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MNHQ have commented on this thread

AIBU?

To think the law should be able to do more about this dog??

304 replies

curiousgeorgie · 21/04/2013 21:35

Walking in the park today with my DH, 2.5 year old DD & dog, and DD walking in front of us (a very late walker, so very slow and can't run yet), suddenly a mastiff (we think) runs from the trees straight to DD and before we can get there literally steps away, my dog is between them.

It was so so quick but this dog was going for my child, and subsequently absolutely savaged my dog, I grabbed DD, was screaming for the owner and DH was trying to separate this dog from our dog (who is a small friendly breed and was pinned down, yelping, it was awful.)

The owners appeared and pulled the dog off after a few horrible minutes, and argued with us that the dog wasn't dangerous, and the woman got completely in my face and threatened me (while 30 weeks pregnant holding my sobbing DD) so we quickly left.

I called the local police from the car and was told there wasn't anything they can do about the dog as it didn't attack a human. (thank god though.)

But the fact remains, that a dangerous dog is allowed to remain in the park on a sunny weekend day where surely there'll be lots of children??

I'm so so angry and upset about this, my DD is really not herself and my poor dog left with bite injuries to his mouth, ears, face and neck.

Just because this dog didn't quite manage to bite my DD nothing can be done?? AIBU?

OP posts:

Report

Uppermid · 21/04/2013 21:41

I would call the police again and explain that the only reason it didn't attack a child was that your dog protected her.

Hope your dog is ok

MousyMouse · 21/04/2013 21:42

yanbu
imo all dogs should be on the lead at all times in public places
hope you and your dd and dog are ok. what a shock.

Softlysoftly · 21/04/2013 21:45

God that's awful, name the park so others can be wary?

It is a ridiculous rule, there was a man in our paper today bitten badly by a loose border collie (2 operations since) and yet the police say no law was broken so no action to take? !

There should be a blanket law any dog biting human or animal goes in due assessment and the owners too.

curiousgeorgie · 21/04/2013 21:46

I did say that to the police, but they said the dog still technically didn't bite anyone. They were lovely but I'm just shocked there's nothing they can do.

OP posts:

Booboostoo · 21/04/2013 22:18

Talk to your dog warden who is better equiped to deal with aggressive dogs.

It sounds like a very scary experience for all of you and I am very sorry for your dog. I hope he is not too badly injured and I think you can also try to recover vets' fees from the other dog's owner if you can identify them. Having said that, are you sure the other dog was running to attack your DD? That would be quite unusual and exceptionally aggressive behaviour. I am not saying it's impossible but are you sure you read the signs right?

CaffeDoppio · 21/04/2013 22:23

I don't know where you are OP but almost the exact same thing happened to us a couple of weeks ago in our large downland park. It was 2 mastiffs running wild both of which got our dog and pinned him down and it was only lucky that the owner came strolling along without a care in the world before it got really nasty. DH got into a terrible argument with him and came straight home and called the Police. They were way more interested in that incident than when we had to report our car windows vandalised just a few days before that and have since been back twice to take statements and ask DH if he would be able to identify dogs/owner. I've been quite surprised by their level of interest.
Perhaps you could go down the Dog Warden route but I'd be tempted to try again with the Police tbh

MyDarlingClementine · 21/04/2013 22:27

I really feel for you. Now I am a dog owner myself I am more than ever aware of the dangerous lunging dogs out there and there are many of them.
The very least the police could do would be to at least check on the breed of the dog.

LST · 21/04/2013 22:38

it was a good jobs ops dog wasn't on a lead though really mousey?

op I hope you all and your ddog are ok x

jellybeans · 22/04/2013 00:12

That's horrible :( Much more needs to be done. These vicious dogs should not be allowed. There is a park local to me where I gave up going due to selfish owners letting vicious dogs off leads to charge at people. I reported two large vicious dogs who charged out their house onto the street and circled us and scared us. We were there terrified while they barked and growled at us for several minutes. DC were so scared. The owner came out eventually and called them off. I had a word with a neighbour whom I knew and he had had the same problem with the dogs. I called the police as why should I be scared to walk my DC to school...They were interested and came out to have a word with the owners. Haven't had a problem since but am still nervous to walk past the house. Not surprisingly the family are the 'problem' type and aggressive. If I see a huge dog on a lead with responsible owner it is totally different. More should be done.

Bugsylugs · 22/04/2013 00:27

Op so sorry to hear what you have been through. Has your dog been checked out by a vet? As I am sure you know dog bites can be grim and antibiotics needed. Also good for letter to police.

TheChaoGoesMu · 22/04/2013 00:28

Can you make a complaint to the police in writing?

YNK · 22/04/2013 00:40

The dog did not attack a human. It defended itself against an attack by your dog!

YNK · 22/04/2013 00:42

Why not take your child somewhere where dogs are not running free?

TheChaoGoesMu · 22/04/2013 00:57

Erm, am I missing something here? The ops dog didn't attack the other dog . And why should the op take her children somewhere else? Its a park. If your dog is likely to attack other dogs or people then it should be on a lead.

YNK · 22/04/2013 01:17

I think you are missing something - re read the op.
Why would you take a toddler out where dogs were running free???
Would you go out and play on a motorway and complain that the cars were not looking out for you??

MammaTJ · 22/04/2013 01:21

Um, they were in a park, a place where children should be able to run free.

The OP is not the one in the wrong here.

OP I am so glad your dog saved the day.

Twinklestarstwinklestars · 22/04/2013 01:29

My son got bitten by a dog at the park outside my house, because the only witnesses were kids they wouldn't do anything even though she admitted it was her dog. She was told to keep it on a lead but doesn't if she knows I'm not watching.

YNK · 22/04/2013 01:33

Ummm they were in a park where dogs are running free! Where is their sense of responsibility toward their child! There are lots of places you can take children without exposing them to dogs (or any other animal) running free!
If you are walking a dog that is protective toward it's owner (ie unsocialised) it is also irresponsible to the dogs to take it where other dogs run free!

Softlysoftly · 22/04/2013 01:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

YNK · 22/04/2013 01:38

These dogs bit no one! They ran toward these people. We only have the op's idea that they were going for the child. They were not described as snarling or showing any aggression until their dog went for it!

YNK · 22/04/2013 01:40

Softly, I am insulted. If you think I am a troll, please report!
I am sorry I consider childrens safety more important than their parents desire to own the park!

MissFredi · 22/04/2013 01:45

YANBU at all!!!!!

We need much tighter regulations on ALL dog breeds (bitten by a westie once - sharp little buggers) because at the end of the day, if a person raises a puppy of any breed to be a monster, the dog will know no better whereas the owner really should and the dog will be destroyed. The owner will then just get another dog after the ban has finished and the cycle will start again. And these breeds can be raised nicely, and it has lovely results when people aren't trying to look "hard" by having a viscous dog.

Personally I'm amazed you didn't deck the owner, you're a better person than I am!

MissFredi · 22/04/2013 01:46

Also hope you and family and little dog are all okay now

Softlysoftly · 22/04/2013 01:47

The children's safety would be served by keeping dogs that will run at children whatever their intention on a fucking lead. Even a non aggressive bouncy dog can cause damage to such a small child. And let's be realistic the owners dont sound exactly reasonable so I doubt they train their hellhound dog.

I'm guessing you have a large uncontrolled dog that's just an ickle softy who wants to play? Forgive me for making offensive assumptions but in for a penny. ......

YNK · 22/04/2013 01:50

Take your child somewhere where there are no dogs running free. There are plenty of safe places to go! No need to place your child (or your unsocialised dog) at risk of reacting to dogs enjoying a run.
If we were all tolerant of each others needs the world would be a safer place!

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