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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report this dog to the police?

53 replies

DogAttack · 10/03/2020 19:00

I was out cycling and was chased by a Doberman which was snarling and lunging at me. Owners were out of sight slightly down the path. I was terrified and screaming. Booted the dog hard, managed to get off my bike and had the bike between me and the dog while still screaming at it. I love dogs and am not scared of them at all but I honestly thought this was going to end badly. Full on teeth out, nasty snarling and lunging. It turned round and ran back.

I went to the bend in the path and saw the owners and screamed abuse at them. They waved. I was too scared to go up to them, they were little dots in the distance.

I posted on the local fb group warning people to be careful if using that cycle path. He’s responded saying it was his dog. It wasn’t been nasty but was being friendly or someone. He’s only had it six weeks but it often runs after cyclists and has never bitten anyone. Says I’m exaggerating. He’s lied and said he wasn’t out of sight and if I haven’t been bitten I haven’t been attacked.

So he obviously doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong and will continue to let his dog chase cyclists. Kids use this path to cycle to school. If he’d said sorry and that he’d keep it on a lead I’d have been fine but doesn’t sound like he will,

Will the police take it seriously? Obviously my word against his and his wife.

OP posts:
Original poster
DogAttack · 10/03/2020 19:00

I’ve screen shot the fb post where he says it was his dog that ran after me and that it often runs after cyclists, etc.

OP posts:
HappyHammy · 10/03/2020 19:01

Yes. Report to the police and the dog warden.

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 10/03/2020 19:03

Dog warden

The local council will have a dog warden who will take this seriously, may visit them etc. It also creates a log, so if the next person comes forward it goes on the file

I once got a dog warden involved, was quite impressed with how seriously they took it, and their follow up

LettertoHermoine · 10/03/2020 19:04

Report it! Could have been a kid on a bike!

StoneofDestiny · 10/03/2020 19:08

Report it.
I'm terrified of dogs off leads and it would have ended badly!
Why does the idiot think it's ok to have a powerful dog that he barely knows (6 weeks!) off the lead chasing people?

picklemewalnuts · 10/03/2020 19:11

Yes, it's 'not under control', so the police can act. They can put on a control order or similar.

redwinefine · 10/03/2020 19:15

Report it.

Original poster
DogAttack · 10/03/2020 19:16

Thanks. Have now reported it online to the police and will try dog warden tomorrow as well.

OP posts:
LakieLady · 10/03/2020 19:21

I'd report it. People like him get responsible dog owners tarred with the same brush and give us all a bad name.

My last lakeland hated bikes, after one fell on him when he was tied up outside our local shop. I used to have to call him back and put him on the lead whenever we encountered a bike out on the downs, and get him really close whenever we met a cycling twat using the pavement.

I would never have allowed him off-lead on a towpath, they're so popular with cyclists.

Original poster
DogAttack · 10/03/2020 20:30

I’m now getting messages from random people in the village asking me not to report the dog as it’s nice, etc and “don’t you know some dogs chase bikes, doesn’t mean they’re being nasty”.

Like I’m some sort of I’m imbecile who can’t tell the difference between a dog being a bit of a twat and a dog being nasty.

I’ve cycle commuted for years. I’ve had my share of dogs run up to me, run after me, etc. Nothing anywhere near this!

OP posts:
Nomorechickens · 10/03/2020 20:33

Dog should be on a lead if it chases bikes

mbosnz · 10/03/2020 20:36

Dogs should not chase bikes. If dogs are known to chase bikes, then they should be on a lead. Cyclists don't necessarily like and should not be expected to tolerate, dogs chasing them, whether they 'want to be friends', or want to take a piece out of them.

purplecorkheart · 10/03/2020 20:37

Please report, it is up to the police what action they take but at you will have done all you can to protect others. I am not Uk based so I would report to local Council and or Dog Warden as well.

batsBATSbatsBATSbats · 10/03/2020 20:45

Reporting is the correct thing to do.

So they've had the dog six weeks and think they know it all, know the dog, and can let it off the lead? Bullshit. They need to work on recall and keeping it close by, more preferably keeping it on the lead.

Original poster
DogAttack · 10/03/2020 20:49

Oh he’s an ex royal marine dog handler don’t you know. So yeah, knows it all! 😂😂🤷‍♀️🙄

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 10/03/2020 20:51

Dogs should be under control in public. It wasn’t.
Even if It wasn’t snarling and lunging then it still poses a risk to cyclists.
Even if it wasn’t snarling and lunging then it wasn’t being “friendly”! It was being rude and out of control.
(Not saying you’re lying about its behaviour BTW!)
For it to legally be dangerous you only have to reasonably be worried that you could come to harm (can’t remember the exact wording.)
Oh and I have a dog. She will stand and wait whilst a cyclist goes past. She’s not being unfriendly. She’s being polite!
Hope you’re ok.

recklessruby · 10/03/2020 20:52

Report it. It was snarling and growling, it clearly wasnt running up to play.
You re shaken but not hurt but you say children cycle there? That would be awful if a child was attacked, they are very vulnerable cyclists.

StormBaby · 10/03/2020 20:55

The law changed with dog ownership about 6 years ago and you only have to 'feel' threatened by them now(it was to protect workers visiting homes etc) so definitely report. I heard of a women who had a chinuahua that constantly chased joggers and she ended up with a criminal record!

Sleepycat91 · 10/03/2020 21:02

Fully completes the offence of a dog fangerously out of control. You feared you were going to be bitten, it doesnt have to bite for it to be dangerously out of control. Blokes a moron if he knows it chases bikes, still lets it off lead and get that far ahead. Report, report, report.

Sleepycat91 · 10/03/2020 21:02

Fully completes the offence of a dog dangerously out of control. You feared you were going to be bitten, it doesnt have to bite for it to be dangerously out of control. Blokes a moron if he knows it chases bikes, still lets it off lead and get that far ahead. Report, report, report.

BMW6 · 10/03/2020 21:11

The dog was out of control. Doesn;t matter a damn if he's ex Royal Marine or the Queen.

In fact, if he actually WAS a dog handler in Royal marines then he was obviously shite at it!

doyoueverfeellikea · 10/03/2020 21:14

I am so sick of dogs like this they terrify me. Why do they have to be socially accepted now, in pubs and restaurants etc? I don't like the smell of dog while I eat and relax and I don't like them off leads while walking along country lanes. Report to the warden as suggested hopefully they will do something. Hope your ok

HappyHammy · 10/03/2020 21:15

Ex RM dog handler. Yeah course he is.

Wolfiefan · 10/03/2020 21:17

@doyoueverfeellikea they’re not accepted everywhere. I would choose places to eat where they aren’t allowed if you dislike them so much. And out walking? A well behaved dog shouldn’t bother you at all. It shouldn’t approach you and certainly shouldn’t be intimidating you in any way.

mbosnz · 10/03/2020 21:18

If Princess Anne can be in the dock having to explain her dogs' behaviour, I'm quite certain a royal marine can.