My dog falsely accused of biting someone

[Iwouldmarrythebeast]

I've just returned from my lunchtime walk with my 2 dogs, one is a terrier and is a cavapoo. There were 2 women stood on the pavement talking so I pulled my dogs in by the lead so we could get passed them. (We couldn't step on the road as there was a car coming). As we passed them, the woman mis-stepped and her leg brushed against my terrier's nose. She then repeated 3 times as she walked away, "it bite me". I couldn't quite understand what she was saying at first, I then said "she's just nudged you". My terrier definitely didn't bite her, she was never bitten anyone ever. The whole thing was over in a second and the woman's trousers were in tact. My question is, should I go and speak to her? She lives several doors away. I don't know her but know of her. She is known as an odd woman who gossips a lot. Is it best to leave it? Or nip it in the bud?

Any advice gratefully received!

She sounds unhinged I would leave it be

I was bitten by a dog in the park while playing with my children, it didn’t rip my jeans. The owner didn’t believe me. He said the dog was just “playing”. The police believed me. I wouldn’t have gone to the police if the owner was willing to accept what I told him, and had just apologised at the time. Him denying it made me think he wasn’t going to make any effort to control his dog in the future which is why I went to the police.

I’m not saying your dog definitely bit her - just giving perspective from the other side of a similar incident. That woman thinks she was bitten, whether you think so or not, and is upset about it.

I would go and apologise to the woman and smooth things over if you know her well enough to do this.

Alternatively do you know the woman she was talking to? Could you sound her out first if she’s a bit more approachable?

I don't know the other woman. But the whole contact was less than half a second and she actually walked into our path. Would it be rude to ask to see proof? If I actually thought there was either a nip or a bite, I would hold my hands up.

I meant more, that a bit of an apology “just wanted to check that you’re ok, you seemed upset.” rather than saying you think she did get bitten (or asking to see proof!) might just help smooth some ruffled feathers and stop her taking it further/going on about it to other people/bad mouthing your dog etc. and if she’s not too weird about it you could always sort of introduce your dog to her so that she sees it’s friendly and wouldn’t be making a fuss if she saw you out walking again.

Obviously if she reported the dog bite to the police they would need proof, but I don’t think that’s on you and I’m not sure what the benefit of you asking for that would be in this situation.

That's really good advice thank you. I'm just upset and angry about the accusation at the moment as I know it's completely unfounded but hopefully I will calm down. Once I can take the emotion out, I think I will do that to defuse the situation. At the moment, I'm in the place of how dare she say that. But am trying to work my way out of that!