Need advice/opinions from responsible dog owners/lovers please

[CarGirl]

I have to make a decision on whether to press charges against a dog walker and a dog that bit my dd today , I feel that I have to prosecute the dog walkers as I feel the dog was not properly retrained and pursue having the dog put down as I have no guarantee that dog's owners will get it trained properly and immediately. (I wonder if the police/courts etc ever insist that the dog is rehomed with more suitable owners as an alternative to being put down?)

This is the main extract from my police statement.

As we entered the grassy area in front of the houses I noticed straight ahead, about 20 foot away, a large semi long haired Alsatian type breed dog on a long (possibly retractable) lead coming from the opposite direction. When the dog noticed us he stood in a poised manner looking at us directly in an alert way ears pricked up, I remember thinking he looked like a young Alsatian and was beautiful. As we approached the man holding the lead and the woman accompanying them moved as far to my left as possible and the man stood between us and the dog.

DD2 (5) was on my right hand side, DD3 (4) on the scooter was to my left hand side and approximately a step behind me. At the point at which we crossed paths the dog was a distance of about 8 foot away. We had been walking at my normal speed (which is actually a brisk pace) chatting away with each other and continued to do so.

After we had passed the dog ran across in front of the man holding the lead and chased after us barking, he then bit dd3 on the bottom and she started screaming. The man did not prevent the dog reaching us either because the lead was too long or he was not physically strong enough to restrain the dog I am not sure which, he did try to call the dog and seemed to wrestle with the lead.

I suppose I want to hear that I'm doing the right thing. I love big dogs but if it had been my two year old or dd's arm/back etc that he had got hold of it could have been far worse.

I think you are right to follow through with this complaint and ultimately it will be down to the police and maybe courts to decide what needs to be done. If the dog does not have a previous warning and is not deemed to be a severe threat - probably vet/behaviourist reports will be sought - then there is every chance that the dog will be allowed to live on, but the owners will be under an obligation to keep it muzzled in public places to prevent such an event happening. IF the dog already has a warning then it proves the inability for this dog to be controlled (at least with these owners) and it may then be put down - or - if the dog is deemed to be dangerous from professional assessment then it may be put down. Sad though these situations are it is in the interests of safety for everyone if this is the ultimate decision.

I am so sorry for your daughter and I hope she is ok and not left with a fear of dogs from here. Thankfully most owners are responsible and it maddens me to hear stories like this where dogs have not been adequately controlled. Yes the dog was on a lead, but it was still not under control sadly.

I am so and that it was on a retractable or very long lead, if it had been on a short lead, choke chain or soft leader then I don't think it would have happened. I had to go their home and indentify it and it was first through the door leaping ahead etc etc all I could think was "who is the pack leader here". My 2 year old was with her Dad 5 minutes behind us it so easily could have been here.

DD is back from the hospital with a bleeding puncture wound and a huge bruising and scrapes, Ive taken a photo and guess will take some more tomorrow and for the next few days.

Why do people not take dog ownership responsibly, for all I know he could have just been being playful - chase and catch. I don't think dh will ever let us get a dog now (well actually don't think dd woud be keen anymore either)

Ditto beautiful girls, you should follow this through. You have a responsibility to others, now that you know that this dog is not kept under adequate control. At least if you press charges you have done your bit to hopefully prevent someone else being on the receiving end of a bite.

The saddest thing is that it is the owners who are at fault here, not the dog. Certainly, it sounds like they were aware that their dog was untrustworthy if they tried to stand between you and the dog, which makes me wonder why on earth they didn't have it under closer control and/or muzzled. I hope this incident has brought home to them their obligations as dog owners, and that they will seek the help that they need to better control their pet.

Hopefully your DD will be feeling better soon.

As a dogowner and lover i definately think you should press on with this. it is pure luck that your daughter was not more seriously hurt. i do undertand that you are feeling upset about this but yuo are doing the right thing. it's obvious from your statement that the dog fixed on your small children and the attack was unprovoked. poor you. hope your daughter is recovering ok.

We co-habit with a border collie,(you never own a dog) she is nearly 13 and she is a great dog.

DS(7) is an only child and in the last 12 months they have become firm friends.

However, DH and I have always agreed that the first sign that she is not aware of her place in the pack then she is out. ( I mean growling or biting DS)

You are doing the right thing.

How sad It's owners like this who cause problems for nthe rest of us. I think you do need to pursue this tbh.

Last week, we were out walking with our lovely waggy well controlled hound when we met some people coming the other way. They had a dog on a long retractable lead, and our dog went up to say hello. The other dog went ballistic. The owner shouted 'my dog is fierce' but fortunately our dog had already come back to heel and didn't get injured. WTF? If the dog is fierce, it should either be wearing a muzzle or not out in public. Imagine if that had been my dd?

People need to take more reponsibility for their animals' temperament.

Good luck, and I hope your dd isn't left too scared of dogs in the future.

the person walking the dog claimed to be a dog sitter, however they will still be prosecuted as they were responsible for the dog at the time of the bite. Part of me thinks if you are proper dog walkers/sitters then surely you would know that a flexilead isn't suitable for such a large dog????? Potentially this could cost them their livelihood so I feel guilty about that. Perhaps they were just doing a favour though, to me though the dog generally didn't look trained IYSWIM.

I'm glad you all agree that I'm not being hasty I'm very relieved that it will probaby be that the dog has muzzle restrictions placed on it rather than being destroyed (assuming firs offence) I really think the owners shouuld be sent on a dog psychology course though (paid for by themselves)

i agree that you should take it further.

it does sound that the man knew there was a problem with his dog.

many owners think it is ok to just have their dog on a lead, but if they know their dog does not mix with other dogs or people then it should be muzzled. we have 3 people who walk their dogs nearby who either say 'my dog doesnt like other dogs' and 1 in particular that has bitten their grandaughter but they have not done anything.

we have a 3yr old border collie who was a rescue. She had behavioural problems (stranger issues)when we first had her but with good handling, dicipline and making sure she knew her place (even below the cat in pecking order) we have not seen any evidence of her problems since 6 months after we had her. (2yrs now) It took a little longer to break her hearding of DD though, but i suppose that is her instinct.

unfortunately many dog owners now adays get a pet not a responsibility.

i hope that your dd recovers and is not scared of dogs, many of which are friendly and safe.

she has started being scared of dogs recently so it was ironic that she hadn't noticed/commented on the one that bit her, normally she would say I don't like dogs! A couple local to us have a pair of amazingy calm red setters, I shall drag her off to pet them the next time I see them (ie when I can ask the owners!) Had this with my older daughter and got her over it but she was younger then so it was easier. Dd is currently saying she is scared of all dogs except x (my friends assistant dog) actually I know someone else with a retired guide dog so perhaps I will ask if we can go visit them.

I do think you are doing the right thing.

I am a dog owner and have had various run ins with 'dog walkers' - Including one I hired to look after my dog.

I found out he was walking 10 dogs together. It is IMPOSSIBLE to walk and control 10 dogs who are not usually walked and socialised together.

I've also seen instances where several of the dogs have formed a pack........... It's scary.

let us know how it goes.