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

[strawberriesandmelon]

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

So you'd think that dog owners would want to be supportive and encouraging and ensure that these mistakes don't keep happening wouldn't you?
So that there was no evidence available for a campaign against your beloved family member.

I do not wish to be greeted by a dog, I wish to be ignored by it.

Yes Fallen and I don't want my dogs to be greeted by anyone, I want people to ignore my dogs. Yet plenty don't and feel they have the right to pop over and say hello without asking me first. Considering i have a rescue dog that is nervous of strangers, that's more than just a major inconvenience for me, as it is with my other dogs.

Obviously dog owners should keep their dogs under control, just like people should keep themselves and their children under control, because we live in a society where we should respect that others may not want to be disturbed or like the same things as we do. No one is saying that is not the case at all.

No one has said the OP shouldn't have reported to the police. In fact, it's even been suggested that she also report to the dog warden if she feels the need. However, some sort of 'poster campaign' is hysterical, as is suggesting this was an 'attack'.

why does it matter if the dog meant to be playful or not? the fact is it injured someone and could have been a lot worse. personally, i think if a dog poses any sort of danger to the public, whatever its experiences or intentions, it should be put down. i know i'll get flamed but that's my view. there is no valid reason for keeping violent dogs alive and i do not see why anyone would want a breed known to be violent unless they want to intimidate people.
the owner behaved terribly and should not be a dog owner. a sensible dog owner would put his animal down if they did this to someone. a friend of mine had to do this, and she was an experienced dog owner and had done all the training classes (or whatever they're called) with all her dogs. she was gutted but accepted that she couldn't let the dog hurt anyone else (this dog just did a playful 'nip' as well). i belive it is the most responsible thing she could have done.
OP i wouldn't do the posters and stuff even though i would be really tempted. i would definitely show the photo to nursery though! i'm glad you weren't too hurt and that your child wasn't with you.

mumofbumblebea, no one was injured at all.

It's disgusting that your friend not only didn't properly train and socialise her dog, but also didn't keep it under proper control so it was allowed to bite someone and then had it killed due to her own carelessness when simply muzzling it in public would have been a solution.

Oh, and there are no 'violent' dog breeds either.

My dog got beaten up by a young cat while out for his walk today. Moggy leapt onto him out of the bushes. Funniest thing I've seen for a while.

midori1999 - she had trained the dog, it had never bit before, it was a one off thing completely and someone was unfortunately injured. i'm sure many people wouldn't agree with her putting it down, but she wasn't prepared for anyone else getting injured (in particular her two young children).

It's disgusting that your friend not only didn't properly train and socialise her dog,but also didn't keep it under proper control

The friend DID train the dog and was an experienced dog owner. The dog still bit. You can't always blame the owner when the owner has done their best and trained their dog etc.

mumofbumblebea. If your friend had properly trained and socialised her dog it wouldn't have bitten anyone. I also think it is disgusting that she killed her dog for what you say was a 'playful nip'. He dog was obviously expendable to her. Poor thing

OP You have reported the dog and owner to the Police. There is nothing more that needs to be done. Time to leave it.

youoldslag well socialised and trained dogs do not bite people unless there is an underlying health issue. Well controlled/managed dogs do not bite people.

I know lots of people who consider themselves experienced dog owners who know jack shit about dogs, training them or dog behaviour.

I do blame the owner, dog bites are almost always preventable.

FFS why does every single thread about dogs have to be like this? This thread is about someone who is pissed off because some stupid twat didn't control his accessory dog. I hate this, there is no finite answer to most of these dog things, what a waste of sweat harking on and on and on and on and on and on when the thread wasn't ever a challenge on dog behaviour philosophy, just a woman pissed off.

OP, just to check - the dog didn't break any skin? Because if it did you ought to go and have a tetanus jab.

Anyway, I don't see what else you can do. Don't suppose the police will do much because you wouldn't have had a name and address. I agree it's very worrying though.

FallenCaryatid you do realise that saying that you can't wait for all dogs to be leashed and muzzled is exactly the sort of thing that pisses all the sensible, responsible dog owners (such as me) with calm, well-trained dogs (such as mine) right off and only serves to exacerbate the animosity felt towards irrational loons (there, I said it) who think any dog they see is going to tear their throats out. I have sympathy for the OP and do agree what happened was out of order but people with your attitude drive me up the wall.

UnMember - (assuming your dog was ok)

i would say that any dog who even lunges towards me, my DD or my little dog is potentially dangerous.

if a dog bares its teeth or makes any sort of contact with me, i would say needs to be muzzled, that is without the " worse" outcome of broken skin, and perhaps owner and dog compulsory training classes.

On hols recently we found so many beaches were dogs were banned and it was midly irritating but i can quite understand it. Fallen is right - get a bloody grip on your dogs or - soon we will all be penalised and wont be ablt to take them anywhere.

it deeply concerns me as a dog owner that people on here are so glib about this attack because thankfully it didnt draw blood or leave a scar or rip someones face off.

PandaWatch

I disagree, I am so tired of having to turn around and leave a park coz huge dogs are getting vicous when they see my DD or my little dog, I am sick of having to watch out....

If removing that danger and fear means all dogs including my little malty/bichon has to be muzzled SO BE IT.

Why should anyone have to be afraid when they go to thier local park?

Its not good enough.

How does it harm or hurt a dog to be muzzled? can you imagine how many attacks would be stopped instantly if dogs were muzzled?

I have had too many run ins with other dog owners who are so casual when a full size lab - puppy is jumping up at a three year old! " OOOH he loves children.....he's friendly dont worry" - how blithy STUPID can you get!

Dogs jumping up at me while the owner chats and watches...while i am tangled in leads, and holding my DD hand...." oh its coz you have food in your hand"

A walk by the river.....my dog on a lead....a large hound in the grass watches us the owner shouts out....

" just to warn you - i think my dog is gonna go for yours in a minuet, he has that " look in his eye".....oh, but dont worry he is friendly"

i felt like saying " oh....thats fine i thikn my husband might run at you too, he has that look in his eye and hasnt taken his meds, but he should be friendly"

its utter utter maddness.

oh and Panda

my dog is the most charming beautiful dog - everywhere we go we can hardly walk down the street without people constantly stopping us to say what a gorg little dog, and she stands on her back legs to say hello to people ( without touching them), and she is well trained and obediant and lovley.

Elizaregina - you are very unlucky then or live in a particularly horrible area. I have had dogs for going on 20 years, I have lived in many places in UK and overseas.

I have never, not once, had anything happen to me or my dogs as you describe. It's almost like you are a target? Must be very hard for you.

Eliza I take it you muzzle your dog then?

Why should her dog be muzzled?
It seems to be polite and obedient and not bothering anyone. If all dogs were like that, then the vast majority of people would have no worries about them.
We could co-exist without conflict, or contact.
It is the irresponsible owners that create the circumstances that make many people afraid of dogs, and mind that they are made to feel wary and worried about going out and about. Like those dog owners whose own animals have been attacked by another dog who walk their animals at odd times and isolated locations to avoid a repeat.
In the same way that I'd like to point out that it isn't us dog dislikers that fill the shelters with animals that end up PTS. It's the dog lovers and ex-owners who create the slaughter.
Save the animosity for them.

Panda he was fine if somewhat traumatised. The cat was only playing but it freaked him out. Cats are supposed to run and terriers are supposed to chase. He couldn't work out why this one kept jumping on his back and trying to catch his tail. :o