i'm going to jail

[Shodburrito]

Hey everyone,I want to start doing some life updates because of some crazy things I have going on in my life.

I don't want to get into the details but my neighbors have gotten this new dog. I'm personally very scared of mean looking dogs, and I don't know breeds very well. My family owns a very small breed of dog, and I was walking by my neighbor's house the other day with it. They had their new dog out and I went up to meet it (regretted this later) even though I don't like big dogs. I did it just to be friendly with them, but as I came within a few feet of it I realized it looked like a pitbull. Now if you know anything about pitbulls you know they are very capable of mauling you so I was on edge. But as I got close, it lunged at my feet towards my dog.

Now, y'all know I have anxiety issues, especially of recently, but today was especially bad because I got called into work for a 4 hour shift. So, when this dog lunged at me I STG I went into fight or flight. I don't know what it was, because normally I'm a calm person, but I started fighting back at the dog. This didn't help as it wasn't on a leash and it started biting at me. I kept kicking it and eventually it stopped moving. The owners were pulling me back but something primal in me couldn't stop. 

Cops called. I'm fine thank god, but neighbors are pressing charges. Apparently while waited for the cops to show up they were telling me it was a "golden retriever" but I'm not good with breeds. It just looked big and intimidating. Im being charged with, 

Quote

Assault of an Animal (18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 459-501) Classified as a misdemeanor, this charge comes from me kicking the dog, even though it was in defense of my own. The law is very specific about "unnecessary harm" to animals.

Endangerment of Public Safety (18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2705) This one came out of nowhere. Apparently, because I didn’t immediately remove myself from the situation and caused a disturbance (even though the dog was attacking), they’re claiming I endangered public safety by creating a “chaotic scene.”

Criminal Mischief (18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304) The neighbors are alleging I “damaged” their property when I kicked their dog, which resulted in "minor injuries" (though I didn’t even think I caused any harm). This charge is for damaging someone’s pet, which, to be honest, seems a little over the top.

Failure to Contain an Animal (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 459-702) They’re going after the me too for not properly restraining the dog, but they're also trying to pin some responsibility on me for not acting more “calmly” and not waiting for their intervention. Which is ridiculous.

Battery (18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2701) Yes, they're calling it battery, even though it wasn’t a person, because apparently, the “unprovoked physical strike” to an animal is being treated like a form of battery, just not to a person.

Harassment (18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2709) For being “aggressive” towards the dog, apparently. Even though, let’s be real, I was just protecting my dog from getting attacked.

Anyone familiar with these kinds of charges? What’s the likelihood of me getting out of this mess, or is it really that serious? I just can't believe what's happened. I was booked overnight and it's been a week and I'm lawyering up. 
 

EDIT 2: I've Updated on the situation on page 3

Edited Sunday at 04:09 AM by Shodburrito

[josemar]

Holy sh***

Is the dog dead???

How can you confuse a golden retriever with a pitbull?

[Rafael Thundercat]

16 minutes ago, josemar said:

Holy sh***

Is the dog dead???

How can you confuse a golden retriever with a pitbull?

Man, in the time when your life is at risk you dont stop to make categorizarion contemplation. It could even be a Crocodile. 

[AION]

Saying I'm going to jail sounds like something definite. I would just wait and see instead of jumping to conclusions like you did with that dog that you approached. Golden retrievers are not even an aggressive breed unless you hurt it so I don't know what to make of it.

Edited Saturday at 10:00 AM by AION

[josemar]

48 minutes ago, Rafael Thundercat said:

Man, in the time when your life is at risk you dont stop to make categorizarion contemplation. It could even be a Crocodile. 

At risk from a golden retriever? Doubt it, it was probably doing a play bow which op interpreted as an attack. They are accusing him of "unprovoked physical strike".

Its owners probably view it as their child, what would you do if your child was attacked like this? "Until it stopped moving".

Note that he " went up to meet it", not the other dog coming to him.

[Aaron p]

Relax bro this is what law enforcement does they throw a load of shit at you because they know that most of it won't stick if any.

I seriously doubt your going to the clink

[Davino]

Get a decent lawyer 

[Jannes]

4 minutes ago, Davino said:

Get a decent lawyer 

Agreed.

You can't talk things out with your neighbors anymore so you need to defend yourself on equal grounds. 

[numbersinarow]

3 hours ago, josemar said:

Its owners probably view it as their child

And other kinds of lunatics that are completely unreasonable also exist.

Although I'm still curious, how the hell did OP confuse an alleged golden retriever for a pitbull?

[josemar]

20 minutes ago, numbersinarow said:

And other kinds of lunatics that are completely unreasonable also exist.

Although I'm still curious, how the hell did OP confuse an alleged golden retriever for a pitbull?

The lunatic in this case might be someone you don't  expect. He forgot his medicine that day. Or ask his doctor for some, he doesn't come across as the most stable person, see his regrets about voting 🙄

[gettoefl]

Great opportunity for humility and contrition and restitution. Go talk to them in any way you can and tell them you majorly messed up and you will do anything in your power to make this right. Get on your knees and implore them to have mercy on a hot-headed stressed out punk who was having an abysmal day and is trying to do better in life.

[Hojo]

Lol I dont think you could beat a pitbull to death. They look completely different. A goldren retriever normally isnt aggressive. If you enter someones property and when it attacks you you beat it to death then you are at fault you should have ran or backed off once it warned you this is very strange behaviour.

Did you take your dog enter their yard then when their dog started attacking yours you beat theirs to death?

They look completely different as breeds. Golden retriever is known as very friendly and pit bull is known as being very aggressive

  Golden retreiver

pitbull

Edited Saturday at 04:33 PM by Hojo

[Salvijus]

I think you've messed up brother. You can avoid legal consequences but you can't avoid your conscience. The clearing of conscience is what you should focus on. And usually it involves owning the responsibility for one's mistakes, accepting the consequences, making amends. You'll be fine. It's never too late to repent and say sorry. Honesty makes all things right in the end. 🙏

Edited Saturday at 04:38 PM by Salvijus

[Aaron p]

There is no way your going to the joint for defending yourself against a dog that lunged at you homes.

Take a chill pill in your grill and still pay the bill before you kill will with a drill that you found on the window sill

[integration journey]

3 minutes ago, Aaron p said:

There is no way your going to the joint for defending yourself against a dog that lunged at you homes.

Take a chill pill in your grill and still pay the bill before you kill will with a drill that you found on the window sill

Nice rhymes 

[Schizophonia]

@Shodburrito Nothing will happen to you, you defended yourself against a dog, it could have hurt you significantly, possibly given you diseases like rabies, and even killed you depending on your physical condition.

Besides, I don't know the law in the United States, but in France it is forbidden to have a Pit Bull, and for the American Staff you must have a permit and it is illegal to transport them in a public place without a leash and even without a muzzle.

Edit : It's a golden retriever ?

Edited Saturday at 05:01 PM by Schizophonia

[Aaron p]

You Wana see the most talented rapper I've ever seen check out harry mack on the tubes. He was so dedicated to his craft that his head turned white. Although, in my own humble, humble...humble..opinion, his powerful speedy free style bars and spitting on the cuff venom is eclipsed only by his seemingly nonexistent appreciation of the downgrading effects of what appears to be excessive neurosis and a lack of flow in his tonality and overall presentation. His improvised articulation would be optimised if combined with a sense of verbal flow and relaxation.@integration journey

Edited Saturday at 05:03 PM by Aaron p

[The Crocodile]

So you just murdered a golden retriever because you're retarded?

And you want . . . advice?

[Raze]

Get a lawyer 

Tell the jury you have anxiety and fear of dogs and panicked when it started biting you 

Edited Saturday at 05:33 PM by Raze

[Consept]

I mean you definitely messed up here, you went to meet the dog, sounds like the dog didnt even attack it might have done a lunge to play and you misinterpreted it and just attacked. As everyones said its very rare for a golden retriever to just attack like that. Also if you were feeling anxious and thought it was a pitbull, why would you approach especially if it was off lead and you had another small dog. 

I think you've got to learn from this and weigh up the potential danger in future situations, i dont think youll go to jail, maybe get a fine or community service but i would also try and make amends with your neighbors because they and their dog, havent really done anything wrong here