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Original poster

Dog attack

27 replies

darcymum · 12/12/2009 16:57

I was walking my dog today, she was on the lead when another dog ran over completely unprovoked and attacked her. The other dog was trailing its lead, the owner was running after it. When I managed to pick my dog up, the owner said he was very sorry. By the way he ran after his dog it looked like he knew it was going to attack. My dog wasn't badly hurt but was bleeding. I started to complain and he excepted what had happened and again said he was sorry. His wife came over and said my dog had snarled at hers (she hadn't) and said my dog was also attacking her dog. They also had a toddler with them, I have the man's business card.

OP posts:
LuckySalem · 12/12/2009 17:01

You need to report it.

I'm a big dog lover but if an animal attacks then it needs reporting. Also the man should pay for any vets bills

vjg13 · 12/12/2009 17:01

Did your dog need vet treatment?

Original poster
darcymum · 12/12/2009 17:02

No she wasn't too badly hurt. I do worry about the fact they had a child with them.

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 12/12/2009 17:03

Even if your dog did snarl their dog was out of control off lead. I would report them.

Your poor doggy.

vjg13 · 12/12/2009 17:08

Who do you report this to, the dog warden?

NickeeS · 12/12/2009 17:08

Sorry to hear this, you need to report it to the dog warden, then if it is a regular occurance they will be able to act. Hope your dog is OK, not a nice thing to happen.

Original poster
darcymum · 12/12/2009 17:11

Their dog was on a lead but I guess they had droped it because the do was trailing its lead. They were both about the same size but the other dog was going for my dogs neck and when I picker her up the other dog was hanging off her. My dog hadn't snarled at the other dog or done anything.

OP posts:
LuckySalem · 12/12/2009 17:12

Yeh dog warden.

The warden will prob just go give a warning depending on the dogs behavior or they may insist that it wears a muzzle while out on walks.

Original poster
darcymum · 12/12/2009 17:17

Maybe I will report it. They had said the dog was eight and had never done it before but I don't think I believe it. The woman did seem to be defending her dog so maybe she just thinks he has been in a lot of fights.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 12/12/2009 17:24

report it!

my FIL's dog was attacked by an Akita in an upscale park in Edinburgh.

the owner just wanted to scarper! thankfully
there was a copper around because FIL's dog needed £800 worth of treatment and the Akita's owner turned out to be some exec who could easily afford it!

he had teh dog put down.

a dog that attacks should be put down.

report it.

Original poster
darcymum · 12/12/2009 17:30

When I bent down to pick my dog up the other dog didn't bite me and showed no aggression toward me though. As I said I do worry about their child though. Should I name and shame him on MN?

OP posts:
LuckySalem · 12/12/2009 17:33

This dog doesn't necissarily need to be put down but definatly needs better owners.

Dont name and shame on MN, there is no need. Just report it and ask the dog warden to keep you updated.

Original poster
darcymum · 12/12/2009 17:46

I wouldn't want the dog put down.

OP posts:
BellasSparklyBaubles · 12/12/2009 17:51

The dog won't be put down for this, but they should muzzle it.
Please report it - my dog was nearly killed by a dog who had attacked before, but nobody had reported it.
And do get your dog checked out - dog fights often result in puncture wounds which are hard to spot but can become seriously infected if not treated with antibiotics.

Original poster
darcymum · 12/12/2009 18:26

The other thing that worries me a bit was that the woman didn't seem to see the dogs behaviour as a problem.

OP posts:
Sazisi · 12/12/2009 18:30

The dog should wear a muzzle.
The woman sounds like an arse.

Slambang · 12/12/2009 18:39

I think perhaps reporting would be a bit OTT as obviously they had accidently dropped the lead, were running after the dog to get it back under control, your dog wasn't badly hurt and the man apologised. (the woman was clearly defensive as this is probably an ongoing problem.)

Clearly their dog is aggressive to other dogs but it doesn't follow that this means that it's also aggressive to people.

Perhaps it was a resuce dog that they are struggling to rehabilitate?

Original poster
darcymum · 12/12/2009 18:44

They said they had had it for eight years but I dod think maybe it it a bit OTT to report it. As I said the dog didnt attack me at all ever when my hand was right in the middle of it. Don't know what to do. Still worried about the kid though.

OP posts:
Slambang · 12/12/2009 18:44

My dog was once attacked unprovoked by a Golden retriever . I told the owner the dog should wear a muzzle if it behaved like that and he said to his miserable looking toddler 'Come away from that bloody bitch' (never worked out if he meant me or my dog)

LuckySalem · 12/12/2009 18:59

The dog should still be reported. If it is an ongoing problem then the owners should be having the dog wear a muzzle. Rescue dog or not.

My dog is a rescue dog, she sometimes has problems with other dogs so I make sure I DON'T drop the lead and if she was so strong that she could snatch the lead then she'd wear a muzzle.

Dog owners need to be more aware of this. No the dog didn't hurt anything too much this time but it should still be reported.

expatinscotland · 12/12/2009 19:06

ALL of the dogs involved in mauling children in teh UK recently had attacked other dogs or people before.

NOT OTT to report it at all.

WrigglingAndJiggling · 12/12/2009 19:44

Before this gets into a dog mauling child thread, can I just share my experience. My dog is always walked with a muzzle on, I couldn't be 100% sure that she wouldn't get into a scrap with another dog.
With people and children she is the softest dog in the world. She's even a real softy with our other animals.

A dog who is aggressive towards other dogs will not necessarily be aggressive towards other animals or people.

LuckySalem · 12/12/2009 19:50

I agree wriggling, my dog is scared of other dogs which is why sometimes she nips at them. She doesn't attack but she does nip so for her safety I try to keep her away until this is worked out.

She is however, excellent with my DD who is 23 months and my 2 cats.

BellasSparklyBaubles · 12/12/2009 20:13

OP - if you knew, for instance, that this dog had previously attacked other dogs, would that persuade you to report it?

The fact is, you don't know what it has done in the past - but the dog warden may well know of such incidents.

The woman's behaviour sounds very over-defensive which makes me suspect your dog wasn't the first to be attacked. And almost certainly won't be the last.

It only takes one bite in the wrong place to mortally wound a dog. Yours was lucky today: another dog might not be.

Do the responsible thing and pass the information to the dog warden so he/she can take an informed decision on whether or not to contact the owner.

Vallhala · 12/12/2009 22:04

I agree with Bella. Its well known that I'm always on the dog's side ;), but in this case its your dog or someone else's which needs protecting.

Maybe it was a one-off, quite possibly so, in which case the Dog Warden will act accordingly. I'd guess it was if the owner was willing to give you his business card. If it isn't and the DW is aware of other incidents he/she will be able to deal with the matter appropriately.