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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think police and dog warden should take attack seriously?

8 replies

OldHarvingtonian · 25/09/2015 13:09

There's a road that shares an alleyway with my road. A family of idiots recently moved in, they've been a nighmare, building without planning permission, non-stop noise and parties, etc. But the worst thing is that they have a pitbull that they alow to roam the streets and alleyway unsupervised and with no tag or collar.

Today I was walking my Chihuahua through the alleyway, and the pitbull was there, fouling. It saw my dog and ran towards us, grabbed my Chihuahua by the throat, growling. My dog was screaming. I yelled and ran towards them and it dropped my dog, and trotted back into its own front garden. My Chihuahua was shaking in terror but didn't seem to be injured.

I went to the house, there was a man working in the front garden. I didn't recognise him, he didn't look like the owner of the house. I said "Is this your dog?" and he said yes.

I said "your dog has just attacked my dog in the alleyway."
He said, "No, I don't believe you. She wouldn't do that and I didn't hear anything."
I said "Didn't you hear the screaming?" He said no.
I said, "Your dog should be tagged and on a lead!"
Then he said, "Well actually it's not my dog, I'm just working here."
I said, "Where are the owners?"
He said "They're not here."

So they've gone out, and left their pitbull freely roaming the streets, fouling and attacking other dogs. I reported it to the dog warden, who said as it's a dangerous dog I need to report it to the police. I reported it to the police, they didn't even ask me for details on what happened, they were only interested in making me fill out a questionnaire on my ethnicity and whether I live with old or disabled people. Even after I told the policewoman the dog had attacked my dog and was roaming free she said, "So what makes it dangerous?"

Is there anyone else I can report the dogs owners to besides the dog wardens and police?

OP posts:
sparechange · 25/09/2015 13:20

Is it actually a pit bull? Or a staffie type?

YANBU, the dog needs to be kept under control, and the police or dog warden should be going to speak to them about it being properly fenced in AND wearing a collar.

OldHarvingtonian · 25/09/2015 13:33

I'm not sure, it could be a staffie too, judging by pictures of both breeds on the internet.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 25/09/2015 13:36

If you're in the UK, it's not a pitbull...

Dog on dog attacks aren't a police matter really, not unless it bit you during it.

The easiest way to deal with it would be to report it as a stray every time you see it out.

OldHarvingtonian · 25/09/2015 13:42

Alright I might try reporting it as a stray, but as it roams free it will have moved on by the time they get there, if they even bother coming.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 25/09/2015 13:46

Well see - I'd catch it for them, but I'm assuming you wouldn't want to do that.

But it only needs to be picked up once really - it'll have to be paid for to be reclaimed and people tend not to want to do that repeatedly and stop letting dogs wander, or it'll go unclaimed and go up for rehoming to someone who will actually look after it.

OldHarvingtonian · 25/09/2015 13:48

I suppose I could try that when I see it out again (although I'm inclined not to go in that direction any more as I'm now scared of me and my dog being attacked). But I'd have to give my details, and I've already told them I know who the dog belongs to, so don't know if I can say its a stray now?

OP posts:
inlawsareasses · 25/09/2015 14:24

Of course it could be a pitbull!

MothershipG · 25/09/2015 14:55

It doesn't matter that you know who it belongs to it's the fact that it is roaming unattended that makes it a stray. So you can report it to the warden every time you see it wandering about on it's on, also report the fouling. Find out who your local councillor is and ask for their help as well. If you keep a diary of the neighbours anti-social behaviour you may also be able to get some support in that regard.

The police are only interested if a dog is a danger to people, so if it runs off when you shout at it they won't consider it a problem.

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