Dog Been Attacked

[Halifaxmum]

My 4 yr old Yorkie, Peanut (never let off the lead, and just lays on his back when approached by another dog) was set upon by a Rottweiler (off the lead in a local park) today and bitten in 3 places. Peanut is very quiet and submissive, showed no aggression whatsoever, just laid on his back, as usual.

The vets bill is 82 quid for today's appointment, injections, painkillers and antibiotics. We've to go back Monday for a check up too, which will probably be another 35 quid.

The woman whose dog it is was upset and crying, saying I'm so sorry. I don't know her, but think someone I know does.

Is it reasonable of me to just go and knock on her door and expect her to reimburse me the vet bills?

TIA

[flump1]

Halifaxmum, that is an awful thing to have happened to your little dog. I wish him a swift recovery. Please give him a gentle hug from me. A dog fight / attack is one of the most horrendous things I have witnessed, and it is terrifying for you both. I had something similar happen to me. Yes, get as much information about the attacking dog's owner as you can, while I am sure she was upset, it is her responsibility to ensure her dog is under control at all times. Take her the bill.

[Halifaxmum]

Thank you flump, I will give pea a lovely gentle cuddle from you x

[corylus]

I am a dog owner and my advice is that if you intend to confront this woman and ask for recompense for the injuries her dog caused take somebody with you as a witness when you present her with a copy of the vet bills. Then note what she says and it won't just be your word against hers.

[wildwood]

I agree with above, take someone with you and go now with the first bill. Tell the woman that there will be more coming. As she seemed to be upset by the attack she will probably be more than happy to front up.

Can't see any reason for the police. Just because a dog attacks another dog is no reason to think it will also attack a child.

[rockyracoon]

Absolutely yes.

[Bigeye74]

Errr...only a dog was injured not a human. I can't see how beyond a moral (not legal) obligation you can get her to pay. Go to your insurance company who will speak hers. £82 says the injuries were minimal so I would read the paperwork before burning excess.
I can say if you turned up on my doorstep with a 'witness' the door would slam pretty quickly.
I do hope your dog recovers as quickly as possible.

[lcg]

yes....and report her to the police for having a dog she can't control and hasn't socialised properly. hope you woofer is feeling a bit better x

[shihtzublue]

I get quite angry when dogs are off their lead. I walk my shih-tzu who is quite small along a road with a bit of green and often a dog will come towards her and take an instant dislike to her. She is such a softie .

One day a jack russell came charging towards her and pinned her to the ground. I managed to shout at the dog and he left her alone.

His owner apologised but didn't seem to bothered. Now evertime we see that dog it goes mad to get at her but the owner does keep it on a lead now.

Regarding your question. I would definately ask the owner of the dog to pay or at least contribute but not sure if you will have any luck . I hope so and hope your little one is back to his old self soon

[sunny-dave]

Yes - she should be insured anyway

[NOX]

Horrible thing to happen but if a Rottweiler ' set upon' a yorkshire terrier your dog would be dead not the subject of quite a small (and therefore minimal injuries) vet bill.
Of course she should pay for that, but approach her politely, she sounds upset, and don't make a huge deal of it, dogs do bicker amongst themselves even sometimes when one is very submissive.
Please don't think I'm not sympathetic because I really am, but don't dwell too much on it and get it out of proportion.

[icemaiden]

Poor peanut. I do hope he recovers well and is not to traumatised. Just awful.

I will be interested to know the outcome of the vets bill. If she is a responsible dog owner, then she shouldn't hesitate in paying the costs. I wonder if her dog has ever done anything like that before.
X

[divegirl]

Sorry to hear about your boy [I have three Yorkies myself so have a soft spot for the breed]. Its the dog warden you need to tell about this not the police, they won't do anything but the DW should go and speak to the owner if you can give an address for them.
As for the vet bill, I tried to get the owner of the Rottie that attacked one of mine [Great Dane] to pay up.... no luck though, she just said that as they were off lead it was one of those things :0/. Though your boy was on lead so thats different matter.

Can I also suggest that if you have some 'friends' of your boys that he and you can trust you get him out with them asap so as to not make him fearful of other dogs.
Hope he's feeling better today.

Lisa x

[Bigeye74]

Shitzhublue - what is your definition of socialised properly? You can socialise a dog until you're blue in the face. One incident can change them. Mine go for anything on a lead if they don't know it. Off the lead no problems other than rough play. Also, mine have been attacked by JR's but due to the size difference the owner thought it was funny. Finally, how do you know the owners were 'socialised'? The terrier's owner may have incited it all by her reaction or lack of it.

[boxtops]

Bigeye, that sounds like rubbish to me - why would a Yorkie owner incite her tiny dog to goad a Rottweiler? Do you know anything about dogs and the law?

[boxtops]

^ I retract that part about the law, I see you have huge dogs - but I still think it's a rubbish suggestion.

[murraymints]

same happened to neighbour..police enforced payments from owner as was considered to be dangerous dog off lead and not in control by responsible owner.report it .

[Bigeye74]

I have seen dog owners flap and screech and try to lift their dog off the ground. All that happens is their dog looses the ability to defend itself and the screeching incite the attacking dog. However, my 2 went for another dog that I hadn't seen as it was dark and the owner didn't have a torch. I shouted over to him to stick the boot in, he shouted 'get away' in a manner that frightened both of my dogs and me (?). Situation back under control. My comment was based on the fact that only one side of the story has been presented, not enough information for some of the comments made.

[Jules001]

my dog was attacked in September last year, he was on the lead and the other dog a Tibetan Terrier was off the lead, it came over to him and we just thought it was being sociable but then suddenly it went for my dog. My daughter had the presence of mind to pick our dog up, but the dog was still jumping up and going for him. He had quite a large wound on his side which required 7 staples and a vet bill of£226. We then trawled the parks for days after, trying to find the woman owner, which we did and she paid the vet bill when presented with the bill and the photos of his wounds, she was very apologetic. So yes, pursue the woman for the money, why should you be out of pocket for something that wasn't your fault and I wish Peanut well:)

[lankeela]

Definitely go and see the owner, present her with the bill and if there is any reluctance say you will have no alternative than to report it to the police. If prosecuted they can put a destruction order on the dog, or an order for it to be kept muzzled and on the lead in public. Hopefully she will have learnt her lesson, keep it under contro in future, pay up quick and hope to god you don't report it. If she does not pay up then do report it, but be warned that the dog could end up being put down over it.