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

Stay strong OP, dogs are remarkably resilient and often astonish us!
This little dog is a great example of that www.animalsasia.org/uk/media/news/news-archive/boiled-alive-and-thrown-off-a-balcony-–-this-is-how-a-miracle-and-miracle-workers-saved-a-brave-dog-named-tuffy.html

On a different note, what are your vets usually like? I’m surprised that they didn’t Triage the wound and refer you immediately rather than waiting 24 hours. I’m assuming it was cleaned and dressed and pain relief given so were they waiting to check it under sedation?

Baby and Veterinari,
We had an issue when our old grey was bitten by a dog and the OOH Vet was too busy to see her until the following day.

Despite them trying to stitch her up, repeatedly, the wound kept degrading as the skin had started to deteriorate and it ended up as a huge open hole, with no skin or flesh left to cover it.

I had to flush the would thoroughly with saline every day and apply Manuka honey dressings.

Miraculously ( it really was a big, dramatic looking hole, you could see her ribs )
The wound began to granulate and healed really well. It left a puckered white scar, much smaller than the original wound and she cantered on for seven more years till the ripe old age of 16.

Stay strong for your lovely dog. It’s so upsetting when they’re hurt but they’re stronger than we know.

thanks sleigh and veterinary, it's early days still, but we are cautiously optimistic.

Will pick her up from the vet this pm, it will be a long road ahead (if the stitching deteriorates and we are looking at an open wound, it will be like your poor grey, veterinari).

They are not talking about PTS anymore, which has had me lying awake at night, so that is a good thing! ......pffft (deep breath)

Also, the owners of the other dog are getting paperwork in order for claims on their 3rd party liability pet insurance, hope that works out too. It means a lot to me they are cooperative and apologetic.

Honestly I do a lot of work with enormous old, dirty wounds - it really is remarkable what can be achieved with Manuka honey and TLC

How's she doing? I have my paws crossed it heals well and quickly. Good the hear the other owner is a decent sort - we don't hear that too often!
Give your girl a gentle pat from me.

Aw no more talk of pts! that’s such good news. I’m going to bed with a big grin.

I know you’re not out of the woods yet but what vet says is true. I was amazed at how beautifully our old girl’s wound healed. You can see them turn a corner and it gets better so fast from there on.

The other owner sounds decent too. Really hoping your lovely dog is on the mend soon. x

I'm so glad the news is better, really pleased. One of our neighbours has a dog that got horribly 'ripped' and healed very well so fingers crossed for you. Further down the road, I think you should ask the other owner to assure you that they'll keep their dog muzzled in public. There's no reason to think it wouldn't do the same again.

Update: she has had manuka honey treatment and now the wound has started to "granulate", she does not appear to be in pain or discomfort now, though will need ongoing wound-care. Vet has moved her to dry dressing now to dry it out (and hope it will contract the skin =smaller wound)

She is treated like a celebrity in our neighbourhood, which she loves (princess )

So relieved!!!

Have "reported" other dog to council dog warden, they will talk to owners about muzzle and lead and training.

Brilliant. So pleased, especially about being made a fuss of around the neighbourhood. That's lovely news. Phew!

Were there any witnesses? Did you take any pics with your mobile? If there were witnesses you are much more likely to be able to persue in the Small Claims Court whereas if not witnesses could be their word against yours
Currently there is no obligation for any dog owner to have insurance . The vet will be able to give a clearer picture of the situation when they examine the injuries eg was it a fight or was one animal just basically attacking attacking the other ?

LOVELYDOVEY05 why are you asking questions and giving advice, without reading the thread?

I’m delighted to read that she’s doing well, OP. 💐 and 🍗 for your pup. 😁

I'd also say notify your insurance. Our Greyhound was attacked by a collie last Christmas (very similar situation to yours OP, ours didn't even approach the collie but it took one look at him and ran for him)- he had £600 of vet bills and a huge wound on his side too. Greys are so thin skinned aren't they 🤦🏻‍♀️ Thankfully in our case the other owner immediately offered to pay all costs so I passed on her details to our vets and we didn't go through insurance. If the other person has insurance then chances are they'll be covered for liability under that- I'd maybe give her a call and explain with £900 of fees she might want to either contribute or put it through her insurance? So sorry this has happened to you OP and hope your grey is happy again soon xx

Sorry OP, in my rush with 1yo I hadn't read the most recent update. So glad things are looking up for you and that the other owners have agreed to claim on their insurance!

Thanks guys, yes the insurance is proving tricky.

We had to go to the out of hours vet, and had to pay there and then (around £600), so I used my own insurance. The other dog's owners admitted liability and have given me their insurance details and notified their insurer....

now it gets interesting (and annoying)...their insurance company won't play ball. If the owners admit liability, they break the clause of their own insurance company and are not covered. If they don't admit liability, it is our words against theirs...and again we won't get paid.

So it's lose-lose, and it proves 3rd party ;liability insurance is very hard to claim on. you can't just decide as a policy holder that you'd like your insurance to pay out, it does not work like that.

mummabubs, lovely to hear your grey recovered.

They are such gentle hounds, with such thin skin.... I want to wrap mine up in a onesie from now on, to protect her skin!

Good to hear your dog is getting better, they definitely need to keep theirs on a lead so you were right to contact dog warden. 1 is still young so perhaps with training they can stop it being so aggressive.

In an off-lead dog park you would not expect that ( I couldn't take my 2 there, they are too unpredictable) but understand if their dog has never done that before.

That’s great news about your dog!

Can’t your insurance deal directly with the other owner and recover the cost? Sounds like a nightmare!