Three years ago, my sister in law went to a dog breeder in another state (I forget which but it was all the way across the country) asking for a custom-bred Chihuahua of some sort. This dog cost a few thousand dollars.
My brother and sister in law have never owned a dog before and it is abundantly clear in their way of raising this dog. They did not train the dog to obey proper commands, and when it is showing signs of aggression such as jumping on strangers, nibbling at their feet, and chasing them around, they encourage that behavior and applaud the dog for it. They do not reprimand the dog for poor behavior, they tell him he is being good no matter what he is doing, and think everything he does is adorable.
Last month, the dog bit my brother in the face which required multiple stitches, but he lied and told the hospital some other explanation that I forget exactly what it was. The dog came very close to biting him in the eye but just missed, and now he has a scar beneath one of his eyes.
The dog, two months ago, was fixed, so I am unsure if there is any correlation but this dog has been aggressive since as long as I have known it.
It is clear to me that this dog's behavior is a result of how it has been raised since it was a baby. I have told my brother that if that dog bites me I am calling animal control and he insisted he would physically fight me to stop me from doing so. The two of them are very attached to the dog.
Last time I went to the home, when he told me what the dog did, he was holding it and putting it right in my face trying to antagonize me. I was furious because this was making the dog scared and putting me in danger.
I am considering calling now. Should I? Why or why not? Does this dog sound like it poses a danger to others at least while it is in their home? Does it have any hope for redemption?