My dog was attacked and the other owner blames me

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

I can't sleep

My dog was attacked two days ago by another dog and ended up in the vets with a bite wound on his ear and another on his neck.

I informed the other owner of what happened following an emergency trip to the vets.

The owner of the other dog was there when the bite happened but has sent me a very upsetting email telling me it's all my fault and that my dog was attacked and pinned to the floor because of me.

I feel sick and really shaken up. I don't know why he chose to send me such an unpleasant message but it's really gotten to me and I just keep replaying it all over in my mind

Sorry you are having a difficult night @sunflowersandbuttercups and I hope your dog is ok!

Unfortunately it sounds as if the owner is trying to establish that their dog was not at fault in case you go to the police or the vet reports the bite to the police. It's pretty hard once charged with a dangerous dog to fight the charge and get your dog back, dogs are usually PTS.

I hope you can ignore the message (maybe block the number for the night?) and get some sleep.

Yes, I suspect you're right.

Thank you for replying by the way! I have blocked them from being able to contact me further.

Unfortunately I have struggled with anxiety in the past and things like this really shake me up!

What actually happened?

My dog was on lead, theirs wasn't. Before I knew what was happening my dog was on the floor and screaming - I managed to pull the other dog away and he was dripping blood so I took him straight to the vets.

I know the person through other means so contacted them once my dog had been checked over.

Police will do very little about a dog on dog attack but maybe speak to someone about the email (how did they get it anyway?)

Phone your local council and report the dog to the dog warden. If it happens again they have it on record and maybe able to make the owners muzzle it.

They probably sent the email to scare you in not claiming for the cost of treatment for your dog

Hope you and pooch are ok

Thank you @twinkletoesfairynose - I know the other owner for other reasons so had their information that way.

Their dog was totally in the wrong!

Hope yours is ok?

I'm in too many dog groups and anecdotally there's seems to have been an increase in police interest over the last lockdown on dog on dog attacks. Maybe there's been an increase in numbers? Not sure if that just self reporting bias in parts of the country.

I get it @sunflowersandbuttercups I'm often up in the night fretting anxiously over events either recent or in the past! It's very hard to switch off, i helpfully read and read funny threads in classic. Helps give the mind s gear switch. The CF threads are good or the one about purchases not living up to expectations that one has some howlers.

Your poor dog. I hope they recover well.

Was it an extendable lead? If not, I can’t see how this could possibly be your fault. Even with the extendable lead I’m imagining unusual situations such as the lead cutting the other dog in some way. I still have a massive scar on my leg from an extendable lead burn years ago so I keep my distance from dogs on extendable leads now!

@ChessIsASport no it was a double-ended Halti lead attached to a harness ☺️m

Thank you everyone for your lovely responses!

[quote sunflowersandbuttercups]@ChessIsASport no it was a double-ended Halti lead attached to a harness ☺️m

Thank you everyone for your lovely responses! [/quote]
Then I really can’t see how your dog could be at fault! There seems to be a big increase in dog owners who don’t keep their dogs under control at the moment. The other owner is probably panicking because they know that it is their fault. People are always angriest when they know they are in the wrong.

I hope that you and your dog can enjoy some nice, peaceful walks to get over this experience.

Thank you so much - I think you're right. The anger is defensiveness as he knows he's in the wrong!

My pup is okay thank you - he took a nasty bite to the ear but luckily the bite on the neck is relatively superficial

How in earth did they turn that around to it not being their fault?!
As above I'd be reporting to the council and RSPCA maybe too - perhaps get the vet to ensure it's on your dogs records that it was damage due to an out of control dog

What a nasty aggressive person - a bit like their dog by the sound of it! I hope your dog soon forgets the attack.

What an awful person to try and put the blame on you. Could you not reply to the email saying you will be reporting their dog to the council and RSPCA? That might make him think twice about letting his unleashed dog attack others.

Thank you so much - you've made me feel better even if I still haven't had any sleep 🤣

The dog in question has a history of aggression so I think the owner is on the defensive in case I report his dog.

Why have you not reported his dog?

@Fieldsofstars

Why have you not reported his dog?

Shock mostly. I will probably do so today.

The fact he has behaved like this afterwards indicates even more than he is a terrible pet owner.

What if this was a child and not your dog?

Imo you should report his dog.
I would be very upset if my dog got attacked and the aggressive dog had this history but no one had ever pursued the owner.
At the very least the other dog owner should be keeping his dog on a lead and muzzling him.

Please do the right thing and report the incident.

I’d have replied too.

‘the fact you’re blaming an aggressive attack on my dog as my fault, when my dog was under control on a lead and yours wasn’t, further indicates to me that you’re an irresponsible pet owner and I now will be reporting this incident to the police’.

Don’t let people bully you.

Thank you

I shall report him.

A dog off the lead in a public place is considered out of control even if it does nothing and someone is scared by it.

Dogs on leads are more reactive so you normally always see dogs going for each other when one or both are restricted in any way.

Phone the police, report the other owner. It's not the dogs fault it's an irresponsible owner.

I know someone whos hubby was walking their bull terrier in the woods. Saw another owner with a dog off the lead as heading back to the car. Exchanged pleasantries, dogs barked and played chase for a bit. Both parties went their own way...

...the police knock on the door later the next day to say there has been a complaint of a dangerous dog out of control in woodland and want to see the dog to check its not a banned breed. Police told owners of bull terrier that as the dog has been reported once any more reports of same nature could see dog removal and PTS. Turns out it was the other dog walker, waited for bull terrier owner to put dog in car and jotted the reg plate down.

So in your case the other owner is in the wrong and at very least should be glad that you haven't yet gone to the police. Ask them to pay all your vets bills caused by the attack. It's the very least they can do.

Thank you - that's awful what happened to your friend!

My dog didn't even react - no biting, just screaming bless him.

@sunflowersandbuttercups

Thank you

I shall report him.

I'm glad. He needs to be reported. Next time it could be a child.

I hope you and the dog are OK, it's a horrible thing to happen

Your on lead dog is attacked by an off lead dog, his fault 100%.
Police wont do anything about a dog on dog attack but he needs reported for having an out of control dog and told to keep it on lead.