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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Dog attack

12 replies

SmiledWtherisingsun · 04/05/2022 08:55

If a dog attacks another dog & nearly kills it, can anything be done legally to make it's owner muzzle it in future?

OP posts:

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 04/05/2022 10:40

Unfortunately dog on dog attacks are seen very differently to dog on human attacks.

A lot will depend on the circumstances - ie. were both dogs off lead or not, did humans intervene and get bitten in the process, had the attacking dog ever bitten before etc.

Trevor Cooper is an expert on dog law so it may be worth contacting him for advice.

Neverendingmindfuck · 04/05/2022 10:41

Have you contacted the police? Is there any evidence? How badly was the other dog hurt?
Was it in a public space?
I think in the UK a judge can pass a sentence requiring a dog to muzzled at all times in public. But it may also be PTS if the attack was really bad or not the first time.

poodlefan · 04/05/2022 12:23

My dog was attacked x2 by another dog he required treatment at the vet but was not badly injured. We live in a village I contacted the local policeman and he went round and told them that from now on the dog must be muzzled on a lead at all times and that the attacks would be recorded on some system in case it happened again. The owner rehomed the dog!! I was surprised how seriously they took it although it has to be said we live in a very low crime area.

Whisp3r · 04/05/2022 13:32

I think it depends on whether one of the dogs was on a lead. I think if one dog was and the other wasn't it would only be counted as the biting dog's fault if they were the one off lead. If the dog that bit was on a short lead and the other one was off lead, came right over to them and got bitten then it would be the off lead dog's fault. One of the reasons why you should never let your dog run up to an onload dog. I'm not sure how 2 off lead dogs are regarded as legally they may both be seen to be out of control and it is difficult to prove fault.

PollyRoulllson · 04/05/2022 15:31

As an individual all you can do is contact the Dog Warden if on public land.

Technically a dog control order can be issued to insist the dog is muzzled and on lead etc but in reality it rarely happes on a dog on dog attack.

A Pubic spaces order may be used to insist the dog is on a lead in certain locations but again rare on dog on dog attack

Dog warden is best place to go as they may have a history on the dog and if negligence can be proven may help the case.

Usually negligence has to be proven by the owner of the attacking dog and apparently just allowing it off lead and to attack does not always mean they were negligent!

Original poster

SmiledWtherisingsun · 04/05/2022 18:29

The dog is in hospital having an anaesthetic & operation. This is going to cost around £1k.
Owners are very traumatised.
They have the number of the attacking dog's owner.

OP posts:

Badger1970 · 04/05/2022 18:37

I hate to say that there is very little that the Police will do. My very gentle cocker was attacked 3 times by the same dog in our village - and I was "lucky" in that the 3rd time, I got bit trying to remove it off my dog. I had to really really push the Police (the poor young PC that I was allocated must have got sick of me) but in the end, the owner was taken to court and told to keep the dog on a lead and muzzled at all times. He doesn't. I've reported him at least 3 times but nothing happens. The dog has attacked at least 3 more times but because the owner is a village stalwart and runs a local business, no one will report it.

So all that energy and effort was a complete waste of time. I just made sure that every single dog walker in the area was at least aware of the family. We were left the best part of £700 out of pocket as two of the attacks needed vet treatment, the 3rd time left my dog with a massive blood clot on his chest.

You may have better luck if there is a dog warden covering the area - sadly we didn't.

theremustonlybeone · 04/05/2022 18:38

I would assume your dog is insured so would contact the insurance company and seem advice as I would expect the owners of the dog to contribute to the vet bill

EdithStourton · 04/05/2022 18:49

I'd get hold of the dog warden. Ours was very responsive about a dog that regularly strayed in the local woods and threatened other dogs, lunging and barking. He paid a visit and the owners finally fixed their bloody fence.

Floralnomad · 04/05/2022 18:57

I think the dog warden is the best way forward .

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 04/05/2022 19:02

A dog local to me was mauled by a dog who escaped it's garden.

The dog who was attacked in specialist hospital-lots of surgery-originally not expected to survive.

Attacking dog is known to police and authorities and has attacked other dogs before but nothing is being done. It is clearly a dangerous dog.
It seems repeatedly attacking other dogs doesn't really matter in the eyes of the law.

The fear is that it will be a child next...

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 04/05/2022 19:34

My nans dogs recently been attacked. Almost 5k later and a traumatised 84 year old and Shih Tzu later the police haven't found them so there is no one for the dog warden to pursue.

My nan will never be the same again and she'll never walk her dog again. The dog needed destroying that did it. No dog that can do this to another dog is safe to own as a pet.

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