Help - My Dog Bit Someone

[MyDeftFawn]

I’m in such a panic and am hoping someone can offer advice/reassurance. I hope I’ve chosen the right place to post.

I was hanging out laundry in my back garden this morning. My dog was wandering the garden while I was out there (the garden is completely secure, with a fence and gate at the bottom through which the dog cannot escape).

A young boy - perhaps about 10 - passed by the alleyway that my garden backs onto and stopped by our fence. He spotted my dog who’d ambled over to the end of the garden (he shows interest when anyone stops at our gate). In a flash he had put his hand through a gap in the fence and my dog bit it.

I went to the boy and checked his hand (he was obviously very shocked but I didn’t want him wandering off alone if he was injured/bleeding). There was no cut or blood that I could see, but a scratch. He wasn’t crying, but I could tell he was shocked, understandably. I said I was so very sorry that the dog bit him - which I am, I’m absolutely devastated. He went on his way.

I don’t think the boy meant any harm at all and my dog does look like a sweet little thing, but he doesn’t like his face being touched and I think this is what the boy did. When out walking we are very strict in not allowing people to stroke him for this reason. But this all happened so fast. Just seconds.

I’m heartbroken, but also worried about where we stand legally. Can anyone help? I am definitely not asking for anyone to tell me it’s OK for my dog to bite like this, by the way. It absolutely isn’t and we are now going to look at replacing the fence with one that doesn’t have gaps so that this cannot happen again.

But, honestly, if my dog were taken away or, worse, destroyed over this, I don’t know how I’d cope with it.

I'm sure someone will come at me and say I'm a terrible human or that it is 100% unreasonable to expect any child to show any logic around dogs - but this was 100% on the child.

By 10(ish) - tbh even by 4-5 - I'd expect children to (A) understand you do not pet a dog you do not know, (B) if you do wish to pet a dog you do not know, you ask permission and (C) you 100% do not stick your hand, tongue, fingers, toes, ear, into any gap into any sort of fencing/cage/crate where there is an animal inside.

Honestly, I'd be very surprised if anything happened as a result of this. But you need to replace the fence and, although you don't mention if you do or don't already, your dog should be muzzled in public (outside the home) from now on given it has a bite history now.

He seemed a nice boy. I imagine he’s done the same thing to tens of dogs and not been bitten. I hate muzzles but I’m beginning to see that they may be necessary if I’m to protect my dog and others. He’s lived nearly 15 years without one and I’d be sad to make him wear one now, but I do appreciate it’s not about my feelings.

If he just has a scratch from it he might not mention it to his parents and therefore you might not hear about it again.
He shouldn’t have put his hand through your fence.
Going forwards maybe you need a ‘Beware dog roaming’ sign as well as fixing the gate/fence.

Absolutely. Will be doing both of those things.

If he was old enough to be walking on his own then he should be mature enough to ask if he can touch the dog/know not to stick his hand through a fence to a strange dog.

It might be a good idea to put up a sign saying "Nervous dog - do not attempt to pet" and cover any hand sized holes with chicken wire.

I would expect his parents to pop over if he’s told them. It’s not your dog’s fault.

Absolutely. We’ll be doing this.

No, it’s mine. I understand that. If his parents come over I don’t know what I’ll say to them.

I would just say what you’ve said here, that you are sorry and that it happened because he put his hand through the fence and it hasn’t happened before.

Not exactly the point but, shouldn’t he have been in school? If he has skipped school chances are really high he won’t say anything to his parents.

I stupidly did this once and got a nip. Totally my fault and I apologised to the owner.

Definitely get a new fence and stick up a ‘nervous dog, do not touch’.

It was during school hours, yes. Not that I’d use that against him. Maybe I’ve got his age all wrong. He looked about 10 to me. That’s very young to be playing truant. I feel even worse for him now!

Thank you. I love your username. Nice memory there!

You let a child walk off with a scratch? - which presumably means the skin was broken. I do not think that was very responsible.

this was 100% on the child., It’s not your dog’s fault - when will people stop victim blaming every time a dog bites or otherwise misbehaves? And blaming a 10 year old! Unbelievable!

It does not matter what anyone thinks that a child (of whatever age) or adult should/should not have done, the onus is on the dog owner 100%. If you keep an animal that can do harm to others, the onus is on you to prevent that harm.

You are right to be feeling bad about this OP, and hopefully that will inform your future behaviour when it comes to safeguarding others around your dog.

Eh what?

I hope you don't have children. You're not supposed to take them in September and leave them until June you know.

Yes, it is my fault. I am feeling awful about it, and I’m taking steps to avoid it happening again, along the lines I’ve detailed. I’m not really sure what I ought to have done. I could have invited the boy in but I can’t imagine that would look brilliant either? And I’m not sure it would be responsible to call for an ambulance for this? Perhaps I’m wrong. I really am a terrible person for letting this happen.

There's always one 😂

Well done OP - it is always hard to admit when you are at fault and I admire you for holding your hand up to this. Could you put wire on the inside of the fence so that no-one can put their hand through it?
I hope you manage to sort something to prevent this ever happening again.

OP responded to me and said it was during school hours so not sure why you’ve given me a snarky response.

Thank goodness the OP has the sense to recognise that it is her responsibility; and what a huge shame that so many irresponsible dog owners do not.

If my child got bitten from sticking their hand through someone else’s fence then I’d see that as a learning point for my child.
Your dog was secured on private property. The child crossed your boundaries. It was not yours or your dogs fault.
Hopefully he'll learn not to stick his hand in the faces of strange dogs.

Lots of schools have broken up for Easter already (or have an inset day before starting holidays on Monday)

There was no (or very little) harm done op so stop inviting people like @Mischance to chastise you. Stop being so passive. The correct answer to her is "f**k off" not "Oh I'm a terrible person, I should have called an ambulance".

Your dog doesn't need a muzzle for goodness sake....just keep a close eye on her. She won't be taken away over a scratch especially as she was in her own garden.

I am NOT a lover of dogs but I really don’t agree. This dog was not roaming the streets or even on a lead in public. He was securely in his own garden. I really don’t see what else the op should have done!
A perhaps more thorough check that he wasn’t injured but if he’s old enough to be out alone then he should be able to cope with a minor scratch on his own.

Thanks everyone. We have in laws who have a nice semi rural home and I think our old dog might be in more competent hands there, actually. I just want him to be happy and safe (himself and others). We’ll look into it.

For gods sake OP, stop with the hair shirt. If my son came home and said he’d stuck his hand through a fence and got a scratch from a dog I’d be telling him he was bloody lucky not to have lost a finger.

You have acknowledged you could make the garden a bit safer, do that. Don’t drop on your sword any more.