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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
charlearose · 24/05/2012 10:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

theodorakis · 24/05/2012 10:50

How horrible. The attitude you sometimes get from owners is morescary than the threat of being bitten. Not surprised you are angry but it is not a good idea to put yourself in a vulnerable situation.

TheUnMember · 24/05/2012 10:55

charlearose your dogs are gorgeous.

WenTheEternallySurprised · 24/05/2012 11:01

fairies, that's superb! I roared!

FWIW, no, it wasn't a bite. It was a nip. You'd sure know if you'd been bitten by a Mastiff type. They're a nice breed, btw, known for their gentle natures and loyalty. Oh, and slobbering.

Original poster
strawberriesandmelon · 24/05/2012 11:27

After your comments I checked the difference between nip and bite here and it does seem like the dog nipped me (nipped at me?). I apologise for the confusion, English is not my first language and in my tongue, we use the same word (bite)for both.

Now what would have happened if the dog hadn't been restrained by the owner? What if instead of my leg it had been a child's face?

This is where I stand

  1. A dog that nips a stranger for no reason is a threat and should wear a muzzle at least
  2. I'm sure more mastiffs are lovely dogs and I have nothing against them. I'm not going to enter the debate of good breeds/bad breeds.
  3. At this moment I have nothing personal against the owner, even though he was rude to me
  4. But I do believe that a dog who attacks someone for no reason in the street should be controlled, and that if the owner can't control them, they should force him do it or in the last case, take it away from him.
OP posts:
elizaregina · 24/05/2012 11:59

YANBU i would also want to post pics up - the ONLY reason i wouldnt do this is n case of really nasty reaction from dog owner .....

Beggers bloody belief - it was only a nip!!! Did anyone SEE the results of a " little nip on that amercian tv presenter!!!

get a grip! most dogs DONT BLOODY NIP anyone, a well trained dog shouldnt react around people and dogs!

muzzle them all, including my little lap dog!

QuintessentialShadows · 24/05/2012 12:02

Nip or not, that dogs mouth had nothing to do on OPs thigh, or anybody else for that matter.

HereIGo · 24/05/2012 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WenTheEternallySurprised · 24/05/2012 12:24

HereIGo, do you not understand that if the OP were to do as you advocate she could be arrested? Or do you not care, seeing it's not you who will be in the station under a charge?

The police have the matter on their radar already, They or the OP can report it to the local dog warden, who in turn can slap a Dog Control Order upon the owner, requiring him to carry out specific actions, in this case in all probability that would be muzzling and keeping the dog on lead in public.

To suggest that the OP carries out her idea of putting up posters is madness and it would be very much to her detriment if she acted on your encoutagement.

EldritchCleavage · 24/05/2012 12:31

If you go with the poster idea you risk the owner making a harassment complaint to police or threatening to sue you for defamation. You may well have a good defence to a defamation claim if what you say on the poster is true, but you will have to spend a lot of time, stress and money establishing that.

Plus, posters might well not be effective, becaue people might see them as you simply making public a spat with the dog owner rather than trying to issue a genuine warning.

Overall, not worth the risk.

midori1999 · 24/05/2012 13:50

Tbh, OP, you sound a bit hysterical. The dog did not 'attack' you and you have reported the matter to the police (rightly so) but now want to start up some sort of poster campaign. For all you know the man may now be regretting what he said and how he behaved. The 'bite' may have been in play as opposed to anything else, which does not mean it is OK, of course it's not OK for a dog to put it's mouth on a passer by, whatever the reason. The fact is though, had it meant to do damage it would have done.

Report to the dog warden if you want to take further action, that is the sensible thing to do.

Personally, I would hope to run into the man again and start by apologising for over reacting (the dog did not 'attack' you) and hopefully he would do the same. Then ask if the dog has done that sort of thing before or usually mouths in play and get into a conversation where I tactfully suggested the use of a muzzle, for the dog's own protection if nothing else.

I am not saying what this dog did or how the owner behaved is acceptable, of course it is not, but it's best to deal with things constructively IMO.

Happyasapiginshite · 24/05/2012 14:05

fairies, I had to google it, brilliant Grin

Original poster
strawberriesandmelon · 24/05/2012 14:35

midori, the dog did attack me. What else would you say he was doing? Being friendly? FFS! And of course I am shocked, it was a terrible experience and I don't wish it for anywone.

fairies, I don't get it.

OP posts:
YouOldSlag · 24/05/2012 14:41

midori- the OP was bitten. if she hadn't had jeans on, his teeth would have bitten her flesh. Also- why the hell should the OP apologise for overreacting?? I would have been fuming!

The owner should apologise to the Op if anything- he verbally abused her after his dog bit her on the leg unprovoked!

Rockpool · 24/05/2012 14:46

My son was bitten at 7 after walking past a dog,I wish somebody else had reported said dog previously.

Op I applaud you and think more people should do the same. Isn't there a new law?Maybe more will.

But posters no.

hairylemon · 24/05/2012 15:26

How did it happen op?

midori1999 · 24/05/2012 17:11

Just to clarify, once again, I am not saying what happened was OK.

Actually OP, yes, going by the information you have given, the dog could have been being friendly, or playing. Dogs that have not been taught it is not OK do mouth people and they also mouth other dogs and bite in play. My dogs often mouth me in play (when they are allowed to, they don't do it without permission) and this too is a 'bite' that is neither painful nor leaves a mark, whether the bit they 'bite' is covered with clothes or not.

Of course, if the dog lunged towards you, barking and growling then the chances are it was not being friendly, but at no point have you said that is what happened at all.

youoldslag I didn't say the OP should apologise for over reacting, I said that is what I would do, because it would be the best way to start an amiable conversation and not an arguement. If a large dog wanted to bite someone, jeans would make no difference at all, dogs can bite through bones, so denim would be no problem to one. It's more likely had the OP had no jeans on that the 'injury' (there was none) would have been the same. I disagree it was a 'bite' there was no injury caused and the Op says herself it wasn't painful.

Regardless, the police and the dog warden are the ones to deal with this.

YouOldSlag · 24/05/2012 17:35

midori- using teeth to make contact with skin is a bite, the depth or shallowness of the bite is just a matter of degrees. The dog was on a leash which presumably stopped it going any deeper. It wasn't a kiss!

You are a bigger person than me midori- no way would I be amicable to a guy who told me to fuck off after his mastiff aimed his teeth into my leg!

PandaWatch · 24/05/2012 17:44

If my dog went for someone like that I would be appalled and would be apologising profusely, not telling them to fuck off.

I can totally understand your reaction OP and don't think you sound at all hysterical but like others have said, let the police deal with it. Give them a call in a couple of days to see if anything has been done.

FallenCaryatid · 24/05/2012 18:11

'Actually OP, yes, going by the information you have given, the dog could have been being friendly, or playing.'

Shock When is that ever acceptable, except to the owner?

YouOldSlag · 24/05/2012 18:21

True Fallen. I get sick of dog owners who think their dogs can do anything to strangers because "its friendly"

An Alsation licked my 2yo's face once whilst we were walking with him. The owner thought it was funny as the dog was "being friendly". I was less amused, knowing that the dog doesn't exactly use a separate flannel to wash its own arse.

midori1999 · 24/05/2012 18:43

Fallen I have pointed out several times that it isn't acceptable, absolutely not.

YouOldSlag, we will have to disagree with what the definition of a bite is.

fuzzysnout · 24/05/2012 19:09

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

FallenCaryatid · 24/05/2012 19:34

fuzzysnout, I have made this point before, but I think I'll say it again.
If dog owners can't be responsible for their animals and self-regulating, if they really don't understand how those of us who dislike dogs feel about being bounced up at, nipped, knocked over and alarmed let alone actually chased, bitten or have our children threatened, then the consequences for the dogs will continue to increase in severity.
If you can't keep your dog under control, then the time will come when people will report every offence, a first bite will be an immediate PTS order and dogs will be forced to be muzzled in public and on a leash at all times in shared public areas.
I'm over 50 and I have seen the rules against dogs become more draconic over the years.
Every time you tell people they are over-reacting and hysterical, that it wasn't a real bite, that they are being ridiculous, you bring that reality closer for all dogs.
Personally, I can't wait.

fuzzysnout · 24/05/2012 20:00

As I said.

What the dog did was not acceptable.

Dogs shouldn't be allowed to leap/ slobber on people who do not want to be leapt/ slobbered on.

Being hysterical about it does not give you some sort of moral high ground. You are right Fallen dog laws are becoming ever more draconian and peoples much loved family members are already being killed for no worse crime than an unexpected overenthusiatic greeting due to the sort of ridiculous over reaction the OP describes.

Still, making sure our society is incredibly tightly regulated and anyone can claim that someone else upset them & have them put to death can only be to all our benefits eh?