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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:
Gothichouse40 · 14/04/2021 17:41

Don't reply to them, pass all details onto the police. I may have a suspicious mind but they may try to dissuade you from taking things further. Apart from this, if there is a prosecution, it's not a good idea to be in contact with the dog's owners. Personally, I'd want nothing to do with them.

rwalker · 14/04/2021 17:43

Message them back saying you have passes to details to the police. Push for it to be put down

Volcanoexplorer · 14/04/2021 17:44

I would not even consider engaging with the owner. Definitely leave it up to the police. As your dc has seen a doctor the incident will be on record. Make sure you take photos of the wounds too. Think I’d be chasing up the police though. I’ve grown up with dogs and love them dearly, but this one sounds unpredictable and dangerous. It could have Ben so much worse and next time it might be.

PomegranateQueen · 14/04/2021 17:45

Was it a puppy or excitable young dog? Was the dog belonging to the children. What if it gets put down, those children will feel guily forever as they were in charge.
I know they aren’t your problem ( or the dog) but I think there is more to consider about what you want the outcome to be

What if this 'puppy or excitable' dog goes for a smaller child next time and causes a fatal injury? If the dog gets put down, that is entirely the fault of the stupid owners, not the OP and her child.

LST · 14/04/2021 17:55

OP I am so sorry this has happened. I truly wish irresponsible owners didn't exist. They make the world a worse place for everyone.

oakleaffy · 14/04/2021 17:56

@Villanelle
I’d not personally contact the owner, who must be grossly irresponsible not socialising their dog and having it off lead in a play area.
A bloke I know had a dog, a terrier type who was leashed outside a shop, and a small child was poking the dog..and the dog bit the child’s face.

It went to court, the terrier had too be muzzled at all times when out, and the dog had bitten before.

Chances are this dog has bitten before.

Definitely a police matter, as a dog that size could do significant damage.

LST · 14/04/2021 17:58

@Orangelizard

100% agree with MayorGoodwaysChicken.

I don't understand why Britain is so backwards with its dog laws. Other countries have clearly marked out separate areas for dogs to be off lead so that only people who choose to have to interact with them.

Some of the large breeds we have in the country now are ridiculous, there is no way the person walking them could hold them back even when they're on lead.

I am assuming as this was a park the dog wasn't meant to be offlead anyway. This is what give every dog owner a bad name
oakleaffy · 14/04/2021 17:58

@LST

OP I am so sorry this has happened. I truly wish irresponsible owners didn't exist. They make the world a worse place for everyone.
Absolutely. And their dogs often attack well mannered dogs, too. Early socialisation is crucial, but people buy dogs and then don’t bother training them properly..gives all dog owners a bad rap.
MsTSwift · 14/04/2021 17:59

The laws need to be massively tightened up / properly enforced now - so many have dogs. Anecdotally more of my friendship group now have dogs than don’t.

One of my earliest memories is a neighbours black Labrador running into our garden and biting me on the face. Then the owner coming round to strenuously say it was all my fault 🙄🙄. I remember the feeling of injustice to this day!

TonTonMacoute · 14/04/2021 18:00

When DH was bitten a police officer came round and talked to him. He very carefully took down all the details of the incident.

He then went around and talked to the owners of the dog, who were an elderly couple. He warned them that it was a serious problem if your dog had bitten someone, and that they must be very sure it didn't happen again. What if it had been a child etc etc.

He then came back to us and explained what had passed. The couple were very shaken by what had happened, the dog was just very spoiled and doted on and was poorly disciplined. I really think they believed it wouldn't actually hurt anyone else. The police officer seemed concerned that we would push for the dog to be destroyed, and he did say he thought this would be unlikely to happen. We assured him we didn't want them to lose their pet, just to keep it under control.

It was one of the few encounters we have had with the police where I have been impressed with the outcome.

tommyhoundmum · 14/04/2021 18:01

Your poor child. That could make him afraid of dosg for life.

Pass on details to the police. They will sort it out.

JSL52 · 14/04/2021 18:01

I'd take your child to AE. I've seen many dog bites get infected. I'd be suing the owners too , it's outrageous.

JSL52 · 14/04/2021 18:02

Sorry , just seen , he's seen a Dr.

Thesearmsofmine · 14/04/2021 18:11

Your poor ds, I hope he heals quickly. I wouldn’t reply unless to say something like thank you for getting in touch regarding your dog attacking my son, I have passed your details onto the police as they are already looking into the incident. Screen shot their message first incase they block you.

I love dogs but am fed up of irresponsible owners, just this week we were out walking when a big dog bounded over and jumped up at my ds. Luckily I was close and able to push him off because he would have knocked ds over(he was bigger then ds) and his owned just laughed and said ‘it’s ok he is friendly’.

Franklyfrost · 14/04/2021 18:13

Do not contact them. Violent dogs have violent owners. Pass the details onto the police.

OverTheRainbow88 · 14/04/2021 18:15

I would defo pass on the contact details to the police. The dog needs to be put to sleep.

Hope your DS feels happier and better ASAP

DoubleTweenQueen · 14/04/2021 18:16

Your poor ds :( Hope it heals quickly.

Can’t believe owner would let the children take a large untrained dog out. Particularly stupid.

HerMammy · 14/04/2021 18:19

Again on these threads, pp saying the dog needs PTS, no it doesn’t, it needs its owners to be responsible and keep him on lead and muzzled if necessary and be walked be adults who can control him.
No dog should die because they have stupid owners.

JustAnotherOldMan · 14/04/2021 18:20

Contact the police, they will tell owners to keep it on lead and muzzled in public

Onesnowynight · 14/04/2021 18:24

Pass info to police and don’t engage. Hope your dc is doing a little better tonight poor mite

IdblowJonSnow · 14/04/2021 18:25

No child should die, be bitten, scarred or terrified because of an out of control dog or dogs.

Yes, the owners should be responsible but they weren't.

I wish all dogs were kept on a lead unless only in a designated area with other dog walkers.

There are more and more of these threads and I've seen plenty of incidents myself. Angry Pretty sick of it.

OverTheRainbow88 · 14/04/2021 18:26

@HerMammy

I’d rather a dog be put to sleep than a child mauled/bitten. It’s a disgrace

Elderflower14 · 14/04/2021 18:27

A few years ago I was put with my friend her son and grandson. We stopped at the park and I got the grandson out of the car. It was safe to let him run to the gate so I did. The next thing I knew a huge rotweiller came charging round the corner and I had to scoop the little boy out of the dogs way. I had strong words with the dogs owner for having the dog off the lead. My friend hadnt heard me get so cross for ages!

SofiaMichelle · 14/04/2021 18:31

Definitely don't contact them. They will be try to persuade you that the dog shouldn't be destroyed.

It absolutely should be put down, and as soon as possible.

Give the police what you have.

Your poor child, OP. Angry

Devlesko · 14/04/2021 18:33

Anyone who is unable to control their pet is unlikely able to do the right thing.
Dog needs putting down, give her details to the Police and don't engage.

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