Neighbours dog attacked my son, what to do next

Alienna

milliemonster wrote: »

I have since picked up a mobile message from him where he has said that they are going to send the dog back either today or tomorrow but I have to understand that to them he is their son (as I said earlier they have no children and really do treat the dogs they have had as a child) as my son is to me. I'm angry that they are comparing a dog with a child to be honest!

If they think the dog is their son, "humanise" the situation - if they had a human son who attacked someone enough the person ended up in hospital, their son would be punished... See if that makes them realise!

Person_one

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

It's called "victim impact assessment" and I personally thoroughly agree with this modern idea of the victim saying exactly what impact someone else's irresponsible (or worse) actions have had on their life.

The OP's son has had a fairly severe bite. The OP is dealing with a very stressful situation. The OP's neighbours are about to go through a very difficult loss as well as feelings of guilt to deal with. Both parties will then have a relationship to navigate/repair as they live next door, its that not enough to be getting on with without inventing imaginary victims?

But hey, at least none of them were pretty girls, eh?

Person_one

Alienna wrote: »

If they think the dog is their son, "humanise" the situation - if they had a human son who attacked someone enough the person ended up in hospital, their son would be punished... See if that makes them realise!

I think they do realise, they are just gutted by the situation.

If their son had done that, people would have a lot of sympathy for them, I expect.

Mojisola

milliemonster wrote: »

Now the dog is a rescue dog they have had for about 8 months, he's quite an old dog and never shown any signs of any aggression previously in the time they have had him.

Do you know that for sure or is it just what the dog's owners are saying?

missbiggles1

Person_one wrote: »

I believe the Dogs Trust uses a lot of volunteers. I'm hoping that the OP and her neighbour have been speaking to well meaning helpers who aren't in a position of any real influence. I'm also assuming that when the OP says they would 'without question rehome the dog' she means they would take it back into their own care.

The Dogs Trust have a clause on their rehoming contract that states owners agree to: "Under no circumstances to part with the dog except to return it to Dogs Trust."

I really hope you're right but the fact that the dog has already been rehomed four times makes me very much doubt it.

ali-t

What a horrible situation for everyone. I hope your son isnt too traumatised by this. As someone else has said, therecare no winners here.

milliemonster

Yes the whole situation is extremely sad, I am devastated for my neighbours, and part of me feels guilty for essentially causing them added distress, I feel guilty for not 'allowing' them to keep this dog, and I have no doubt that there will be some tensions between us and our neighbours moving forward as I am sure they will blame us for putting them in this position and causing them this upset.

missbiggles1

milliemonster wrote: »

Yes the whole situation is extremely sad, I am devastated for my neighbours, and part of me feels guilty for essentially causing them added distress, I feel guilty for not 'allowing' them to keep this dog, and I have no doubt that there will be some tensions between us and our neighbours moving forward as I am sure they will blame us for putting them in this position and causing them this upset.

I really think you should all consider the use of a muzzle before doing anything too drastic, there is, after all, only the comment from the DT person against it. I don't see how there's anything to lose by trying it and there's obviously everything to gain if it works.

Good luck to you all.

milliemonster

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I really think you should all consider the use of a muzzle before doing anything too drastic, there is, after all, only the comment from the DT person against it. I don't see how there's anything to lose by trying it and there's obviously everything to gain if it works.

Good luck to you all.

Thank you, unfortunately the neighbours refuse to.

Person_one

milliemonster wrote: »

Thank you, unfortunately the neighbours refuse to.

Have you explained to them that if they muzzled the dog you would be happy to see how things go for a bit and wouldn't force the issue with the police/returning to Dogs Trust?

I can't quite believe that they would rather lose the dog (possibly see it killed in a police kennel alone) than try a muzzle for a few weeks. Have they definitely understood what you're proposing?