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Original poster

Dog bite

132 replies

TheWormThatTurned · 28/12/2017 00:25

I just typed a post that was way too long...

So, can I ask the dog owners out there:
If your dog bit another dog, in an unprovoked attack, and caused an injury, who is responsible to pay for vet fees?

For background:
Our dog is small (20lb, terrier), barks way too much, but generally ok around other dogs.
The dog that bit him is a Siberian husky, handled by 2 kids aged 10 &12. The dogs weren't playing, we were walking by their house as they were returning from a walk.

Owners of husky are taking the attitude of "she's never done it before". We're not paying a penny of the vet bill. Your dog barks and upsets her.
I'm thinking that there were young children around, and it was totally unprovoked.
It wasn't like she just growled / warned him, she went for him and bit him, he's got 5 stitches on his neck, a whole host of medicines over Christmas and we've got decent sized vet bill.

Vet has advised us to go to the police, which we're doing tomorrow. The owners are our neighbours, so I really don't want any hard feelings, but I also think they are in denial about what their dog did and how much worse it could have been.

Just looking for some sane advice from worldly dog owners about how to proceed,
Thanks in advance for any advice!!

OP posts:
hahahaIdontgetit · 28/12/2017 15:59

Sorry I hadn't answered the question, the owner of the dog who cause the injury should pay if all were on or all were off lead.

BMW6 · 28/12/2017 15:59

If my dog attacked and bit another dog I would certainly pay the vet bills and my dog would be muzzled in future.

BattleCunt · 28/12/2017 15:59

If my dog bit another dog in an unprovoked attack, i would expect to be paying vet fees.

ElsieMay123 · 28/12/2017 16:02

Maybe you can direct them to Dog's Trust membership which includes liability insurance (too late this time though)?

If my dog bit another dog I would offer to pay, even though I would be a bit frustrated if the other dog had been bouncing around and winding her up, it's just one of those things. Perhaps the adults are going on what the kids have told them and they don't have the story straight?

Beerwench · 28/12/2017 16:14

Were either of the dogs on a lead? Did your dog approach theirs or vice versa?
I ask because I have a terrier that is a -little pratt- bit aggressive towards other dogs. She's always on the lead for this reason, until I'm in a place where I can see for a good distance and get her back on sharpish if another dog appears. Other owners allow their dogs to approach mine telling me it's OK, they're friendly. Well mines not, and your dog is invading her space now and is not under control, mine is. If my dog bites under those circumstances then I'm not paying a bill, sorry but my dog is under control to prevent the situation, the other dog isn't and has approached my dog despite me asking for it not to and explaining why. However if my dog was for any reason, to be off lead and attack another dog, I'd be offering the vets bill there and then. I go out of my way to make sure that she doesn't get the opportunity to go at another dog, she never actually has fought with another dog but her actions tell me it's not worth the risk of letting it happen.
I hope your little dog recovers soon.

mustbemad17 · 28/12/2017 16:23

Apologies, i assumed OP's dog was on a lead. Hopefully OP can clarify. Leads make a lot of difference!

I'd still be reporting the owners to the police/dog warden. Kids walking dogs unsupervised is a bloody recipe for disaster

missbattenburg · 28/12/2017 16:25

Fault is tricky point of view because dogs are dogs and cannot have human morals imposed on them. e.g. who is to say whether the barking dog was 'right' or 'wrong'. That makes it very hard for a human to know what was provoked or unprovoked - we are not quick enough to see and notice canine micro gestures that precede bites. The concept of provocation is a way we try to excuse a reaction. Dogs do not think that way, and provocation can be as simple and the wrong glance - to a dog that can be a very valid reason to bite.

Therefore, to me it comes down to what was being done to control the dogs at the time:

  • the terrier was off lead and the husky on lead; the terrier's owner pays
  • the terrier was on lead and the husky off; the husky pays
  • both dogs were off lead: you accept it as one of the costs of owning a dog and the terrier pays
  • both dogs were on lead and terrier was barking as it was being walked by another dog: again, you accept that barking may trigger a bite and that is the risk of walking near another dog; terrier pays

That's my opinion, anyway. In a lot of cases, the terrier's owner pays not because they have done anything wrong but because that's just the practicalities. It takes the other side to be VERY in the wrong to successfully argue they should pay.

fwiw I also think lines like "I'm thinking that there were young children around, and it was totally unprovoked. " play no role in determining who pays for a vet bill.

Branleuse · 28/12/2017 16:26

Was your dog acting aggressively with its excessive barking at the other dog?

Im bloody terrified of walking my dog near some of these shitty little yappy terriers that are mouthy to bigger dogs. You cannot always expect other dogs to not react if your own dog is aggressive, just because its small

HisBetterHalf · 28/12/2017 17:05

Were the dogs off lead at all?

Maelstrop · 28/12/2017 17:11

Interested in following this post. My dog was bitten and the owner offered to pay. We refused, she’s an OAP, the owner. He’s now been bitten again by an Akita x malamute, the latter of which are known for same sex aggression. I’m bloody fuming, it’s two visits to vets. Over £130. I’m not so bothered about the money, I’m more bothered about this bloke who has an out of control, untrained young dog three times the size of mine which has zero recall and isn’t properly controlled when out.

I nearly came face to face with him today but didn’t speak to him, because I think I’d be horrible. When I’m calmer, I will talk to him and tell him that I’m debating reporting him.

Police won’t care, btw, they’ll just tell you to talk to the dog warden if it wasn’t a person bitten.

MrsU88 · 28/12/2017 18:18

It's hard to say who is at fault your post is too vague.

Was their dog secure in a garden or on a lead?
Was your dog on or off lead?
Your dog barks a lot...could it have looked like it was about to attack so other dogs attacked first?
We're he children around about tracked nd it was protecting them from your dog?

If your dog was on lead and theirs wasn't then it's their fault.
If your dog was off lead and approached theirs barking then I am sorry but I would refuse to pay your vet fees too.
If your dog has gone in their garden then you are at fault.

The details are important.

snowpo · 28/12/2017 18:22

Police can't do anything. Dog on dog is not a crime.

hahahaIdontgetit · 28/12/2017 18:25

Hmmm the fact OP hasn't been back to clarify suggests that perhaps her dog was off lead.

Whatever, I hope your Ddog make a swift recovery. Thanks

FreudianSlurp · 28/12/2017 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HarrietSchulenberg · 28/12/2017 19:00

If both dogs were off lead it's usually a 50/50 split. My dog bit another one when both off lead and although I thought I'd have to pay the whole bill, the vet told us both he'd bill us half each as that was standard practice.

If one was on a lead, it's normally the off lead owner that pays as they have less control.

If both were on lead then it's more complicated and you're probably looking at providing statements to insurance companies.

AnneElliott · 28/12/2017 19:45

I think the owners of the Husky should pay. And why on earth they let two kids out with it, I don't know.

DS was jumped on by a massive husky (had walked out the open front door of his house and crossed the road) as it wanted his ice cream. It was enourmous and terrifying to be jumped on by such a big dog, so I feel for your terrier.

Barbie222 · 28/12/2017 19:52

A husky could easily overpower a 11 year old and they don’t have good recall. If the husky was off lead I think I’d say something to the police even given they can’t take action in your favour just for the sake of the kids and dog in future.

WaitrosePigeon · 28/12/2017 19:54

Fuck neighbour friendliness.

Report to the police and the dog warden. Have you spoken with your dog insurance?

Valerrie · 28/12/2017 20:00

Huskies are not huge dogs but they can be fairly strong and are quite often dog aggressive. They should never, ever be walked by children.

However, if the husky was on a lead and the terrier was off a lead and ran up to the husky, it's the terrier's owner's responsibility. Just because your dog is non-aggressive off the lead doesn't mean you can let it run up to on lead dogs, who are probably on lead for a reason. Pet hate.

Booboobooboo84 · 28/12/2017 20:01

I think you need to train your dog not to bark at other dogs. It can un nerve them. Dogs have no real concept of size when it comes to being attacked.

That being said their dog caused the damage so they should pay UNLESS your dog was off the lead and entered their garden. Then yabu for not controlling yappy doo

Crumbs1 · 28/12/2017 20:23

If you have a dog it should be insured and the insurance should pay.

Namechangetempissue · 28/12/2017 20:30

The police will not do anything. I speak from knowledge of law and animal attacks.
I would pay but they don't have too and it will be hard to prove culpability -they will say your dog provoked an attack and it will basically come down to your word against theirs. Its shit OP -I'm really sorry Flowers

Namechangetempissue · 28/12/2017 20:31

Also claim on your insurance. Who are you with? I'm with directline and they have been great.

Pigeonpost · 28/12/2017 20:43

Whether one/both dogs was on a lead is critical. I wonder whether OP's Dog was off the lead hence why they've not come back to the thread. Also is it not irresponsible to own a dog but not insure it? If you can't afford insurance then you sure as hell won't be able to afford unexpected vets bills (for whatever reason) and then what happens?

Hoppinggreen · 28/12/2017 20:48

When my dog was attacked and I claimed the vet bill from pet plan they wanted the details of the dog who bit him so they could persue them for the cost

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