[babydawn]

My 18 year old sister in law, who happens to be very beautiful, and her friend have moved into an apartment together. My husband and I have been encouraging them to get a dog. The chances of either of them being assaulted in their own apartment drops almost to none if they have a dog of any size. Their problem with it....they have to put down a bigger deposit. Small price to pay for safety. I think every single woman should have a dog in their home, or at least an alarm system. Am I way off base here?

[breharb25]

I dont think you're way off base, although maybe there is an alternative to getting a dog. Maybe they could both take a self-defense class together instead. I dont think you have to worry about them being attacked in their apartment so much as when they are out and about. However, they do have those motion sensor things that you set up when you are leaving and if anyone breaks in it barks like a dog. That's an option, but I dont know how well those things work. Maybe they should each invest in a can of mase and learn how to use it.

[butterman]

They need to be aware of their surroundings. Watch whats going on around them.If someone want to get you they will try dog or no dog. Keep a cellphone handy.

[babydawn]

I am talking about IN THE HOME. More than half of all rapes happen by someone that the person knows. I guarantee, if someone tried to rape me in my home when my husband wasn't around, that my dog would eat them for breakfast. It IS a good deterrant. Dogs also bark and make a lot of noise, which draws attention to the situation, somethings criminals don't want. A good friend of ours is a police officer, they have been advised to have a dog in their home.... I don't think that would be if they didn't do any good. I agree with being aware of your surroundings 100%, and the mase idea. Maybe I am just too paranoid, I will take any measures to protect myself and my children, and I think that others should do the same.

[butterman]

I never said a dog was not a good deterrant, I have a dog also, but he barks at everything that comes around the house. So, sometime you get up to see what it is other times you don't, he barks at the next door neighbors when they get in and out of their car. If they know the person where will the dog be, put up some where so it doesn't bother them or they are frie by all means ndly with the dog, it will not harm them. So if thats the case with the rapes the dog won't help in that situation. You know with the dog barking all the time, the neighbors get use to that and say I wish that dumb dog would shut-up, I've been there, I've said that. You are not paranoid, we live in a society now where some people don't care, they don' respect you or what you have or how hard you worked to get it, drugs cause people to do crazy things and they think no harm can come their way. I don't think you can be too safe you have to protect yourself and your loved ones by all means nessary.If you believe in pray, pray also for God's protection.

[jgreene]

I didn't realize that a dog was such a deterrant! I will have to think about getting one. Also, I think an alarm system is a very good idea, preferably one that has a key fob you put on your keychain and can activate inside or outside your house. A close relative of mine (an attractive, older woman who lived alone) was raped at gunpoint by a stranger one night when she came home from the grocery store. He approached her as she was preparing to enter her house. Thank God, he ran away afterwards without doing further harm to her, and they did arrest him later.

Does anyone know what is best in these situations? I don't know if mace or a stun gun or a real gun would have helped. I like the idea of the key fob, because the alarm sound might scare a criminal away.

[babydawn]

I have never heard of that kind of an alarm before. What an awesome idea!!! Even if you were attacked outside of your home, that would certainly draw the right kind of attention to the situation. Thanks, I think I will tell my sister in law about that one.

[irishgal63]

Women of ANY age should have a dog, (big or small,don't matter) !
You can hear a dogs bark,you can't hear a 'meow' very well, lest the
cats are fighting !

Once again---strictly my opinion !

In ILL.,
Lori Weis

[beth]

If it's possible to have a dog where they are living, I think dogs are great deterrents for burglars if not rapists. I'm sure statistics would show that noisy dogs are a turn off to loiterers of any description. I know I'd try elsewhere if there was a barking dog going off while I was trying to rob/bash/molest. (Not that I regularly do those things, of course!)

[mcmama]

Yes a dog is a great idea if they want one. I don't have one but I still keep the Beware of Dog sign up from the previous home owner here. I do have an attack cat who could do some real damage, but he is not a deterrent to crime in house.
In my area, a landlord might want a pet deposit against any possible damage the dog might do. If they want a dog, it is worth it.