Advice needed - violent attack by neighbour's dog

RuthnJasper

Apologies for asking for, instead of providing, advice - but I need help.

About an hour ago, my two dogs (both ladies) were in our garden, perfectly secured in by gates and fencing. From across the road, a neighbour's dog (male) came bolting over, winding up my two and generally being aggressive. When he didn't succeed in provoking my two into a fight, he moved on to next-door's dog, also firmly secured within the garden. Having failed there also, the dog began again at my two. The owner's answer was to send her six-year-old son to retrieve the loose dog.

I managed to grab hold of the loose dog by his collar, at which point the six-yr-old asked for my help in keeping him contained. I picked up the dog and was subsequently badly hurt BY the dog (4 large red scratches across my chest and an open bloody wound to my elbow from a bite), at which point I dropped the offending dog and he ran about the cul-de-sac, subsequently being caught and returned to the owners by the next-door-neighbour.

In tears and bleeding, I went across the road to the loose dog's owner - NOT to complain, but merely to ask that if she was going to open her front door whilst her front gate was also open that she put her dog on the lead, just to be safe. At this point, she launched into a tirade against me. It, according to her, was MY fault that my dogs were in the garden; that they were "always" barking (they're not); and WHY did I pick up her dog?

I explained that I picked him up as I was afraid he might accidentally hurt someone in his excitement and as her six-yr-old couldn't contain him by himself. I said that I was genuinely sorry for what had transpired and was in a lot of pain (I showed her my injuries), but that I was merely trying to help, and that it was HER dog and not mine that was running loose in the road.

At this point, she said that it was all MY fault. That MY (secured) dogs had provoked the entire incident. She then said "we are going to fall out over this." and slammed the door in my face.

PLEASE reassure or inform me - WAS this my fault? Apologies for the lengthy post - but this episode is deeply distressing for me.

Thank you.

Sagaris

No it wasn't your fault at all - but she had to lash out at you to cover her guilt! Of course she will 'fall out with you' - she wants to avoid you as the problem is with her. Who in their right mind sends a 6 year old out to retrieve a loose dog, let alone on which is wound up anyway?

Do you have a dog warden where you live - if you do I'd be reporting her to them first thing on Monday. And please go and get the bite properly looked at - depending how deep it is, it will need proper cleaning and possibly antibiotics, and a tetanus booster if you are not up to date.

Hope you are soon feeling better - you must be feeling quite shaken - I know I would be!

RuthnJasper

Sagaris wrote: »

No it wasn't your fault at all - but she had to lash out at you to cover her guilt! Of course she will 'fall out with you' - she wants to avoid you as the problem is with her. Who in their right mind sends a 6 year old out to retrieve a loose dog, let alone on which is wound up anyway?

Do you have a dog warden where you live - if you do I'd be reporting her to them first thing on Monday. And please go and get the bite properly looked at - depending how deep it is, it will need proper cleaning and possibly antibiotics, and a tetanus booster if you are not up to date.

Hope you are soon feeling better - you must be feeling quite shaken - I know I would be!

Thank you SO much Sagaris, I really appreciate what you have posted and am grateful for the time and trouble you took to write.

You've confirmed what I thought myself - but it's good to hear from someone else, someone knowledgeable. I've just had a tetanus shot, so should be OK.

Thank you again. x

POPPYOSCAR

I think it was a bit foolhardy to actually pick up the dog but you know that now:)

If it had been one of my dogs I would be mortified that you had been hurt, she obviously is not a responsible person so I would not worry about falling out with her.

Take no notice of her, it is not your fault, your dogs were contained responsibly and hers was not.To send a 6 year old out to get it in, again is irresponsible.I wonder if she realises that she could be held financially responsible for any accidents her dog causes?

If the dog gets out again, I would leave it and just report it to the dog warden.

RuthnJasper

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

I think it was a bit foolhardy to actually pick up the dog but you know that now:)

If it had been one of my dogs I would be mortified that you had been hurt, she obviously is not a responsible person so I would not worry about falling out with her.

Take no notice of her, it is not your fault, your dogs were contained responsibly and hers was not.To send a 6 year old out to get it in, again is irresponsible.I wonder if she realises that she could be held financially responsible for any accidents her dog causes?

If the dog gets out again, I would leave it and just report it to the dog warden.

Thank you PoppyOscar; I am very grateful for your words. xx

I have picked up the offending dog many times in the past without consequence, so assumed that he wouldn't go for me this time. My dog (Gisele, aka Gizmo) finished being on heat last week and our temporary house-guest Betty (see my homepage - Jasper; The Dog's Blog - for more info.) has yet to come into her season, so I cannot quite account for the aggression here. Also, my next-door-neighbour's dog, Milo, is a VERY manly-man's-man-Staffie - and he was similarly attacked! Bizarre.

Once again, I thank you wholeheartedly for the time and trouble you have taken to read and offer advice on this thread. xx

POPPYOSCAR

RuthnJasper wrote: »

Thank you PoppyOscar; I am very grateful for your words. xx

I have picked up the offending dog many times in the past without consequence, so assumed that he wouldn't go for me this time. My dog (Gisele, aka Gizmo) finished being on heat last week and our temporary house-guest Betty (see my homepage - Jasper; The Dog's Blog - for more info.) has yet to come into her season, so I cannot quite account for the aggression here. Also, my next-door-neighbour's dog, Milo, is a VERY manly-man's-man-Staffie - and he was similarly attacked! Bizarre.

Once again, I thank you wholeheartedly for the time and trouble you have taken to read and offer advice on this thread. xx

When you picked him up before was it in similar circumstances? If this is a regular thing then I would be giving her some friendly advice about making sure he is kept in!!

Hope you are feeling a bit calmer now, not a pleasant thing to experience.Just remember it was not your fault.

Leif

It sounds like you have a case for the owner not controlling her dog properly, and causing physical harm to you. I would have a chat with the police, at the local station, explain what happened, and see what they say. They probably cannot take action because you picked the dog up, but they might be able to talk with the neighbour and make her take responsibility for controlling the dog. The neighbour will probably have a go at you and blame you, but it sounds like she is at fault and is not accepting responsibility for her dog. Had that been my dog, then I hope I would have felt upset that it had hurt a neighbour, and would have tried to apologise, and find out why the dog was behaving like that.

Unfortunately some people are very bad with their dogs, and allow them to frighten other people, and do not care.

DVardysShadow

RuthnJasper wrote: »

.... My dog (Gisele, aka Gizmo) finished being on heat last week and our temporary house-guest Betty (see my homepage - Jasper; The Dog's Blog - for more info.) has yet to come into her season, so I cannot quite account for the aggression here. Also, my next-door-neighbour's dog, Milo, is a VERY manly-man's-man-Staffie - and he was similarly attacked! Bizarre.

I don't know much about dogs, but given the fact that the owner is screwed up in the head, I think it has everything to do with her and nothing to do with your dogs and the staffie. I would say we are looking at an abused dog.

amcluesent

Defo worth belling the social services as the kiddie is at risk, they may have warnings on the database already from the school and GP

Leif

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I don't know much about dogs, but given the fact that the owner is screwed up in the head, I think it has everything to do with her and nothing to do with your dogs and the staffie. I would say we are looking at an abused dog.

Also a messed up owner will not train the dog, and will allow or encourage aberrant behaviour.

Skintski

I'd be reporting the dog, it could have been her 6 year old on the sharp end.