crime

Doberman owner sent to prosecutors over May incident in which 4 people were bitten

29 Comments

A 74-year-old man who owns two Doberman Pinschers has been sent to prosecutors over an incident in May in which one of his dogs bit four people in Nagoya.

Police said the owner has been charged with negligence resulting in injury, Sankei Shimbun reported Friday.

The Doberman escaped from a house in Moriyama Ward at around 8:40 a.m. on May 28 and attacked two men collecting garbage and two women pedestrians. One of the garbage collectors called police for help.

Police and firefighters captured the Doberman about an hour later. The dog was one of two Dobermans owned by the man. He told police the Dobermans escaped when he opened the gate to take out his garbage. One of the dogs remained at the house while the other ran away.

The man chased after the Doberman but fell and broke his leg.

Before the incident occurred, residents had complained to the municipal government that they were afraid of the Dobermans. Officials told the owner to make sure the dogs could not get loose.

When the Dobermans got out, they were not on a leash and police determined that the owner should be accountable for the injuries sustained by the four people.

The two dogs were taken to an animal care center right after the incident, and have since been taken in by volunteer organization which is looking for a new owner.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

29 Comments
Login to comment

There are no bad dogs, but only bad owners.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I have no doubt from the explanation that the owner did not intend to let the Doberman run off, but he still did not take the proper precautions and is therefore responsible for the injuries. Charge him accordingly, and remove the dogs from his 'care', but don't kill the dogs, please.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

From the reports we read at the time, this is not a vicious dog, just one that was stir-crazy from being couped up all the time and not given enough exercise. By all means prosecute the owner, but give the dog another chance, it's as much a victim as the people who got bit.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I speak from experience as I have been bitten by a Boxer. Every dog has a personality regardless of breed and some will bite while others will run in fear. The people who were bitten have injuries and regardless a dog has a nasty mouth. Any animal which uses its tongue to lick its ass has fecal matter in the mouth which can cause serious infection. I have been surrounded by 5 Chihuahuas which were dead set on attacking me as well. When a dog is found to be aggressive it is the responsibility of the owner to make sure the animal or animals can not get loose to cause injuries.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

the 74 year old owner has to take full responsibility for not being able to manage both of these very bad a$$ dogs

The owner has to take full responsibility, yes. Of the two dogs, one stayed at home and played no part at all in the incident. How come both dogs are 'very bad a$$ dogs'?

I would contest the claim that even the 'biter' was bad ass (more like, badly trained, bored stiff and excited to be free); what have you got against the dog that did nothing??

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They are very big dogs for a small Japanese house.

Actually only around 30 kilos, not all that big; and around the house they tend to just hang out. They don't take up much space. Irrelevant however as these dogs were apparently kept outside, not good for such a people-oriented breed.

I can't see how it would be possible for an old fella to adequately walk them

All it takes is a bit of thought and application. 'A walk' doesn't necessarily have to be a ten-mile hike on the end of a lead. Playing Fetch in the garden can get a dog a good bit of exercise, as can running with a bicycle. And if the owner can't keep up even with that, you pay someone, either a professional or a local kid, to take the dog out for you. You don't just shove it in the yard and hope it will run about on its own, which is what this man apparently did.

They were originaly bread by the Nazis for hunting humans.

Assuming you mean 'bred', that's still utter rubbish. The doberman was bred around the end of the 19th century (long before the Nazis even existed) by Herr Louis Dobermann, a money collector and the local dog-catcher, as a personal protection dog. As an added bonus, the breed is very intelligent and almost ridiculously easy to train, it's so eager to please its owner. The breed was further 'polished' by American breeders to make it an affectionate and loyal family dog.

They are not a 'lap dog'.

No one ever told my sweet dobie that she wasn't a lap dog. She used to climb on the lap of any family member who was sitting comfortably, press her head against the person's face, and purr contentedly. Bless her.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The two dogs were taken to an animal care center right after the incident, and have since been taken in by volunteer organization which is looking for a new owner. 

Full size Dobermans are slightly rare and expensive here. An owner should be found quickly and hopefully the dog is given some tlc than just somebody's toy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wow! So, Cleo reckons that 30 kilos is not a big dog? Maybe in outback Kansas, it wherever it is you come from, but in Japan it is a very big dog!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They are very big dogs for a small Japanese house. They are definitely too big for a an old fella in his mid-70's to be taking care of. As much as I am sure the old fella did his best to care for them, I can't see how it would be possible for an old fella to adequately walk them and stop them from going crazy. Dobermans are a big dog that need a lot of space to run. They were originaly bread by the Nazis for hunting humans. They are not a 'lap dog'.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The two dogs were taken to an animal care center right after the incident, and have since been taken in by volunteer organization which is looking for a new owner.

I wonder if he had been training his dogs properly on a routine basis. I hear a dog resembles it's owner.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

seriously there should be laws for a certain amount of space that a certain breed of dog should have before somebody is allowed to keep that dog. too many large dogs in Japan kept in small yards it very stressful and a kind of torture . it like a person kept in there bedroom all day only taken out once for a walk.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Blaming owners of violent dogs is useless and senseless. Dog owners are irresponsible emotionally crimped folks for the most part, not all of course, but just look around anywhere in Japan and find dog crap and owners letting the mutts off leash cause their dog is "special". And when their dog bites a kid they always say, my dog does not bite. So stupid. Dogs are a public hazard and should be regulated like guns are in Japan. Those wanting to own dogs should be tested for mental and emotional stability(most would fail). Lets not forget that thousands of pets everyday are abandoned by their owners leading to their deaths.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Dogs don't need leads. Training is important. Dogs are a responsibility. Owners must understand this. But this doesn't include stupid lapdogs. They are bakka accessories, not dogs.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The baka are the stupid owners who treat the dog like an accessory; it isn't the dogs' fault they are born cute-looking and small enough to fit in a handbag.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The two dogs were taken to an animal care center right after the incident, and have since been taken in by volunteer organization which is looking for a new owner

Police said the owner has been charged with negligence resulting in injury,

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' This means animal cruelty will not follow. You never know who love to kill dogs

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cleo reckons that 30 kilos is not a big dog? Maybe in outback Kansas, it wherever it is you come from, but in Japan it is a very big dog!

Never been to Kansas, only ever transited through the US. :-)

Our first dog in Japan was a lab who grew to be 37 kilos. The dobie when she came along was 27, smallish for a dobie but a dobie nonetheless. Neither dog took up that much space in the house; big dogs tend to just chill out indoors; they find where they want to be, and that's where they are. They also tend to be more laid back and happier around kiddies, more able to cope with the rough and tumble.

They do leave a bigger, emptier hole when they go, though.

It's the little dogs that I find take up most space; instead of chilling out they spend lots of time running around indoors, so you never know where they are and have to be careful you don't trip over them as they come flying past. Throw kiddies into the mix and you're looking at an incident waiting to happen; little doggies are more likely to snap, if only because they feel more threatened by (what appears to them) large, noisy, unpredictable infant humans.

Gimme a big dog (25 kilos plus) any day.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

the dogs should be put to sleep

Put the owner to sleep before the dogs!

The dogs are a reflection of the owner and a properly trained dog will not attack nor bite anyone, even if they break free. People are just afraid because of the size of the doberman but they are some of the most loving dogs in the world.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They're watchdogs and the 74 year old owner has to take full responsibility for not being able to manage both of these very bad a$$ dogs. Luckily, there were no children involved, otherwise, the outcome would've been much worse.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cleo - fully agree to your posts on the Dobs... My family used to have Caucasian Shepperd dogs, that can also get really aggressive if not properly taken care of. If in good hands, there were very good dogs.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Having grown up since early childhood with dogs around me including watchdogs, I can state from experience that there are pretty clear differences between the temperaments of certain types of dogs, such as dumb, cute and friendly beagles, and watchdogs, which are usually more intelligent, high-strung and less acceptable of outsiders. I love both types for different reasons, but they are quite different.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

you have no faith in owners to manage their dogs at all.

I would question the 'at all' bit, but you are quite right that I lay the blame for most dog-related problems on the owners - the ones who fail to train their dogs, fail to treat them as dogs, and commit the ultimate failure when they abandon them, whether to the streets or the hokenjo. Or to the back yard.

As CrazyJoe says, there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

Which is true n the vast majority of cases.

There you are wrong. Most people, in my experience, want to do their best for and by their animals. There's a lot invested in a beloved pet, both financially and emotionally.

What you cannot admit is that dogs bite, it is their nature to do so, and even with proper responsible ownership dogs inflict great suffering on their owners and others every day

Some dogs bite, yes. I would not say that it was in their nature to do so, any more than it is human nature to rob banks or mug little old ladies. Some dogs that have not been trained properly may have no bite inhibition, just like some people who have not been brung up proper may see nothing wrong in taking money that doesn't belong to them, even inflicting injury to do so. Some dogs, and some people, may even be genetically hard-wired to be bad 'uns. In neither case is it normal, but a problem that needs to be addressed.

I can state from experience that there are pretty clear differences between the temperaments of certain types of dogs, such as dumb, cute and friendly beagles, and watchdogs, which are usually more intelligent, high-strung and less acceptable of outsiders

As a general rule, maybe; but I have known beagles that were far from cute and friendly, and currently the biggest softie I know is my friend's Dobie. You cannot brand an individual dog a 'bad ass' simply on account of the breed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yet, stories of people being mauled to death by savage beagles are virtually unheard of. However, the same cannot be said of other breeds of well known watchdogs. True, they're not all bad ass dogs and the owners are responsible for many of the problems caused by them, but, at that same time, many of these types of dogs do need to be watched more carefully than other breeds and kept on a short leash.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This happens way to often in any part of the world People don't take care of their dog which means they will become violent People who don't rain or exercise their dog makes them less comfortable around people especially in public paces.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think this is possibly the first sensible, humane thing regarding dogs that I've seen you post here.

Cleo, no it is not, it the only thing you can agree with since you are blinded by your "good doggy woggy" weakness. In fact your idea to tag dogs shows me that you have no faith in owners to manage their dogs at all. Which is true n the vast majority of cases. What you cannot admit is that dogs bite, it is their nature to do so, and even with proper responsible ownership dogs inflict great suffering on their owners and others every day. Mostly kids unfortunately. On this point you are no different from the NRA loon types who defend guns purely emotionally and pretend guns are not meant to harm others. Or smokers who claim second hand smoke is benign.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Finally some accountability for the owners of these weapons of destruction. If you have such dangerous dogs the law should be very strict on control. Clearly this owner was not capable of controlling his animals as most owners of pets are unfortunately.

And yes, these dogs should be put down before they harm people again. Most dog bites are inflicted on kids, by far.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

just look around anywhere in Japan and find dog crap and owners letting the mutts off leash cause their dog is "special".

The dog-toileting mores of some owners do leave a lot to be desired, but it's a lot better than it used to be, and getting better. I rarely see abandoned pooh on the street these days.

I honestly can't recall the last time I saw anyone in Japan waking a dog off-lead. The only dogs I see off lead are in their own homes or gardens, or in the local dog-run, where being off-lead is the whole point.

Lets not forget that thousands of pets everyday are abandoned by their owners leading to their deaths

I think this is possibly the first sensible, humane thing regarding dogs that I've seen you post here. If I ruled the world every cat and dog would be microchipped, and the owner of an abandoned animal, in addition to being liable to a huge fine and being banned from ever owning an animal again, would be made financially responsible for the upkeep and welfare of that animal till the end of its natural lifespan.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The biter should be put to sleep.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

The biter should be put to sleep.

Agree. Pit Bulls are the worst. Never seen one in Japan.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

the dogs should be put to sleep

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites