Dog causes over €1000 fine

[Girlmom83]

My scary breed dog breed is confined to our relatively large space with secure gates. One of gates was left open and in that instant was triggered by a passing cyclist. Absolutely, my dog, my problem. This experienced older cyclist got a severe fright, bike and himself crashed to ground. He has 2 significant scrapes and bike had damage (in my own shock I did not examine it) I was totally owning the situation completely apologetic and helped this man with disinfectant etc. He threatened me with millions very quickly and I'd lose my house hence my extra shock. He reported me and the dog to the guards. I've been looking at re homing her.
Today I received a text that he is well but to pay 1000 for a new bike and 100 for antibiotic etc. I've no problem paying what is due, 1000 is not millions, but to me I also cant even afford 1000, what checks should I make first and would I be unreasonable as it was my dog and my gate?

Well he has her address. He can report the dog to the police. No idea what Irish dog laws are but here the incident would be an offence under the dangerous dogs act.

The police would take action and possibly prosecute, they’d certainly recommend restorative justice which would mean paying the bike damage bill.

And could also slap an order on the dog of it having to be muzzled in public, and fining the OP for the offence. So ignoring is very bad advice.

This isn't a case of dog owner v cyclist - who's at fault?

As the dog owner you have the responsibility to ensure your dog is secure at all times. I have a dog. I fitted a spring close on my gate for this reason as I had DCs at the time that couldn't always be relied on.

It's also possible that the cyclist is trying it in in terms of damage.

If you have pet insurance liability is often covered. Even your house insurance might cover you. I think morally yes you need to accept responsibility. However, I would not be passing over any money without proper documentation for costs. I certainly wouldn't be doing so on someone's say so of the amount of damage caused.

"He reported me and the dog to the guards."

Already done, mate.

If the house is secure, then no.

If it can easily escape then why shouldn't it be?

If you have insurance then I would ask him to contact them. I don't think the cost of antibiotics (which would've required a medical appointment) or the bike sound outrageous. The poor bloke must've been terrified - imagine having a large dog trying to bite at pedals on a bike while you are trying ride it. How was he to know it was only going for the pedals?

Not too much for me to take on, I close my gate, then the postie or some random flyer delivery person swings by and leaves it open. But I'm not the one who's dog chased a cyclist. Really though, what good is it telling the op to lock the gate after the fact?

But OP thinks it was her partner who didn't close it

Dogs are scary. Children are not.

Being scary doesn't come into it. Children damage things and I would expect a parent to pay for any damage caused in the same way I would expect a dog owner to pay.

Slight overreaction there 🙄😂

Sorry! I was distracted and clearly left my brain in neutral 🙈

Go via insurance and she not trained if goes for bikes...you need more training ..what if a toddler or child cycled past...one bite ...life changing for child and your dog will be destroyed.. please get your dog trained. German Shepherds are bright and easy to train.

The lack of knowledge about the Irish Tort system and costs in Ireland is pretty obvious here. Ireland pays out huge compensation for personal injury. If this goes anywhere near a court the 1K will look like chicken feed. The 100 Euro antibiotics is perfectly reasonable. It can cost you that to see a GP to get a prescription in Dublin and then we pay for the medicine on top. We don't have free GP access unless you are a child or on a medical card. If you go to A and E you pay 100 Euro before paying for any prescribed medicine. A standard cycle to work grant is 3K, so that tells you how much a good bike costs here.
But don't just hand over cash. You need to do it through your insurance, either pet or house. Most have a free legal advice service. Get that advice before you go any further.

There is no such thing, simply illegal breeds (like pit bull or wolves) and legal breeds... if its an illegal breed your in trouble anyway unless you are licensed to keep them in which case you risk your license.

In Ireland there are no illegal breeds just restricted breeds and you don't require a licence to own one

German Shepherds are one of many on the restricted list

Dogs of restricted breeds must be muzzled and on lead under control of an adult in public. Anybody can own one, although if you rent then most places will refuse to allow you to keep a dog on the list

I also have a German Shepherd and live on the border between NI and Ireland, lots of us who go from NI to Ireland on a daily basis with our dogs have the wierd situation where they can be offload running, but then you pop across to a shop and suddenly that dog must be muzzled and onlead. Still prefer Irelands way of handling it compared to the UK way of banning breeds outright though

He sounds like a bit of a wimp. An experienced cyclist would know how to get out of this. I’d go through insurance if you have it otherwise wait for the police to turn up and they probably wouldn’t given how things are now. You are unlikely to end up in any situation worse than forking over a grand up front.

what type of bicycle was it to cost that much ?

It's an unexceptional price for a well-built bike

Have a browse

Road bikes Dublin - Eurocycles Ireland

I love dogs, except scary aggressive one's. The op said she was looking at rehoming the animal.

There's no evidence this happened. Don't text him anything and just sent everything..
And don't re-home your dog over this

The fact he said right away about suing shows the type of idiot he is.

I mean nothing in writing
If there were no camera it didn't happen

You fully made a lie the dog is a XL bully when nobody said the breed.
Must have a tendency to lie on others and be a daily mail reader. Yuk.

This.

100 euro for antibiotics - this can easily be the case. 65 euro for the visit to the GP. A tetanus injection 25 euro (precautionary) and antibiotics 20 euro.

What? You can't own a Shepherd now?

No evidence other than the fact the OP was stood right there watching it?

Are you suggesting she lie and claim it didn't happen?!