Should I report this dog for biting DH?

[heldinadream]

Posting in AIBU for full range of opinions.
We live in a village. We’re having our bathroom done so are temporarily without a bath or shower, and some people we know (but not well) very kindly said we could use one of theirs, we’ve got a key and freedom to come and go.
All good and lovely. Incredibly kind of them.

They have a very large garden and a dog that runs free in the garden.
I went a couple of times to use the shower and I wasn’t comfortable with the dog, who looked at me suspiciously and followed me, so I stopped going and I’ve managed without and also spent time away so I can shower elsewhere (yes it’s taking a ridiculously long time but that’s another story!).
Anyway long story short my DH, who has happily gone there probably a good 20 times now, was chatting to one of the parents of one of the owners a couple of days ago and the dog approached him and bit him, through his trousers, unprovoked in any way as far as I can tell, skin not really broken but a massive blood clot thing just under the skin and a bruise.

Obviously DH – completely unfazed, because that’s him – has told them, they are upset and apologetic but also were concerned that we don’t report it, AND have admitted it’s not the first time dog has bitten. Second time IF they are being straight with us. DH not only happy to let it go but fully intends to go shower again and just says he’ll avoid the dog if necessary! I’m like – how? What if the dog follows you?

The people themselves are almost never there when we go, by the way.
The more I think about it, the more inclined I am to want to report the dog. But – it is in its own garden. And I really don’t want to upset these people, who are both nice but also pretty kind of powerful locally – unlike me, I’m an invisible sort. But I’m cross they think it’s ok to have the dog run free and yet gaily say to people to just come in, and presumably people who deliver stuff have to run the gamut of the dog, too.
AIBU to even consider reporting the dog?

It's not just children who live with dogs that get killed. Visiting children do too.

@MondaysChild7 He’s not an unknown. He’s been showering there several times a week since May.

And it doesn’t matter whether it’s their own private home or in public - if a dog bites, the police will intervene.

^ This

You are in the dog’s house. Why you would go there and why they invite you knowing the dog is mouthy/protective I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like the dog intended to do damage…. It could’ve attacked, broken skin and not let go.

If you enter the house you 100% take the risk.

I know this isn’t a protection dog, but they exist, they cost thousands and they will attack- they won’t be pts for that. The police will speak to the owner and that’s it and they’ll know it was you.

I simply wouldn’t go there again.

@YellowTreeHouse

So maybe he should stop showering there. Talk about ungrateful and rude. And no police won’t intervene in this, it will be laughed at - especially as the husband is unlikely to want the dog punished and will downplay it and be embarrassed by his wife’s actions.

@AllIgotforitwascankles The police don’t laugh at a dangerous dog who has bitten twice.

But if you’re so certain then there’s no harm in reporting the dangerous mutt then is there? 😂

Not in my experience. This happened to my friend. Delivery guy let himself into the house and her usually docile Dalmatian bit him on the arm. The police said it was his own fault when he reported it.

Now, I’m certainly not saying that a dog who bites is not a concern. Clearly it is. It’s very concerning. But really, it’s taking advantage to keep using someone’s shower for months on end. When my landlord was doing my bathroom, I had to use my mum’s shower for a while and she got pissed off after 4 weeks, never mind all this time!

This sort of thing is why I’ll never have a dog as a pet.

The OP will damage her relationship with the couple in question. I don’t think it would be worth it.

And it doesn’t matter whether it’s their own private home or in public - if a dog bites, the police will intervene.

Hmmm. Not really.

I had a dog whose leg was almost destroyed in an attack by an offlead dog about 5 years ago. She was on lead and in the street. The attacking dog punctured my arm in five places as I tried to get him off her.

The police did very little. Talked to the other owner. Nothing more.

I can't see them giving a shiny shit about this dog, tbh.

Your husband who was there isn't worried and the dog left him with a bruise only. It sounds like you are making more of this than is needed. You could take it up with them, but I think the most likely result is that they tell you to start taking your showers elsewhere and stop being friendly towards you. If your husband is fine with it, I wouldn't ruin your relationship with your neighbours for this.

I'm reading all the responses. I'm inclined to think people who say the police won't care are right, and that I'll do more damage all round reporting than good. So later I'm going to show DH the thread and discuss it with him, but I think the way to go is to say - someone suggested something like this - that him going there is obviously making the dog uncomfortable, so he'll stop going (if that's what he decides) but we're not blaming anyone, it just is what it is. And I hope they'll see for themselves that they've been irresponsible and do something further to make sure no-one's put at risk again.
Although now I've typed that out I think it sounds a bit naive.

None of us was there. We don't know the circumstances, whether the dog ran aggressively after OP's OH, and just managed to catch him because he got to the door before he was prepared to kill him.

Or whether he tried to go and pet the dog nicely, the dog felt defensive, just turned his head quickly and caught a teeth or too into his crotch.

The point is the he doesn't think it warrants doing anything about it and therefore, unless he is a complete idiot, the situation was more alike the 2nd scenario than the first and he is best placed to know whether reporting is justified.

My concern is that a dog that has bitten twice has escaped the garden before and the owners appear to be quite irresponsible in that regard by leaving gates open.

There is a big difference between a warning nip and a dog mauling a child to death. A dog being protective of his family/territory does not mean that he is a blood thirsty monster and deserves to be put down either. I agree with people saying that they should have more control over him when strangers are coming into their garden though to avoid situations like this.

GSD is a herding breed and was probably just trying to round hubby up. Sounds as though it's under exercised. This breed is extremely intelligent and needs work. I wouldn't report it personally but would be wary of going around to neighbours house.

My neighbour’s dog has bitten 5 different people over the years 3 reported it. Skin broken every time!
Police have visited but the dog lives on…

The dog will have been completely confused by the strangers coming and going from their territory. These people have been kind to you why would you report their dog.

So many people making excuses for a dangerous dog.

You people are the exact reason we have so many dog attacks and deaths. The deaths of those children and in some cases grown adults are on you.

It doesn’t matter how nice they are. You can say OP and DH are strangers until you’re blue in the face. They’re not nice—they have a dangerous out of control dog that’s bitten twice—and DH has been going for multiple weekly showers since May. So he isn’t an unknown.

Totally aside from the dog. Are you planning to reimburse these people for using their shower for 5 months?

vivainsomnia · Yesterday 12:52
It is violent, aggressive, unpredictable and needs to be put down
Dies this apply to humans? Ifa friend of your husband came to you, in your garden, when your back is turned, and when they come to touch, you turn around abruptly and doing so punch them in the nose.

Does this make you a violent, aggressive, unpredictable person who should be sent to jail forever!

Total over dramatisation“

tbf, a punch on the nose is unlikely to cause sepsis. An animal bite is very risky.