About SPNA

The Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) is the collective community voice for addressing neighborhood issues such as zoning and development, traffic calming, safety, and neighborhood beautification.

SPNA meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Cohn School (Senior Renaissance Center). Email spna@sylvanpark.org for details.

About Sylvan Park

Welcome to Sylvan Park! We hope you love this neighborhood as much as we do. Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions for newcomers to learn more.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Aggressive dogs reported in the neighborhood

There have been several reports this month about aggressive dogs in the neighborhood. Keep in mind that it is illegal for dog owners to allow their pets to run at large throughout Davidson County, though there are dog parks where your dog can run free when supervised. To report dogs running loose in Sylvan Park, call Metro Animal Control at (615) 862-7928. Here are specifics from three recent reports:
I wanted to let you know about a pack of stray dogs that were in the neighborhood [Tuesday]. My wife and a friend were running yesterday morning at Nebraska and 42nd, and were chased for nearly half a mile back to our house on Elkins. My wife was bitten in the leg by one of the dogs. We have filed a bite report with the police, but for families with children we felt it was important to get the word out.

[A boxer mix without a leash or collar on the 4300 block of Utah Avenue] attacked us and nearly killed my dog, who had surgery today for many bites ... [The owner] eventually came over and tackled her dog carrying it back to her house. My dog barely survived the attack, was operated on today just in time as infection had set in. She has serious injuries.

[T]wo pitbull mix dogs [on the 4800 block of Elkins Avenue] are terrorizing the neighborhood. They gave chase to my dog last month, and my dog was hit by a car and killed. Another neighbor on Dakota narrowly escaped attack. Just this morning, they were spotted running down Nebraska after a cyclist. They also forced an elderly man onto the roof of a car to escape attack.
Please keep your dogs on leashes at all times, and never allow them to run unrestrained in the neighborhood. Metro Animal Control offers the following advice for preventing dog bites:
  • Never approach a dog you don’t know or a dog that is alone without its owner, especially if the dog is behind a fence, tied with a rope or chain, or in a parked car.
  • Never approach a dog that is eating, sleeping or guarding something. Dogs naturally guard their puppies, food, bones and toys.
  • Never chase or tease dogs. Don’t poke, hit, pull, or pinch a dog.
  • Always ask the owner’s permission before petting a dog.
  • Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
  • If attacked, give the dog an object, such as a jacket or backpack to bite or chew on.
A person bitten by an animal should report the incident immediately. Metro Animal Control will investigate the incident and quarantine the animal if the attack caused broken skin. For more information on services provided by Metro Animal Care and Control, call (615) 862-7928.

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:49 PM

    We live on the 41st block of Utah. The pack of wild dogs (6 of them) have been on our street since Thursday - they are aggressive - please watch for them and call animal control - I called, but I think more of us need to -

    ReplyDelete
  2. I live at 4108 Nebraska. Last night and this morning 5 dogs were in the yard across the alley on Utah between 41st and 42nd. They destroyed a drainpipe (one of those black plastic ones) otherwise not aggressive. They left around 9 AM.

    9 PM this evening 3 of them were on Nebraska in front of my house then ran between houses towards Colorado.

    I have seen these dogs in my alley before, as have neighbors. At least one I recognize as being among a group of dogs chasing a Bicyclist one morning about 3 weeks ago.

    I have called animal control every time but they have get an answer. Call back when we are open the message says. This morning I left a message on the emergency line even though it did not qualify as an emergency. I am afraid to walk my dog, ride my bike and I am concerned about children walking to school.

    After talking to a few neighbors and seeing them myself, I have concluded that there are 6 dogs and 4 of them are likely less than a year old. I managed to get a decent picture of the dogs. I will try to post it but if I am unsuccessful, I will be glad to send it to anyone that wants it.

    Lets all be sure to call animal control every time we spot them. I want to see them out here everyday until they are captured.


    Jenny Frampton 298-1621
    jenny@frampton.us

    ReplyDelete
  3. I live at 4108 Nebraska. Last night and this morning 5 dogs were in the yard across the alley on Utah between 41st and 42nd. They destroyed a drainpipe (one of those black plastic ones) otherwise not aggressive. They left around 9 AM.

    9 PM this evening 3 of them were on Nebraska in front of my house then ran between houses towards Colorado.

    I have seen these dogs in my alley before, as have neighbors. At least one I recognize as being among a group of dogs chasing a Bicyclist one morning about 3 weeks ago.

    I have called animal control every time but have yet to get an answer. Call back when we are open the message says. This morning I left a message on the emergency line even though it did not qualify as an emergency. I am afraid to walk my dog, ride my bike and I am concerned about children walking to school.

    After talking to a few neighbors and seeing them myself, I have concluded that there are 6 dogs and 4 of them are likely less than a year old. I managed to get a decent picture of the dogs. I will try to post it but if I am unsuccessful, I will be glad to send it to anyone that wants it.

    Lets all be sure to call animal control every time we spot them. I want to see animal control out here everyday until they are captured.


    Jenny Frampton 298-1621
    jenny@frampton.us

    ReplyDelete
  4. Debi G4:15 PM

    Please be careful when going down the alleys until these dogs are caught. We have seen them in backyards that are not fenced off from the alley. They have "Pack Mentality" because there are puppies amongst the pack. We have left messages with animal control but no one ever calls back. If we all call and ask that they travel along the alleys they will locate these dogs. Don't be taken by how cute the pups are.. the adult dogs are aggressive because they are protecting them. PLEASE CALL as soon as they are spotted and keep calling

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  5. I live on Cherokee Station Dr. and there were 6 dogs on my front lawn all day.(Labor Day) after following me and my dog home. I gave them water. They got scared away by other people and dogs in the evening.They were not aggressive but did bark at other dogs walking by. Animal control not working today. I will call again if I see them on Tues.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous1:03 PM

    I live on Cherokee Station Dr. also. I called the Metro Animal Control (862-7928)this AM (Tues. 9/8) & told them about the dogs laying around our neighborhood on Mon. & howling last night. He assured me they would check the area between Sylvan Park & Cherokee Park.

    The police were patroling yesterday looking for a caucasian in a blue shirt (don't know what that was about - nothing to do with the dogs) but as my husband was talking to the officer several little girls he did not recognize said they fed the dogs because their ribs were showing. He told them they shouldn't have done that. So we'll probably see more of these dogs since they'll likely come back for more food.

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  7. Nancy DeVille/The Tennessean1:01 PM

    I am interested in doing a story on the recent dog attacks. If you have been chased of bitten by a dog, please contact me at 615-259-8304 or ndeville@tennessean.com.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I could not believe Nancy's article on Tennessean.com when I saw it, because I was attacked by 3 dogs on Charlotte Ave near Sylvan Park in July, in an almost identical situation to Leslie Keffer's! They ran across the street after my fiancee and me while we were on bicycles. I thought they were going to maul us to death. I let my fiancee cycle away in front while they kept barking violently at me and nipping at my heels. Only one of them was able to bite me because I was cycling so fast, and it was only a superficial wound. But it did break the skin and drew blood so I felt obligated to go through the tetanus and rabies shot regimen, which just ended in late August and cost about $15,000. What a nightmare! I live near 44th and Idaho and now I'm afraid to go outside. Nashville Animal Control should pay our hospital bills! Who's with me?!

    (615) 479-6725
    wes.whitaker@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete