to think that the correct response to someone saying "Your f***ing dog just bit me" is not....

[AnarchyInAManger]

"Well sorry love but you want to watch your language" ???

Was walking through the park to fetch DD from school today. I walked past a man walking an alsatian on a lead, it growled and jumped up at me, he yanked it down, then it lunged forward and bit my thigh twice. I was wearing thick tights and a skirt over jeans, and it has still left bruises on my leg.

The man just carried on walking so I called after him. OK, the 'fucking' was unnecessary but I was so shocked and shaken, it just slipped out. He proceeded to tell me off for swearing and said I 'must have smelled of something that set her off' , 'didn't appear to be in agony', and 'need to get over it'.

I just walked past! Even when it growled ad jumped I just carried on walking - I am used to dogs (DP has a mahoosive alsatian/newfoundland cross), confident with them and not at all scared of them.

It would have drawn blood on a child's face. I shudder to think.... and I was too shocked and angry at his reaction to take a photo of them. I was just shaking and almost in tears, not so much from the dog itself as sheer rage at the way he spoke to me.

Wannabe Did the police manage to track down the owner?

Like I said the swearing was the instant stubbed-toe type reaction - just flew out of my mouth.

Police are coming round 'sometime today' to take statement and look at my thigh. I am not exactly looking forward to it and think they think I am making an unnecessary fuss.

Blimey Anarchy! That's not a small bruise and through layers of clothing as well...
As for the swearing, I would have done exactly the same. you're not thinking rationally when you've just been attacked by a dog after all.
Hope the police help this morning.

Years ago our neighbour's dog jumped over a wall and growled ferociously at me because "I was wearing the wrong colour".

I was obviously very lucky I didn't smell funny too .

And no, YANBU

The wrong colour ? How very dare you...

I wouldn't be able apologise enough if a dog in my care did such a thing - never mind making excuses for it or blaming the victim. Anyway aren't dogs colourblind?

sorry to hear about the bite.did it break skin?apply some antiseptc cream.

emmmm AnarchyInAManger has just been placed in great fear,bitten by a deranged pooch.i hardly think the expletive fuck is the greater of the problem here

what was the alternative

oh gosh i say terribly sorry to impose but one's devil dog just bit me

Not many people agreed with Georgimama I see, but she makes a good point

"It hardly helps you achieve the moral high ground, as demonstrated by the fact that rubbish dog owner instantly focussed on her language rather than his mental dog. "

That's the thing, isn't it - it isn't that we mind about his feelings, he was entirely in the wrong here, but it gave him an excuse to respond aggressively. Of course, it's likely he wouldn't have humbly apologised no matter what she said but still, on the whole swearing at people does have an inflammatory effect.

Nasty, shocking incident, poor old Anarchy. The older I get, the more I dread seeing someone out with a dog as many seem to be so badly behaved these days (and I speak as one who used to love them).

Dreyfus - this is what I was trying to say though it didn't go down well/

Are you really trying to kid us that swearing at the dog owner gave him the opportunity to behave aggressively!

IMHO people who can't be bothered to train their dogs properly and allow them to go round indescriminately biting people are agressive themselves, the fact that he allowed his dog to bite the OP and not give a flying wallies himself, is fairly aggressive behaviour in my book.

the emphasis upon Anarchy understandable scared/started response is disproportionate and deflects from the actual event- scary dog and lackadaisical dont ya talk to me like that love nut job owner

I do not swear much, well at all really but this situation would probably have been my firs time! Good for reporting it.

When a dog bit my ds in the park earlier this year, he did not respond with rude language. So the owners just shrugged and walked off.

Well, that solved his problem then, didn't it?

Uh?

was your boy ok cory?

The police have been - get this... Because the dog was on a lead, NO OFFENCE HAS BEEN COMMITTED! It was 'under control'

IMO a dog that bites when on a lead is worse in a way - imagine if it got free?!

poor you, that must have really shaken you up...i'd have said exactly the same to the owner....maybe worse.

What would he have done if you had attacked his dog? Why did he think it ok for his dog to bite you - really awful.

If the dog is "under the owner's control" and bit you, couldn't you then say that you have been assaulted by the owner.

I mean, if someone set their dog on you, it's definitely under their control, isn't it? Even though in a case like that, the dog is off the lead.

Can you not get back to them and say that you want to report it as an assault rather than a dog attack?

Sounds like they can't be arsed to me & need a nudge.

Hmmmm I didn't think of that.

They were sympathetic, and agreed it was a really bad reaction from the owner, and that the law was a bit odd really. They are sending the PCSOs to have a look round the park at school time for the next week. Also that if I saw him again to get a photo and call the police.

Don't think I want to make any more fuss now tbh.

unlikely asault: To direct an attack to take effect physically on the person of another, whether or not actual injury is inflicted.

There must be criminal intent, an accidental injury does not amount to assault. It is not however necessary that the attack should take effect. An assault can be direct or indirect, e.g. setting a dog at another person. It is also assault to be violently menacing. Threatening gestures inducing a state of bodily fear are an example.

so unfortunately not assault.owner didnt purposefully set dog om anarchy

Well I would hate to think what the dog would have done should it not have been "under controle".

I would phone the kennel club and find out what the legal position on this. Because I suspect that the police are talking bullshit because they can't be arsed.

yes hopefully someone will clarify this for you

Lordy - I think 'fucking' is tame given the circumstances. I'd have said worse! Good for you for reporting it.

"it had never bitten his kids"

The awful thing is it may well do.

My ex-MIL's dog - ex rescue, sweet as anything till then - went for me. Was dragged off before it got a bite in. Ex-MIL made all sorts of excuses, one of which was "Well you don't really like dogs, do you, not like SIL" WTF! We'd had a dog for years.

Shortly afterwards the dog went for SIL. Don't know what the excuse was that time.

Soon afterwards it had gone for everyone. Last I heard it was tied up most of the time (not unkindly, still looked after) as it was completely unsafe and they were too kind to have it put down but at a loss as to what to do.

A dog who is randomly snapping at passers-by is dangerous indeed.

Ignore those who say you shouldn't have sworn.

I am sure it bloody fucking hurt and you needed to express that somehow.

How are you feeling now?

Good that you have reported him.