To think I should be able to walk in my local park without fearing attack?

[hibbleddible]

I have 2 dds under 5, and one small and friendly dog. I really don't know what else I can do and was hoping for some ideas from mn.

My dog has been attacked multiple times by a dog in our local park (a Staffordshire bulk terrier). The owner has no control over the dog, and it is always off the lead and unmuzzled. I have told the owner many times that it should be on the lead, as it is out of control, but he doesn't care.

The last time I saw this dog come charging at mine, I picked my dog up to protect her. The dog started attacking me. While I didn't have significant injuries, I did take photos and go to the police station to make a statement and give a description.

Next time I saw the owners in the park I called the police go ask them to take their details. They said they would but didn't turn up. There has been no follow up on the statement I made, I've tried calling and get no answer. I tried contacting the community police, no reply. Council don't care.

The problem is I have limited mobility, so even my local park can be a struggle some days (my mobility was fine before getting ddog). Going further afield isn't an option for me. Poor ddog is only being walked around the block which isn't ideal for her. She is also now petrified of sbts. Luckily she is still fine with other dogs. She is a very good dog who is great with children and other dogs, and is extremely obedient and good natured.

Any idea what I can do?

Jesus. No helpful solutions from me but that's awful

What I forgot to include in my first post was that I was with my two dds when the dog attacked me. It only stopped because dh physically wrenched it off me. I would have thought the police would care about this!

Take camera next time, take photos of dog and owner? Go back to police? Is the park a local council one? Contact the council?

Shocking.

I have photos of the dog and the owner, albeit from a distance, as I didn't want to risk them kicking off. Seeing as the police aren't interested I'm not sure what to do with them though.

I wonder if the police will only care when this dog puts someone in hospital

I used to run in a park where people exercised aggressive dogs. I ended up carrying a small can of hairspray - I found that aiming it at the dog tended to get owners to call their animals to heel, but I'd have used it if I had to.

I don't know what the answer is in your case :( do you know who the owners are?

I have wondered about carrying something to scare the dog, like maybe a can of air. I don't want to hurt the dog as it isn't its fault that it has a shitbag for an owner (who is in his 60s and should really know better)

Contact your LA Dog Warden.

I second the advice to contact your dog warden. They are very effective in dealing with this sort of thing.

Dog warden?
Council?
CAB?

Surely somebody can give you some better advice!

Keep noting the times and incidents when you see these characters.

Hope the little dog helps with your mobility!

I honestly cannot believe that the police are doing nothing about a dog that is attacking humans and other dogs frequently and an owner that does nothing to prevent it.

I would be down my local police station and not leaving until they have spoken with owner, it is absolutely appalling.

Contact your local MP, Dog warden, make the biggest fuss possible. Jesus, is the dog going to have to kill someone before they take note?! Keep plugging away at it as this is not okay and YANBU to want to walk in your local park in piece.

Thank you for the suggestions.

I have tried extensively with the council. They aren't interested. Our borough will only collect stray dogs, and even that is subcontracted to another borough.

We live in a slightly notorious area, and I understand the police have a lot to do, but for them to completely ignore this is pretty bad. The park is next door to a primary school too!

Do you live in SW London OP? I witnessed a similar attack like the one you describe - owner picking dog up and aggressive dog then attacking owner. It was horrific but I was too far away and with two small children so couldn't help (others did luckily)

I don't have any advice but I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

I had this problem with a dog down the road from me while walking mine. Frequently left to wander around and ran out three times to attack my dog. I aimed a very hard kick to its face when it tried the third time and it hasn't tried again. Unfortunately sometimes you do need to scare or dominate an aggressive dog if the owners are useless. I wouldn't normally advocate hurting an animal but my own poor sod wouldn't know how to fight back.

Could you carry a big stick or cane? Or a can of hairspray might work all right, the hiss could drive it away.

Lego We are in a different part of London. Happens too often from the sound of it.

I was glad in a way that the dog attacked me instead of poor ddog. I thought at last the police would do something.

princess I don't need a walking stick and am wary of staying the right side of the law (as in not carrying anything that could be perceived to be an offensive weapon). Hair spray would be OK I think as I could have a legitimate use for it.

Yanbu. Do you know any other local dog owners? Because you can guarantee with a dick head like that you won't be the only one that has had problems, and if a good few of you regularly complained then the police might actually take note. Especially if one of the dog walkers is less vulnerable than you are and can get it on camera. Also either on yours, or a friends, include your local police in posts on social media about it, as well as asking them on their own pages/ accounts.
I'm firmly in the pro dogs, staffs are lovely and not dangerous camp, but twats like that are why they have an undeserved reputation.

the owner is antisocial at the least and is using the dog to carry out his/her anti social impulses. Chances are he is already known to the police. Maybe you can find out a name /info from other park users. If he arrives at the park on foot maybe you can find out an address. Or a car licence plate if by car. If you can gather info you will feel less powerless and maybe when you hand that on a plate to the police, the lazy buggers will do something.

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I was thinking of getting something like this, what do you think?

lurked I agree with you 100% about dogs. I think a well reared dog is never aggressive. This dog has clearly not been properly socialised or trained, and I blaim the owner for that. I also hold the owner responsible for not controlling the dog with a leash and muzzle, as it is aggressive.

I do want to have details to hand over amar but I need to balance that with the need to not be attacked (by the dog or owner). It's London so I'm sure he would walk to the park.

I'm in Ireland, so the law might be different but is it not generally accepted that you can use a stick or cane to defend yourself from an attacking dog? The onus is on the owner to keep his dog under control, if anything happens to his dog as a result of someone defending themselves that's his problem, not yours. Though around here it's also generally accepted that a loose dog on someone's property can be shot by the property owner.

I have seen that used to break up a dog fight and it was quite effective.

Try the rscpa they seem better with dealing with dangerous animals rather than police