Dog bite

[TheWormThatTurned]

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!!

Maryz, congratulations on using one of the Mumsnet most hated phrases. I won't give my head a wobble, if it's all the same. Bad neck.

If I'm nasty, good. I like to stand up for people. People like Sleep are arseholes all too often on Mumsnet and the OP needed some support. Thankfully, most of the other posters on this thread have working brain cells.

Well I was going to tell you to pull your head out of your arse, but that might hurt your neck too.

Lots of people have been supportive to the op without resorting to the namecalling and nastiness that you are taking such pride in.

Sleep - depends on why the dog is barky, but it doesn't change the fact that the OP's dog on a normal length lead and not pulling anyone off their feet etc, was not out of control, and the dog that attacked was.

The law makes no provision for whose dog was rude first - in this instance we are talking damage to property, due to the negligence of one of the dog owners.

From a dog behaviour point of view I WOULD strongly recommend BOTH parties seek some professional advice - the OP because a reactive barky dog is highly likely to get themselves into trouble (and also may well be quite a stressed out animal) and the husky owner because clearly they don't understand their responsibilities either (And it is not normal for a dog to react to being barked at by inflicting a serious wound, using agonistic behaviour like this is normally the last 'tool' out of the box for any animal as its expensive behaviour from an ethological point of view).

Ah, more insults I see. You know they are the mark of a lost debate don't you?

What a fine example you set for your students Valerrie. I'm delighted you've put my post online for others to smirk over, particularly as, while you may be right about your 'statement' (apostrophes again, I love them) which I read as rhetorical, you are absolutely wrong in your comma placements and, as this is primary school stuff, your peers will see that. I weep for the education system if you got through teacher training without mastering the basics.

Tragic.

....and you still didn't answer the question.

Thanks for your reasoned response WiddlinDiddlin. I totally agree. In support of the OP, I would like to offer some advice to prevent her poor dog getting bitten again. My fear aggressive dog was bitten three times (saved once from a bite to his jugular by his wide greyhound collar) and, on each occasion, he was the aggressor reacting to dominant behaviour.

He also used to bark at large dogs when he encountered them, and we've trained him not to react (with rewards, praise and a firm "no"). He has not been bitten since we've taken action.

OP needs to address her dog's barking. That will help keep him safe in future. In the meantime, she needs to avoid situations where he'll come into conflict because there is no way of knowing how another dog will react to being barked at until it happens.

Well that degenerated quickly.

Well done Widdlin for trying to keep to the OPs point.

I hope the other recent posters have a better new year than they've had Christmas, peace and goodwill and all that......

Your concern is touching hahahaIdon'tgetit, if perhaps a little misguided. I had a fab Christmas and have a fun new year's eve lined up, so rest assured.

Maybe direct your good wishes towards someone with an injured dog and massive vet bill. Failing that, I'd guess there are a rather worried 10 and 12 year old who are shouldering the blame for adult's mistakes and could use your good wishes to lesson the worry about their pet being destroyed or the police paying them a visit.

Still, always nice to be considered. I hope your new year is jolly too.