my dog was attacked in the park, badly wounded, advice?

[Babygrey7]

My lovely grey was bitten by another dog in the park. It is a nice park where people take their dog off-lead, as it's enclosed and safe. People take their dogs and pups there to socialise, it has a community feel. There is another park nearby where dogs are kept on the lead, but this park is always full fo family dogs who often play together.

So anyway, my dog is off lead and goes up to this other dog, she likes to socialise and will normally go up to a dog and sniff them and then they either play or go their separate way, as dogs do. My dog does not bark or jump or act aggressive. But she is big.

This other dog (also off lead) immediately attacks my dog and takes a big chunk out of her leg/body (a huge bite, it is about 4-5 inch long and 4-5 inch wide),

The dogs owner and I run to the dogs, she locks her dog in the boot and my dog is just standing there shaking and bleeding profusely, a huge patch of skin is missing there is a complete gap but you can see the tendon is still attached. Took her to emergency vet, she will probably live but the wound is so big it cannot be stitched or anything, she will need to see a vet daily for weeks to have wound cleaned/looked after.

She will hopefully be ok, I thought she might be put down there and then as she was in such bad shape (bloody hell, what a day we had, I cannot begin to tell how upset my kids have been), but vet's patched her up. took 3 hours. Cost £900 and that's just the start.

I am insured, but I wonder what to do about the other dog and dog owner. Is this even an "attack" or "just a fight"? My dog was not aggressive or bit, or anything. It was pretty one sided. But my dog DID go up to her dog, so I just don't know.

Feel confused and still a bit in shock.

The other lady was crying as she thought it meant her dog would be put down . She did not apologise, but did leave her number and name and asked me how my dog was later.

Should I contact the dog warden? Or something like that? Or is this just "one of those things"? I am not looking for retaliation or anything.

Just wonder if I should do anything (if her dog hurts another dog like this, I would feel guilty for not having acted IYSWIM)

just don't know what to do, if anything

still feeling a bit shaky myself

I'd contact the dog warden, if it's willing to do this to another dog for no reason I'd be worried it could do the same to a child (or adult). It's not a nice position to be in. I was bitten by a neighbours dog (not badly) and needed a tetanus - the Dr asked if I'd reported it and pointed out the same reason so I reported it. The dog warden spoke to them but in the end it was put down as it bit again.

First notify your insurer of the situation as they may want to pursue the other owner for their costs.

I would then notify the dog warden for that area in case this dog is 'known' to be aggressive and has a history of attacks but make it clear that both were off lead and yours was the one that approached the dog first.

Hope your dog recovers quickly. I never use those type of parks simply because the dogs are an unknown quantity and I don't think the risk is worth it. I only let my dog play with known dogs.

Biteyshark, yes, that was a hard learned lesson for us. I feel I know all the dog owners there, but I guess every now and then there is a new visitor. False sense of security....

is it really a case that if both dogs are off lead, then all bets are off? Surely if an offlead dog attacks another dog that is showing no signs of aggression, then the other dog is the one that is dangerously out of control, not yours?

Branleuse my thoughts are that it's a bit tricky as it was OPs dog that approached the dog that attacked. So it's not that all bets are off hence notifying the dog warden and insurance company.

The thing that would worry me is that tomorrow a nice dog may approach it with a dc on the end of a lead...
Report to the dog warden.

I would report if your dog showed no aggression.
It's probably not the first time that dog has shown aggression.
It doesn't go from a well behaved to an unpredictable dog without the owner noticing the changes.
And if that owner is that oblivious then she should be warned.

The problem with "my dog showed no aggression" is that we approach this from two false perspectives:

• that of a human, rather than a dog
• that of an aggrieved owner defending our dog

Somewhere else there's someone posting about this mad loose dog that bounded up to their dog, got "in its face", and now they're worried that their dog will have to be put down because it reacted to this out-of-control dog in the park.

It's impossible for anyone who wasn't there to say what happened or why. And there are two sides to every story (or four sides in this case).

I do think it's a shame that society has become conditioned to avoid apologising because some people will take that as an admission of liability.

Doginatent, yes that is exactly what I mean. The other owner's viewpoint may be just that

I am not planning to make life difficult for them, or anything.

Just wondering what the right thing to do is (ie contact dog warden)

Do you think a dog being in your dog's face is a fair enough reason for the dog to take a chunk out of the other dog? I would like to know they may put their dog on a lead from now on, as surely that's a very strong reaction? (I guess most dogs give warnings, raise hackles, growl, not go from nothing to actually biting hard?)

but yes I guess their view may be that nobody should approach their dog, and if they do it's on them...?

Do you think a dog being in your dog's face is a fair enough reason for the dog to take a chunk out of the other dog?
I admit I have a biased point of view. I have a rescue that's clearly had some issues in her past, who remains on her lead at all times in public, will completely ignore most other dogs, but will sometimes react when a larger dog approaches with no sense of boundaries. But I know her well enough to keep her on the lead, keep walking and wave off the other dog. But we regularly have to put up with over-familiar dogs, so I do have some problems being entirely empathetic when it's one loose dog approaching another.

For whatever reason the other owner here either hasn't been aware that their dog would react, or doesn't understand their dog, or doesn't care. We don't know.

If the roles in this thread were switched and you were the other owner, this forum would undoubtedly be leaping to your defence and asking if your dog was in pain, or needing to see the vet, for it to have reacted out of character. We need to try and see both sides, whoever is making the report.

The prudent thing to do is pass the details to your insurer to cover the vet bills, and report it to the dog warden to follow up. If the other owner is as shook-up as you describe they'll almost certainly be walking their dog on the lead from now on - and probably using a different park.

Several years ago a dog attacked another dog in our area that was being walked by a 15 year old girl. The difference being that her dog was on the lead and the other dog was known lovely to be aggressive.

I can’t remember all the details but it did eventually go to court. I think they had to pursue it privately to be awarded vet costs.

Do report to your local dog warden, and record with the Police on 101. They won't take action as such but it's hugely important to have it recorded in case it has happened before or does happen again. Someone with a reactive dog should never have it off lead in a park. Ever. Mine was badly attacked in June and it's been horrendous for my dog and myself. He's terrified of other dogs approaching him now and it's made me terrified too.

I have zero tolerance for people who can't control their dogs. You did nothing wrong. Your poor poor dog, I hope they are OK .

I have a very tiny, reactive rescue dog, that would go down fighting if ever attacked, but he does growls and ‘air’ snaps to warn other dogs off. I’ve had a few similar nervous dogs, over the years and only one that would immediately attack. If her dog reacts like that, then it needs reporting, for its own safety too. Her dog might end up getting itself killed next time. I know my tiny, and I mean tiny, dog would have reacted with extreme aggression if attacked.

I’m so sorry about your poor dog, as I’ve always found that breed to be extremely sweet and gentle. You really need to report it. The fact that her dog has no injuries will lend a lot of weight to your claim, which I believe btw, that your dog was attacked.

You need to report it to the dog warden.
Unfortunately greyhound skin does ‘strip’ off more easily than other breeds because they have very little fat to anchor it. Hopefully your insurance will cover costs but if the other woman’s dog is insured she'll Be covered for 3rd party costs and you can claim off that

Also did your dog run across the field to the other dog?
Or were you walking past fairly close and your dog went over to greet?

If the latter and if the other owner knows that her dog is not good with other dogs, she should have put it on a lead or given you a wide berth.
If I have a reactive dog then it is my responsibility to ensure it has space. I would not rely on others to provide that.

marcopolo it's not that easy to ensure your dog has space. I can keep my dog on a lead, walk it in quiet places and still have to put up with over friendly, inappropriate dogs running up and all over my dog.

I agree with doginatent....the signals dogs give each other are so subtle that this dog could easily have been warning your dog off, or could have interpreted your dog as a threat even if you didn't see it that way. If this is how it reacts however of course it should be kept on a lead but would that have stopped it? Would your dog not have approached if it had been on a lead? Or does your dog like to greet regardless? I'm really sorry it happened and really hope your pup is ok and hopefully the other dog will be kept on lead in future.

Keep your dog on a lead. Then it won't be able to approach strange dogs that may be aggressive.

Keep your dog on a lead. Then it won't be able to approach strange dogs that may be aggressive

Are you talking to the the OP? It was an OFF LEAD dog park.

You definitely need to report it, although your dog should never be allowed to approach another dog you aren't familiar with the reaction was extreme and the other dog should never have been in that park or off lead.

Also you may want to prepare yourself for some changes in your dogs behaviour, she/he may be more fearful around other dogs now and that can lead to aggression.

We live in the country, she will have to do solo lead-walks with me in the woods instead. No more off-lead playing...

First I need to she if she recovers ok, she's not great, seeing the vet again this pm.

Hope she gets better soon.

With respect, regardless of who was or wasn't off leaf, why do you let your dog approach other dogs? It matters not one bit how friendly or playful your dog is, if you don't know the other dog, it's madness to let your dog near it. I'm truly baffled by owners (including my own dm) who do this. I hope your dog recovers speedily. Just don't think that your dog is invincible just because it's friendly.

So you need to contact the dog owner and ask for their insurance details so that you can claim off their third party cover.

Then depending on their attitude, decide where to go next. Has she agreed not to let her dog off lead again? If not, then perhaps you need to notify the dog warden in case it happens again.

Both dogs were off lead in a communal play area so its not your/your dogs fault. If her dog was on lead, and your dog had approached then that would be your fault, but they were both off lead and that is the key point.

Some rather silly comments on this thread. The other dog's behaviour sounds very unusual. Reactive dogs will give plenty of warning signs to deter other dogs. Even if your dog broke doggie social etiquette the other dog's reaction was extreme. Most dog fights involve a lot of noise, snapping but little contact. Even when there are bites they are superficial. It is highly unusual for a dog to go straight for such a serious bite.

You should contact your insurance who may go after the other owner for vet costs and you should contact the Dog Warden who can speak with the other owner regarding her dog's unusual behaviour. The dog may be in pain or may have an ongoing behavioural issue that is not being managed correctly.

Reactive dogs will give plenty of warning signs to deter other dogs
This is the myth. There is no neat pigeon-hole that reactive dogs can be put into. There is not one neat, easily identified box to tick marked "reactive" that causes all such dogs to behave in the same way.

Have I missed it, or has the breed of the other dog not been mentioned?

Sorry for not having said this earlier, but I wish the OP's dog a full and speedy recovery.