Dog bite

[winz]

We had an occasion coming up to 5 years ago where it was my daughter's birthday. We invited friends & family around. It was mid October, I had a dog, family brought their own dogs, all spaniels.

Dogs were outside but two left and our dog came in. He positioned himself under the table in the kitchen. I wasn't there but from legal statements I'm led to believe the dog was under the table with a child crawling into his space.

Essentially the child was bitten on the face, the dog is no longer with us but...the child's mother was my absolute best friend from early teenage years. She reported me to the dog warden and then sued me at a cost of £65k for a bite to her child's lip. It was portrayed that the the child was incredibly scared of dogs but within a week of settlement a new puppy was purchased for the kid.

For what it's worth, the dog in question lived with toddlers prior to this. He died of cancer.

What??? How can she sue you for £65,000?? Did she win or not? Sorry for your loss x

That's all very unfortunate, I'm sorry.

but what do you actually want from this thread??

I just miss my friend. She hasn't had contact with me since everything happened. She has blocked me on all platforms.

She went through Pet Insurance.

@winz then she's not much of a friend. No way I would have sued someone. It was an accident

Thank you. It was a horrendous experience in that my dog bit her daughter. And took me to court then revelled in the financial settlement her daughter received. I think I'm probably best off without her as a friend given it was an unfortunate event but at times I think about her and sometimes wonder if I'm in the wrong.

Yes I think k you are right.

That’s a very difficult situation all round but it probably wouldn’t be appropriate to continue the friendship after that. Do you have other friends instead?

Yes I do.i just miss this friend in particular. But as others have said it's probably best not to seek a friendship with her.

You should have kept an eye on your dog and your ex friend should have kept an eye in her child.

I wasn't there but from legal statements I'm led to believe the dog was under the table with a child crawling into his space.

Your dog bit a child on the face probably leaving her a permanent disfigurement. I’m an owner of 3 dogs and if any children are in my house I’m responsible for my dogs behaviour. I absolutely adore them and my dogs are child friendly and have never bitten, however, I would never be so stupid to assume a dog wouldn’t bite and I wouldn’t ever not have my eyes on a child approaching any of my dogs. Personally I would have stopped the child for safety.

No wonder your friend never continued the friendship. She was in your home and stupidly trusted your dogs. A dog biting is no “accident” and whether a child crawled under the table or not the adults are responsible for the dogs and children.

The purchasing of a new puppy I don’t understand, let’s hope the new puppy doesn’t lose its life through the stupidity of the parent.