Pup attacked by Staff Dog

Meadows

deannatrois wrote: »

Honestly.., this is ridiculous. I purposely re posted this on the pets forum because where I posted it before wasn't overly helpful. I've clarified some things as we are now two weeks on to give a fuller explanation of the situation.

In what way did you want people to be helpful in you previous post? # 1 many offered you sympathy for the attack on your puppy, you didn't ask for help you gave a long story about your puppy being attacked, and in that thread you said "8 week German Shepherd pup, fully vaccinated etc.", now you are saying it was 9 weeks.

You say you couldn't afford the vet fees and didn't have insurance, those are all part of the cost of keeping a pet - having sufficient funds to look after it and any emergencies and illnesses that come along.
As for saying you "Couldn't keep the dog in for a further month as we knew the ideal time to socialise is before 12 weeks". A puppy is not fully inoculated until then (many people pointed out on the other thread as you said it was an 8 weeks & fully vaccinated etc. - first vaccinations are usually given around 8-9 weeks and the second booster vaccination at 12 weeks - a puppy must be vaccinated before being allowed outside).


When it comes to the "Why?" with regards to the assess or restoration one or the other not both have you asked them Why?

Person_one

Hmm.

In the story you posted last week he was 8 weeks old when he was attacked, but some people challenged you as to how he could possibly be fully vaccinated at that age.

Today, he was 9 weeks old when he was attacked.

What is it you're looking for from us?

jen007

Being a Mother of a child who was attacked by a dog, leaving him with some scarring to his face 12 stitches below his eye!, who is not on the dangerous dogs act which I believe staff's are not either, i'm sure someone can confirm I do think that appropriate care of a dog whilst in a public place should be taken. Be this muzzling or keeping the dog on a short leash.

You're suggesting that the dog should be screened by a professional, but i'm of the mind that only a bad owner makes a bad dog. I've known several staff's and they're nothing but lovely, where as the man in my streets staff is a horrid animal, made that way by him.

Screening shouldn't happen for just certain breeds, the dog that attacked my son was a golden retriever, a family dog which is not typically seen as agressive. Should all dogs not be screened?


You should contact the dogs owner and ask for vet fees to be paid.

Then you should re home your other puppy. If you can't afford one, you can't afford two.


Also in no uncertain terms would that dog been fully vac'd. I'd like to know who your vet is, as they're putting puppies and other dogs in danger if they are vaccinating dogs at 6 weeks, where the mothers antibodies are still in pups system.


Edit.


Also, anyone with common sense knows that you do not take a puppy away from it's mother until after 8 weeks at the very least. I'll hazard a guess at you not getting the pup from someone reputable.


I'd like to know about your other pup. How old is it? Do you plan on getting it neutered if it's the opposite sex as Bear? Have you actually thought about the costs of having two dogs? What about when your OH goes back to work? Who will look after them?

Fire_Fox

If you had purchased the puppy from a reputable breeder you would have got Petplan (usually) insurance active from day one, many insurances are only two week exclusions even for illness. What kind of breeder vaccinates puppies at six weeks and doesn't give insurance?

Legally .... you may be best seeing a solicitor. I would have thought the RSPCA/ police can prosecute under the Dangerous Dogs Act, it being a criminal matter. You later take out a private civil action (small claims track) in the county court for your vet fees. You would need a full name and residential address for the small claims action. Don't really see why the police need to be involved in getting you restitution BUT I am not legally qualified.

ETA: you've purchased another puppy when you have financial problems, already have one uninsured dog AND don't have enough cash in the bank to cover relatively minor vet care on the first??? Even if insured you often need to pay out for vet treatment up front which means you need a cash float, not a second furry liability.

sazzybum

We get it- it was a 'staff dog'.. you didn't have to repeat it every time you metnioned the other dog.

Why not just say 'other dog'..?

A puppy that age should NOT have been off the lead in public, in fact it really shouldn't be out anyway. No insurance for a GSD? Oh dear.

Whilst I'm sorry for your puppy, I really recommend reading up on the rights and wrongs of dog owning before you start all the legal guff.

chris_n_tj

Firlstly I do hope that puppy makes a full recovery, poor little thing.

A puppy should still be with mum and litter mates at 6/7/8 weeks old for a start off. It should not be out and about without a harness/collar and lead on, its irresponsible and you the owner must take some of the blaim here.

I know that my Vet would not give any vaccinations to a puppy so young, as I said earlier at that age they should still be with mum.

Had you purchased your puppy from a reputable breeder you would have been given a months free insurance cover, this starts from the minute you take puppy home and is intended to run for one month to give you time to sort out your own insurance.

I hope this has given you the prod needed to arrange insurance for your puppy.

As for Police involement, when TJ was attacked (he was on lead by the way) the POlice were called and we were told there was nothing they could do.

Just reading your other thread, you say the "staff" wasnt on a lead or wearing a muzzle? Isnt that the same as your puppy? No lead? You cant have one rule for you and a different one for others.

coinxoperated

Ignoring all the pro-staffie and 'you should of had insurance' rubbish....

Something you will need to do is slowly integrate your pup with other dogs as soon as he has recovered. As a GSD, if he gets bigger with a large fear of other dogs, you have a HUGE problem on your hands. I feel very sorry for your poor pup, and if the other persons dog was 'trained to kill' or whatever, they haven't followed their dog ownership responsibilities. There isn't much you can do in respect of them now, but you do need to think about the affects it will have in the long term on your new pup.

Please do talk with dog behaviourists NOW so that you can begin building his confidence around other dogs BEFORE he becomes too big and the problem becomes more risky.

Best wishes x

zaksmum

I thought I'd seen this before. As others have said, I can't see the point of repeating it all.

peachyprice

Thought I was going mad for a moment there.

jen007

I think this is the first ever post to actually make me angry at a stranger. Poor pup was taken off his Mum too soon.