... and I thought the housetraining was stressful !

[rustylady]

It wasn't off lead ~ it was on a flexi-lead, about 6ft long at the time of the attack

So, technically & legally, it was "under control"

Technically and legally yes, but actually no. I think the blame lies with the owner who was obviously not really in control of his dog. Yes it was on a lead, but was he actually aware or caring or what was going on? There's no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners.

[veggiechicken]

I hate those flexi leads. In my view, the dog never learns to walk with you but is always shooting off wherever it chooses. They're not under control, just free to do as they wish within the limits of the extended lead. Gets off soapbox!

[Two_Sheds]

^ I know what you're saying, and I agree, but it's a moral point.


With respect to getting anything done about that dog, morals don't come into it: only the law has any teeth (pun intended). As the dog wasn't "out of control" and because a human wasn't bitten ~ there's no case to answer, so to speak

It's just one of those things

Where it's the victim who ends up paying for their injuries =( (adding insult to injury really does describe how I feel)

[Jeanied]

Sounds like an EADT story to me RL! (East Anglian Daily Times!)

My MIL and SIL made the local TV news channel when my MIL was walking the family dog on a lead and it was attacked by two off lead Dobermans. My MIL was dragged to the ground and tried to fight off the big dogs. The little pup was mauled but not fatally.

My SIL, bless her, said on the news clip 'Dogs have rights too!'

I am sorry but the only answer seems to be to fling yourself between the aggressor and your dog! OUCH!

[Two_Sheds]

I hate those flexi leads.

I like them, but you do have to be aware of their limitations. With our strong staffy, it means I can walk her without having my arm yanked out of my shoulder joint. It gives her freedom to explore smells, which she likes to do ... without holding up the walk. I pull her back and "fix" her onto a short lead if we are in a hazardous zone (near roads, other dogs, children etc)

[veggiechicken]

Still don't like them! But I've never had strong dogs.....

[binley100]

Poor puppy and you T-S ......Hope you're both ok ....

I walk Jake on a flexi lead but there are only certain places I let him roam . He's not a big dog but he's strong and I know that he's not too keen on dogs he doesn't know . He has his friends but other dogs he's a pita, it's not aggression as such it's a nervous knee jerk get in first reaction . But, that's no excuse for the staffy owner not knowing his own dog and keeping him under control .
Hope it doesn't scare her away from other staffies especially her best friend .

[lottie dolly]

what a horrible experience for you both,if it does that to a defencless little dog,could be a baby another day,what if a youger child(with supervision)had a little one on a lead,does'nt bare thinking about,hope you and your pet soon recover,and you not bump into him again,

[donnakebab]

Hope you are both OK TS. You're lucky pup escaped with flesh wounds it could have been a lot worse. You should mention the incident to other dog owners as I'm thinking the staffy may have done this before.

One of our cats was attacked by an off lead mastiff type dog on our neighbours drive, shook like a rag doll the same. Daughter and OH went in search of the owner and she said the same thing 'never done it before'. She stumped up for the vet bill though which was £73.

Why your bill so much cheaper? Same treatment. Subject of another rant/thread sometime.

[OverWyreGrower]

Can you speak to your local dog warden? They are the best place to report dog/dog attacks (rather than dog/human)... it could be that this dog is well known for this kind of behaviour (cos the "oh, s/he's never done that before" is a classic....), or that the warden may go and give the bloke a talking to about having his dog actually under control (as a 6ft flexi is not exactly controllable)....

I have immensely strong dogs, and I hardly ever walk them on flexi's - I might as well have them on a piece of string for all the control they give....

[Newton]

What a shame that this naughty dogs owner will not be punished for this attack. One of our most vigilant grapes is deciding to turn her head away from reporting a vicious attack on her puppy. Apparantly because of some misplaced allegence to the guilty breed of dog.

No doubt it would have been reported to the police if it had fouled the public highway!

[woody21]

the police have to take a log of any complaint even if they arent interested in doing anything about it. after a few surely something has to be done and hopefully before its a child.
doesnt bear thinking about with the owner just not reacting to his dogs behavior.

just remember your repoting the OWNER and poor control which is the cause of the dogs behavior and not the dog... because the dog was on a lead its the owner who needs the asbo!

with a lot of stuff in the news the last few months about dangerous dogs and bad owners the police may take more notice than you think, and as always speaking to someone in person is always better than on the phone so pop into the local station.

i could come over and bite that bad dog owner for you!?! it might hurt enough to make them think!

i have an akita and too have to defend the breed to prople who ask 'arent they dangerous' or make other stupid comments but as he looks like a teddy bear its quite easy to convince those who are wary of the breed otherwise.

[Two_Sheds]

Can you speak to your local dog warden?

the police have to take a log of any complaint even if they arent interested

I might pop in the cop shop after school, it's virtually next door. I also have a number for the dog warden, although I suspect it's several years out of date and we no longer have one

misplaced allegence to the guilty breed of dog... No doubt it would have been reported to the police if it had fouled the public highway!

No, I wouldn't phone the police about a dog poo, don't be fatuous

[taff]

One of our most vigilant grapes is deciding to turn her head away from reporting a vicious attack on her puppy. Apparantly because of some misplaced allegence to the guilty breed of dog.

not quite. Read through more thoroughly, you'll read the bits where it says the police aren't interested uinles it's an attack on a human.

[Patchninja]

Well, I hope the Chilean red helped! Glad that your dog's ok.