Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
HaveringWavering · 14/04/2021 18:34

Don’t understand why you updated but didn’t comment on the majority suggestion to pass the number to the police?

maryberryslayers · 14/04/2021 18:35

Please make sure the police know who this dog belongs to OP, next time the dog could kill a child.

Call the police back and pass on the details and ask that they keep you updated about what they have done.

Livingtothefull · 14/04/2021 18:35

I agree do not respond to the owner, the matter has been handled to the police now so that's that, let the police deal with it.

This sounds so inappropriate on the part of the owners, firstly to track you down and then demand that you contact them without even an apology. I don't think any good could come of phoning them & I suggest you instead let the police know they have been in touch.

I am so sorry this happened to your poor DS, I hope he is ok.

Moonwatcher1234 · 14/04/2021 18:41

Yes, would echo the majority sentiment of leave this to the police and do not engage with the owner. At all. So sick of these out of control dogs in parks...lost count of the number of times a big scary, or even little and aggressive, dog bounds over and it’s owner stands gormlessly by.

Gobbeldegook · 14/04/2021 18:44

@Villanelle any updates

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 14/04/2021 18:46

@Profiterolegirl

I would ring them. They probably feel terrible. They have approached you. There is no reason for you to think they don't realise how bad it was.
Not good enough.

Another vote here for passing their details and message on to the police. Irresponsible animal owners are a menace.

worriedatthemoment · 14/04/2021 18:46

We were walking ours at weekend and there was a family in the park with a dog inside the kids fenced area , several adults with it so easily one could wait outside and huge park where dogs can be let off , and one small fenced off area for kids and they still took dog in there despite signs
I wouldn't respond especially as message is rude , they are in the wrong
Hope your dc is ok

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 14/04/2021 18:47

@Mybestestfriend

I would have my solicitor call to find out where to send the papers. Yes I would sue.
I, too.
CroutonsAvatar · 14/04/2021 18:49

Ugh. Your whole post made me feel really anxious. I love dogs, we have always had dogs as has everyone else in my family and my husbands. But my god, I cannot fathom what the hell a dog was doing in a child’s play area in the first place. Honestly, it’s a worst nightmare.

I’d imagine they want to cover themselves. Get their story straight. Don’t respond. As most of the other advice on this thread had said, pass this on to the police.

whatsleep · 14/04/2021 18:52

Let the police deal with it, I can’t imagine anything positive will come out of you phoning them.

HUCKMUCK · 14/04/2021 18:55

If they want to speak to OP to apologise why doesn’t their message say ‘I’m so sorry your DS was hurt by my dog, I’d really like to apologise and let you know what I’m doing to prevent it happening again. Can you call me’

KindnessCrusader · 14/04/2021 18:58

@HerMammy I actually really disagree. This wasn't a minor incident. The dog has attacked and seriously hurt a child. I'm guessing the only reason it bit the child's back was because the child was pinned down that way. Only luck that it didn't pin him down the other way and go for his face and hands.

My family member was attacked by a dog. The owner absolutely savaged US and the witnesses on a local Facebook group as did other dog owners that weren't even there. The dog warden ordered her to keep her dangerous dog on a lead and muzzled. She does no such thing. Owners that allow it to happen in the first place (multiple times, reading the OP's post) can hardly be trusted to obey rules to muzzle and keep their animal on a lead.

Original poster
Villanelle · 14/04/2021 19:02

I haven't responded to them at all and I'm not going to. Of course I passed their details over to the police.

I was just so angry and when I read the message it just pushed me over the edge and I wanted to say something, y'know? What if the dog had done more damage? Or gone after my toddler instead?

I don't want the dog PTS, I want the owners to apologise, be responsible, to feel ashamed of their poor decisions and to just be better.

Just to reiterate, DS has seen a doctor, wound has been cleaned properly, and I've been taking photos. The bruising is quite spectacular.

OP posts:
Seriously79 · 14/04/2021 19:02

If you do call them, make sure the phone call is recorded.

MadeForThis · 14/04/2021 19:04

Keep a record of any communication. Don't engage with them at all. If the dog has been causing problems for a while they will be aware of its behaviour. They obviously won't change.

Eddielzzard · 14/04/2021 19:04

I'd take screenshots of the witness report off Facebook and when the police get back to you, show them the text. Anything other than 'I'm so sorry, how is your DS?' as the first words in the text mean the owner isn't taking responsibility. The fact that they let the kids take the large, out of control dog into a play area is enough to show how irresponsible they are.

Definitely a police matter, esp in light of recent other attacks. So sorry for your DS. What a shock.

murbblurb · 14/04/2021 19:07

Any dog that bites a human should be destroyed quickly, the owners fined and banned from future dog keeping. Breach that, jail. Don't give me the fur baby shit.

Been on the recieving end - it was bad enough and could have been much worse. Same dog twice and skank of an owner still has the thing. Hope it goes for her, would serve her right.

TroubleUsedToBeMyBusiness · 14/04/2021 19:11

I agree with @murbblurb. My dad was bitten by a dog as he walked past it (dog was being walked by a child). The attack was completely unprovoked and I was furious with dad for not reporting it. Owners only cared about their precious dog not being destroyed.

MissMaple82 · 14/04/2021 19:19

So they've given you their number told you to ring and your angry!

ragged · 14/04/2021 19:20

%I don't want the dog PTS, I want the owners to apologise, be responsible, to feel ashamed of their poor decisions and to just be better^

I guess be prepared for the dog to be walked muzzled (is there a legal mechanism to require that??) or put down, but no apology, no public penitance. Sounds like PTS is the most likely outcome. What OP wants doesn't change what will happen.

Original poster
Villanelle · 14/04/2021 19:25

@MissMaple82

So they've given you their number told you to ring and your angry!
Yes, of course I'm angry. You wouldn't be?
OP posts:
Cyntia123 · 14/04/2021 19:34

I would call the owner, they may want to apologise. I dont know the age of the dog and if it was being aggressive or just over excited. Please don't jump on me as I'm not excusing what happened but I have a 4 month old puppy who gets very over excited around children, especially if they run and scream, she jumps up and bites. I take her to the country park, on a lead and she really pulls towards the play area which isn't fenced. I dont let her off the lead but I have no doubt if I did she would run straight to the children. Just wanted to give a different perspective as I see comments saying the dog should be destroyed. Def sounds like it should be on the lead and it may be the children let it off when they shouldn't have and the owner may want to explain and apologise to you. Hope your child is ok.

ThanksItHasPockets · 14/04/2021 19:34

I don't want the dog PTS, I want the owners to apologise, be responsible, to feel ashamed of their poor decisions and to just be better.

I’m quite shocked by the anecdote upthread - in what other crime would the victim be asked to make such an emotive decision about sentencing or consequences?

amarya · 14/04/2021 19:36

Police. Dog was out of control and in children's play park. No excuses, no mitigation.

Mybestestfriend · 14/04/2021 19:36

The owner needs an explanation from the police.