Dogs being attacked in local field

[RosiePosie27]

My dog was attacked quite badly by a pitbull a few months ago in my local fields (my dog was stood still and the pitbull ran over to him and just tore into him - owner didn’t give a toss and walked off). My dog required emergency treatment from OoH vet and was traumatised afterwards. I reported it to the dog warden and advised my dog owner friends (not in FB). I was told that unless it’s a dog on child attack, they won’t do anything. The owner of the pitbull said “dogs attack each other, it’s what they do” and refused to leash / muzzle the dog.

I heard today that there has been another attack in the field (likely same dog owner as he also has a boxer) and owner is from the same village where the pitbull came from - apparently when things get hairy where he lives, he comes to my village until things calm down in his own village. Apparently the new attack has been reported to dog warden but same outcome - they don’t care if it’s dog on dog.

Now, what would you do? I was thinking about putting up signs going into the field saying something like “if your dog is reactive / unfriendly, consider other dogs and leash / muzzle your dog as there have been serious injuries inflicted due to careless owners”.

Just annoyed as I don’t want another owner / dog to have to go through what me and my dog went through as it was horrific!

If you perceive a danger to yourself then the owner is committing an offence under the dangerous dogs act. Also if you suspect it is a pit bull then that is a banned breed and the owner should be reported - the law says that banned breeds should be muzzled/on a lead/chipped/neutered at all times in public. I would report again stating the above.

I showed the vet at the time a picture of the dog that attacked my dog (I described it as a staffy on steroids) and she agreed it was a pitbull. Likewise, when my dog went for his staples to be removed, another vet clarified it was a pitbull. The owner said he got it from a pub (?!) and it was great with his grandkids. He was a vile chap and his wife was very intimidating when I confronted them after the dog let my dog go - she was verbally abusive and luckily I got it on video.

I thought more would be done and now hearing it’s happened again makes me feel sick and angry.

I will call again as I still have a photo of the dog and I just don’t want a child or dog owner have to go through this again.

It's almost impossible to legislate around dog-on-dog attacks, especially if both dogs are off the lead. That's why dog wardens/the police are so reluctant to get involved.

If I knew there was a field where a man took his aggressive dog, my first course of action would be to stop going to that field and to keep my dog on a lead around other unknown dogs.

If your dog is attacked while on the lead, you can argue that your dog was firmly under control and therefore it's the off-lead dog who is clearly at fault.

You need to be the advocate for your dog. Never rely on other owners to do the right thing.

I really feel for you, there is a Rottweiler that lives on a different estate to me. He is allowed to wander freely through my housing estate on his way to the field at the bottom of my road. He runs all over people's gardens and he has visciously attacked other dogs he has met along the way, all of whom were being walked on lead. He went for my very elderly dog who was innocently stood having a sniff whilst being walked on lead. I put myself between the two dogs (I know you shouldn't do this but my dog was my life) and screamed for the owner to get him away. He has also attacked a cat that was just sat in front of its own house, minding it's own business. The owner, who walks a long distance behind it, usually occupied on his phone and not paying attention to his dog, becomes aggressive if challenged. I have reported it numerous times to the council, even supplying photographic evidence. My local Councillor has promised many times to get signs erected stating all dogs to be kept on leads whilst walking through the estate, I'm still waiting for these signs to be put up. In the end I have resorted to posting on the Facebook page for my area warning others when the dog is running about freely. I'm so angry that we have to live in fear of the dog suddenly appearing when we are out and about, all because of one selfish man.

Police need to be told of it is a pit bull. Though visual isn't proof it is one.

I told the police via 101 (the non emergency number) and told them a pitbull attacked my dog and they said it was nothing to do with them and to contact the dog warden. I contacted the dog warden (took 3 attempts to finally speak to someone) and they said they wouldnt get involved. Very annoying as even vet said it was a banned breed but no one will listen.

@MRSAHILL its awful isn’t it - the owners will say “my dog wouldn’t hurt a fly” and yet they are off the lead and attacking innocent dogs and cats! The authorities will only listen once a child or adult has been mauled / killed. I honestly thought I was watching my dog being killed (he’s a young Labrador) and I ran in to grab him because he is like my 4th child. I have flashbacks from the attack - it just grabbed my pup by the neck and ripped into him.

I am much more vigilant than I was and he is very good at coming back if we see other dog walkers. He knows his little friend group but doesn’t like engaging in play like the others do now, because obviously he knows he can get hurt.

@sunsetsandsandybeaches i agree, I am much more vigilant now and cannot STAND when a dog bounds over and the owner across the field shouts “don’t worry! It’s friendly!” 🤦🏻‍♀️ After the attack, my dog won’t leave my side or wonder very far. As soon as I see another dog, I call him back, put him on the lead and we use a ball to distract his attention if he focuses on the other dog as he is wary. I met a ridgeback the other day who strutted over and so I put my dog on the lead and this ridgeback just went for my dog - literally ears back, tail up and straight and went at my dog with teeth bared! The owner came over and said “ah is my dog making a noise?” Like seriously?!

DIY defence. Take a spare slip lead to put around the neck of the attacking dog if it attacks again.

Warn people, show photos, and make sure everyone knows to carry pepper \ lemon spray etc.

@WaveyHair thats a good idea about spray - I have a ball slinger I could use as a tool to hit a dog if it attacks my boy again, but will check out a spray! I have warned all my dog walking friends as they saw the injuries to my pup and people have seen the dog who did it. It’s just shocking that some people don’t see the harm in having a very reactive dog and don’t take precautions to prevent incidents like this

The police here will call out for dog on dog attacks. Can you escalate it through the police complaints procedure? There is an increased focus on dangerous dogs following the recent deaths of children.

My ddog was a lab too. He passed away in Feb aged 13 and one of the main reasons I won't get another dog, is the constant fear I felt walking him with this Rottweiler on the loose. I hope you and your dog are OK. I can understand you having flashbacks, it must have been a traumatic experience. Why do some selfish dog owners have to ruin it for the rest of us? Everyone, dogs, cats and humans should be able to enjoy the outdoors safely and peacefully.

I would report it as “I was walking my dog and it went for US and I was really frightened” dangerous dogs act requires that you felt in danger. Particularly if your dog is on a lead you could reasonably be unsure whether this dog was targeting you or your dog. Watch your language when you are reporting- Your dog was there- but it was YOU who was part of the attack

You must have a crap dog warden as where I live they keep a note of dog on dog attack reports and if it appears to be a repeat offender they do act . In your case I’d report this latest attack and if you still get the brush off ring your local councillor and get them involved .

@MRSAHILL im so sorry for your loss - labradors are just such beautiful souls aren’t they! 💐

@SarahSissions thats a good idea - my only worry is that there were two of them (husband and wife, presumably) and I was alone. Even when I went up to them and confronted them about how injured my dog was (I didn’t realise he had a huge gash in his side or in his neck until a minute or so later when the couple had walked off as my boy was shaking so much), they both said that my dog ran up to their dog, which was not the case at all! He was no more than 10 feet away from me and just stood still and then I saw this huge ruddy dog run at him, bowl him over and start tearing at him. What made me angry is that the chap just carried on walking (he didn’t stop or look or call for his dog!) and his missus walked off and shouted back for it! I have it on video (I carefully videotaped them when I went back to confront them) and it was lots of name calling from them!

@Floralnomad honestly I don’t think our dog wardens care at all! I met another lady whose little cockerspaniel was snatched up by a bull mastiff and her husband had to rugby tackle the mastiff and punch it until it released her dog! She contacted the same dog wardens and they weren’t interested - same spiel of “if it’s not a child we don’t want to know”.

In my experience neither the police nor the wardens give a monkeys. My dog and I (disabled, on a mobility scooter) were attacked by a dog in our local park a couple of years ago. I ended up in hospital with a huge bite on my thigh and the skin literally ripped off my hand. There were three witnesses. The name and address of the owner was known and provided to both the police and the warden. They did nothing. I now carry this www.police-supplies.co.uk/farb-gel-self-defence-spray and a large hiking stick with a pointed end; and now if a dog attacks I wouldn't think twice about slamming into it with my large all-terrain scooter at full speed. AT the time I was too shocked, but never again.

Oh god! No I wouldn’t confront them! No i meant when you report it to the dog warden or police! That’s when I would say that you felt in danger

in my experience most unpleasant dogs have unpleasant owners. I’d be worried that he’d start on me. It’s why even though some people say they carry pepper spray or a stick I wouldn’t. I’d be worried if I hit someone’s dog they’d hit me

I do carry an air spray though that I have desensitised my dog too- and if anyone got offended that I was using it on their dog I’d claim I was just using it on mine and “missed”. (My dog thinks pet corrector =chicken and is the best thing ever!!)

This happened near us. A guy has two rottweilers that attack other dogs. The police and dog warden did nothing. Then it killed a dog in front of a load of tourists. Facebook kicked off. The police and council got involved then all right. But I don't know what ultimately happened.
I'd speak to your local ward councillor. Make him/her the named person and then start writing about it on Facebook, neighbour next door, etc. Put pressure on the councillor to put pressure on everyone else.

@Jalisco thats awful! I hope you are ok! I can’t imagine how traumatising that was 💐

@SarahSissions oh yes, sorry I meant I confronted the owners straight after it happened as my dog literally had his skin hanging off his side (vet thought the pitbull could’ve punctured his lung) - I didn’t see as I grabbed my dog by the non injured side and didn’t see the injury due to my panic. I think this guy was surprised I went up to him and said “your dog has nearly killed my dog!” I got his details (whilst his wife was screaming obscenities at me) and he did pay the £400 vet bill. I’m not a confrontational person at all and even my husband was shocked I did it - I guess adrenaline and the sense of fury took over me!

I will call the warden again and say there’s been another incident and that I was scared I would get attacked too, and if no joy I will go back to police / council.

I think this poster had the key at the beginning. If you believed (and you don't have to work hard to justify that belief) that the dog could have attacked you after your dog or if you intervene for your dog then the owner is committing an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act. You should reframe the incident in this way to the police, and definitely do so if it happens again.

I'm not OP, but we have one dog warden to cover an entire county - unfortunately it's just not realistic to expect them to get involved in every single dog-on-dog attack, especially ones where both dogs were off-lead.

A little (on-lead) dog was killed near us recently when an off-lead pack of lurchers attacked it. The dog warden didn't give a shit - as it is, the police only got involved as the owner of the poor little dog also got bitten in the scuffle. She had to carry her dead dog home in her arms - it was horrendous.

AFAIK the man had his dogs taken off him but I'm not sure if that's temporary or permanent, whether they'll be re-homed, PTS or subject to an order where the dogs are made to stay leashed and muzzled.

It's incredibly frustrating isn't it.

I had it this morning - my two dogs were on lead and minding their own business sniffing, when someone opened their front door and let their French Bulldog charge over to them. Owner was shouting and the dog just ignored her completely.

One of the dogs is lead reactive and he was SO stressed - growling and trying to get away and this dog was oblivious - and so was the owner I think. I couldn't even walk off as the dog just kept following us. It was only when she caught up to us and heard the sounds my dog was making that she realised the danger her dog was in and eventually grabbed his collar.

It's so unfair. My dog was fine. He was on lead, happy with his friend and being perfectly well-behaved, and this dog just barrelled over and got in his face and then mine is the one that looks bad for telling hers to fuck off 🙄

@sunsetsandsandybeaches i am not suggesting they get involved , our local dog warden does log details of attacks though - description of dog / area etc and then can see whether there is a regular offender , that’s hardly too much for a single person to do .

Ours openly says there's nothing they can do - they don't even take details.