Can I take legal action? Dog related trigger warning

[Ellythe]

My dog is my baby. I got her 3 years before my child died and she helped me through it all and she knew him.

I am currently in the USA, waiting for a plane home 8 days earlier than planned because I got a call from the woman looking after my dog saying that her Mastiff has mauled my dog and she has lost a leg and an eye in the fight. I've seen the cctv footage and my dog walked near her dog and he lunged at her and then attacked her.

Shockingly the boarder doesn't notice the interaction between the dogs until her neighbour comes running into her house shouting because she can hear my dog yelping and screaming. At the time of the fight the person I paid to look after my dog was grooming another dog and in a completely separate area of the unit. The other person insured to look after the dogs was out at the shop and so there were 5 day care dogs and 4 home boarding dogs + her own 3 dogs.

What is my legal recourse?

I want her to pay for my dog's treatment, the flights etc.

I would never have let her look after my dog if I realised she wasn't in the same area as the dogs. I didn't realise that dogs were being left completely unattended for up to 6 hours whilst she's grooming.

For the avoidance of doubt my dog didn't do anything to cause her dog to attack her, she merely walked passed him and he just went for her.

She is 6 years old and I cannot lose her. She is the last connection I have to my child. I'm beside myself right now. This is hideous.

I need to know what to do next. Do I report to the council? The rspca? The police? I want to take any and all action I can.

I’m so sorry OP. I had a similar incident with a home boarder although with a much better outcome. My whippet had been staying at a boarder’s place for years without incident. Then after one trip I went to pick him up and the boarder casually told me that he’d been bitten by a Doberman that morning. Obviously I was shocked and took him to the vet straight away. I was very lucky that all he needed was a few staples as obviously it could have been so much worse.

I’ve never felt comfortable leaving him with anyone since. He hates being away from me anyway so I’m cutting down to shorter trips for the rest of his life. Kennels aren’t an option as he gets separation anxiety.

Horrible situation hope doggy gets better, I would be so angry as well

First call the police, then report to the council, make sure to take your own recording of the cctv in case she decides to erase it and say your dog caused it, contact the rspca, last find legal council. I am so sorry this happened and I hope your baby is recovering ❤️

The attorney for the defendant can argue that all of the "bad press" can taint possibility of a fair trial for his/her clients. Also, any information that OP puts out can be used against her in court. This is how these types of cases are lost.

Did this incident occur in England, Scotland or Wales? Was the person who you left the dog with licensed by their local council? Under legislation of the animal welfare act 2018 anyone who home boards or offers Daycare to a dog in England must hold a valid license. Both Scotland and Wales legislation differs but the same applies.
If they did not show you their licence or do not actually have a license then your recourse is to contact the council that they trade under and report this in full by email to them.
If they do not have a licence then they have no business insurance in which you can claim off, which also may invalidate any claim that you have on your dogs own pet insurance. And the only recourse that you can probably take to obtain a refund or payment for treatment and flights is through a small claims court.
You may also want to contact Trevor Cooper at the dog law, but I honestly don't know if he takes cases like this.

I have now read more about what's happened. I am so sorry that this is happened to your dog.

So as the person was licenced and the dog was in her care, regardless whether she was physically looking after the dog at the time (even if she was grooming in another room) the dog is still in her care as a licensed boarder therefore you have every entitlement to claim from her business insurance.

I highly suggest that you contact Trevor Cooper at
https://doglaw.co.uk/how-we-can-help/
Who does deal with cases of negligence in regards to licensed kennels, day care & home boarding.

I am naturally concerned however that the individual may continue to board regardless of whether they've had their licence suspended.
I suspect that the individual has not been named and shamed because in cases such as this, you could be held liable, the place you posted can be held liable too as it could lead to defamation which could go against you if you take the legal route. Be careful what you say on any social media platform or web page. Anything deleted can also be found.

As an owner and a licensed home boarder of many years, I would be harassing the council every week asking what's happening keep me in the loop and definitely contact Trevor Cooper.

I'm now going to continue to read through the rest of the posts.

People who are licensed should be adhering to & being compliant to the regulations set out in the legislation.

It is appalling that a few let the side down.

As a licenced business I am allowed to mix my day care dogs with boarding dogs, and my own dog. I am licenced for 6 and adhere to that number at all times. They are not left alone whilst I go off and do something else in the house...they come with me. I never leave them in the house alone. However if there was an emergency they would be separated & my own designated key holder or husband who is competent with dogs would step in.
All my dogs are heavily assessed before they become long-term clients. .. the majority of them have been with me for either three years or more and we rarely introduce new dogs into an established group. I also have extensive knowledge of canine behaviour.

How is your dog getting on, OP?

Can I ask how is your dog and what happened and also did this happen in the high peak ?

Hope Rosie is doing OK.

Your poor pup. I’m so sorry and hope she is recovering as well as she can. Any owners worst nightmare.

Hope Rosie is doing well.

I've just seen an almost identical post on Facebook but that dog didn't lose a leg only an eye. The photo is heartbreaking. I thought it was you to be honest. How are these businesses not more closely monitored!!!