Dog attacking child - not stopping to help

[Idioticparents]

So, I’m walking my dogs on the beach. See a border collie on a lead being walked by what I presume is mum, dad and child. No problem - my dogs are trained to come to me whenever they see another dog (not that they go far tbh).

BC is clearly not friendly. It’s frozen. Stiff. Licking its lips as I go by. No issue. Give it a wide birth (10 or so meters given the tide is high) keep half an eye on it. Owners don’t real it in and keep it on the log line (full length stretched with dog nearly choking itself).

Child (about 8/9) walks up to dog as parents watch and wraps its arms around the dogs neck from behind. Obviously the dog attacks child. Parents wrestle dog off child.

Now, here is my am I being unreasonable - I didn’t stop. I just kept walking. Kid had two parents with him and I had my dogs nearby waiting to walk on. As I walked away I got a tonne of abuse for not stopping. But why would I? IMO the dog had attack its owners child and if it’s going to do that then I am not going near it. Partner says IWU not to help.

Stupid irresponsible owners.

What were they expecting you to do with your dogs to assist them, magic them into thin air??

That would have created chaos if you had introduced your dogs into that situation when the parents were there anyway! Child alone attacked by random dog, of course you would try and help but this was their problem.

I don't think there was much you could have done if two adults where already trying to get the dog off the child. Wonder that they think you would have done with your own dogs if you went to help.
They where irresponsible. Part of being a dog owner and having children is making sure the child knows it's not a cuddly toy.

I would have helped by calling the police and an ambulance

Who gave you abuse?

If it looked as if I could help I would have told my dogs to sit and stay and gone to help.

But not sure what actual assistance they could have been given.

Was the child badly hurt?

I'm just imagining what your dogs MIGHT have done if you had gone to help and the aggressive dog had turned on YOU...

How do you know it necessitated an ambulance?

I wouldn't have got involved either, not when a dog is on the attack and two parents are already helping. Probably would have called for medical help but definitely not involved myself.

From a safe distance I would have enquired if the child was ok etc but no way would I have joined the fray. That would only have made things worse.
who was giving you abuse?

That was my rationale. My dogs are great. But you can never be sure! It’s just not a risk to take.

I rang the police when I got back to my car and reported the attack. Nothing will come of it, of course.

all day long my dogs are my priority. I would never put them in an unsafe situation. You did right

@BoudiccaOfSuburbia

what breed are your dogs? Would they have stayed sitting as they'd been told if they thought you were in danger?

Was the child and the dog owners part of the same group?

I'm not sure what you could have except phone the emergency services. Surely I'd someone intervened and hurt their dog, the owners would blame you for that

Yes, I would have helped or at least offered. My approach would need to be considered if I also had a dog with me but ultimately the child's safety comes first and this would be my priority so my dog's behaviour permitting it is a no-brainer for me.

I would say stupid irresponsible parents of that child too. I love dogs but I’d never put my arms round a dog I didn’t know. They should have been supervising better.

Nope, you did the right thing OP.

If you'd charged in, they'd have blamed you and your dogs for the whole event. I hope the kid is okay, but it's his parents fault, and only theirs.

What did they think you should do? Safely tether your own dogs and head over to help? In which case, the situation would have been resolved by the time you got there. Bring your dogs with you while you helped? Then you wouldn't have any physical capability to do anything useful. Let your own dogs run off while you rush to help? It sounds as though they managed to get the situation - of their own making - under control. They need to educate their child about the risks of grabbing a dog from behind.

@Idioticparents, who gave you a load of abuse? Bystanders? It doesn’t make sense that a group of strangers would abuse another stranger for not helping.

There were already two (irresponsible) adults. You going joining the mix of arms & legs, & your dogs potentially getting involved, would have only made the situation worse.
They were probably shocked and had a surge of adrenaline, they were angry at themselves but chose to vent at you because they can’t believe their own stupidity I imagine.

I’d have probably shouted ‘do you need me to call an ambulance?’ Or something but I wouldn’t have rushed to grab their dog or anything.

Oh course you're not being unreasonable. You had two dogs with you. How was anyone expecting you to help were you supposed to just abandon your dogs and hope they stayed put. To be honest if you had intervened you'd probably have got abuse for heightening the situation and protests of being a busybody.

YANBU. People need to train their kids not to hug dogs, they don't like it and a collie will let you know! Sounds like irresponsible owners who's child unfortunately suffered the consequences. He wasn't alone, he was with his parents. No need for you to get involved.

I wouldn't have been able to stop if I had my dogs with me, my pug would have gone for the attacking dog if it was hurting someone and my other giant dog would have probably been scared and reacted badly, could have made the situation much worse.

If there was no one else to help I would have sought help out and called police, as you did.

I think the parents were the dog owners.

I would have offered my details to the parents of the owner of the dog was no the parent. I would have offered to phone an ambulance but I would not have gone close to the dog - or introduced my dog.

@Idioticparents

Define attack?

it can't have been 'that bad' if they had enough focus/time to shout abuse at you??

as it was their dog (on a lead) and their child that they watched walk up to it, no I wouldn't get involved even without my own dogs. I don't have a dog at the moment but mine were always good , but none would have just sat watching on if I'd got involved, they'd have joined in which a) wouldn't have helped &b) would put them in danger.

if it was a child on their own I'd have tried to help & tried to keep my dog out if it.

if I was going to call the police I'd have done it there & then not waited until I got back to my car, why did you wait??