Who says that Realtors aren't helpful?!

[Dee Dee]

I am ever so grateful to the listing agent for a property I am inspecting today. Thanks to him giving me a 'heads up' I will be packing my nastiest boots, pepper spray, a large box of doggie biscuits and Pillsbury Dough Boy outerwear. The homeowner has 21 dogs. Realtor says the home is looking a bit worn out and to watch my back if the homeowner isn't close. :roll: .
Ahhh yes....nothing like a challenge.

If I don't check in by later this evening you can assume that there is very little of me left to recover.

Dee Dee

 

[Julio E. Sune Jr. (FL)]

"Courage is grace under pressure" [Ernest Hemingway"

Keep us informed!!!!

 

[Richard Carlsen]

If that were my assignment, I would inspect when all dogs are either off the property or securly tied. In almost 9 years, I've had but two incidents with dogs and I don't want any more.

What would really bother me is the "pack reaction". One little dog makes for you, raises all billy heck and the rest rush in.

You are there to do an appraisal and not dodge dogs. You set the rules for your inspection, not the owner. Clear them puppies out and then do your job.

And if you don't take my advice, at least be very careful.

 

[jtrotta]

Yep, will agree with Richard on this one; the last incedent had a German Shepard hangin off my left arm - won't tell you how I got'em off, but you can ashure yourself it was with all 230 lbs and he let go & was screaminnn. Call it what you like, I'll callem as I see'm. I have for nearly 10 years advised the homeowner that if they own animals, they need to be put away, unless they feel lucky, but I will sue :!: Thats drives the point home 8O

Good Luck on this one 8)

 

[Dee Dee]

Well, that inspection put my 'fear factor' at an all new high, and I'm more than a little bit upset. I was afraid something like this might happen.
Homeowner was supposed to be there, but wasn't. Had to use the lock box. The dogs were tied all around the back and side yards to trees, poles or whatever else would hold them. About 6 large puppies were running lose but had obviously already been learning the rest of the dogs' habits of being mean. They kept a distance but growled at me the entire time. Most of the dogs were straining to break their chains, snarling and making it known that they absolutely wanted a piece of me. No fences anywhere, and just remote enough that it was a no-brainer that I would have to take measurements from the inside of the house. Tried to get a camera angle of the back of the house by walking around what I thought was the perimeter behind an old car, found out quickly that there was a dog tied to the bumper that would have had bitten me if his chain hadn't been so short. Some of them were wrapped around the trees so many times that they only had a couple of feet of chain and I saw no water provided for any of them. They were filthy and some of them looked half-starved. Judging by the way the ground was worn out within their individual areas it was easy to tell they probably were never let loose. No dog houses, they were completely exposed to the weather 24/7.
The underwriters are going to have to settle for a very lame rear photo of the house, it was too high risk if any of them would have broken loose and there's no way I'm going back.
Called the county animal control anonymously and I could give a damn if the owners are arrested for animal cruelty. My guess would be that many of them will have to be put down because they aren't socialized, but at least they won't be abused and neglected for the rest of their lives.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Wow Dee Dee!

Wonder where that person plans to move to. You did the right thing calling in the doggie police. That could have turned in to a very bad scene for you!

Glad you made it through to tell us about it :!:

Appraisers jes caint git no respect.

 

[Farm Gal]

Dee Dee:
Good on you fopr calling... May I make a suggestion? Next time shoot a few pictures of the conditions of the pets. Guess when it comes to cruelty to pets I just don't care who gets mad at me.

You could decide to Do something with the pics (or not) later...

On a lighter note a guy in my continueing ed class today told a hilarious story about being VERY worried about a placid appearing Pit Bull who was chained on a VERY stout solid link chain tied to a 2 foot diameter tree... he was carefully watching this dog's every move and making SURE he didn't step into the circle when out of no where came flying a fluffy Shi Tzu wearing an bow, who fanged his ankle enough to require stitches :lol: :lol:

 

[Dee Dee]

LeeAnn,
I thought about taking some pictures, but quite frankly I felt like one of those cartoons where the character morphs into a juicy looking pork chop in front of the predator. I even left my truck door open the entire time, just in case one of the dogs got loose and I needed to make a sudden dive for safety. There was about a 20 yard distance between the house and my truck (it was as close as I could get), and the hair on the back of my neck was standing straight up every step in between. They really acted like they wanted to tear me to pieces. Anyway, I decided not to spend any more time there than what I absolutely had to. I wussed out.

 

[Richard Carlsen]

Dee Dee;

I have to say that one was one that I would not have done. In a situation like that, it only takes one of those dogs breaking loose and you would not have been able to make the finish line in the 20 yard dash to your car.

Look, this is appraising real estate. It is not brain surgery or a life and death activity. There is no reason and no justification for taking a chance like that. I have a friend who was driving a metro bus and in walking a kid to his house, a dog came charging out of the house, went for the face, knocked him down, hitting his head on the sidewalk. Two years later he is not back to work. It is uncertain when he will be able to if ever. He may never be the same. That is not a nice thing to see in a 45-year-old man.

I think that sometimes we get a little carried away with what we think we can get away with. It is never a good idea to put yourself or allow yourself to be put in a dangerous situation. And IMNSHO, you were in a dangerous situation.

Think good and hard about it the next time…Please.

 

[David S. Roberson]

First Mountain Lions, now vicious dogs. You live a dangerous life, Dee Dee. Hope your luck holds out. As for me, I agree with Richard. Do something with the dogs, or it's a trip fee and reschedule when it's safe to work. We are not paid enough to take risks like this.