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!

This needs reporting as the owner should be prosecuted and their dogs removed! You should be able to walk your dog without the worry of being assaulted. I was attacked when living in Milan. New to the city, took my dog to the park as there were enclosed dog areas and as we were waiting for one to become free, a Pit Bull jumped the fence and made a beeline for my dog. The owner thankfully was fast enough to get him off me, but had I not come between my dog and the Pit Bull, my dog would have been dead. Next time we came across them, the dog was wearing a muzzle. Where we live in UK, there are a lot of similar issues to yours and the local community are being very good at updating the Dog Warden. This type of nonchalant attitude by some dog owners, has to stop. Hoping you don’t go through this again.

Who owns the fields?

@Scrowy to be honest, I’m not sure who owns the fields. I think the council were selling but not aware if they’ve been sold (dog walkers have been using it for years and we use it as we have friends with dogs who have always used it so we go with them usually).

@InquiringMinds thats awful! I had someone say to me “I thought pit bulls were nanny dogs!” I really don’t understand the mentality of some dog owners! I’ve tried reporting it to police and to dog warden and neither want to know. It was only today when I heard that another dog had been attacked and the owner was from a small village near my village and it was like a pitbull did I think it could be the same dog / same owner. If I had my children with me I would hate to think what would’ve happened!

@RosiePosie27 that’s awful, I don’t understand why they cannot wake up and realise that unfortunately some owners train these dogs to be aggressive or just don’t train them at all and let them do as they please. We have a neighbour who has trained his Alsatian to bark at everyone arriving in our road, driving through and beware anyone walk the public footpath next to his home. I refuse to walk there as another dog walker came close to being attacked. I will never understand some peoples mentality, including those we are meant to report to who just don’t give a damn.

My poor lurcher is a nervous wreck since he was attacked by separate German Shepherds on three occasions. I don’t know what possesses the idiots who get huge/powerful dogs and then fail to keep them under control.
I hope your dog is recovered OP. Mine will never be the same, he was such a happy go lucky boy, who is now muzzled every time we leave the house and who is trained to run to heel with his nose on my palm whenever we need to get away from something. He is absolutely petrified of dogs he doesn’t know, and now people (particularly men) too because the owner of the last attacking dog screamed at and kicked my dog whilst hauling his away (mine wasn’t even fighting back, he was on the floor on his back yelping).
We walk at very unsociable hours when we want to go to the popular spots, and stick to pavements at other times. I also try to walk with friends wherever possible, extra pairs of eyes to scan the horizon and my boy is more confident with his friends.

@RosiePosie27 you said its a village do you have a parish council report it to them. Personally I would report it to the police.

hi @Sitdowncupoftea I reported it to police the same day but they said it wasn’t their business and to speak with dog warden, who likewise said they weren’t interested. I’m going to speak with the council in my village about it tomorrow

@sewinginmyfreetime thats awful! Your poor boy! It’s horrendous as these useless owners never learn from these incidents and the poor owners and pets have to suffer 💐

Since my dog was attacked I carry a stick with a very pointed sharp end. I would not hesitate to use it to stab into the throat with all the force I can muster.

When mine was attacked 2 policemen, a fire extinguisher fired in its face, me hitting it as hard as I could on its head, the owner putting his finger up its arse, that fucker would not let go of the mouthful of my dogs flesh. After about half an hour it seemed to just get bored and released.

The owners had it PTS the same day. They couldn't believe how aggressive it was, even though I and others had warned them for weeks that it was aggressive, not playful. Twats.

I’m a dog warden and if that has happened in my area I would have issued a Community Protection Warning requiring the dog to be on lead and muzzled.

My advice is to go back to the Police and rather than focus on the dog on dog attack (which the police won’t care about), focus on the fact that you are reporting the dog as banned breed under Sect 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Ask for the contact details for the Police’s dangerous dog advisor ( if you are in Cambs Beds or Herts PM me and I’ll give you the name) and report to them. Or pm which region you live in and I’ll try and find out for you.

Other options are your local councillor and the press, who are partial to a dog attack story.

@BMW6 it's the owner you should be using your stick on too.

I dont know why imbeciles think putting a finger up a dogs arse is going to stop a dog , it will only antagonise is the same as a fire extinguisher in its face.

I'm really sorry to hear that the dig warden wasn't helpful. My dog was bitten whilst on his lead in an unprovoked attack and the dog warden was great and did as above. The dog warden also told me to always report any incidents as identifying details can be added later.

I also reported to the police as I was close to being bitten on the back of my legs as it circled.

This has happened with my poor 16 month old boy too . He's a golden retriever so loves every dog . We were on the beach last week when this bully dog ran at him and managed to snap his lead ! So his owner has hold of one bit and the rest was just flapping around when he was chasing my boy and going for him . Luckily he's fast and he only managed to nip at his ankles so I grabbed my dog and he still couldn't grab his and he again but my dogs leg . Well I lost the plot this this . Said if his dog touched mine one more time I was going to kick his head in . And I meant it . My dog is like my second child . And what I don't under stand is why have a dog like that on a beach with out a muzzle .

There have been 3 incidents and all involving them bully dogs 😴. I have watched so many videos of how to protect your dog if getting attacked . I would strangle the other dog to death with my lead if I knew he was in that much danger . And I honestly wouldn't feel bad one bit . I also phoned the police on one dog owner who's dog ripped my boys ear . And was told dog on dog nothing they could do so I told the police that if it happens again I would probably end up kicking the dog to death . His reply was , I have a dog myself I know how tot feel 😂.

Where I live so many dogs have been killed by lurchers off lead . They are used for hunting 😡. So I carry a weapon with me which in a pack attack it wouldn't be my boy getting ripped to pieces and dying . They wouldn't have a chance . I know I sound like some crazy lunatic but this is how much I would protect my dog

I'm so sorry for what you went through but the finger up the arse made me lol . See I always thought that would work too 😂

I would not go back to a field an aggressive pit bull frequented to put up posters or for any other reason. I think you should alert other users through local Facebook groups etc. I can't believe the owners are going to let their dog continue to attack other dogs. He should clearly be on a lead when other dogs could be about. I would have him on a lead at all times. I don't know what you can do about it.

Unfortunately I don’t have social media, but I have mentioned the attack to other dog walking friends and they’ve passed word around. @christmascrackers22 your poor dog and poor you! I totally agree, if my dog was being attacked then I would do the same. Hope your poor boy is ok 💐