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Original poster

DC was bitten by strange dog, owner has now contacted me

482 replies

Villanelle · 14/04/2021 14:03

Yesterday my DC was bitten by a dog at the park. He was playing in the play area, went down the slide and then started running after his younger sibling, the dog came out of nowhere and started chasing him. It caught up to him and bit him on the leg and back. He was hurt (puncture wounds, bleeding and bruised) but not enough to need stitches, thankfully. It was terrifying though and could have been so much worse. It was a big dog, like a Weimaraner, and totally out of control in a children's play area, the children(!!) walking it had to drag it away.

We contacted the police but they're going to contact us again in a couple of days.
It was posted about on FB by someone who witnessed it. I didn't reply to it but somehow the owner of the dog has contacted me. They haven't apologised or anything, just given me their phone number and told me to phone them.

I want to shout at them for being so irresponsible, I'm so angry. I don't know if I should reply to them or just leave it up to the police/dog warden. I don't want to argue with them, of course, but I don't think they realise how awful the situation was?

OP posts:
TimmyOnTheBrain · 14/04/2021 14:20

Oh no, your child must have been terrified, and you're so lucky the wounds weren't far worse. I wouldn't be able to resist calling the owner and giving them my opinion on their out of control dog. I would also pass their details on to the police.

I've had dogs all my life and in this last year it's become very noticeable to me that there are lots of inexperienced people now buying dogs and not bothering to train them. Lots more clueless owners around means lots more incidents such as this.

oneglassandpuzzled · 14/04/2021 14:20

I, and now my husband, have been responsible for a village playground for twenty years. The number of dog owners we have had to tell to take their dogs out of the playground. There are signs up. It's always the same, they say their dogs are different, wouldn't hurt a fly.

I am a dog lover and dog owner of decades but it really annoys me. Playgrounds are safe spaces for children. Some children are scared of dogs. Many dogs are unpredictable.

I hope your son is OK, OP.

Brindisi32 · 14/04/2021 14:20

It's better to let the police deal with them. I'm also wondering how they got contact details.

Quartz2208 · 14/04/2021 14:24

@poshme

Keep an eye on the wound. If the skin around it starts going red go to a doctor ASAP. Dog bites get infected very often and might need oral or IV antibiotics - (voice of experience)
I completely echo this - seek medical attention. I had a puppy accidentally run into my leg and its canine tooth caught a bit of skin. It was just the top layer but it got very infected - I needed 2 sets of antibiotics (including Metronidazole which is a really strong one)
drpet49 · 14/04/2021 14:27

@Mybestestfriend

“I would have my solicitor call to find out where to send the papers. Yes I would sue.”

For what?

TonTonMacoute · 14/04/2021 14:28

Agree, don't call them, leave it to the police.

DH was bitten by a dog a while back. The police actually handled it very well.

Starlightstarbright1 · 14/04/2021 14:30

Pass number onto the police.. how do you think tgey found you?

This dog may have bit bfore , may bite again. They are huge dogs to be outbof control.

mogtheexcellent · 14/04/2021 14:31

Just pass the details onto the police. Its not as if their dogs lead slipped while they were walking down the road. It was IN the kids playground.

lljkk · 14/04/2021 14:32

What do folk expect the police to do? What is the outcome (those of you who recommend police) would like to happen?

Ormally · 14/04/2021 14:33

I find it a bit strange their initial message didn't have any kind of apologetic element, where it could have, so would echo passing to the police and not engaging.

butterpuffed · 14/04/2021 14:34

How did they get your phone number ?

Triffid1 · 14/04/2021 14:34

There are signs up. It's always the same, they say their dogs are different, wouldn't hurt a fly.

I've never understood this. Surely it's not about the dog hurting the child (usually) but about letting the children have a safe space where they don't have to worry about dogs? my dog wouldn't hurt anyone but I totally accept that there need to be places that people, especially children, who are scared of dogs, can go and not have to worry? Our local playground is often empty and I let dog in with us because she can be annoying outside. But if I see a family anywhere NEAR, I immediately grab her and start removing her - even before the people are within calling range because I want them to be clear we'll be gone if they're coming in.

OP, usually i'd say contact the person but in this case I'd be nervous as there's no apology or acknowledge in the message. I'd pass the details to the police but I'd perhaps get someone else to call on your behalf. Someone who can gauge how the dog owners are likely to react and ensures that you don't get emotional and angry when speaking with them. If they're reasonable and sensible in person you could then engage directly but if it turns out they want to accuse you of behaving badly or whatever, then you can simply never speak with them in person.

GingerBeverage · 14/04/2021 14:35

[quote drpet49]@Mybestestfriend

“I would have my solicitor call to find out where to send the papers. Yes I would sue.”

For what?[/quote]
There are loads of no win no fee lawyers covering dog bites. It's really common.

FlyingBurrito · 14/04/2021 14:35

Why would anyone go out of their way to find the contact details to blame the child?

Is everyone a dog hater? Surely the obvious thing is that they feel terrible, want to apologize and check on the child. Not all dog owners are irrespnsible, there could be a number of reasons the dog was lose in the park

Why not see what they have to say?

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 14/04/2021 14:35

@poshme

Keep an eye on the wound. If the skin around it starts going red go to a doctor ASAP. Dog bites get infected very often and might need oral or IV antibiotics - (voice of experience)
Definitely. DH had a dog sink it’s teeth in to his knee a couple of months ago. Needed tetanus and a course of string antibiotics even though the wounds were tiny. Hope your little one is ok
StillMedusa · 14/04/2021 14:35

Pass the details to the Police.
I love dogs, have a largish breed myself and much as I love her, I would never trust her 100% ..she's a dog . Letting kids walk any dog, let alone a big one is negligent, appalling ownership. And the dog will have to be muzzled in public from now on.
I hope your son is ok and not too traumatised. Do see a gp and take photos of the injury.

Keepmekeeping · 14/04/2021 14:35

That is awful. I wouldn't say anything to them. I had my son at the park he was standing next to me while I got the bag from the car and a dog came running on the extendable leash barking at him ds(4) was terrified and they only stopped the dog about 3 ft away the excuse... it was because ds had his hood up when I said nothing she said for goodness sake he wasn't near you as if it was all fine. In my experience people with out of control dogs never take responsibility.

Puppalicious · 14/04/2021 14:36

@lljkk I presume the reason to report to the police is the same reason you would report details relating to any criminal offence to the police, for them to investigate and take appropriate action.

Cindersrellie · 14/04/2021 14:37

I would be fucking livid! I definitely wouldn't phone them as I wouldn't be able to stay cool and no good would come of it. Pass their number onto the police.

Keepmekeeping · 14/04/2021 14:37

Is everyone a dog hater? Surely the obvious thing is that they feel terrible, want to apologize and check on the child. Not all dog owners are irrespnsible, there could be a number of reasons the dog was lose in the park

I would it would go I'm so sorry I feel terrible it was because your son wore blue/had a hat on can we please not involve the police.

ChikiTIKI · 14/04/2021 14:40

I assume you already did but if not already you need to take your child to A&E to have the wounds washed thoroughly, have the doctors check if they need stitches (sometimes it doesn't look to bad but does need stitches), and most importantly to get started on antibiotics straight away.

lljkk · 14/04/2021 14:40

@Puppalicious, please can you give me an example of "appropriate action."

Are PP saying that there is no reason for OP to have any information about what the "appropriate action" might be.

Radio4Rocks · 14/04/2021 14:40

Pass the details to the police. The owner may want to apologise but they also may want to make excuses for a dangerous and out of control dog that hurt your child. It could have been a lot worse.

Pass the details to the police, hopefully there will be a prosecution.

Springsnake · 14/04/2021 14:43

They will give you a sob story
Don’t contact them ,just give the number to the police

ineedaholidaynow · 14/04/2021 14:44

@lljkk the police are already involved as they should be with a dog bite. The OP needs to pass the details to the police and not talk directly to the owners

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