Is this man right to defend his dogs..?

[thedogwakesuptoodamnearly]

Or should he be hanging his head in shame? Yes, it's only a tiny snapshot of the story but his dog(s) attached a Guide Dog.

www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Blind-woman-lift-vulnerable-after-guide-dog-is-retired-following-an-attack-in-Cambridge-20140215060056.htm

[thedogwakesuptoodamnearly]

attacked

[OnceUponAThyme]

his dogs attacked another. I agree they should be kept muzzled and on lead if they're unpredictable.

[ElenorRigby]

The guy's a friggin idiot. He has demonstrated he can't control them.

Attacks by dogs on other dogs are really not taken seriously enough.
As a teenager a Rottweiller attacked, eviscerated and killed my pet collie cross dog. The owner walked away scot free.

If they attack a dog, they could attack a child, the lack of control and poor temperament being common factors.

Idiots like this make my blood boil.

[VivaLeBeaver]

If they were my dogs I'd be muzzling them and wouldn't need a court order to tell me to do so.

[thedogwakesuptoodamnearly]

It's terrible that he's trying to say it wasn't "that bad". How bad would it have to be for him to feel responsibility?

[HoneyDragon]

They were off lead. At that point he let his dogs down, and he is letting them down now.

Assistance dogs are so important, I honestly think the law should be changed from dog on dog when assistance dogs are attacked, and the law should see it as an attack on the assistance dogs owner.

[noddingoff]

"I had my little girl with me, so Cocoa was probably being defensive"
Classic denial line. I get this trotted out at me now and again in the vet consulting room when some nasty untrained brute is snarling and lunging at me and the owner says "Oh he's just protecting me", usually said with a slightly proud simpering smile . My boyfriend would probably get defensive if he thought I was in danger, but he doesn't start punching random men, women and children in the street who happen to walk past me.
As for saying the attack wasn't serious - did he see the photos of the dog's injuries? If I was bitten badly enough to have to get stitched up and be unfit for work for weeks, i'd consider that serious.

[thedogwakesuptoodamnearly]

I can't imagine what a Guide Dog would do that would be seen as threatening! All the ones I see working are focused and unobtrusive. There seems a bit of "his word against hers" going on. I hope a witness can be found.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I wonder if guide dogs are more likely to be attacked because they're so busy being professional that they don't respond to another dog like a dog normally would. So other dog thinks they're been arsey and takes offence?

Am I victim blaming?

[hmc]

Of course he isn't right, he is 100% in the wrong. You really have to ask?

[Beccadugs]

I was thinking that viva!
However our dog, who is dog obsessed, is pretty good at reading others dogs I want to play vs leave me alone signals so would have thought guide dogs just give off leave me alone.
And, if you have a dog you HAVE to be able to stop them in their tracks if they are off lead. So this man is definitely irresponsible.

[thedogwakesuptoodamnearly]

It seemed open and shut case to me but the fact the magistrates have asked for more time made me doubt my judgement!

[tabulahrasa]

The guy's an eejit - but, if there's a possibility that it was only one of the dogs actually involved then they'll want to try and work that out.