My dog bit an old lady.

Milliemoons · 2025-10-04T15:43:55+00:00

And I feel so awful about it. He’s a chihuahua, he’s tiny but he still drew blood. He’s never done it before. It was super windy, I had my newborn in a pram and my three year old who was running off and I took my eye off him for one second and he just launched himself at this poor lady. He was off lead but he usually is and I’ve never had a problem (he’s 7). We were in a public park where dogs are permitted off lead. Needless to say I won’t be risking that again. She was really worried about needing to go to the doctor to be vaccinated (I assured her he was fully vaccinated and healthy). I apologised over and over but the poor woman was shaken up. I just keep thinking about it. DH says not to worry, I apologised and I reassured her I would not be allowing him off lead again. Has this happened to anyone else?

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 04/10/2025 16:49

It’s awful. Poor woman and poor you. I would say that was a lot to be trying to manage alone, on a windy day- because dc and dogs are loopy in the wind.

If it was a puncture would, she would need medical treatment. A graze, not so much.

Any first time is a shock- you can’t know you need to prevent something, if it’s not happened before.

Pollqueen · 04/10/2025 16:57

The lady will probably need a tetanus jab. Hopefully you'll never let your dog off lead again as it obviously can't
be trusted

LandSharksAnonymous · 04/10/2025 16:58

I'll get slammed for saying what I'm about to say... but now your dog has a bite history it should be muzzled going forwards - both for his protection and for people.

Your DH absolutely should not be saying 'not to worry.' And the fact your dog is tiny is irrelevant because a bite is a bite. The weather is not an excuse for your dog biting someone. The only 'excuse' - if we can call it that - for a bite is when a dog has been tormented repeatedly and/or is terrified and reacts (but there's almost always a warning 'snap' or grumble in these cases) rather than just 'lunging.' That's why many rescues have rules about taking in dogs with bite histories which, unfortunately, your dog now has.

I'd also take him to the vets if he's never shown aggressive behaviour before as i'd want to rule out any pain etc.That being said, if nothing can be found and he did attack unprovoked/with no trigger, I absolutely would not want him around my DC if I were you.

I'm not saying any of the above to be harsh, but once a dog has bitten...they shouldn't be around children IMO. Particularly young children.

Original poster

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:11

Pollqueen · 04/10/2025 16:57

The lady will probably need a tetanus jab. Hopefully you'll never let your dog off lead again as it obviously can't
be trusted

100% I will not. It was horrible to hear the poor woman shriek in panic.

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Naws · 04/10/2025 17:14

I hope you gave her your details OP?

Unacceptableinthe80s · 04/10/2025 17:15

Your dog being vaccinated and healthy makes no difference to the amount of bacteria on their teeth and that is what will cause an Infection. She's doesn't need a tetanus she needs antibiotics.
How elderly are we talking? I think I would have tried to assist her getting medical care, offered to call someone maybe?

BlueBoatVillage · 04/10/2025 17:19

Your dog needs to be muzzled from now on or at the v least on an incredibly short lead!

As a PP has asked though, is it the first time it’s been aggressive? If not then YABVU and it should’ve definitely been on a lead and if it was the first time, I would be taking it to the vet to get it checked over as sudden aggression can indicate some health issues/ brain tumors.

Original poster

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:19

LandSharksAnonymous · 04/10/2025 16:58

I'll get slammed for saying what I'm about to say... but now your dog has a bite history it should be muzzled going forwards - both for his protection and for people.

Your DH absolutely should not be saying 'not to worry.' And the fact your dog is tiny is irrelevant because a bite is a bite. The weather is not an excuse for your dog biting someone. The only 'excuse' - if we can call it that - for a bite is when a dog has been tormented repeatedly and/or is terrified and reacts (but there's almost always a warning 'snap' or grumble in these cases) rather than just 'lunging.' That's why many rescues have rules about taking in dogs with bite histories which, unfortunately, your dog now has.

I'd also take him to the vets if he's never shown aggressive behaviour before as i'd want to rule out any pain etc.That being said, if nothing can be found and he did attack unprovoked/with no trigger, I absolutely would not want him around my DC if I were you.

I'm not saying any of the above to be harsh, but once a dog has bitten...they shouldn't be around children IMO. Particularly young children.

Thank you for your honesty, that’s why I posted - for a reality check on the situation.

I think this is why I was so shocked by it because it was 100% unprovoked. The poor woman had not even looked at him and he just went for her. I think you’re not wrong to suggest going to the vet with him as I am concerned. It just goes to show you can never know an animal. I never leave him unattended with my kids anyway, I’ve always said that from the beginning because children are unpredictable and I know that can trigger even the tamest of animals.

The muzzle is also not a bad idea to be honest. I’m very aware of how lightly I got off today. If he were a bigger dog I completely appreciate that it would have been an incident worthy of police attendance.

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Original poster

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:20

BlueBoatVillage · 04/10/2025 17:19

Your dog needs to be muzzled from now on or at the v least on an incredibly short lead!

As a PP has asked though, is it the first time it’s been aggressive? If not then YABVU and it should’ve definitely been on a lead and if it was the first time, I would be taking it to the vet to get it checked over as sudden aggression can indicate some health issues/ brain tumors.

Yes, first incident ever in his 7 years.

OP posts:

Original poster

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:22

Unacceptableinthe80s · 04/10/2025 17:15

Your dog being vaccinated and healthy makes no difference to the amount of bacteria on their teeth and that is what will cause an Infection. She's doesn't need a tetanus she needs antibiotics.
How elderly are we talking? I think I would have tried to assist her getting medical care, offered to call someone maybe?

I would say 70s or 80s. I really wish I’d gotten her number now to the honest to be able to check on her. I thought of posting on our estate Facebook page to see if I can get in contact with her to firstly check if she’s okay and then see if I can help in any way.

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FlorenceAndTheSewingMachine · 04/10/2025 17:22

I was bitten by a staffie earlier in the year, i had to go to the hospital as it was quite nasty, but luckily no treatment needed apart from a teatnus and antibiotics.
I also have a chihuahua and his bite bloody hurts but he is going a bit senile now so we keep him out of the way of visiting children.
I hope the lady recovers and you also get over the shock.

RunningJo · 04/10/2025 17:22

Do you know where she lives, if so I’d be taking flowers and giving another apology, checking to make sure she is ok
Depending on the bite - scratch, or cut - she may need a tetanus jab.

Your husband telling you not to worry, is ok if he’s trying to reassure you, but as a dog owners I’d be worried as to what caused my 7 year old, not normally reactive, with no bite history, to bite. Windy weather can affect some animals, it does one of my dogs and when I rode horses it would affect them too. but you wrote as if this is totally our of character, I’m sure in 7 years he’s been in windy weather before.

Id be getting your dog checked out to make sure he is fit and well, and as you’ve said, never be letting him off lead again. I would also be getting slip on warning strip for his lead saying he isn’t friendly. I’d also look at muzzle training. Might sound an over reaction, but he’s done it once, you can’t trust he wouldn’t do it again. As a responsible owner you have to ensure people who are near him are safe.

I’m sure it was quite a shock but you now need to look at precautions to keep your dog and other people safe.

tripleginandtonic · 04/10/2025 17:23

I'll be honest, size of the dog doesn't cone into it. It was unprovoked and I think he needs to be pts to protect your dc.

Havetogooutagain · 04/10/2025 17:24

Sorry OP, I’d be removing him from my children.
The woman he bit should seek medical treatment, I hope she does.

Original poster

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:24

Naws · 04/10/2025 17:14

I hope you gave her your details OP?

I did not. I really wish I had. I had no idea what the protocol was and was sort of panicked. I picked him up and apologised repeatedly and asked if she was okay. She wasn’t angry but seemed worried. Poor woman, I really wish I had.

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CoconutQueen · 04/10/2025 17:26

Very sorry for your worry OP, but yes indeed, this is actually a criminal offence...

Ladamesansmerci · 04/10/2025 17:27

Get the dog checked out if it's not bitten before.

But in all honesty, even a bite from a tiny dog like a Chihuahua could be devastating for a newborn. What if it caught the eye? You need to think long and hard whether the dog is safe to remain in your home long-term. I would personally never allow a dog that had bitten in the same house as my very young children.

Naws · 04/10/2025 17:27

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:24

I did not. I really wish I had. I had no idea what the protocol was and was sort of panicked. I picked him up and apologised repeatedly and asked if she was okay. She wasn’t angry but seemed worried. Poor woman, I really wish I had.

Show quote history

Ok, well keep your eye on your local Facebook group or Nextdoor app etc, because she might ask there if anyone knows you.

Once she's had time to calm down and think.

Original poster

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:28

tripleginandtonic · 04/10/2025 17:23

I'll be honest, size of the dog doesn't cone into it. It was unprovoked and I think he needs to be pts to protect your dc.

No I know. The behaviour is the same whether large or small. I think it’s simply lucky that in this case he was small and didn’t cause damage - I say this not as an excuse but out of genuine relief. Had I owned a bigger dog it could have been an awful outcome. I was watching something on the news just a few days ago about a young woman killed by her own pet dog’s bite after she threw a chicken nugget into the air. Awful.

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Theoturkeyfliesnorthwest · 04/10/2025 17:30

My friend was bitten on the hand by a dog in a coffee shop .
She was walking past and it just bit her hand
She was lovely to the owners at the time ,and told them not to worry
48 hours later she was in hospital being operated on , because an infection had got in the wound and it needed cleaning out and stitching up .
But she didn't have their number...not that she would of done anything..
It's why I absolutely hate the fact dogs are allowed in coffee shops

whattheysay · 04/10/2025 17:32

FlorenceAndTheSewingMachine · 04/10/2025 17:22

I was bitten by a staffie earlier in the year, i had to go to the hospital as it was quite nasty, but luckily no treatment needed apart from a teatnus and antibiotics.
I also have a chihuahua and his bite bloody hurts but he is going a bit senile now so we keep him out of the way of visiting children.
I hope the lady recovers and you also get over the shock.

My husband got bitten by a dog quite recently he went to a walk in hospital/clinic they gave him a tetanus but said they don’t give antibiotics unless it starts o get infected.

MissMoneyFairy · 04/10/2025 17:34

I wouldn't be trusting your dog around my children any more, the dogs size doesn't matter, they are unpredictable.,

toottoot3 · 04/10/2025 17:35

You haven't reacted well, that poor woman. If you are remorseful, you could try hard to find her, to not pass details, to check up on her screams denial. Any further issues with the dog are now on you.

BottomPinchingAunt · 04/10/2025 17:37

Milliemoons · 04/10/2025 17:24

I did not. I really wish I had. I had no idea what the protocol was and was sort of panicked. I picked him up and apologised repeatedly and asked if she was okay. She wasn’t angry but seemed worried. Poor woman, I really wish I had.

Show quote history

I cannot believe that you left someone your dog had injured and didn't give her your details. She will need to attend a hospital as a result of this and you just walked away.
Given it was an unprovoked attack the dog should be pts.
If you won't do that for the safety of the general public then do it for the safety of your own children.

Mumofyellows · 04/10/2025 17:41

You’ve had some good advice here, it must have been a real shock for you as well as the lady he bit. My dog was extra anxious today and my horse nearly took my head off when I fed her and she’s 22 and extremely placid! The wind does funny things to their senses and can make animals quite unpredictable. I hope you can find the lady and make sure she’s ok to put your mind at ease.