This afternoon I was going up to the high street to get some money from the cash-point. When I turned the corner there was a couple with two really rough looking staffs. The couple were equally rough. One dog had clearly recently given birth. The part of me that has grown judgmental thought to my self, ‘this looks like trouble.’ The couple chatted holding their dogs on Queensthorpe, I passed them and went to NatWest, turned to head back up Queensthorpe and bam! The dog bit me on the hip.
The guy was slightly apologetic but the woman was so dismissive I was actually shocked. She said things like ‘what ever, its not a big deal.’ Then she started walking away. I called to them, asking what they are going to do - being that their dog bit me and broke the skin. Again charming lady said it was ‘no big deal’, and kept walking.
I phoned 999 and the police operator had no idea where sydenham, was which I thought was funny. I then saw two CPO’s and they went after them. They stopped them and held them until the police arrived. I went home and was met by one of the CPO’s who told me she didn’t really know what to do because this isn’t something she’d dealt with before.
Anyway, I had to decide to press charges or not. As a dog owner I would hate the thought of what would happen. I told the police that I wouldn’t press any charges as long as the couple knew if I were to ever see them again I would.
I’m slightly regretting my decision. If I thought that the owners would be the ones in trouble, not the dogs, then I would have done something. Now I just feel I sent the wrong message to those two irresponsible scumbags.
Also, I really didn’t feel the police were very helpful. They were not clear in what my options were. As I sit and write this I feel that there should have been much more done about this and that I shouldn’t have been made to chose then and there. If they were to ask me now, I would press charges and done whatever would have been done to ensure that the dogs would be muzzled in the future. I doubt the owners are going to run out today and invest in a couple of muzzles.
Bitten by a staff on the high street
dog bite
I can understand your worries about this dog Coll but really we have to think of our children first. That one bite could have done more damage to a small child and the dog may even have gone further because of the size difference/reaction etc.
Sadly, it just confirms my worst fears about these dogs. I know it is not usually the dog's fault but until this type of person stops being attracted to them they are going to carry on posing a risk....
Sadly, it just confirms my worst fears about these dogs. I know it is not usually the dog's fault but until this type of person stops being attracted to them they are going to carry on posing a risk....
as a dog owner I really have to say it's always the owners and very rarely the dogs. These two where hardly the cream of the crop! They were the not the type who pick after their dogs or, I don't know... pay taxes, educate their children... read.
It turns out I have to have a jab tomorrow because of this.
It turns out I have to have a jab tomorrow because of this.
Re: dog bite
ironically, in the right hands Staffs make perfect family dogs. They are fantastic with childrenpoppy wrote:I can understand your worries about this dog Coll but really we have to think of our children first. That one bite could have done more damage to a small child and the dog may even have gone further because of the size difference/reaction etc.
Sadly, it just confirms my worst fears about these dogs. I know it is not usually the dog's fault but until this type of person stops being attracted to them they are going to carry on posing a risk....
Re: dog bite
Sorry to hear about this, Coll. I hope the wound and subsequent jabs are not too painful or inconvenient. I think you have to consider yourself 'lucky' though that you weren't injured any worse from this incident which brings me on to...
As a dog lover, I sadly have to completely agree with poppy's and others' assessment that you were absolutely right to proceed with the police complaint. I'm actually quite shocked that it bit you on the hip as scarily this is toddler face height.poppy wrote:I can understand your worries about this dog Coll but really we have to think of our children first. That one bite could have done more damage to a small child and the dog may even have gone further because of the size difference/reaction etc.
Re: dog bite
In the right hands, the vast majority of dogs will settle into any family. They just need to be shown their place in the "pack".bensonby wrote:ironically, in the right hands Staffs make perfect family dogs. They are fantastic with children
I worked as a dustman many years ago. Dogs were sometimes an occupational hazard. One particular incident got me so mad that i called the police/dog warden. They arrived within 15 minutes. As a 'first offence' the owners of the dog were given a warning which was put on file. If another biting incident were to occur then the dog would be destroyed. Unfortunate for the dog, but these situations are the total fault of negligent owners.
I'm glad you are taking this further Coll.
Ali B
I'm glad you are taking this further Coll.
Ali B
There is popular No.10 petition against Staffs being caught by the Dangerous Dogs Act. See here: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/staffys/#detail
Of course if they could only be trained to sniff out and go after this fellow:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Unworthy-Knight/
Stuart
Of course if they could only be trained to sniff out and go after this fellow:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Unworthy-Knight/
Stuart
Sickens me to hear about something like this. My dog (very small pomeranian mix) bit someone in the past. Luckily it was someone we knew and it wasnt out of aggression, we were at a crowded bus stop and he got freaked out as hes a country dog and was now learning about city life. I was absolutely devistated that something like this happened and straight away called an animal behavourist to work on his socialisation in crowded city areas. I understood at once that had it been a young child, although the dog is small, the child could have been maimed.
It is the owner, and not the dog. Any untrained or unsocialised dog can bite. Even a well socialised can get freaked out for a number of reasons and bite. But these owners should have been more apologetic, offered phone number contacts etc. and realise that they should try their best to appease the situation as they could get their dogs put down. These people obviously felt no threat of something like this happening and this is the only reason I feel this should have gone further.
coll, I hope you are not in too much pain and that your hip heals quickly.
It is the owner, and not the dog. Any untrained or unsocialised dog can bite. Even a well socialised can get freaked out for a number of reasons and bite. But these owners should have been more apologetic, offered phone number contacts etc. and realise that they should try their best to appease the situation as they could get their dogs put down. These people obviously felt no threat of something like this happening and this is the only reason I feel this should have gone further.
coll, I hope you are not in too much pain and that your hip heals quickly.