My dog bit an old lady.

[Milliemoons]

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?

The wind and your tension/chaos trying to keep an eye on your little ones probably made him lash out at the nearest person, small dogs are sensitive souls and have better hearing than bigger dogs so the wind was probably throwing him off. If he couldn't hear as well as he usually does, saw you running after your child and saw an old lady near by and connected those things it's alot of sensory overload. If he's never shown aggression before I wouldn't muzzle him - I'm pro muzzle but won't deny dogs hate wearing them even when muzzle trained. It doesn't sound like a necessity with a tiny dog IF you keep him leashed and are watchful of your surroundings - he's easily overpowered if he lunges.

Don't treat him too differently, dogs have bad days and if this is his first one that's quite good in 7 years. Just keep him leashed and don't let strangers touch him now you know he has the propensity.

I think it was irresponsible of you to say she wouldn’t need medical treatment. I hope she has family who will encourage her to get the bite seen to.

I’m surprised you don’t keep it on a lead because chihuahuas are quite vulnerable, especially if there are other dogs around. They are also known to be quite bitey dogs and tricky to train. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a free range one out and about.

Surely it is a police matter?

Chihuahuas can bite. Speaking from personal, painful, experience.
What training did you do with him?

You were massively wrong to tell her she doesn’t need any medical treatment. You have no idea whether that was the case and I really hope she didn’t listen to you and got advice from someone else.

Whether your dog is vaccinated is immaterial - she would be offered a tetanus jab if she went to the doctor or A&E, plus antibiotics.

how did it happen?
was it a nip?
how is he with the family?

i agree that the wind as well as the snow can set dogs off

Sorry this might seem like an overreaction but I wouldn’t have the dog at home anymore. What will happen when that baby turns into a toddler and is all over the place, chasing him or pulling his tail, I just couldn’t take that risk. Having a baby and preschooler at home was a very chaotic time for me and I could just about cope with both (SAHM with very few breaks) but there’s no way I could have coped with keeping a potentially aggressive dog separated too not knowing if / when they would snap

I would have driven her to hospital and stayed with her whilst she got over her shock.

Sorry you’re going through this OP. Can I just say how realistic and responsible you are being about all this. Well done! Many dog owners would brush it under the carpet.

I would definitely take the dog to the vets to see if anything is wrong but I think you need to seriously consider the safety of your DC 😔 Maybe you can talk to the vet about this while you’re there and get their honest advice?

While you already said you never leave the dog alone with the DC, look how quickly the incident happened today. Being there won’t stop an injury although obviously it’s likely to thwart an ongoing attack. Can you take that risk after today? Only you and your partner can decide the route ahead.

This.
Also, why is the lady's age relevant?

Where did the dog bite the lady ? on her ankle or what ?

She needs a tetanus shot if your dog drew blood.

It's not about whether your dog is vaccinated or not it's about her vaccination status. The tetanus shot lasts for 10 years. I really hope she's either covered or gets vaccinated. A dog bite is serious and should be treated by a doctor.

Tbh if your dog had bit me this way I had reported it to the police. It's not okay.

I hope your insured OP. My dog had never bitten anyone so that's a worry. I'd worry yours is in pain?

I'd be brave and put an appeal out on your community groups. You don't have to say he bit her. Just say your looking for her. Describe yourself and the place and time but not about the bite. You can post anonymous on FB. Otherwise you will be flamed. You don't deserve that.

Kindly, put the dog down. It can never be trusted again. It could go for your baby next. Unfortunately I speak from experience

If I were bitten in this context I'd take legal action against you.
If this sort of situation goes down that route then the dog is often deemed dangerous and put to sleep
I'm quite shocked at peoe saying ah poor little boo boo in the nasty wind,whay a bad day for him.
It was xs far nastier say for the victim, and will also impact from now own how she feels about EVERY dog she sees.
Ridiculous blame shifting here. The dog is not the safe, the owner should act accordingly.

... Sorry lots of typos

And what would you hope to achieve with the legal action? Millions in damages and dog put down?

All that needs to happen is for Op to keep her dog on a lead, which she is going to - and that will prevent any further bites, and for the bitten lady to monitor the bite to make sure it doesn’t get infected.

I had reported it to police. It's not okay to be bit by a dog in the street. The dog is not safe. Next time it can be a child bitten.

Millions of £? Of course not but I would expect the owner to pay a trip to the hospital if needed. No all people drive or have a car but would have to take a taxi to get treated.

The lady was 100% left to fend for herself.

the hospital would do nothing though?

wound need cleaning and to heal - that’s it

I agree that this situation means your dog should wear a muzzle going forwards. I do sympathise in that it's come completely out of the blue, but that also means that you don't know why he behaved like this or what you can do to prevent it other than for him to be completely 100 per cent under control.

In the case of animal bites a tetanus vaccination must be given if the patient is not covered. Many adults do not have an up-to-date vaccination.
Antibiotics may also be needed.
Not least there may be a need to deal with the shock of being bitten by a dog.

I think that people here overlook the fact that the lady suffered harm and that the dog's owner simply walked away from the situation.

Not necessarily. If it’s a minor bite, it can be reported to the police but they won’t do anything unless it can be proven the dogs bitten before and/or it’s one of the banned breeds.

@Milliemoons just be extra cautious from now on I guess now you know your dog can’t be trusted off leash or within striking distance of strangers. You’ve got lucky and the fact that the poor lady just hurried away after, I knew she was probably elderly and not vindictive but just worried. I hope she did go to her GP to have it looked at, put on her record and any necessary jabs given - elderly people will be more vulnerable to trauma like this. And your DH should be worried. You’re extremely lucky this didn’t happen to someone who was determined to sue you.

You need to take the dog to the vet.

I have a dog and I would PTS for an unprovoked bite. Especially with children in the home.

sorry I know that’s not what you want to hear.