Dog fight

zaksmum

On Saturday as I was leaving the house my dog jumped over our front gate and a fight ensued with a dog who lives opposite, who'd got out of his own house unattended and was having a wee against our gate.

I didn't see what actually happened as I was locking the door so had my back turned for a minute.

As soon as I realised the dogs were fighting I called mine off, as did the owner of the other dog.

Unfortunately the other dog came off worse:( he had a single puncture bite to his head and another near his eye.

I felt terrible. Apologised profusely to the other dog owner, who was fine about it and said dogs do fight and the injuries were superficial.

Today I saw him and asked how his dog was, he said the dog wasn't really himself and wasn't eating normally. He thinks it may be delayed shock. He'll take the dog to the vet if no improvement in a couple of days.

My dog is insured, M&S Premier Cover, but I can't seem to find any provision in the policy booklet for this situation. I'll pay the other dog's vet costs, of course, but if it gets very expensive I was wondering if the insurance would pay.

Am I actually liable for these costs? Could I be in trouble with the police or anything like that?

moggymutt

Your insurance should cover 3rd party if you are deemed liable.

Sally_A

Don't Panic!!

Most pet policies and home contents policies have liability cover for domestic pets.

What breeds are they? Zaksmum, I have it in my head yours is a GSD X.

Are they both neutered?

A tooth wound from a short sharp kerfuffle is sorting out pecking order, maybe you and Mr Over the Road could take the mutts out together, as I've posted before- if the dogs see the owners having a chilled out walk and talk, they too are chilled and have no reason to get protective.

I'm impressed that both stopped the aggro and came back on recall :T:T

Celli

I wouldn't worry too much about the police getting involved unless the other owner suddenly decides to get in touch with them, but they seem to be being very reasonable about the whole thing.

Dog law differs in England and Scotland, so it would depend where you lived as to what would happen.

ska_lover

Does it not stand for something that your neighbour didn't have her dog under control, and her dog jumped your fence?

zaksmum

Thanks moggymutt and Sally. My dog's a whippet/labrador first cross, he's five years old. The other dog's a Shar Pei aged 2 years. Both entire males.

I don't fancy taking the dogs out together just for the time being! I can't imagine what kicked it off, unless it was the other dog weeing on our gate. My dog's just never like that. He does fight back if he's attacked though and usually the other dog does come off worse.

I've looked at 3rd party liability on the insurance - just in case - and all I can find is if a person is injured. Can't see anything about dog on dog fighting.

zaksmum

ska_lover wrote: »

Does it not stand for something that your neighbour didn't have her dog under control, and her dog jumped your fence?

It was actually my dog who jumped over my gate into the street where the other dog had crossed the road and was weeing on the outside of our closed gate.

little-spender

ska_lover wrote: »

Does it not stand for something that your neighbour didn't have her dog under control, and her dog jumped your fence?

It was the OP's dog that jumped their fence to get to the other dog

Shepherd1

Is there a reason why your dog is not neutered.

Beetlemama

Our insurance says any damage or injury your dog cause to anyone's property, and another dog is considered property. .... presume though if the other dog is a pedigree he will be insured, you might offer to pay their excess if they ask, but if both dogs were off the lead it's considered both their fault. I'd be reluctant to accept full liability and mark my dog as aggressive on his records by saying it was all his fault.

Mind You, the dog would have to fight past my husband to be first in the street saying something if another dog was piddling up our gate!

elsien

The OP's dog might have jumped the fence to get out, but the other dog also appears to have been out on the street, off lead and unsupervised, so in my book the other owner should be taking some responsibility as well.
At least you got them separated fairly quickly, which is good going. Can you look at a higher gate if he's decided he's going to start hoiking over it?