to think if the owner had kept his dog on a lead then I wouldn't have hit it!

[CounTessDeVille]

Now I feel like an absolute monster, hitting a poor little animal.

Last night, was just parking my car outside my house, heard a terrible grinding noise coming from under it. When I got out there was a man stood next to me who informed me that his dog was underneath it. He had decided to let it off it's lead right next to where I was parking.

Eventually the dog freed itself and walked out without any obvious injuries, but the man was going to go to the vets and have it checked. Still not heard anything & have no way of contacting him, (left him with my contact details though).

Feeling very angry with the owner and extremely sorry for the dog.

Please come and tell me it's going to be okay.

If it walked out and seemed ok hopefully it is. Good thing the idiot owner is taking it to the vet anyway.

This is NOT your fault - he should have had it under control near moving vehicles, especially in the dark.

Oh I read the headline and was all ready to ask if you was eating that, but as it's not dead I guess I will have to look else where for free meat.

Oh no!! The thought of my little terrier under a moving car is too much... Idiot owner, no one should ever let the dog off its lead when there are cars around! You never know what they will do even if they are well trained.

Its not your fault at all, you were parking your car, not expecting a dog to be there!It sounds like you did the right thing. Hopefully the dog is fine and just got a bit bumped, nothing serious.

didn't you check your mirrors?

No, was definintely parking on the road.

Feeling furious with him, really terrible for the dog & now wondering if he's going to try and get me to fork out for the vets bill. Would you pay?

Mirrors? A small dog on a dark night close to a car - there would be a huge amount of blind spot even if you'd checked every mirror thoroughly, wouldn't there?

No i would not pay.
I was doing a three point turn at the top of a road which led to a national trust property where people do let their dogs off the road.
Anyway some twit hadn't got his dog back under control and practically dived under my wheels to save the dog and I hit the man up the bum.
He tried to call the police, claim injuries etc. The police couldn't keep a straight face and told him off for not having the dog on a lead.

Has he called you back?

I don't know, I'd have to see the bill in writing from the vet first. If the dog was injured, maybe you can pay half. He's a bad owner letting the dog out of his control like that and then expecting others to look out.

No do not pay any vet bill

If he was going to come at you for reimbursement, he would have mentioned it at the time.

It is illegal to have an unleashed dog on a public highway/pavement, so he's not going to cause you any problems.

It is illegal to have an unleashed dog on a public highway/pavement

I didn't realise it was actually illegal but just looked and found 1988 Road Traffic act:

It is an offence to have a dog on a designated road without it being held on a lead.

It also says:
If a dog is injured in a car accident, the driver must stop and give their details to the person in charge of the dog.

so you did the right thing - but it doesnt say anything about you being liable for any resulting costs.

No need for mirrors - It ran in FRONT of my car while I was driving forwards into my parking space & was absolutely pitch black at night & the dog was black too.

He has my address - was outside my home at the time. Just wish I'd thought to ask for his too. I'm very worried about the dog.

Grimma, thanks for that info. Will keep that in mind.

Still heard nothing more yet though. Is no news good news?

I hope very much that no news is indeed good news.

Stupid, stupid, stupid man.

It's a bloody good job I wasn't with you...

It's his dog to worry about, worrying about it is a waste of emotional energy. You weren't to blame, he was. I wouldn't consider paying.
Would you worry if you'd hit a rabbit, pigeon or hedgehog? To me a dog is no different. If I'd hit a person I'd be upset.
I'd probabl;y be more upset if I'd hit a deer than a dog, but even then I wouldn't worry as once it's ran off there's nothing you can do.

I read the autobiography of a woman who worked for a long time at Battersea. She said that she hates seeing dogs off leashes on or near roads. Even the most obliging of them can be spooked and run out onto the road.

The other thing that keeps "getting to me" is the fact that his reaction wasn't to try and help the dog or rescue it. No. He left that to me. Instead he decides to call his DW/DP to break the news. I could hear her screaming down the phone.

Just in case, I forgot to mention that I really do love dogs...

Do not pay any bills!

I own a dog that is a real bugger for doing a runner, I know it is my responsiblity if she causes a crash.

He sounds like a bit of a weirdo. Sure he didn't kick the dog under your car, to spite his wife? Seems odd to call her and not check the hound himself.

Well, still heard nothing more.

discobeaver: That's exactly what my DH said!

it's not your fault. Don't pay.

It is illegal for him to have had the dog off the lead.

YANBU.

But I would feel terrible too.

Hopefully doggy is ok.

It is not your responsibility to pay the vets fees. It is an unfortunate accident but could easily have been avoided by him having the dog on a lead like he is supposed to.

Do not pay the vets bill.
If he tries to make you pay, charge him for alarm and distress to yourself and damage to undercarriage of vehicle. (that last bit was tongue in cheek by the way)
What a dickhead making you feel uncomfortable for his negligence