Need advice about dog attack

[Oak Knoll Mom]

Yesterday my friend and I went on a walk with our kids and her two dogs. We had 7 kids ages 7 and under with us and the two dogs were both older--a golden retriever and a black lab. The bigger kids had the dogs on leashes on a public road and my friend and I were just behind them with a baby in a stroller and a toddler.

Another dog (Labradoodle) came charging out of his yard, through a hedge, and surprised us all. It happened so quickly I can't tell you exactly what happened, but my friend's golden took a large bite out of the side of the charging dog. Now my friend feels like she's going to be responsible for the other dog's vet bill, but I and several others feel that she shouldn't do it. We feel that her dog was on a leash, on the road and was protecting herself and the kids from attack.

So, if these people demand that our friends pay the vet bill, do you think they should? Also, should we help pay the bill because it was my son who had the dog on the leash and let go of it when the dogs started fighting? (I'm tempted, though, to call animal control and report the attacking dog as a vicious animal since he wasn't on a leash or inside a fence and charged at a group of small children.)

I'm not a dog person and don't know what to do or how to react. I was bitten on the face by a large dog when I was younger and am very leery of big dogs.

[Peek a Boo]

rrrr! that really chaps my hide!!!

You need to call Animal Control IMMEDIATELY and report that.

and don't you DARE even let your friend offer to pay for any vet bills!!

NOT. A. Dime.

[Mrs. Readsalot]

You were following the law, the owners of the charging non-leashed dog were not. Neither you nor your friend owe an financial responsibility.

[shell in SC]

:iagree: with peek! Do not offer to pay a dime, either of you. Is there a leash law in your county/area? If so. . .THAT dog was in violation not you and your friend. If my dog ran out of my yard and got hurt on the street, I wouldn't expect anyone else to be liable to pay the bill.

Sorry so short, but I'm multitasking.
shell

[nancypants]

:iagree: with peek! Do not offer to pay a dime, either of you. Is there a leash law in your county/area? If so. . .THAT dog was in violation not you and your friend. If my dog ran out of my yard and got hurt on the street, I wouldn't expect anyone else to be liable to pay the bill.

Sorry so short, but I'm multitasking.
shell

I agree. AND your son did the right thing by letting go of the leash at that point. For him to do otherwise would have put him at great risk.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

Her dog was on a leash doing its best to protect itself and the kids from what was perceived as an attacking dog. Good for him (or her)! Good for your son in letting go of the leash and allowing the dog to do the protecting. Report the other dog/owners. You were the ones following the law! The other owner would have to have a lot of nerve to ask for or accept help to pay for something that could have been avoided if they had been following the law.

[JFS in IL]

(I'm tempted, though, to call animal control and report the attacking dog as a vicious animal since he wasn't on a leash or inside a fence and charged at a group of small children.)

Please do so. The owners of the charging, loose dog should be thankful that no child was hurt by their animal. But you should file a complaint, if only to cover yourself.

[Tracey in TX]

Kudos to DS for having the common sense to let go of the dog to protect your gaggle of kiddos. Sorry you've not had good experiences with big dogs, as they really are wonderful creatures.

Your friend owes nothing, but should expect an apology for a dog which appeared to be attacking your group. Call animal control just to have the situation documented in case the owners foolishly expect compensation.

[Danestress]

The other dog was not leashed or safely confined to a yard. Therefore, it's the owner's fault his dog got bit, and your friend does not need to pay for the vet bills. His problem.

However, just between you and I (and the entire community, lol) if I had to be worried about one dog or the other though - the rusher or the biter, I can't begin to say who I think most likely is "viscious." If I were there, I could tell you from body language what the "rushing" dog wanted - to play or to attack. Chances are, he thought he was defending his yard with a good bark, or he was wanting to play. Did he bite back?

So I certainly would not recommend that you report him as a viscious dog, because I think it's equally likely that he wanted to play and that your friend's dog is the more dangerous one.

But that's neither here nor there. Your friend needs to go about her business and not worry about this. Write down what happened. She should do the same. If she gets served with a law suit, she will have to respond, but I think that's unlikely. She can pretty much count on a phone call asking for proof of rabbi's vaccination. I think she obviously has to provide that, and at that time she should be civil but not apologetic. If the other owners starts blaming or asking for money, she can say, "It is my position that your dog was off leash and charged at us, and I don't think I am responsible for my dog's response." Period. If the person wants to argue, she needs to tell the person that she will gladly provide information about vaccinations, but that is all she will do because she's not responsible. And really just refuse to argue about it.

[Jennifer in NH]

rrrr! that really chaps my hide!!!

You need to call Animal Control IMMEDIATELY and report that.

and don't you DARE even let your friend offer to pay for any vet bills!!

NOT. A. Dime.
:iagree::iagree::iagree: Have I said that enough? Peek, I'd rep you but the system won't let me yet! No wonder you have 3 squares...great advice!

anyway, we have 2 dogs and they are always in our yard! We have invisible fence just to make sure! If those dogs were on a leash and another dog comes out, off his property then that owner is responsible because he was not in control of his dog. I am assuming there are leash laws were you are.... And, even as a dog person i would still call animal control or whomever handles that.

[Oak Knoll Mom]

If I were there, I could tell you from body language what the "rushing" dog wanted - to play or to attack. Chances are, he thought he was defending his yard with a good bark, or he was wanting to play. Did he bite back?

The problem here is that he came dashing out of a row of thickly planted cedar trees--we didn't see him until he was already on top of us. I don't think any of us had time to read the dog's intentions.

[Oak Knoll Mom]

You've made me feel better, and many of you made my son feel better too. He was feeling at fault because he let go of the leash. I appreciate this community!

[Danestress]

The problem here is that he came dashing out of a row of thickly planted cedar trees--we didn't see him until he was already on top of us. I don't think any of us had time to read the dog's intentions.


I hope you didn't think I was saying you "should" have known his intentions. Anytime a big dog comes leaping at me, I am assuming the worst. I think you always do the right things to protect the children and let the dogs work it out. And incidentally, you son DEFINITELY did the right thing to drop the leash. Absolutely reinforce that you don't get into the middle of a dog fight, however petty.

I just was surprised at how sure people seem to be that this dog is viscious and would report him as such. Who knows. He might just be overly friendly. But that's not your friend's problem, or her dog's problem either:)

[Brindee]

I agree with what's been said. And for support for your ds: A lady where my husband works was walking her own two little dachsunds, and they got in a fight with each other! Instead of pulling them apart using the leashes, or letting go of the leashes, she reached in to try to stop them. She got bit and scratched badly enough that she had to go to the hospital and be stitched up!

It's best to let go and stay away from a dog fight---unless you have thick armor on! ;) Your ds made the right choice! Tell him we're proud of him! :)

[Oak Knoll Mom]

I hope you didn't think I was saying you "should" have known his intentions.

Oh, sorry--I know you didn't mean it that way. :-) Incidentally, I talked to my friend a while ago and as a dog person and this dog's neighbor *she* knows that the dog is a friendly, excitable dog. Since she's the one who has to live with these people I won't report the dog right now. If they come after her for compensation, though, I'm prepared to get involved.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[CookieMonster]

I know you know what to do. I just wanted to say that I agree with forum's view of the legal situation.

Having watched copious amounts of People's Court (:tongue_smilie:) with dh - and COPS - I think it would be a no-brainer for a judge. The owners of the loose dog are responsible for the bill because you passersby were following the law and in no way intentionally provoked the other dog.

If these people tried to sue your friend for the vet bill, the judge would tell them they ought to be glad they weren't getting sued by your friend. They're at fault and a judge would find them so.

[Shannon]

I agree. AND your son did the right thing by letting go of the leash at that point. For him to do otherwise would have put him at great risk.
:iagree: When dh was young, he was holding the leash of a friend's dog and they told him not to let go no matter what. Well, the dog took off running and dh was dragged along behind him for a while before letting go.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

Having watched copious amounts of People's Court (:tongue_smilie:)



I was going to mention People's Court also, but then people would know I actually used to watch that stuff. :lol: I thought Judge Wapner was the best. I've never liked the new ones.

[Pajama Mama]

I realize that you've decided what to do and I am so glad that you didn't offer to pay for anything--for a few reasons. First, it wasn't your son's fault AT ALL. He's a kid and he did the intelligent thing. It wasn't your friend's dog's fault because it couldn't know what the intentions of this unfamiliar dog were. I'm glad that you and your friend are not offering ANY type of money for this. If you did, it could be used against you later. These folks could say that you paid them money because you thought it was your fault. If your friend was sued they could bring that up.
I hope that the dog that was bit heals up and I'm glad that no one else was hurt. I hear too many stories about vicious dogs attacking. Our mailman will not deliver mail to any yard with a dog in it. If you don't put your dog inside, you don't get your mail. I don't blame him. My kids are always telling the mailman that my neighbor's dog is friendly but he will not enter the yard. I've actually delivered my neighbor's mail more than once:)

[Kimberly Ann]

The other dog was not leashed or safely confined to a yard. Therefore, it's the owner's fault his dog got bit, and your friend does not need to pay for the vet bills. His problem.

However, just between you and I (and the entire community, lol) if I had to be worried about one dog or the other though - the rusher or the biter, I can't begin to say who I think most likely is "viscious." If I were there, I could tell you from body language what the "rushing" dog wanted - to play or to attack. Chances are, he thought he was defending his yard with a good bark, or he was wanting to play. Did he bite back?

So I certainly would not recommend that you report him as a viscious dog, because I think it's equally likely that he wanted to play and that your friend's dog is the more dangerous one.

But that's neither here nor there. Your friend needs to go about her business and not worry about this. Write down what happened. She should do the same. If she gets served with a law suit, she will have to respond, but I think that's unlikely. She can pretty much count on a phone call asking for proof of rabbi's vaccination. I think she obviously has to provide that, and at that time she should be civil but not apologetic. If the other owners starts blaming or asking for money, she can say, "It is my position that your dog was off leash and charged at us, and I don't think I am responsible for my dog's response." Period. If the person wants to argue, she needs to tell the person that she will gladly provide information about vaccinations, but that is all she will do because she's not responsible. And really just refuse to argue about it.
Thank you Danestress for looking at the big picture.