Dogs knock over my mother, broken arm, what can I do.

art_for_arts_sake

I'm unimpressed by people who think their dogs off lead can do no harm.

My son was knocked down on a beach by a Boxer dog as a toddler and has been terrified by dogs ever since.

We bought a JRT to help get him used to dogs but she's continually intimidated by larger dogs off their lead too.

Many of the owners pay no attention to their dogs while off the lead and let them foul with no intention of cleaning up after their beloved pets.

We visited Dovedale in the summer and there were a couple of dog owners who had their dogs unleashed allowing them to chase the local waterfowl despite signs asking people to keep their dogs on lead because of livestock. The only time they showed any concern was for their own dogs' safety when they entered the fast-flowing river in pursuit of their prey and were nearly swept away. If they had lost their dogs they would have had absolutely no sympathy from me.

Jaynne

I feel very sorry for your mother and I know I'd be annoyed in your situation but this was an accident just as if a child had knocked her over or someone had a car accident. The owners at least have done the responsible thing and given you their insurance details. Just like a car accident where you can be rightfully annoyed your mother can claim for the costs incurred by her due to this from their insurance.

Any dog off a lead isn't 100% under control - no animal no matter how well trained is. Dogs off leads is just one of those things - they will occasionally cause harm but on the whole they don't and they're a part of our lives like it or not. The same is true of countless other things in life and we just get on with it.

Jaynne

art_for_arts_sake wrote: »

I'm unimpressed by people who think their dogs off lead can do no harm.

My son was knocked down on a beach by a Boxer dog as a toddler and has been terrified by dogs ever since.

We bought a JRT to help get him used to dogs but she's continually intimidated by larger dogs off their lead too.

Many of the owners pay no attention to their dogs while off the lead and let them foul with no intention of cleaning up after their beloved pets.

We visited Dovedale in the summer and there were a couple of dog owners who had their dogs unleashed allowing them to chase the local waterfowl despite signs asking people to keep their dogs on lead because of livestock. The only time they showed any concern was for their own dogs' safety when they entered the fast-flowing river in pursuit of their prey and were nearly swept away. If they had lost their dogs they would have had absolutely no sympathy from me.

Does your dog ever go off the lead? Sounds like you are just !!!!ed off with irresponsible dog owners which is completely understandable. I've been knocked down by dogs on a couple of occasions as a kids and its just one of those things - I've also been knocked over by kids and not been put off them.

If you want to keep your child 100% safe don't let them out of your house however generations of kids having been getting on with life after being knocked on their bums by dogs, falling out of trees and breaking limbs. Most just get on with life and eventually get over their fear of dogs/trees/kids etc.

catkins

Loanranger wrote: »

Digimortal, you will get little or no sympathy here on this board from the folks who post here. Generally, they 're the type where dogs can do no wrong, as evidenced by the replies here.

Hope your mother recovers quickly. I believe that you have been badly treated on this board, your mother is elderly but even if she were ten years old the owners of those dogs should be downright ashamed of themselves and yes, it's right they should have stopped to give their details, we should not be applauding them for the one thing they did right that day.

I don't belong in the "dogs can do no wrong" group BUT what if the lady had been knocked over by a child and broken a limb? What would the OP be saying about that? Would they be taking the parents to Court. Also what would posters on here be saying?

I, and tons of other dog owners, are good considerate owners and take as much care as I possibly can that my dog will not cause upset or danger to anyone but accidents happen. I wonder how many people get knocked over by children, who should really be more controllable than a dog as they should be able to understand language better!

digimortal wrote: »

No worries, maybe my post will bring this to mind when people walk dogs etc, hopefully prevent a similar thing happening.

I am perfectly well aware of things that could happen when walking my dog as, I would suggest, are other responsible dog owners. Any irresponsible owner is unlikely to change their attitude.

I, and others, have posted about parents letting their children run up to my dog and stroke it without asking. It hasn't made the slightest bit of difference.

KxMx wrote: »

Sorry but one right doesn't negate the wrong.

Yes they did stop and give details which was decent. But they were at fault in the first place and from the sounds of things let their dogs get out of control.

I would be raving mad if this happened to my Nan or my Mum and I assure you I am an animal lover!

The use of the word "accident" suggests that no-one was at fault and it was an unfortunate occurance, doesn't seem like the case to me here.

When a dog bites a child it's seen as an outrage by most but knocking over an older lady resulting in a broken bone is ok according to some on here!

Again, what would your response have been if it had been a child who knocked the lady over? Surely you should be more annoyed because a child should be easier to control?

catkins

art_for_arts_sake wrote: »

I'm unimpressed by people who think their dogs off lead can do no harm.

My son was knocked down on a beach by a Boxer dog as a toddler and has been terrified by dogs ever since.

We bought a JRT to help get him used to dogs but she's continually intimidated by larger dogs off their lead too.

Many of the owners pay no attention to their dogs while off the lead and let them foul with no intention of cleaning up after their beloved pets.

We visited Dovedale in the summer and there were a couple of dog owners who had their dogs unleashed allowing them to chase the local waterfowl despite signs asking people to keep their dogs on lead because of livestock. The only time they showed any concern was for their own dogs' safety when they entered the fast-flowing river in pursuit of their prey and were nearly swept away. If they had lost their dogs they would have had absolutely no sympathy from me.

How many dogs are allowed to run offlead every day/week/ month etc and how many accidents occur because of that? Dogs should run offlead. No amount of walking onlead can give a dog the exercise that running offlead can.

I am sorry that your son was knocked over and it has made him scared of dogs. I will always walk to the quieter part of the beach/park etc to let my dog off lead but often people with small children, who must be able to see my dog running around, still come close to me. A few times a child has run up to my dog and then the parent shouts at me.

I do agree about keeping a dog on lead around livestock etc unless they are very well trained but you will always get some irresponsible dog owners the same as you will always get some irresponsible parents

Wellyboots6

I'm not really sure anyone is saying dogs can do no wrong?

Dogs do wrong quite often!

But they only learn what is 'right' and 'wrong' from their owners. Therefore, a dog charging around at high speed is natural for them and they aren't going to be doing it to be intentionally naughty (usually!).

What people are saying is that a responsible dog owner would try and stop their dog doing this when in a situation where people may get knocked over.

As I said before though you can never have 100% control over your dog, so it is up to the owners to judge the situation. Maybe these owners misjudged the situation and thought their dogs wouldn't chase, thought they wouldn't run near people etc. Or maybe they were irresponsible and allowed their dogs to cause a nuisance.

Either way, it isn't a case of 'dogs can do no wrong'.

custardy

katy721 wrote: »

I was out walking the dogs with my sister one day, when they started chasing round through some woodland. My sisters two dogs ran across in front of a lady of age (what is the proper term? )

Her dog was also off lead and gave chase to my sisters dogs. They then turned round to chase the lady's dog who squealed and so she bent down to pick it up, just as my sisters dogs zoomed past.

This caused her to fall over. No contact was made but she lost her balance probably through the distraction.

I helped her up and checked she was OK. She said that it was an accident and that accidents happen and was fine about it. She did say however that it was a good job we stopped to help her as she would have struggled to get back up if she was on her own.

In that part of the woods dogs were allowed off lead, and her dog was also chasing round and so I suppose it would be difficult to say anyone was particularly to blame.

It was also one of the few times I have been proud of Tyson, as he stood by watching with a smirk on his face and didn't get involved at all!

I think in OPs case the best the dog owners could have done was to stop and give details. It does sound like an accident. With the best will in the world you cannot have 100% control over an off lead dog, they are animals and not robots. Like other people have said, the only other option is to permanently keep them on lead when out in public, which should also be applied to children in that case!

Thats fine,as long as you accept the possible consequences.
I'm suffering(admittedly from a car not dog) injuries from carelessness of another party
pain and mobility issues 11 months later,possibly for life
would you say thats just the way it is if a dog caused that?

olias

Yes....................................

Olias

Jaynne

custardy wrote: »

Thats fine,as long as you accept the possible consequences.
I'm suffering(admittedly from a car not dog) injuries from carelessness of another party
pain and mobility issues 11 months later,possibly for life
would you say thats just the way it is if a dog caused that?

Sadly that's just life - things happen that we don't want to. In your case in the hypothetical case of your injuries being from a dog then yes under law you are entitled to redress. Any responsible pet owner should have at least 3rd party insurance to cover this sort of thing.

Carelessness happens sadly from a whole range of causes and while I'm sure the fact that it isn't malicious doesn't dampen the annoyance that's comes from any injuries at least you should have a route to compensation from the other party.

jaqui59

Welshwoofs wrote: »

by other people's bloody children

Says it all really, doesn't it :rotfl: