My dog was attacked on the street.

meames_2

This evening after work I took Fudge for a walk, only round the block. A dog ran out of his garden, across the road, grabbed hold of fudges front leg and shook him like a rag doll, left go got hold of his side and shook again. I managed to scoop him up and he looked at me in shock and went limp.

The dog wasn't wearing a collar. They said it was a puppy, probably a year old as it was three times the size of my Lhasa. The owners came running out and apologised profusely. Looked at fudges bleeding leg and said it would be ok.

Through my tears I insisted I was going to have to take my dog to the vet, she panicked saying she was a single mum and couldn't afford insurance. My main concern was to get my dog to the vets. I would contact her later.

He has two puncture wounds at the joint at the top of his front leg. Can't put his leg Down. It isn't broken but I am worried it may be dislocated.

My poor little pooch, after Saturdays rude lady I am worried he will react badly to dogs.

I know there is nothing anyone can do but I wanted to just tell everyone!

Tiglath

What did the vet say?

chris_n_tj

Your poor dog, what has the Vet said?

meritaten

aw - poor Fudge! hope he is ok. What did the vet say neames?

elsien

Hope your dog is ok.
In your place I would also be considering talking to the owner and sharing this information
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview
in the hope that she takes more care about the security of her garden and the possible consequences if she doesn't. Depending on how seriously she takes it, you may also want to involve the local dog warden.
And I'd be giving her the vets bill.

meames_2

The vet said, just keep an eye on him for the next couple of days and go back on Monday. Hopefully, the pain meds will kick in and he will be able to put some weight on it.

wannabe_credit_free

Hope poor Fudge recovers both physically and mentally. Its owners like the OP that cause me to walk my 3 small dogs at the crack of dawn, armed with a walking stick for protection. Most uncontrolled dogs have not been let out at that time. Its getting to the stage where there is no pleasure in walking your dogs.:mad:

I don't blame the dogs, I blame the idiots who are supposed to be responsible for them.

krlyr

Given the recent changes in the DDA, the owner of the dog could be in a bit more hot water than previously. Although (AFAIK) it's not extended to cover all dog-on-dog attacks (just guide/service dogs), more emphasis seems to have been put on the "dangerously out of control in a public place" part from what I've heard. And as the sentences for falling foul of the DDA have increased, I imagine even the less "serious" incidents (I know it's serious for you as the dog's owner, but it's not something that's specifically outlined in the DDA) will be dealt with a bit more seriously.

https://www.nawt.org.uk/advice/changes-dangerous-dogs-act-advice-owners
http://blogs.rspca.org.uk/insights/2014/05/14/how-the-changes-to-the-dangerous-dogs-act-affect-you-and-your-dog/#.U5Dg4yhWpcA

If you happen to know who the owner is, I would perhaps suggest to her joining the Dogs Trust. For £25 a year, all dogs in her household would be covered for third party liability.


I hope he recovers, physically and mentally. I would suggest perhaps getting a good trainer or behaviourist to work with you in this early period, to try to minimise the risk of fear-based reactivity towards other dogs after this incident. http://www.apdt.co.uk or http://www.apbc.org.uk

meames_2

Thanks, I texted the owner to tell her what has happened.

I mentioned the dog should have a collar even in the garden and might benefit from dog training which is only £1.50 a session. I am definetly going to carry ongoing even if we have to just watch. Partly for me who will be terrified too!

It turns put this is the third time the dog has been rehomed. Apparently it was abused when tiny, the last owner was never in so thus lady took it over. She insists it is really soft with children and can't believe it happened, her daughter left the gate open. She did agree to pay the vets bill, but gave me a sob story about bring a single parent with a part time job.

I feel a little bit bad tat she was crying when she ended the call, but not as bad as a feel for my poor boy!

chris_n_tj

Fingers crossed for no lasting damage to poor Fudge. I really hope that owner has learnt her lesson and makes sure her gate is locked xx

krlyr

I do wish people would realise that some aggressive behaviour doesn't mean a dog is inherently bad. Her dog could be the soppiest, softest, loveliest dog with children - it could even be great with some other dogs, but there is obviously some reason it has acted this way towards your dog. Often, this is fear-based behaviour - her dog itself may be been attacked like this in the past, leading to a defensive "I'll get you before you get me" type reaction.

The failure is not in the dog having attacked your dog - mistakes happen with open gates, dogs act in ways we've possibly never known them to. The failure would be in her not accepting responsibility for her dog's behaviour, and not taking all the necessary (legally and morally) steps to prevent it ever happening again.