My dog has bitten someone while on lead.

13Ballymore

Hi guys, my dogs has bitten someone I know while on a walk. He was on the lead and the man come around the corner in all black and before I knew it, he bit him. There was no warning at all, no lunging, barking or abnormal behaviour. The man felt the bite as he screamed. I apologised profusely. His trousers had teeth marks. We didn't swap information but now I'm afraid he'll sue in the coming weeks. I was shaking like a leaf. I don't know what to do now.

Mod warning, post #56

DBB

Do you know the man or know where he lives?
Does he know you? Or where you live? Or can he find out easily?
Has your dog ever done anything even vaguely similar before, in any circumstances?

GarIT

If he didn't get any info from you than likely nothing will happen.

Obviously the dog should be put down anyway though.

DBB

GarIT wrote: »

If he didn't get any info from you than likely nothing will happen.

Obviously the dog should be put down anyway though.

Would you ever stop, for the love of jebus!
That is NOT the first port of call in such a dog bite incident, and for you to suggest so is horribly inconsiderate of the OP's feelings and state of mind at the moment.

FixitFelix

GarIT wrote: »

If he didn't get any info from you than likely nothing will happen.

Obviously the dog should be put down anyway though.

Hahaha what a stupid comment

GarIT

DBB wrote: »

Would you ever stop, for the love of jebus!
That is NOT the first port of call in such a dog bite incident, and for you to suggest so is horribly inconsiderate of the OP's feelings and state of mind at the moment.

Every dog bite incident the only correct resolution is to put it down.

OP should have been more considerate of other people if they want other people to be considerate of their feelings.

Valresnick

FixitFelix wrote: »

Hahaha what a stupid comment

Not really, my mothers dog nipped at a cyclists heels. He complained and the warden came a few days later and the dog was taken away and given to new owners.

FixitFelix

Valresnick wrote: »

Not really, my mothers dog nipped at a cyclists heels. He complained and the warden came a few days later and the dog was taken away and given to new owners.

No chance my dog would be taken for nipping at someone's heels

DBB

GarIT wrote: »

Every dog bite incident the only correct resolution is to put it down.

No, it's not. I work in the legal end of dog bite cases, and let me assure you, a peaceful, workable and acceptable solution is found in most cases, which does NOT involve the dog being put to sleep.
In some cases, it's justifiable and the right thing to do. In most cases, it's not.
So for the love of jebus, stop the scaremongering. It's completely unfair on the op, who has already told us they're frightened of what could happen. You're not helping.

Valresnick

FixitFelix wrote: »

No chance my dog would be taken for nipping at someone's heels

Good for you, but it happened to my mother. She was also threatened with legal action if she didn’t comply. Dogs biting or attacking people is not something that is just brushed over if a person makes a complaint.

Limpy

FixitFelix wrote: »

Hahaha what a stupid comment

Not put down. But the dog should have a muzzle on in a public place. If the dog did this before or tried to do it before then the owner needs to take responsibility.

If it was the firste time then the muzzle should sort the problem.

13Ballymore

Yes DDB, I know him fairly well. He lives in the same village as I do. He knows who I am too. Never has done anything like that before.

iamwhoiam

If you know where the man lives you could call around or drop a note and hope is ok
Maybe offer to pay for his trousers and a bottle of wine
Saying sorry and showing you care goes a long way in repairing a hurt

Rubberchikken

Fgs it's a bite. No one died.
Op do you know the person?
If so maybe an apology)chocs and maybe he'd do well to leave a person and/their dog know he's coming up behind them in future.

GarIT

DBB wrote: »

No, it's not. I work in the legal end of dog bite cases, and let me assure you, a peaceful, workable and acceptable solution is found in most cases, which does NOT involve the dog being put to sleep.
In some cases, it's justifiable and the right thing to do. In most cases, it's not.
So for the love of jebus, stop the scaremongering. It's completely unfair on the op, who has already told us they're frightened of what could happen. You're not helping.

The only morally acceptable solution to me is for it to be put down. I'm not saying that it will happen, or that it's the legal requirement but it's the right and responsible thing to do.

FixitFelix

Limpy wrote: »

Not put down. But the dog should have a muzzle on in a public place. If the dog did this before or tried to do it before then the owner needs to take responsibility.

If it was the firste time then the muzzle should sort the problem.

Now this is s sensible comment, if the dog is muzzled from now on there won't be a problem, and if victim sees OP has taken action it might end things there.

DBB

Valresnick wrote: »

Not really, my mothers dog nipped at a cyclists heels. He complained and the warden came a few days later and the dog was taken away and given to new owners.

Either (a) we're not getting the full story here, or (b) the warden abused his powers, because only a judge can make an order on what happens to a dog about which a complaint has been made.

Bowlardo

What type of dog is it and how old os it.
. i would second the calling around to the persons house and apologising

DBB

GarIT wrote: »

The only morally acceptable solution to me is for it to be put down. I'm not saying that it will happen, or that it's the legal requirement but it's the right and responsible thing to do.

In your opinion.
Fortunately, your opinion does not count when it comes to making sensible and fair decisions in the courts.
Again, you're just not helping.

FixitFelix

GarIT wrote: »

The only morally acceptable solution to me is for it to be put down. I'm not saying that it will happen, or that it's the legal requirement but it's the right and responsible thing to do.

Gar wants to put a dog down after one incident, and then talk about doing the morally right thing:)

Obviously trolling

Valresnick

My mothers dog was rehoused. He got out twice from her garden and chased cyclists. Warden said legal proceedings would occur if they refused to give the dog up. Also, they never suggested putting it down at any stage.

Valresnick

DBB wrote: »

Either (a) we're not getting the full story here, or (b) the warden abused his powers, because only a judge can make an order on what happens to a dog about which a complaint has been made.

Legal action was threatened so my mother just complied ! Not worth the hassle !

iamwhoiam

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Fgs it's a bite. No one died.
Op do you know the person?
If so maybe an apology)chocs and maybe he'd do well to leave a person and/their dog know he's coming up behind them in future.

The man came around a corner , how would he know a person and dog were coming ?

GarIT

FixitFelix wrote: »

Gar wants to put a dog down after one incident, and then talk about doing the morally right thing:)

Obviously trolling

I just think people should be protected from dogs that have proven itself to be dangerous. If it has done it once unexpectedly it can do it again unexpectedly.

13Ballymore

He's a young dog, 16 months old and unneutered. Yeah I think I will call around to him and apologise for my dog's behaviour

FixitFelix

GarIT wrote: »

I just think people should be protected from dogs that have proven itself to be dangerous. If it has done it once unexpectedly it can do it again unexpectedly.

So instead of suggesting a muzzle or a shorter leash, your first step is to kill the dog?

dashoonage

GarIT wrote: »

I just think people should be protected from dogs that have proven itself to be dangerous. If it has done it once unexpectedly it can do it again unexpectedly.

Then deal with the aggression so it wont happen again.

Limpy

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Fgs it's a bite. No one died.
Op do you know the person?
If so maybe an apology)chocs and maybe he'd do well to leave a person and/their dog know he's coming up behind them in future.

I was bitten as a kid by a terrier. It was Very painfull. Ended up with a visit to the hospital to get a needle in the bum.

Anytime im alone passing dogs I think about it. Its something that stays with you. This was a dog who the owner's never kept the gates closed, so I blame them. It annoys me so much when owner's don't Keep the dogs away from the public, be it runner's, cyclists ect.

iamwhoiam

Being honest OP i think the dog should be muzzled , what if it was a small child or a elderly person ?

GarIT

GarIT wrote: »

If he didn't get any info from you than likely nothing will happen.

Obviously the dog should be put down anyway though.

Yeah, the dog now has a taste for trousers, no telling where it might end up. Cardigans?

Op - a muzzle for the dog and an apology to the guy who was bitten. Probably not much more you can do.

SusieBlue

Suggesting the dog be put down because of one small isolated incident is absolutely ridiculous. Imagine if we held humans to the same standard as that, the world population would be minuscule.

I would second the previous suggestion of sending over a bottle of wine and a note apologising, and offer to pay for repairs or a new pair of trousers if necessary. A little bit of effort and acknowledgement will go a long way in situations like this.

GarIT

dashoonage wrote: »

Then deal with the aggression so it wont happen again.

If it was unexpected and sudden like the OP said doesn't seem like there was aggression.

GarIT

SusieBlue wrote: »

Suggesting the dog be put down because of one small isolated incident is absolutely ridiculous. Imagine if we held humans to the same standard as that, the world population would be minuscule.

I would second the previous suggestion of sending over a bottle of wine and a note apologising, and offer to pay for repairs or a new pair of trousers if necessary. A little bit of effort and acknowledgement will go a long way in situations like this.

It's not a human though.

FixitFelix

Valresnick wrote: »

Legal action was threatened so my mother just complied ! Not worth the hassle !

Maybe if your mother thought the dog wasn't worth fighting for she shouldn't have a dog in the first place.

Yyhhuuu

Perhaps you should have suggested a tetanus injection or booster to injured party before worrying about being sued?


The injured party has every right to sue under Tort which is why our lecturer ( who was author of a leading academic Text on Tort) advised dog owners to be insured for this probability.

Thees arich neighbour of mine, thankfully not next door ( a blow in who thinks he owns the area) whose dog but me. When he saw this he immediately twisted things around and falsely claimed I tried to kick his vicious terrier whereas I was just trying to keep the dog at bay and never touched the dog. He obviously thought I was going to sue but I never said I would and nor did I. Some people are quite nasty. Such a dreadful man.

jlm29

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Fgs it's a bite. No one died.
Op do you know the person?
If so maybe an apology)chocs and maybe he'd do well to leave a person and/their dog know he's coming up behind them in future.

Yes. The OP should call around to this mans house and bring him a bell to wear around his neck so that the dog will know he’s approaching in future.

GarIT

FixitFelix wrote: »

So instead of suggesting a muzzle or a shorter leash, your first step is to kill the dog?

A muzzle could work if the owner can be trusted to make sure it's put on.

SusieBlue

GarIT wrote: »

It's not a human though.

It’s not the point. If you threw a slap at someone because you got a fright, were in pain, or felt threatened, would you expect receiving the death penalty to be a reasonable course of action?

Smee_Again

Valresnick wrote: »

My mothers dog was rehoused. He got out twice from her garden and chased cyclists. Warden said legal proceedings would occur if they refused to give the dog up. Also, they never suggested putting it down at any stage.

Your dog was voluntarily surrendered to the warden, not taken by the warden.

It may seem like semantics but that’s what happened.

GarIT

SusieBlue wrote: »

It’s not the point. If you threw a slap at someone because you got a fright, were in pain, or felt threatened, would you expect receiving the death penalty to be a reasonable course of action?

It is the point. People have value and can't be easily replaced. People can learn from their mistakes with rehabilitation. I do actually think any violence towards another person should carry a minimum 5 year sentence but that's another issue.

Valresnick

FixitFelix wrote: »

Maybe if your mother thought the dog wasn't worth fighting for she shouldn't have a dog in the first place.

Maybe she just couldn’t take the emotional strain. Seeing him in the dock, the prison visits, denied parole hearings.... would ya get out ta....

Bowlardo

13Ballymore wrote: »

He's a young dog, 16 months old and unneutered. Yeah I think I will call around to him and apologise for my dog's behaviour

What. Breed of dog?
You sound like you were Dog owner before.
Hopefully it was a nip and the nippe doesn’t want to proceed with anything

Valresnick

Smee_Again wrote: »

Your dog was voluntarily surrendered to the warden, not taken by the warden.

It may seem like semantics but that’s what happened.

You’re very perceptive !

13Ballymore

None of these comments are helpful except for DBB and one other. It was the FIRST TIME he's ever done anything like this. I came here looking for information and guidance on what to do going forward, not about euthanasia and the dog should have being muzzled already etc. I know what he's did is dangerous, I'm not denying that but I also know that one bite is not enough for forced euthanasia.

FixitFelix

Valresnick wrote: »

Maybe she just couldn’t take the emotional strain. Seeing him in the dock, the prison visits, denied parole hearings.... would ya get out ta....

Yeah somethings not adding up about your story

Yyhhuuu

Perhaps you should have suggested a tetanus injection or booster to injured party before worrying about being sued?


The injured party has every right to sue under Tort which is why our lecturer ( who was author of a leading academic Text on Tort) advised dog owners to be insured for this probability.

Thees arich neighbour of mine, thankfully not next door ( a blow in who thinks he owns the area) whose dog but me. When he saw this he immediately twisted things around and falsely claimed I tried to kick his vicious terrier whereas I was just trying to keep the dog at bay and never touched the dog. He obviously thought I was going to sue but I never said I would and nor did I. Some people are quite nasty. Such a dreadful man. Not one bit apologetic but aggressively defensive

13Ballymore

He's a border collie. I've had dogs all my life so I have a little bit of experience.

Valresnick

FixitFelix wrote: »

Yeah somethings not adding up about your story

What more would you like to know my friend ? Making up dog attack stories is my forte !

SCOOP 64

i remember doing a delivery a few years back ,pulled into drive way, went to side of van to get parcel out, the front door of house opened and immediately a dog ran out towards me ,the owner shouted "don't worry he doesn't bite", the first thing he did was bite me put 2 holes in my trousers but didn't break the skin, the owner was a lady so apologetic she was nearly in tears, i felt sorry for her, i said don't worry about it , got a phone call a hour later the lady again apologising , she got my number from my work, go round and apologise op it will help.

keepalive213

13Ballymore wrote: »

He's a border collie. I've had dogs all my life so I have a little bit of experience.

A very intelligent and energetic dog, does he get a suitable amount of exercise?

SusieBlue

GarIT wrote: »

It is the point. People have value and can't be easily replaced. People can learn from their mistakes with rehabilitation. I do actually think any violence towards another person should carry a minimum 5 year sentence but that's another issue.

All living things hold value, not just humans. Dogs are just as capable of having an out of character reaction to a situation as we humans are.
If you wouldn’t sentence a human to death for it I can’t understand why you would think it’s acceptable to do that to an animal.
Animals don’t act out of spite or maliciousness like we do, the dog snapped for a reason and OP needs to get to the bottom of that reason.
Animals can also be rehabilitated with training if necessary, but this does just sound like an out of character one off incident to me though.