and her little dog on April 02, I have reported on April 02 the incident to the tourist police office and was told I had to deal with the health office near the Kyota Circle ( who apparently deal with dog issues ). This I did the same day and returned to their office on April 07 and was told to return the next day when I submitted letters and pictures regarding the incident. I was told that they would look into the complaint and would get back to us---NOTHING----. I returned to their office on April 13 and was told they were going to deal with the complaint. NOTHING AGAIN.
These dogs from the Bungalos Pacifico and the Pitt Bull from the orange house next door have and are an ongoing problem and it doesn't seem the authorities really care about the citizens nor the tourists who walk along these streets in La Madera.
This lack of resolve can and will affect tourism here in Zihuatanejo. Zihua and the area doesn't need any more bad reports and concerns regarding tourists safety