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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have reported this dog owner to the police and still want to take further actions?

70 replies

strawberriesandmelon · 24/05/2012 08:31

Yesterday I was going to pick up DD from nursery, when a dog attacked me for no reason. He bite my thigh and luckily it wasn't painful or he didn't break the skin, because I was wearing jeans. Then the owner pulled him back (he was on a leash) and tried to control me. After this, I told the man he shouldn't have a dog like that, what would have happened if I had been a child or had had a child with me? The owner felt threatened and started saying the dog hadn't bite me at all, it was just playing bla bla, but I've grown up around dogs and I know this wasn't true (and I actually got bitten!). After I insisted his dog had attacked me and was dangerous, the owner felt threatened and told me to fuck off, went away shouting "FUCK OFF COW". I first kept going to pick DD from nursery, but then I went back, took some pictures of him and the dog, and called the police. After I picked up DD we went to the police station and I reported the incident. I did this because I firmly believe that dog is dangerous and the owner can't control it, and wouldn't want anyone else to be hurt (especially a child!). My question is, after I have reported it, would you also hang pictures and a warning note about him in the neighbourhood, contact newspapers etc or is that going too far?

Thanks for your opinion

OP posts:

Original poster

strawberriesandmelon · 24/05/2012 08:32

BTW the dog was a medium sized mastiff-like type with huge jaws

OP posts:

thegreylady · 24/05/2012 08:34

Now you have reported it I would leave it at that. The police will issue a warning. Anything more begins to look excessive.

2blessed2bstressed · 24/05/2012 08:35

I think putting pictures/posters up is definitely going too far, and could land you in trouble.

ripsishere · 24/05/2012 08:35

YANBU, but I am wondering how you managed to go back and take a photo?

Noqontrol · 24/05/2012 08:36

No I would let the police deal with it now. Sorry you got bitten.

lisad123 · 24/05/2012 08:36

I would leave it now. The police will deal with it.

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 24/05/2012 08:36

No I wouldnt post pictures and a warning note! And imho you were nipped not bitten. The owner didnt behave properly but you keep saying "the owner felt threatened"

I wouldnt give a toss how the owner felt if it had been me or my DD. Apologising profusely is the correct way to go, not telling someone to fuck off.

And that comes from someone who has 2 large dogs.

It just isnt acceptable for a dog to go around behaving like that.

TheHouseOnTheCorner · 24/05/2012 08:36

No don't hang pictures....you did the rght thing in taking photos for the police to see but if you begin a campaign about him, he may take revenge on you and you dont want to meet a person like that when you have your child with you!

Did the dog growl and snarl? Or was he wagging and playful? Did his jaws actually close around your leg?

TheHouseOnTheCorner · 24/05/2012 08:37

rip I assume she walked back to where the dog was and did it on her phone! [cconfused] Odd question.

fruitysummer · 24/05/2012 08:43

TheHouse I'm with rip - it's strange that a) the dog and it's owner was still there in the same place and b) that the owner, after telling OP to fuck off was happy to just allow her to take photo's???

I wouldn't post photo's or warnings. As it's currently your word against his. You say his dog did bite, he says it didn't and unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) it didn't break the skin so you have no proof.

Original poster

strawberriesandmelon · 24/05/2012 08:44

JaxTeller, I've had dogs too and I know I got bitten. I'm the kind who goes down in the floor and plays with dogs etc, and I am certainly not scared of dogs. It didn't get all my leg because my jeans kind of slippered its teeth (hoping that makes some sense in English) and was restrained by the leash by the owner. It would definitely have been more had I been wearing shorts, or if it had been the face of a child.

Noqontrol: I just went back (staying quite far, so he couldn't see me) and took pictures of him and the dog. Unfortunately none are close enough to see his face, but at least it shows his clothes/complexion (I didn't want to get closer).

OK dropping the poster idea, thanks for your opinion guys

OP posts:

Original poster

strawberriesandmelon · 24/05/2012 08:47

BTW I wasn't scared of dogs before, but I'm getting a bit now after what happened. It's almost an instinctive reaction, I notice even the smallest dog around. Hopefully I will overcome it, I love dogs! I just never thought one would attack me :(

OP posts:

YouOldSlag · 24/05/2012 09:05

Hmm. I hope the police do take action. You have a dog that bites even when on the lead and an aggressive unremorseful owner- it's a dangerous combination.

Even playful nipping is not on at all, whether the dog was growling or playing. Were you near the nursery or on your way there (i.e was it a mile away or near the gates?)

ReallyTired · 24/05/2012 09:09

strawberriesandmelon,
I'm sorry you got bitten. I think you have done the right thing in going to the police and hopefully the police will take it seriously.

I have scars from when I was bitten at the age of seven by a dog who was only "playing". The experience has left me terrified of dogs. Unfortunately a minority of dog owners are like parents and cannot accept that fido can do any wrong.

I think that putting up posters would be excessive, however a photo of the offending dog and owner might be useful to the police for identification purposes. (If you can get one!)

crowface · 24/05/2012 09:18

I think since it's your word against his, and there are no marks on your skin, you could be in trouble for slander if you put up posters. I would imagine the police will take this seriously though. Shocking that this happened whilst the dog was on a lead, when you would assume the owner would have full control.

RaPaPaPumPumBootyMum · 24/05/2012 09:22

I think you have done the right thing.

It could be a small child next and we all have read the stories of what can happen then.

I hope that the police will now deal with this and issue a warning... will they feed back to you the result of their enquiries do you know?

But no, I wouldn't put up posters for all the reasons that others above have already said.

loopyluna · 24/05/2012 09:25

You did the right thing but leave it at that. Hopefully the police will take it seriously and the owner will get a warning.
I reported a dog owner in my village as his/her two dogs chased my ds down the street barking (crossing a busy road to get to him.) The owner must have received a warning as I have never seen the dogs let loose on the street since.
Glad you're not hurt and your dc didn't witness the attack.

sleepsforwimps2010 · 24/05/2012 09:29

op, you should tell the school aswell,
that way parents who have children who walk home alone can be informed about the possible danger posed by this dog.

WenTheEternallySurprised · 24/05/2012 09:42

If you put posters up/photos of the man and dog you there's a strong possibility you will be arrested under the public order act. Don't. Let the police do their job instead.

Fireandashes · 24/05/2012 09:50

Agree that it should be left up to the police now.

Is there any bruising coming out, OP? Even if he didn't break the skin because of your jeans, a mastiff biting with intent would grip hard enough to bruise, so there may still be an injury.

Was it on one of those extending leads? They're worse than useless IMO They give owners the illusion of control while allowing dogs enough time and space to get themselves into plenty of trouble - not to mention being a trip/tying in knots hazard!

hairylemon · 24/05/2012 10:07

YABU to put posters up and go to the papers.

I can kind of understand the owners reaction a bit. If my dog nipped someone for the first time (as we dont know if the dog has done this before) and their first words were "you shouldnt have a dog like that" Id immediately panic that they would want my dog PTS and become very defensive. Not saying he was right to call you what he did at all, but I can see why he reaction was what it was.

IMO if a mastiff type dog actually bit you properly then jeans wouldnt have buffered it at all, so I too think as a pp said it was more of a nip. How did it happen? Were you just walking past and the dog just leapt up at your leg? As a side how come you managed to get a pic of his 'complexion' and not his face? Surely if you can make out someones complexion you can see their face

Nancy66 · 24/05/2012 10:08

What do you expect newspapers to do? They won't be interested in a little nip

fairieswearboots · 24/05/2012 10:12

Remember the Thin Lizzy album 'Johnny the Fox'? . Side 1 track 4.

hairylemon · 24/05/2012 10:12

God Nancy dont you know anything? The papers would print that same old boring pic of a Staffy that they trot out every time a dog not even remotely related to a Staffy goes for someone with the caption "Devil dogs should be banned" or other such guff.

midori1999 · 24/05/2012 10:37

I think you were right to report it to the police and no, this dog should not behave like that at all and it would be sensible for the owner to muzzle it in public.

However, calm down FFS! You weren't 'attacked' at all. If a 'large mastif type with huge jaws' had attacked you, you'd know about it, not be left without a mark on you.

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