My elderly neighbour has three dogs, two large breeds and one small terrier mix. They're walked daily at the only place accessible to him due to his mobility issues. He called last night, asking my advice.
A new dog walker has started walking at the same place at varying times during the day like my neighbour, so he can't avoid him. This walker has an out of control, aggressive large breed. Yesterday, it went gunning for my neighbour's terrier. My neighbour called his terrier back but this other dog is a fast breed. Scared for his small dog's safety, he made the snap decision to let one of his larger dogs off leash to protect the smaller one. He settled on letting the aggressive dog, who is not normally allowed off leash off. He picked this one as it's the slower, weaker of his two large breeds and he thought it would be the most evenly matched to this instigating dog. He had seconds to make his choice but believed he made the right one. Fortunately, it worked out this time, the other walker's dog and his had a mild scuffle before the other walker was able to bring his dog back under control. My neighbour's dog recalled when the other one was leashed.
He wants me to tell him what he should do if it happens again. Both his larger dogs are capable of inflicting serious injury, if not death on this other dog, which he doesn't want to happen but equally, he doesn't want his smaller dog killed.
The dog warden say they can't do anything without the other walker's name and address. I've told him to call the Police and let them know what happened but he's worried he'll get into trouble for admitting one of his dogs is dog aggressive.
He's told me this fourth dog goes for his even when they're all leashed.