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AIBU?

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Dog attacking child - not stopping to help

315 replies

Idioticparents · 14/04/2024 09:36

So, I’m walking my dogs on the beach. See a border collie on a lead being walked by what I presume is mum, dad and child. No problem - my dogs are trained to come to me whenever they see another dog (not that they go far tbh).

BC is clearly not friendly. It’s frozen. Stiff. Licking its lips as I go by. No issue. Give it a wide birth (10 or so meters given the tide is high) keep half an eye on it. Owners don’t real it in and keep it on the log line (full length stretched with dog nearly choking itself).

Child (about 8/9) walks up to dog as parents watch and wraps its arms around the dogs neck from behind. Obviously the dog attacks child. Parents wrestle dog off child.

Now, here is my am I being unreasonable - I didn’t stop. I just kept walking. Kid had two parents with him and I had my dogs nearby waiting to walk on. As I walked away I got a tonne of abuse for not stopping. But why would I? IMO the dog had attack its owners child and if it’s going to do that then I am not going near it. Partner says IWU not to help.

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 14/04/2024 09:57

ToBeOrNotToBee · 14/04/2024 09:38

Stupid irresponsible owners.

What were they expecting you to do with your dogs to assist them, magic them into thin air??

I would say stupid irresponsible parents of that child too. I love dogs but I’d never put my arms round a dog I didn’t know. They should have been supervising better.

DivergentTris · 14/04/2024 09:56

Yes, I would have helped or at least offered. My approach would need to be considered if I also had a dog with me but ultimately the child's safety comes first and this would be my priority so my dog's behaviour permitting it is a no-brainer for me.

Mairzydotes · 14/04/2024 09:56

Was the child and the dog owners part of the same group?

I'm not sure what you could have except phone the emergency services. Surely I'd someone intervened and hurt their dog, the owners would blame you for that

YeahComeOnThen · 14/04/2024 09:55

BoudiccaOfSuburbia · 14/04/2024 09:52

Who gave you abuse?

If it looked as if I could help I would have told my dogs to sit and stay and gone to help.

But not sure what actual assistance they could have been given.

Was the child badly hurt?

@BoudiccaOfSuburbia

what breed are your dogs? Would they have stayed sitting as they'd been told if they thought you were in danger?

EG94 · 14/04/2024 09:55

all day long my dogs are my priority. I would never put them in an unsafe situation. You did right

Idioticparents · 14/04/2024 09:55

VickyEadieofThigh · 14/04/2024 09:53

I'm just imagining what your dogs MIGHT have done if you had gone to help and the aggressive dog had turned on YOU...

That was my rationale. My dogs are great. But you can never be sure! It’s just not a risk to take.

I rang the police when I got back to my car and reported the attack. Nothing will come of it, of course.

OP posts:
Undisclosedlocation · 14/04/2024 09:54

From a safe distance I would have enquired if the child was ok etc but no way would I have joined the fray. That would only have made things worse.
who was giving you abuse?

Onetiredbeing · 14/04/2024 09:54

I wouldn't have got involved either, not when a dog is on the attack and two parents are already helping. Probably would have called for medical help but definitely not involved myself.

Notamum12345577 · 14/04/2024 09:53

6Y5T · 14/04/2024 09:52

I would have helped by calling the police and an ambulance

How do you know it necessitated an ambulance?

VickyEadieofThigh · 14/04/2024 09:53

I'm just imagining what your dogs MIGHT have done if you had gone to help and the aggressive dog had turned on YOU...

BoudiccaOfSuburbia · 14/04/2024 09:52

Who gave you abuse?

If it looked as if I could help I would have told my dogs to sit and stay and gone to help.

But not sure what actual assistance they could have been given.

Was the child badly hurt?

6Y5T · 14/04/2024 09:52

I would have helped by calling the police and an ambulance

Tangelablue · 14/04/2024 09:50

I don't think there was much you could have done if two adults where already trying to get the dog off the child. Wonder that they think you would have done with your own dogs if you went to help.
They where irresponsible. Part of being a dog owner and having children is making sure the child knows it's not a cuddly toy.

Hoglet70 · 14/04/2024 09:48

That would have created chaos if you had introduced your dogs into that situation when the parents were there anyway! Child alone attacked by random dog, of course you would try and help but this was their problem.

ToBeOrNotToBee · 14/04/2024 09:38

Stupid irresponsible owners.

What were they expecting you to do with your dogs to assist them, magic them into thin air??

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