My Ddog has been attacked.

[OneOfTheGrundys]

Again.

Farmer’s dog. We are neighbours. We were on a footpath, our dogs on leads, minding our own business. My dog is 11 and was walking with my DS, also 11.
Farmers dog (off lead despite history of attacks on runners, other dogs) suddenly comes from nowhere. DS dropped the lead so our old boy could run (he’s still fast in bursts, ex racer). Ddog has 3 puncture wounds to his lower back and a 3 inch chunk out of his tail.
Took him to emergency vet as I couldn’t stem the bleeding at home and they discovered the back wounds all met in the middle and were down to his hip bones.
Luckily we’re insured but I had to pay up £680 last night (emergency vet) and he needs further work at our vet on Tuesday.
These are the wealthiest farming family in the area. Think multi million pound farmhouse. Massive cars. He’s off skiing soon apparently. I’m off round there later today with the itemised bill to ask them to pay the excess on our insurance. He’s never done it before for anyone else- bracing for a polite argument.
To emphasise: my dog did nothing wrong and was running away!

If your fast with a walking stick you can catch the attacking dog around the neck slows them down a lot

He has been bought a new bed this morning (cheap as chips thick double duvet plus clean cover) and is curled up in front of the wood burner. He doesn’t seem to be in pain and is eating and drinking fine. We’re all snuggling into the sofa and looking forward to a good film for nye.
I will message the dog wardens on fb I think-they have a good presence on fb here and regularly update.

Battleax - no disabalism intended. Only my dog would want a branch...hes a pain like that...No good having a branch of the dog ran away with it.

Oh your poor baby, we've got 5 ex racers here, I'd be so angry if someone had hurt any of them, such gentle placid dogs.

I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery!

Your poor boy!! 😲😢

I can’t believe those people. If my dog did that (would never happen), I’d be beyond mortified and falling over myself to pay!

I know! I hoped she’d be reaching for her chequebook as soon as I showed her the photos but no such luck. Here’s the old man.

5 ex racers 💕

Definitely make a fuss locally, the dog could have seriously hurt your DS (did lady respond to that?!) which can’t happen in a neighbourhood, if you have dog wardens or police they should be able to enforce that vicious dogs are kept on their own land unless muzzled if they have attacked other dogs and even only “worry runners” the law for off lead dogs means they have to be under control (which can be different things I have off lead well behaved dogs!) if there are local complaints (can u do a petition) then u should be able to have it contained & enforced on a lead for everyone’s safety

Also I wouldn’t engage in convo more the lady/son, get it all in writing & through vets & insurance

Sending 💕to DDOG

Your poor dog, that does look nasty :( it must have been pretty frightening for your DS as well. I would definitely pursue it, they need to learn to keep the dog secured.

It's worth noting, we have liability cover on our pet insurance insurance for damage or injury caused by our dogs, not because I think our dogs might attack someone, but we do have a large, quite boistrous puppy, and it was an option when we took out the insurance so we added it just in case. it looks like it's standard cover with petplan and some other insurers too. If they have their dog insured, it may just be a case of your insurance dealing with their insurance.

Jesus wept OP. Well done DS having the presence of mind to drop the lead. You shudder at the what ifs though. I’d be on the phone to the police on this one though.

How awful, there are unfortunately so many inconsiderate owners out there. We live by the beach and had a similar incident, our rescue boy is a lab cross rottie... Always on a lead. He was terrorised by a small pug off lead and the owner thought it was hilarious. When I asked him politely to move his dog along he verbally attacked me and my dog saying he should wear a mussel if he's not happy with other dogs! Even though it was his dog jumping all over mine and not responding to its owner. Long story cut short, my husband ended up chasing him off! Makes me angry now just thinking about it. Sending love to your fur baby x

That wound is horrific. The other dog needs putting down if its that aggressive without provocation.

How is your dog doing today?

Has anything been done / reported?

Horrible people - don't deserv to have dogs. Your poor boy! But he does look very comfy on his snuggly bed.

*deserve

This is shocking....but is even more shocking is that we all just accept the police won't get involved in dog on dog attacks..that's hiddious,a dog that attacks other dogs could easily attack people

A dog that attacks another dog is no more likely to attack a person than any other dog. If the insurance company won't pursue the farmer you could try the small claims court as his property (dog) has damaged your property (your dog). You would need to have some good proof, though.

It's not only the physical damage...
Some dogs become completely different, their personalities change.
Some become reactive, fear aggressive and nervous.

That’s a an awful injury OP. I hope he recovers soon and that the owners find their conscience and pay up. If my dog did that I would be mortified and pay up immediately.

I would report to the Police, at the very minimum. Mine was attacked in April, and I reported just because the owner refused to pay the vet bill we had or accept any responsibility. It has since attacked 2 others and they've been warned now it has to be muzzled in public. The local PC did explain she couldn't do much but she did come out and talk to the owner, and has been there since apparently.
It won't help your lovely boy but it will help others if the dog attacks again. Hope he recovers soon.

Poor pooooch

Well the family came over with a letter, a cheque for the excess on the insurance and a grovelling apology.

Unfortunately his wound has totally broken down around the stitches and is opening up badly. We’re back to the vet on Saturday morning (3rd time in a week) and he’s on massive amounts of antibiotics.

I went back to work today (teacher) and hated leaving him. He’s still really enjoying food and seems comfortable which is pretty unbelievable given the size of the wound.

I will contact the dog warden-I just can’t bring myself to do it at the moment. I know I’m being wet but I just can’t face it. I don’t think I realised how much it upset me tbh.

Our vets worried about him. He’s given him a honey dressing on his tail and is keeping a close eye on the nastier wound.

Thank you all again. So much.

Call the police. I'd be asking for the farmer's dog to be confiscated and euthanised. It could easily do this to a child.

I'm not surprised it's unsettled you OP as it's awful to think your dog can be hurt so badly so quickly. Hope he starts to recover the poor thing.

I wouldn't be surprised if the insurance company ask you for their details to recover their expenses and then it's out of your hands.