Small dog attacked toddler while in walk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this could have been avoided if the dog had been leashed or contained, but of course the owners won’t acknowledge that.

Yup. If the dog owners followed the leash law their dog would be alive. Sadly they will never admit that to themselves. Let’s hope they don’t get another dog ever.

The dog does not need to be leashed on their property.

This is only true for dogs that know their property limits and are trained enough not to leave the property. In this case, based on the incident, it is clear that the owners failed. Owners are responsible for training the dog to stay on the property otherwise they need to have some sort of containment for the dog, like a leash, a fence or an electronic fence. A dog that will run off the property and attack a passerby on the sidewalk is not contained and is in violation of the law.

As said, these are irresponsible pet owners who abuse the laws and then get angry when they or their pet have to face the consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again.

The good news: DD is healing beautifully and doesn’t seem to even remember the incident. No signs that she’s scared of any dogs!

The bad news: the dog unfortunately passed away while being monitored. We don’t know what happened and we are sincerely sad with this outcome.

The owners were clearly VERY upset and we had an incident last week where the husband came to our house and physically threatened our family. Police were called and it’s just been a downhill shitshow since.

We do not feel safe in this neighborhood anymore. It’s just been really rough and I never imagined this would unfold as bad as it has.

Get cameras, if you don’t already have them. Make sure their record and even get a few angles. Get a protection order asap. I’m sorry your child was bit and I’m sorry the dog died. Just a crappy outcome all over.

We have cameras and a security system. Yes, we filed a report and are in the process of filing a protective order (but we will see how that goes).

Both neighbors have threatened my family with violence. The husband, a man in his early 60s threatened to kick my infant in the ribs if he saw us again. So yeah, it’s ugly.

I know you are considering moving. I would not. I would call the police and add the threats to the existing police report of the dog attack on your child. Then I would file for a peace order to keep them from coming near my property. This needs to be documented. Do not allow the bullies who are terrible pet owners to win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again.

The good news: DD is healing beautifully and doesn’t seem to even remember the incident. No signs that she’s scared of any dogs!

The bad news: the dog unfortunately passed away while being monitored. We don’t know what happened and we are sincerely sad with this outcome.

The owners were clearly VERY upset and we had an incident last week where the husband came to our house and physically threatened our family. Police were called and it’s just been a downhill shitshow since.

We do not feel safe in this neighborhood anymore. It’s just been really rough and I never imagined this would unfold as bad as it has.

Get cameras, if you don’t already have them. Make sure their record and even get a few angles. Get a protection order asap. I’m sorry your child was bit and I’m sorry the dog died. Just a crappy outcome all over.

We have cameras and a security system. Yes, we filed a report and are in the process of filing a protective order (but we will see how that goes).

Both neighbors have threatened my family with violence. The husband, a man in his early 60s threatened to kick my infant in the ribs if he saw us again. So yeah, it’s ugly.

I know you are considering moving. I would not. I would call the police and add the threats to the existing police report of the dog attack on your child. Then I would file for a peace order to keep them from coming near my property. This needs to be documented. Do not allow the bullies who are terrible pet owners to win.

+1

This worth hiring a lawyer first, OP. Don’t pack until you hear what the lawyer says. For example, if the lawyer says “do they have guns?” - you might then consider moving, because that would mean the lawyer has seen this kind of crazy neighbor before.

[Anonymous]

How hard did you kick this little dog OP??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again.

The good news: DD is healing beautifully and doesn’t seem to even remember the incident. No signs that she’s scared of any dogs!

The bad news: the dog unfortunately passed away while being monitored. We don’t know what happened and we are sincerely sad with this outcome.

The owners were clearly VERY upset and we had an incident last week where the husband came to our house and physically threatened our family. Police were called and it’s just been a downhill shitshow since.

We do not feel safe in this neighborhood anymore. It’s just been really rough and I never imagined this would unfold as bad as it has.

Get cameras, if you don’t already have them. Make sure their record and even get a few angles. Get a protection order asap. I’m sorry your child was bit and I’m sorry the dog died. Just a crappy outcome all over.

We have cameras and a security system. Yes, we filed a report and are in the process of filing a protective order (but we will see how that goes).

Both neighbors have threatened my family with violence. The husband, a man in his early 60s threatened to kick my infant in the ribs if he saw us again. So yeah, it’s ugly.

I know you are considering moving. I would not. I would call the police and add the threats to the existing police report of the dog attack on your child. Then I would file for a peace order to keep them from coming near my property. This needs to be documented. Do not allow the bullies who are terrible pet owners to win.

We have contacted the police and are attempting to get a protective order.

But none of this will actually protect us from harm. We do not know what these people are capable of and everything we’ve done is only a paper trail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How hard did you kick this little dog OP??

Hard enough for it to let go of my kid.

I didn’t gauge it. I was panicked and did kick hard, because it had a grip on my toddlers leg.

No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again.

The good news: DD is healing beautifully and doesn’t seem to even remember the incident. No signs that she’s scared of any dogs!

The bad news: the dog unfortunately passed away while being monitored. We don’t know what happened and we are sincerely sad with this outcome.

The owners were clearly VERY upset and we had an incident last week where the husband came to our house and physically threatened our family. Police were called and it’s just been a downhill shitshow since.

We do not feel safe in this neighborhood anymore. It’s just been really rough and I never imagined this would unfold as bad as it has.

Get cameras, if you don’t already have them. Make sure their record and even get a few angles. Get a protection order asap. I’m sorry your child was bit and I’m sorry the dog died. Just a crappy outcome all over.

We have cameras and a security system. Yes, we filed a report and are in the process of filing a protective order (but we will see how that goes).

Both neighbors have threatened my family with violence. The husband, a man in his early 60s threatened to kick my infant in the ribs if he saw us again. So yeah, it’s ugly.

Better keep it on a leash then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again.

The good news: DD is healing beautifully and doesn’t seem to even remember the incident. No signs that she’s scared of any dogs!

The bad news: the dog unfortunately passed away while being monitored. We don’t know what happened and we are sincerely sad with this outcome.

The owners were clearly VERY upset and we had an incident last week where the husband came to our house and physically threatened our family. Police were called and it’s just been a downhill shitshow since.

We do not feel safe in this neighborhood anymore. It’s just been really rough and I never imagined this would unfold as bad as it has.

Get cameras, if you don’t already have them. Make sure their record and even get a few angles. Get a protection order asap. I’m sorry your child was bit and I’m sorry the dog died. Just a crappy outcome all over.

We have cameras and a security system. Yes, we filed a report and are in the process of filing a protective order (but we will see how that goes).

Both neighbors have threatened my family with violence. The husband, a man in his early 60s threatened to kick my infant in the ribs if he saw us again. So yeah, it’s ugly.

Better keep it on a leash then.

Let's all agree to ignore this poster from now on. It's clear that it's the same one - repeatedly posting stupid barbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this could have been avoided if the dog had been leashed or contained, but of course the owners won’t acknowledge that.

Yup. If the dog owners followed the leash law their dog would be alive. Sadly they will never admit that to themselves. Let’s hope they don’t get another dog ever.

The dog does not need to be leashed on their property.

The dog needs to be under the owners control no matter where it is. In the event the dog bites someone on your property, you’re not automatically liable due to loss of control - but when the bite victim is a child who wasn’t interacting with the dog, it will be pretty difficult to avoid responsibility.

But, that doesn’t matter bc the child was reportedly not on the dog owners property, which leaves only 1 option: the dog owner failed to control the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How hard did you kick this little dog OP??

Hard enough for it to let go of my kid.

I didn’t gauge it. I was panicked and did kick hard, because it had a grip on my toddlers leg.

No regrets.

Is this in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How hard did you kick this little dog OP??

I would have kicked the damn dog into the middle of next week if it had been biting my child.

[Anonymous]

This sounds fake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This all happened yesterday so still processing.

I was walking with my toddler (22 months) and infant. Infant strapped to chest as toddler is about a foot in front of me. A very small terrier mix ran from porch and started attacking DD. Bit her on the legs and would not let go. Dog owner (woman in her 60s) yelled at dog to stop, in a panic I kicked the dog hard. The dog let go and ran back to the porch and neighbor screamed at me for kicking dog. I swooped crying toddler up and headed home.

DH took her to urgent care and they asked for address of dog owner so they can attempt to get vaccination record. Police went and thankfully dog is up to date on vaccines but is being quarantined. DD got antibiotic shot but is ok.

Today an officer came by to question us about the incident. The neighbors are claiming we came on to property and assaulted the dog.

DH is fuming and wants to get a lawyer and sue for damages (medical bills, which overall aren’t that bad).

I am not a confrontational person. These people live 8 houses down. We are fairly new to area and I don’t want this to become a bigger issue.

I do think they should offer to pay for DD medical expenses. I’m confused as to why they say we went onto their property and I kicked dog. All this took place on sidewalk and I kicked the dog to get it off my child?


Should we get a lawyer? Especially if our neighbors are going to accuse me of something I did not do?

The "every dog is entitled to one bite" thing is real. My son was the first of two middle school age kids at a halloween corn maze place who were bitten by an elderly, arthritic, matted dog who clearly should have been given sanctuary from tons of hyper kids--thre were some organized groups as well as families (my son went with my sister and her daughter). My son reached down and petted the dog and ended up with 7 stitches, even wearing a lined, fairly thick, jacket. Right after that a girl got bit. They both ended up in the same ER. Dog was not vaccinated and ordered euthanized. Read in the paper the girl got a decent settlement, which I had not considered. Called a lawyer who said sine my kid was bitten first we were out of luck.

[Anonymous]

This is one of my biggest fears with pet owners today, OP. They are out of control and let their animals run amok. This dog was a menace and I'm sorry that it attacked your child. I'm glad that your DD is doing better.

In your shoes, I'd have done the exact thing. I do not mourn this dog in the slightest. I'd kick/beat/stomp anything that attacked my child. I don't even know why this is in question. The owners sound like lunatics. I would look into moving. So sorry, OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm conflict avoidant too, but in this case I'm team DH. Honestly I'd probably take it further and look into making a case the dog should be put down so it can't attack other innocent people in the future, but no idea if this is feasible.

The dog doesn’t need to be put down….it needs a better, more reliable owner.

Maybe, maybe not.

A close family member was in this exact situation. This person is an extreme dog lover. Several months later the dog bit someone else and was put down.

We don't know enough about this dog and its behaviors to say. But I'd look into it and pursue if possible so that: 1) the neighbors understand the FAFO principle; 2) no future innocent adults or children are harmed.

I mean a small dog biting someone on the leg who does not require stitches is not a strong reason to have the dog put down.