AIBU neighbours dog!

[ClaudiasWinkleMan]

A few months ago I was walking mine and my mums dog down my street. As I walked past a neighbours house their dog ran out and started attacking my dog. In the attack my leg got cut through my jeans. Luckily neither my nor mums dog got hurt. I was very shaken up and my mums dog has become very nervous and defensive when out and around other dogs.
My husband went round to neighbour and spoke to them about making sure it didn’t happen again. We were both very calm when dealing with the neighbours, individually and together, we never raised voices just explained that our kids often walk the dogs and had it been one of them getting hurt and not me it would be a much bigger problem.
They were very apologetic told us it was a rescue dog, that this was the last straw as it had attacked other dogs a few times before and they were going to rehouse the dog. The neighbour said she could not cope with it anymore and it had been nothing but trouble, the husband said he couldn’t stand the dog anymore and it wasn’t a nice dog at all.
We thought no more of it. Not seen the dog so thought they had done what they said.
Tonight we see the dog is still with them and they haven’t even got it a muzzle.
This dog has got serious issues. It snarles and barks at everything that goes along the street. I’m now really nervous walking the dogs on our street as I don’t trust them to control their dog.
My AIBU is should I contact the council to report their dog as dangerous? I’m worried that it will attack another dog or mine again. Or worse attack them when my kids are walking the dog and could get really hurt.
I’m torn because I know how much I love my dog and it’d break my heart to give her up but if my dog attacked other dogs and people I would do what needed to be done as I couldn’t live with myself if my pet hurt someone else.
I feel sorry for the family as they’ve had a really hard time over the last few years and are otherwise good neighbours. But I feel really uneasy about this.
Not sure i’m not overreacting as I really frightened me.
Advice please.

I know it's scary when another dog attacks your dog, and I'm not making excuses for your neighbour in their lack of control or training over their pet. But...

How old are your DC? If they are younger children, should they walk your dog themselves? Could they protect themselves somewhat if there was another incident? With any dog, not just this one.

Also the Dangerous Dogs Act doesn't cover dog on dog attacks so it's unlikely anything will happen but they might get a warning about their dog being out of control. If you can justify that it continually causes fear of harm they will get cautioned (maybe). When it tore your jeans, did your leg just 'get in its way' (a redirected bite if you were stopping it getting to your dog) or did it go for you?

You can't make your neighbour get rid of it but you can safeguard yourself and your DC. Carry some bite guard spray.

Have they secured their house/garden now?

I would report it. They've had plenty of opportunity to deal with the situation. What if the dog hurts a child? It's not on.

I would report it

How old are your kids? I dont agree that young kids should be walking a dog on their own, they should be able to respond appropriately in an attack. Of course, owners should control their dogs but you cant expect them all to do that as you get bad dog owners. As a responsible parent you shouldn't be taking that risk with your children. I've also seen one too many kids being pulled around by their dog.

Reporting them wont do much as dog on dog isnt covered by the dangerous dog act

Police, dog warden, council, I'd be contacting the lot. They should not have the dog unrestrained/without a muzzle. Even with a muzzle doesn't stop it attacking.

Thanks for replies. Eldest is early teens and youngest 11 our dogs are small dogs so no issue with pulling. I only let them take dog up and down our street when they are out with neighbours kids. But that is not happening anymore.
You are right that it’s not worth the risk because I don’t think they’d know what to do in that situation and it absolutely isn’t worth the risk, it’s just a shame as it was a nice way to build a bit of independence and responsibility. But most definitely not worth the risk. I was really shaken up after and has taken me ages to relax going down our street again and I’m a grown women. My poor mums dog is still not the same. She is so nervous around other dogs now we can’t let her off lead when there are other dogs around as she started snarling and barking at them and we can’t risk her biting them.
That’s what I’m most annoyed about. We have changed how we walk mums dog because someone else couldn’t be bothered to. And we’ve been so nice about it all.
I don’t know if I got in the way or the dog deliberately bit me as he was in a frenzy. But if you walk past them he snarls and snaps and pulls to go after you. The owner struggles to control him and he pulls her all over the place. I could see him pulling hard enough that he’d escape her. I’m not letting the kids out the front until I know they’ve at least got a muzzle on him.
I didn’t know dangerous dog act doesn’t cover dog on dog. There was a case recently in the news where a dog attacked and killed another dog in the park and was put down. But that might be because the owner of the dog being attacked was badly injured trying to save her dog.
I’m going to speak to neighbour tomorrow and ask what’s going on with the dog. Then if i’m not convinced i’m contacting the council.
Thanks again for replies.

@Cherrysoup obviously a muzzle doesnt stop a dog attacking but it does prevent the dog from doing any damage if it does attack

@GreytExpectations don’t be patronising. I do know what I’m talking about it, had an unfortunate incident with mine, muzzled yet managed to knock over a labrador and rake her quite badly with his claws. That was at the very beginning of his changed behaviour when we thought muzzling him was enough. It wasn’t.

They need to stop their dog getting off their property. Do you have a dog warden who could have a word?

@Cherrysoup your one bad experience doesnt mean thats the case for everyone. I muzzle my dog and he has never done anything like that. You cant make a general assumption based on one situation.

You should have had better control of your dog cherrysoup. If you knew your dog required a muzzle then you shouldnt have allowed them to get that close to another dog. We use a harness and collar with ours, 2 points of contact plus the muzzle means that he cant get near another dog.

My neighbour/friend got a rescue dog who went for my dog accompanied by her claiming "she just wants to play". I told her it clearly wasn't play. After a few more incidents, she walked her in a muzzle and to her credit she took on some serious training with the dog and managed to turn her round to becoming a well mannered dog who could actually play with other dogs (including mine).

@GreytExpectations but I didn’t make a general assumption. I said it happened with mine, I didn’t say it happens all the time with muzzled dogs, did I?

Oh do sod off with your advice, I specifically said it was at the beginning of his changed behaviour, almost a decade ago. First incident, never repeated. Do you think I blithely go round allowing him to attack other dogs?

Do you think I blithely go round allowing him to attack other dogs?

I dont know you so its possible. You did say your dog attacked another so how would I know it didnt happen again or regularly?

Op, how long ago did the neighbour say they were rehoming the dog versus when you last saw it? These things take time and if they want to find a good home for it then it wont be a quick thing- specially as it seems like a dog with behavioural problems. Have another word with them and advise them to use a muzzle. I wouldn't be contacting the police or council as its a waste of their time, dog on dog attacks are a grey area and the neighbour already said they are rehoming.

Did you manage to chat to your neighbours OP? Hopefully they were receptive.