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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DH should report this dog

29 replies

Lickerz · 26/06/2022 09:54

DH was on a run last night when this big male rottweiler lunged at him unprovoked and bit down on his side/hip. It was with a girl of around 12/13 who didnt have a hope of controlling such a big powerful dog. Apparently she was just as shocked and terrified as my husband. He took her number and address and it lives just down the road from us.

DH went to A&E and it's been checked. He's been given a tetanus jab. Its a nasty bite.

I want him to report it on 101. The problem is he's gone round to the dogs house and spoken to the owner and now he doesnt want to. He said they were really apologetic, that they have been working with a trainer (which makes me question what else its done!) And that they're going to keep it muzzled. They also live on our estate so he doesn't want to "sh*t on our doorstep." He also doesn't think police would do anything as he knows someone who's dog has bitten its been reported but that dogs still being walked around with no care in the world.

Im sorry but i think thats all completely irrelevant and he shouldn't feel bad for doing the right thing and reporting it. And even if police don't do anything it might scare the owners into being extra careful. They made the choice to buy a big powerful dog breed which to me is a higher level of responsibility to keep control of it at all time. They clearly already knew it was aggressive yet thought it appropriate to be walked unmuzzled by a small 13 year old girl (im also thinking of her in this as i bet shes terrified of this dog now and she should be safeguarded). Also soon as DH said which house it was i realised it was the same house ive walked past before and heard an extremely aggressive big sounding dog barking from inside smashing itself against the door trying to get out. I actually avoid walking past the house now as it was really scary! It makes me feel sick to think my poor husband was attacked by this huge dog but even worse that it could have been a child 😢 My husband is 6'2 and nearly 20 stone so I dread to think what would have happened if it had got a kid 😢

So AIBU?

YABU - leave it the owners are taking it seriously and it won't happen again.

YANBU - He needs to report it the dog is dangerous and police need to know about it.

OP posts:
11Hawkins · 26/06/2022 09:58

YANBU. Report it. What if next time it goes for a baby or elderly person? The dog is dangerous.

SoupDragon · 26/06/2022 10:00

I think it needs to be reported. They knew it had issues and let a young girl walk it alone and with no muzzle on the dog. They aren't going to muzzle it.

Overthebow · 26/06/2022 10:00

Yes he should report it. A dog like that shouldn't be with people who can’t control it, and certainly shouldn’t be allowed to be in a situation where it can hurt people.

ComDummings · 26/06/2022 10:02

He should definitely report it. That little girl is living with that dog, she may not be safe in her home with it even if the owners do muzzle it in public. Ask him to do it for her if not for himself.

ThreeB · 26/06/2022 10:11

I say this as the owner of 2 big, male, Rotties but yes, he should report it.

A dog that size should not be walking with a young child. Part of being a responsible owner is understanding your dogs triggers and working to either avoid them or to train them not to react. If their dog is triggered by runners (and usually a lunge is a fear reaction) then he shouldn't be walking where he may encounter them.

It's not fair on the dog to put him in this situation.

FrogFairy · 26/06/2022 10:41

The dog that killed Jack Lis had previously attacked several times.

If those attacks had been reported and the police acted then or Jack would ost likely still be alive.

adorablecat · 26/06/2022 10:54

I would report the incident. The police can charge the owner of the dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act and the court can make an order for the dog to be kept muzzled in public. This would be a much better outcome than relying on the owner to do the right thing.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/06/2022 10:55

I feel for you, OP, not least because my own OH was in the same position. Bitten twice already by a neighbour's dog (once when it was attacking their own child outside) he refused to report it because they're lovely people in most respects and he didn't want to cause angst with the neighbours. It's always "If it happens again ...", but that's not much consolation if next time is worse

They actually have two tiny children living with this brute and what could happen frightens me to death, but that's their business. What's ours is that they promised faithfully to keep their drive gates closed in future, and simply never do

It really isn't an easy situation ...

hashbrownsandwich · 26/06/2022 10:59

I've recently had a patient who had a dog bite from his own dog, who 'suddenly snapped' and honestly, it's one single bite wound but it's horrific and hospitalised him. It's been a massive eye opener.

I am a dog lover myself but even I would be worried about further attacks and report.

legalseagull · 26/06/2022 11:02

I'd report it myself if I were you. What if your watching the news one day and see it's killed the little girl?

purplecorkheart · 26/06/2022 11:05

Report, a dog locally attacked three people. The 3rd person was the only person who reported it. The police took it very seriously.

LakieLady · 26/06/2022 11:07

Definitely report. This poor dog has irresponsible owners and irresponsible dog owners are the cause of a lot of anti-dog feeling.

FunLovinGal · 26/06/2022 11:09

Of course you should report it! No question!

Maves · 26/06/2022 11:10

Report it ffs they know it's vicious as it's having training yet they let it out with a child. What if it had bitten a child they may not have been so lucky! You repot if he won't.

AgathaX · 26/06/2022 11:12

Yes report it. If he won't, you could report it yourself. There's medical evidence at the hospital for proof if required.
Did anyone else witness it?

FatEaredFuck · 26/06/2022 11:12

Horribly irresponsible to let a child walk it. Either they knew it was violent and let her - or they didnt know enough about it and let her loose with it.

For context, i was walking and was bitten by a loose dog - apparently the neighbours always let them out without supervision. I reported it to the police, and the dog had bitten someone else. My report still didnt bring about any consequences but they heavily leaned on the owners to rehome.

Your husband's report will probably only help create a picture of that dog and add substance to any further complaints.

I'm a dog owner and I love dogs but we must be responsible with them.

HoundHound · 26/06/2022 11:13

It's not an excuse, but I imagine the dog was acting to defend the girl from what it saw as a man running to attack. So in the dogs eyes it was provoked. Some dogs are defensive by nature.

I think he should log the attack with the police, next time it could be a kid running past.

FOJN · 26/06/2022 11:22

I think you should report it. The owners making the right noises after the fact is not sufficient evidence for me that they are responsible. They knew of the dogs issues before it bit your husband and yet allowed it to be walked, unmuzzled, by a teenager. I don't think it's reasonable or responsible to wait until after a bite incident to learn lessons about how to manage a dog you already know has aggression issues, responsible owners are proactive about preventing such incidents.

If the owners have been shocked into behaving responsibly then they will have no problem explaining themselves to the police.

Costabravo14 · 26/06/2022 11:22

I get that it feels awkward now that he’s spoken to them but this dog has bitten someone in public and should definitely be reported. That’s really serious.

Sometimes dogs will go for the same person again unfortunately, once they’ve done it a first time. What if next time DH is out running and the dog tries again and she can’t hold on to it?

Original poster
Lickerz · 26/06/2022 11:22

legalseagull · 26/06/2022 11:02

I'd report it myself if I were you. What if your watching the news one day and see it's killed the little girl?

I absolutely would but the police will only take a report from the victim! 😒

OP posts:
SolasAnla · 26/06/2022 11:23

If the owner is working with a trainer they know there is a problem, yet they let the dog out in a public area.

Report, even if this is the first time and the police don't act, this incident will be a recorded

KyaClark · 26/06/2022 11:28

I was attacked by a Rottweiler puppy when I was 7. I'm still scared of them now.

If it has possibly done something before, what the hell are they thinking letting a young girl walk it?!

My brother has a massive, lovely, manic lab. I don't walk him because I wouldn't be able to control him should an issue present itself (never has, but you know what I mean).

Anotherselfemployedcleaner · 26/06/2022 11:50

SolasAnla · 26/06/2022 11:23

If the owner is working with a trainer they know there is a problem, yet they let the dog out in a public area.

Report, even if this is the first time and the police don't act, this incident will be a recorded

This - would add extra to say that IF they’re working with a trainer, I’m fairly sure the trainer would have said to walk only when muzzled, only with a capable adult and quite possibly only when wearing a suitable harness PLUS collar (eg double leashed in case anything breaks).

Original poster
Lickerz · 26/06/2022 11:51

Thanks for all the responses 😀To update DH is going to report it on 101. I think he was still in shock earlier but he went out for abit this morning came Back and said right I have to report it don't I, I didn't even need to do any persuading. Phew!

OP posts:
ComDummings · 26/06/2022 11:52

Lickerz · 26/06/2022 11:51

Thanks for all the responses 😀To update DH is going to report it on 101. I think he was still in shock earlier but he went out for abit this morning came Back and said right I have to report it don't I, I didn't even need to do any persuading. Phew!

Glad to hear this! Hope your DH is OK.