[cdonahue89]

this weekend i got an email from my grandmother who has a almost three year old pappilon (sp). suzi is a good dog, shes completely off leash, runs around the yard all day while my grandmothers outside & is friends & walk buddies with all the neighborhood dogs (they take walks together every day).

so my grandmothers outside with her dog, when a neighbors visitors walk by with their pit bull mix. suzi went up to meet her, & the dog lunged at her, basically tossed her around, bit part of her ear off before they could be torn apart, & then somehow attacked her again, gave her some more slight injuries & broke her leg, & then the owners finally got her off of my grandmothers dog. the owners were "very sorry" & are paying for all the vet bills, & are "considering putting their dog down".

how can these people have not held their dog enough so that it couldnt get back at my grandmothers dog? it irritates me, & especially that my grandmother isnt going to make sure something happens with those peoples dog. suzi is a sweet dog, she is not vicious at all & i dont understand how a dog owner can be so irresponsible as to not have their dog better trained or be able to contain their dog.

suzi is in "okay" condition, but has to be taken to a specialist for her leg. she had no internal injuries, thank god. she is scared to go outside now. i wish my grandmother had taken more initiative to call animal control or something..

 

[Elaine]

First of all, let me say I'm so sorry your grandmother's dog got hurt, but if I understand what you are saying, her dog was loose and ran up to the dog being walked on leash. If this is the case, your grandmother is at fault. It doesn't matter that her dog is a micro dog or supposedly friendly. If she was the one that ran up and got into the other dog's face, it's her fault. If I was the owner of the other dog, I would be furious.

I have been attacked while walking my dogs on leash twice this last week by people that have no control over their dogs. People have every right to walk their dogs on leash, no matter if they are dog aggressive or not, so long as they keep their dogs to themselves.

If the other dog was off leash and went after your grandmother's dog while on her property, then it was the other dog's fault. If they were both off leash and off her property, it was both their faults.

 

[frenchie27]

irresponsible people. your grandma's dog survived BUT what if it hadn't God forbid? Come on? why doesn't your grandma press charges? well probably in fear that they will retaliate huh? That sucks. People should be so much more careful. I feel for you and your grandma...

 

[Ewilliams]

I am not defending the dog or the people in any way. But, I had a similar experience with an off-leash small dog (chihuahua) and one of my fosters who was on leash. My GSD was NOT at fault in any way, but I did end up paying the chi's vet bill to keep AC out of it.

The problem is that many of us have our dogs under complete voice control while off leash and we get comfortable with that. Then, if a strange dog comes by, all **** breaks loose.

I hope your grandma's dog recovers well, but I think it a bit unfair to consider the other dog completely at fault. Just MHO.

 

[cdonahue89]

oh i know, i just dont think the dog could've done anything. when she met beamer, it took her like 20 minutes to even go near her.

 

[cdonahue89]

Originally Posted By: frenchirresponsible people. your grandma's dog survived BUT what if it hadn't God forbid? Come on? why doesn't your grandma press charges? well probably in fear that they will retaliate huh? That sucks. People should be so much more careful. I feel for you and your grandma...

i think my grandmother doesnt press charges because she is friends with the neighbors who had those people as visitors.

 

[Mai]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother's dog but I have to agree with Elaine. I had a Siberian Husky who looked at small dogs as prey. We always walked her on leash but it was annoying when people would have tiny dogs they wouldn't walk on leash and they would always try to run up to her. I would redirect my dog and yell to the owner to get their dog on leash. I did this to avoid situations that could lead to incidents like the one you describe. You don't know a strange dog's temperament so although your grandmother's dog is friendly it should be protected from dogs that might not be so welcoming. But all in all it's very tragic and I'm sorry to hear it happen.

 

[cdonahue89]

thanks, sometimes i feel the same way. my grandparents have only had big dogs before & my grandmother treats suzi more like a kid then a dog, ive never seen her on a leash, even on walks, but at the same time, the incident occured in my grandmothers yard.

 

[SJC72]

It is a terrible tragedy what happened here, but like Elaine says this is not the fault of the pit-mix owner. This is why we have leash laws and unfortunately, they are usually not enforced or voluntairily followed. In all liklihood its good that your grandmother does not try and press charges, because she would not have a case to stand on.

Please do not think that I am attacking your grandmother, because I am not. But the facts are that if she had her dog on leash, then this never would have happened.

 

[Brightelf]

I am so very sorry that this happened to Suzi. The dog did not deserve this.

Suzi's owner was not being responsible here. Her dog was offlead. She seems to not have adequate voice control over her dog-- no matter how many times she has been permitted offlead before. Took 20 mins to meet Beamer? If she is a bit timid and has fear issues, all the more reason to not permit her offlead where other dogs my walk by, even if they are onlead and she charges up. This is not a dog who should be allowed to race right up into other dogs' space. Her dog is an adult dog, small or not, and I would be furious if someone's small breed dog charges into my dog's face. (I know, the owner always claims it was only to say Hi)

My best hope is, that this dog heals well. I wish her an easy, speedy, pain-free recovery. I also hope Suzi's owner is more responsible with her adult, small-breed dog and keeps her onlead until better control is established. My heart goes out to Suzi, may she feel well soon.

 

[4dognight]

The incident happened in her grandmothers yard Why is it not the fault of the pit mix owners I would be very angry if a dog came on my property and attacked one of my dogs. Suzi went up to meet her. If they knew their dog would eat a small dog then they should not have let the dog approach. I had a foster shepherd once that would eat anything the size of a JR down When folks wanted their small dogs to approach I said he dosen't like small dogs please stay back. Yes if the dog had been on leash she would not have approached this dog but again it was on her property. This is just sad not only for suzi but for the pit mix that may be put down. They were nice enough to pay the bills but the dog may pay with its life.

 

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted By: 4dognightThe incident happened in her grandmothers yard Why is it not the fault of the pit mix owners

If I'm reading this right, the grandma had Suzi loose in her yard, the pit owners were walking their dog down the street or sidewalk, and Suzi left grandma's yard to visit with the neighbors and their pit.

While sad that this happened, some people are bound to jump to the conclusion that it must have been the fault of the large dog, especially if it's one of those "evil" pitbull things. But in this case, the pit was on leash, walking on a public access area, when the off leash little dog left it's yard.

The owners of the pit are not at fault. I don't understand the comments about why did they let hte little dog approach or their dog should have been under control? Sorry, but it was ON LEASH. How much more control do people expect? The dog that was out of control, and the owner that was responsible, is the one that was OFF leash and outside of it's own property.

 

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted By: Brightelf This is not a dog who should be allowed to race right up into other dogs' space.

NO dog should ever be allowed to do this. It doesn't matter how small or friendly it is. It is rude, irresponsible ownership to allow it to happen. And sooner or later, an incident like this is going to occur. The fact that the other dog was larger and stronger and thus was the one who inflicted the damage, doesn't make it the fault of that dog or it's owners.

 

[ninhar]

Yep, I started carrying pepper spray on my walks around the neighborhood with Sheba last summer. She walks nicely by my side, but there were too many people who were letting their little dogs run loose on their property, and they would start running at us or following us.

 

[cdonahue89]

thanks everyone for your input, i never looked at it the way you all put. when i spoke to my grandmother on the phone, she said that they were in the yard, & that the dog had suzi pinned up against the fence in their yard (which like 5 feet from my grandparents driveway), so i just assume it occured on my grandparents property. while i agree suzi should be better trained to come, i dont think she should be kept on a leash in her own yard.

this was what my grandmother said in the email:

The dog tore into her twice--once John got her off, the dog tore free and attack her again. She was up against the fence--I was just hoping Suzi would crawl under it but she was paralyzed.

 

[selzer]

Dog fights are awful and viscious. If one dog is on a leash and the other is loose it is pandemonium to get everyone under control. Even with two people there.

I am sorry this happened. Both owners are probably very upset.

While I agree that the leashed dog should not be blamed. The fact is that the owners of the pitt-mix have to realize that their dog is likely to have more fights if they walk it down the street. And it IS a liability.

Should they euthanize it? No. It did not bite or kill a human without provacation. But they need to muzzle the dog when they go out with it.

The fact is that too many people LET their dog run loose. I am not really faulting your grandmother. I let Arwen out in my front yard off lead because I trust her and she is under voice control. But if a loose dog charged into her, or it would be awful. If she charged into someone walking their dog (not likely on my street), I would be mortified, as it would be my fault. Chances are pretty good that my dog would have caused the damage too.

So to the question as who is at fault, turn it around. Let say that the pitt mix was your Grandmother's dog, loose in the yard and ran to greet the little dog, Suzi who was properly leashed. Suzi was afraid for herself or her people, stiffened and growled and then snapped at the loose pitt mix. Who would be at fault when the pitt mix chomped down on the little dog?

Dogs do not look at size when they decide to fight. The idea that a big dog shouldn't bite a little dog is a human mistake where human's saddle animals with human morals.

I think that you will generally find that if a dog accosts someone and their dog while they are walking down the sidewalk, whether or not the dog's leash allows the dog in your property, the loose dog is at fault. Whether the court system is intelligent enough NOT to morph dogs into humans, is another story.

I was walking with Arwen while my sister jogged ahead with Dubya -- who admittedly is a little dog aggressive. Anyway someone's poodle shot off their porch and right into Dubya, Lisa, and the leash. I was there in a shot. In fact, I do not know how I moved that fast. But Dubya (thankfully) did not bite the dog, thought if I recall, barking and snarling ensued. I think that we were all so startled. The homeowners apologized and everyone went away a little more cautious. (The dog's owners were friends of mine.) Had my dog bitten theirs, I would not have been at fault. The dog plowed into us.

It is very nice that the dog's owners offered to pay the vet bill. I think that your grandmother can accept or not, but I think persuing it will not help anyone, and may be one more stone in BSL in her area.

GSDs are not safe anywhere where BSL takes hold.

Gross negligence should be prosecuted to the extent of the law. I do not see this as such. That is only my opinion.

 

[Halen]

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. It's a bad experience all the way around. Yeah, your grandma shouldn't let her dog run loose (but if it was in her own yard?), the other dog's owners should have had better control. Things happen. We learn from them. It's just too bad we live in a society where SOMEONE has to take all the blame.

 

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted By: selzer

While I agree that the leashed dog should not be blamed. The fact is that the owners of the pitt-mix have to realize that their dog is likely to have more fights if they walk it down the street. And it IS a liability.

Should they euthanize it? No. It did not bite or kill a human without provacation. But they need to muzzle the dog when they go out with it.

Why is walking their dog down the street a liability?
Why do these people need to muzzle their dog?

 

[lcht2]

im sorry about your mother's dog while i also agree that she shoulda been leashed or chained. i would not allow my dogs to "greet" an unfamiliar dog without owners permission just for this reason. i dont want to deal with a dog fight issue nore deal with AC. its unfair to the Pitt mix owners that this happened.

 

[Timber1]

Every now and then you suprise me with your opinions.

It was not the Pit's fault because the Pit was leased and the other dog was not. Granted the little dog was out of control, but the little guys often are aggressive toward my leased German Shepherds, However, if they ever attacked, I would be very disappointed.

My GSD's sit, and I can deal with the ankle biters.