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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bitey dog in pub

61 replies

TheMatteEffect · 31/08/2018 11:57

(Preface to say I spent six weeks in intensive care having been bitten by a dog and contracting sepsis)

I bloody love dogs

In a pub last night, dog on lead runs up to me, about a metre from owner. I say to dog - hello, are you friendly, owner tells me to stay away as dog has bitten people before.

At first I think he's taking the piss because his dog is at my feet; the owner claims it's a short lead so it's my responsibility to step away. I do because I'm not an idiot, but say there's small children running around. Response was "Children should be in bed at 7pm"

I point out this is a pub, it's quite busy and the dog, if it has bitten should be muzzled. Manager comes over, and I explain what has happened and point out the pub have a duty of care - I was hacked off with the owner by this stage. Manager claims the pub won't be responsible for any injuries caused by the dog and the dog won't be leaving; and I say something along the lines of "actual you would be responsible as the owner has (now just admitted to the manager) that the dog is a biter and people need to stay away; just like you would be if someone said they had a knife".

Dog owner shouts " it's a public place, it's just like the park, do you want me to not walk him anywhere".

I walked away, we finished our drinks and left to meet our friends elsewhere.

I'm meant to be doing a review on the pub for families with kids; I now want to tell them to avoid because I'd hate for a kid to get bitten.

OP posts:
CripsSandwiches · 31/08/2018 11:59

YANBU. If you have a dog that may bite people then the responsibility is 100% on you to make sure he doesn't bite people. The manager is outrageous to allow the dog to remain given they know he's a biter.

Losingthewill1 · 31/08/2018 11:59

Name and shame so people with kids can avoid

RandomMess · 31/08/2018 11:59

What a selfish idiotic irresponsible dog owner AngryAngryAngryAngryAngryAngry

I a dog owner and lover btw!

I think I would leave an appropriate review "pub manager refused to ask dog owner to remain in control of his dog even with the knowledge that the dog has previously bitten people"

Original poster
TheMatteEffect · 31/08/2018 12:06

If you have a dog that may bite people then the responsibility is 100% on you to make sure he doesn't bite

Yep. We have a dog, he can be an asshole in certain situations - he has never bitten but he has a deep bark; I feel it's our duty to ensure he doesn't frighten anyone with that bark...

My understanding of the law from past experience was that a dog just has to be threatening to be out of control; not to necessarily bite someone. I didn't feel particularly threatened, but I did feel scared and change my behaviour. This now feels particularly wrong.

OP posts:
Racecardriver · 31/08/2018 12:08

Definitely put this in your review.

justilou1 · 31/08/2018 12:11

Review. Be honest. You also have a duty of care and witnesses. I say that as the (responsible) owner of a very big, jumpy dog that I would NEVER take into a place like that, and a parent. Do it.

HopeGarden · 31/08/2018 12:13

That sounds bad!

I’d expect a pub manager to have told the dog owner to keep the dog away from other customers or leave.

I'd definitely mention this incident in the review.

newmumFeb17 · 31/08/2018 12:13

Absolutely Dog was owner was BVU!

Our dog is like this, she is generally lovely but has snapped once or twice before (only when other dogs are present - she is very nervous) and we keep her muzzled at all times when out in public.

Totally irresponsible.

WiddlinDiddlin · 31/08/2018 12:17

Dog owners a twat.

Sadly it is other people and his dog who will suffer for that in the long run.

Northernlass99 · 31/08/2018 12:20

YANBU.
Poor behaviour from the dog owner and landlord. I have a super friendly very calm dog but I wouldn’t even let that go up to strangers. You never know what someone might do to annoy him. Idiots.

ChipsNotDaddy · 31/08/2018 12:23

And if the dog did bite someone, it would be the dog who woud be punished euthanised

OldBean2 · 31/08/2018 12:23

And a pub is not a public space as a licensee or member of staff may refuse you entry.

Stupid dog owner, dog should have been muzzled.

Booboostwo · 31/08/2018 12:27

Crazy irresponsible dog owner and crazy irresponsible landlord. Do write the review and if you feel up to it contact the Dog Warden.

ReanimatedSGB · 31/08/2018 12:28

The pub landlord should have thrown the dog owner and dog out, and I agree you should mention this in your review. An acknowledged dangerous dog (and a dog with form for biting is dangerous) shouldn't be in a crowded pub anyway, and if it really was necessary for the owner to take it into a busy place, he should have muzzled the bloody thing.

Original poster
TheMatteEffect · 31/08/2018 12:28

Thank you; wasn't sure if I was being unreasonable due to previous bite and nerves but the more I think about it the more I am pissed off.

OP posts:
theunsure · 31/08/2018 12:29

YANBU

Dog Owner and manager are at fault - completely unreasonable behaviour.

I love dogs and I don't get the hysteria around them that a lot of people have - but a known biter should be muzzled in public and not taken to a pub or similar.

Please ensure the review reflects your experience and share it far and wide.

TakeMeToKernow · 31/08/2018 12:29
Shock

WHY do some dog owners lose their minds?! My OH received a similar caution [threat] when we walked within a slack-lead length of Rottweiler in a local park Hmm

I also love dogs and would be mortified if a dog in my control made anyone feel even just uncomfortable 😣

Original poster
TheMatteEffect · 31/08/2018 12:29

I don't think we will be going back. I had literally just said early to the manager how nice it was to have a pub garden that wasn't enclosed so kids weren't breathing second-hand smoke...

OP posts:
Original poster
TheMatteEffect · 31/08/2018 12:30

Ah, my typing has gone to rat's shit, apologies!

OP posts:
Bestseller · 31/08/2018 12:32

I think the dog owner must have been a regular and the LL decided to prioritise him over a "stroppy" woman he didn't know. More fool him, make sure it goes in the review.

IgglePigglesAnnoyingGiggle · 31/08/2018 12:34

100% be honest with your review. Post a link unless it's outing for you, I don't want to go there!

lpchill · 31/08/2018 12:34

I live near an older women who has two dogs one is lovely but a staffie mix and the other a jack Russel has attacked and bitten three people and there dogs. She is now in court to see if her dogs will be taken away and put down as she was court ordered after the second attack to muzzle the dog but didn't leading to the third attack. She's a lovely women but I have no sympathy. If a dog has bitten once it will again and they should not be allowed in public places without a muzzle on. Shame on that crappy owner and pub. I wouldn't go to that pub again and on our local Facebook group shame the pub so others won't potentially get hurt!

oldnewmummy · 31/08/2018 12:36

We were in California recently and there were dogs everywhere - great, we love dogs and have two. We were in a kids’ science museum and my son went to stroke a dog. The owner said not to as he didn’t like children. Not a good place to take the dog, then.

OP YANBU.

Mitzimaybe · 31/08/2018 12:37

YANBU.

A regular in my local has a dog which is fine with humans but can be a bit aggressive with other dogs. If another dog comes in, he pulls his dog under his seat and keeps it on a tight lead (from being on a loose lead - it's always on a lead in the pub.) If the other dog owner ends up sitting too close then he drinks up and leaves.

The onus is 100% on the dog owner to keep the dog restrained where it can't do any harm, not on the potential victims to keep out of its way. The manager should have asked him to control the dog or leave; anything else is completely irresponsible.

Aeroflotgirl · 31/08/2018 12:45

Wow, it is these types of dog owners who give good ones a bad name. It is those ones whose dogs maul children, they don't give a stuff attitude. I woukd be giving a bad review to the pub, and explain why. I wou,d contact 101, to report it, only a matter of time before it mauls a child!