Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

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

Help me process what just happened - dog attack related.

44 replies

EarlofShrewsbury · 15/09/2023 18:42

Ill try to include as much info in my opening post as I can..

I was driving my DC to scouts just now and it's a long straight road. Up ahead on the pavement on my side, I saw a loose dog, it was obvious that it didn't have anyone with it, I assume it's got out without the owners knowledge.

It looked like a XL bully, but I don't know, it was possibly a bit small maybe. Like a large staffy.

I slowed down as a precaution, it's a good job I did because it spotted the woman across the road with her dog (actual staffy from what I could see) and darted into the road in front of me, the car coming towards me swerved and missed the dog and me by inches.

It went straight for the woman's dog. She was around 60 years old and she looked terrified as she dragged her dog away and was backing herself into a bush. I immediately pulled over to help but I realised I had DC in the car, I didn't want them to see me mauled so I just froze. I didn't know what to do.

I drove away once the guy in the car behind me jumped out.

I feel shaken and cowardly. I did call the police on my hands free as I drove on but I feel like I could have help more.

That woman looked so so scared.

I'm not sure if I'm being stupid to feel like this and the media has caused the fear or if it was OK to react the way I did.

OP posts:
heldinadream · 15/09/2023 18:46

Totally OK OP. Children with you, unknown possibly viscous dog on the loose, someone else trying to help and you phoned police.
You did everything right IMHO.
Hope you're OK, you must be shaken. 💐

Throwncrumbs · 15/09/2023 18:47

Hope the police arrived and shot it. Hope they trace the owner and prosecute!

Whattodowithit88 · 15/09/2023 18:49

Yes it was ok. You had children in the car and your survival for their need outweighed this women’s need. It’s natural instinct to protect your own or survive for your own.

Instincts are there for a reason.
Maybe you could have helped more? But you didn’t and that’s just the way it went, accept it and don’t loose any sleep over it, I probably would have done the same thing if I’m honest, a dog or my kids mum, I’d choose me (for them) everytime.

Blanketpolicy · 15/09/2023 18:49

If a dog that powerful turned on you it could have given you live changing injuries or worse. Anyone who dives in to help in these situations has my upmost respect and admiration. I couldn't do it.

YouJustDoYou · 15/09/2023 18:49

Op I doubt there was anything you could've done, those dogs are pure evil and need to all be destroyed.

diddlyshoo · 15/09/2023 18:50

Never leave your kids to attend an emergency. Let's hope the lady is ok. These vicious dogs all need to be shot.

LookatmyFatArseDP · 15/09/2023 18:54

You did the right thing absolutely, it must have been awful seeing another dog getting mauled and attacked like that

Nothingbuttheglory · 15/09/2023 19:01

Your job is to keep your kids safe. You did your job.

AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 15/09/2023 19:03

What on earth is going on? I’ve just seen a. Video on sky news of a boy being mauled by a loose dog whilst playing football, the footage was horrendous caught on someone’s ring doorbell

Inkpotlover · 15/09/2023 19:03

The media hasn't caused this fear. It's the dogs that are mauling people and other dogs to death that have done that.

Simbalar · 15/09/2023 19:12

I'm still reeling thinking about that poor man ripped apart by two xl bullies yesterday. I feel so so sick about it. Yet the fucking scum that own these dogs are signing petitions to save the bastard things.

I was just talking about it with my husband. To actually be discussing what would be the most horrific suffering - a child or adult and he said he would rather be savaged to death by one rather than two because you would be being pulled apart by two dogs 🥺 that poor poor man suffered so much and people are signing shitty petitions to save the fucking things.

My mum is in her 60s with a little dog. I've told her to carry a foldable pen knife and I am confident she will use it if necessary.

DESTROY THEM ALL 🙏🙏🙏🙏

AlwaysGinPlease · 15/09/2023 19:24

The frothers are in full swing I see 🙄

PonyPatter44 · 15/09/2023 19:26

AlwaysGinPlease · 15/09/2023 19:24

The frothers are in full swing I see 🙄

And what in your view is the benefit of allowing unchecked breeding of these rather unpleasant dogs?

Balloonhearts · 15/09/2023 19:26

@AlwaysGinPlease We've had Destroy them all, pure evil and suggestions of carrying knives and guns all on the first page. It's like we're playing bingo over here!

AlwaysGinPlease · 15/09/2023 19:33

Balloonhearts · 15/09/2023 19:26

@AlwaysGinPlease We've had Destroy them all, pure evil and suggestions of carrying knives and guns all on the first page. It's like we're playing bingo over here!

Indeed. So predictable isn't it.

EarlofShrewsbury · 15/09/2023 19:34

Thanks everyone. I've heard about these dog attacks but never thought I would witness it or feel the fear of one.

I think the reason I felt so cowardly is because there was no one else. It is a long straight road between 2 villages, footpath either side and behind each path a school field with a high fence on one side and on the woman's side, a hedge with a brook/stream behind. There was nowhere to go and no one else around, the car coming in the opposite direction drove on, so until the guy who jumped out pulled up behind me it was only me. I stopped but I did nothing. I froze.

OP posts:
Welcometotheocbitch · 15/09/2023 19:36

You did the right thing you had your kids with you. The poor lady I hope her and her dog are ok. Is there a local FB group or anything, someone might have posted an update. I’m scared of these dogs I do hope some real change is brought about, I’m not too sure it will though.

Balloonhearts · 15/09/2023 19:36

@AlwaysGinPlease we just need All dogs should be muzzled at all times and we've got a full house.

EarlofShrewsbury · 15/09/2023 19:37

I should add, I drove back past the scene just over an hour later on my way home and there was no signs anything had happened.

I'm hoping this is a sign no one was seriously injured.

OP posts:
Whattodowithit88 · 15/09/2023 19:52

I think the problem is these dogs are not biting, they’re mauling, attacking and re-attacking and people can’t get them off. That’s the problem, this breed is stronger than average humans so pose a risk due to their genetics in being bull fighters. It’s bred into these type of dogs to not back down and whilst the genetic trait doesn’t run strong in every one of the breeds, it runs strong in one to many, so they must go. Children and adults come before a dog. Any dog!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/09/2023 19:55

Simbalar · 15/09/2023 19:12

I'm still reeling thinking about that poor man ripped apart by two xl bullies yesterday. I feel so so sick about it. Yet the fucking scum that own these dogs are signing petitions to save the bastard things.

I was just talking about it with my husband. To actually be discussing what would be the most horrific suffering - a child or adult and he said he would rather be savaged to death by one rather than two because you would be being pulled apart by two dogs 🥺 that poor poor man suffered so much and people are signing shitty petitions to save the fucking things.

My mum is in her 60s with a little dog. I've told her to carry a foldable pen knife and I am confident she will use it if necessary.

DESTROY THEM ALL 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Edited

What on earth do you think that a little knife is going to do other than piss a dog off and put her right within reach when it's most irate?

Fucking ridiculous.

AlwaysGinPlease · 15/09/2023 19:56

Balloonhearts · 15/09/2023 19:36

@AlwaysGinPlease we just need All dogs should be muzzled at all times and we've got a full house.

It'll be along soon

Riverlee · 15/09/2023 19:58

I would have done the same thing. You phoned the police and did everything you could.

I can tell you were badly shaken by what you see, and what could have happened.

I guess everyone was okay or you would have heard it in your local press, local Facebook page etc.

ZadocPDederick · 15/09/2023 19:59

If the other an hadn't stopped, I guess you should have grabbed something heavy from the car and hit the dog hard. But I fully recognise that it's only too easy to say that in hindsight.

GoryBory · 15/09/2023 20:01

Dog attacks are so scary.

I was viciously attacked by a jack Russell when I was young and even as an adult I struggle to go near them or let my child go near them (other dogs especially big dogs i’m absolutely fine with).

I can imagine watching an attack must be so frightening.

You did the right thing though.
You can always ring 999 and keep yourself safe.