Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 10:08     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:No, no lawyer. Everything turned out fine, although traumatic, for your child. Carry a can of Raid or Bear spray on walks….that will stop the dog. You were justified in kicking the dog, so I wouldn’t give that a second thought. You should probably keep your 22 month old closer so you can scoop her up. You never know what can happen.


No. The sidewalks are for people. Dogs get one chance in my book, and then that's it. This dog owner is on notice that the dog is territorial/unpredictable and dog should not be outside without being contained - leash, fence, electric fence, whatever.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 10:03     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
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?


She's saying this because she is clearly liable and lying about what happened in an attempt to shift blame.

Your health insurance company may go after her. I'd talk to them first about it and if they won't pursue it then I'd send her a letter. How bad were the bites/will they leave a scar?

YOur poor toddler. I am so sorry this happened.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:55     Subject: Re:Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Just call her on the phone (not text) and say you want to leave lawyers out of it, and let's move on. You don't want to waste thousands of dollars.

- not a lawyer, but I've seen people waste years and $ on useless lawsuits
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:54     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A lawyer for $300 in medical bills? OP you are nuts. Let it go. It’ll cost you more in legal bills. Not to mention the strain it’ll put on this “relationship “ with your new neighbors.

Who wants a relationship with liars who let their dogs bite little kids?


+1

Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:51     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:Since they’re being nasty and trying to turn the tables on you I’d get a lawyer. If they had been apologetic this wouldn’t have been an issue. You also want to make sure this doesn’t occur again.
I’d check if anyone has Ring cameras.


+1

Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:50     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think you’re a troll but I’ll play too. Your kid was on the neighbor’s property. You weren’t paying attention because you were on your phone. Your kid did something to antagonize the dog. Your kid was never in danger but you still kicked the dog. You should be charged with assaulting the dog. But don’t worry, Michael Vick redeemed himself so maybe you can too.

You should be winning prizes for fiction writing.
Do you realize how stupid you sound?


The real fiction writer is the OP. Just go back and read it again. The writing is just very dramatic and tailored to the DCUM troll biters. And OP makes the story just gray enough to create a discussion. Credit to the OP.


There is NOTHING grey about a dog bite. I say this as a dog owner. I would be entirely OK with someone kicking my dog if he bit someone!
On or off the property does not matter AT ALL. *The hospital confirms there was a bite*. This is all that matters.

Whether you believe this story is real or not, does not change the fact that any and all measures can be taken if someone is bitten by a dog.

OP is free to threaten legal consequences. It will be expensive, but the neighbors will get a fright, which is what they deserve.

Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:44     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think you’re a troll but I’ll play too. Your kid was on the neighbor’s property. You weren’t paying attention because you were on your phone. Your kid did something to antagonize the dog. Your kid was never in danger but you still kicked the dog. You should be charged with assaulting the dog. But don’t worry, Michael Vick redeemed himself so maybe you can too.

You should be winning prizes for fiction writing.
Do you realize how stupid you sound?


The real fiction writer is the OP. Just go back and read it again. The writing is just very dramatic and tailored to the DCUM troll biters. And OP makes the story just gray enough to create a discussion. Credit to the OP.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:43     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Absolutely floored lawyers are advising not to hire a lawyer and others are claiming the OP is crazy. The neighbor is clearly posturing to take action by accusing the OP of “hitting first”. A lawyer is to prepare for a counter suit, possibly a cease and desist depending on what the neighbor does next… not strike first. Isn’t that obviously the right move here?

These “lawyers” are simply trolling.

New poster who is also a lawyer saying don’t get a lawyer yet. The lawyer will cost so much and the neighbor is not likely to get anywhere with her claim. If the neighbor files suit, then sure. There’s plenty of time “prepare for a counter suit” if you get sued.

What I would do, though, is go to the neighbors to see if there is footage of the incident.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:41     Subject: Re:Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
So sorry, OP. I'd send that neighbor the hospital/clinic bill and ask for reimbursement. I'd also get a lawyer, just in case.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:38     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk

I was hit by a car while crossing the road with my class, at 10 years old. The driver then called my father to demand he pay for the damage my head had done to the front of their car - there was a large dent where my head had crashed into it. The driver told my father she wanted to repair the damage before her husband, who was sick, got wind of it. My father gave that the treatment it deserved.

People who act out of fear are capable of monstrous things, OP. I think your best bet is to formally request reimbursement of medical expenses from these neighbors, on official lawyer letterheard. It will cost you more than $300, so if you have a lawyer friend, ask them first. They might not ever pay.

Then as you ingratiate yourself with your other neighbors, be sure to let each of them know of this incident. You might be told that these neighbors have always been crazy!
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:37     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Absolutely floored lawyers are advising not to hire a lawyer and others are claiming the OP is crazy. The neighbor is clearly posturing to take action by accusing the OP of “hitting first”. A lawyer is to prepare for a counter suit, possibly a cease and desist depending on what the neighbor does next… not strike first. Isn’t that obviously the right move here?

Literally 2 posts above yours have 2 lawyers saying they’d get a lawyer.


Cool, so I probably wasn’t talking about those posters. Did you think of that?
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:18     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
As a small dog owner this neighbor pisses me off. This woman saw her dog attacking your CHILD and is mad because you kicked it? I love my dog and I would be upset it got kicked but I would totally understand why you did it if my hellion dog was biting and attacking your CHILD. The chum is already in the water so lawyer up.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:13     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:I think you’re a troll but I’ll play too. Your kid was on the neighbor’s property. You weren’t paying attention because you were on your phone. Your kid did something to antagonize the dog. Your kid was never in danger but you still kicked the dog. You should be charged with assaulting the dog. But don’t worry, Michael Vick redeemed himself so maybe you can too.

You should be winning prizes for fiction writing.
Do you realize how stupid you sound?
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:11     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A lawyer for $300 in medical bills? OP you are nuts. Let it go. It’ll cost you more in legal bills. Not to mention the strain it’ll put on this “relationship “ with your new neighbors.

It could become more of a strain if the lying dog owner is allowed to continue to lie.


We are only getting one side of the story. OP said it happened fast. The child might’ve could’ve been on the property which legally mucks things up.

I’d let it go. She wasn’t mauled or even needed stitches.

I had a friend whose child was mauled by a pit bull - but the child actually entered the house without permission (she was looking for her friend to see if she wanted to play) and legally her mom could do nothing, which was sad.


Again, this is not the law. You can be held criminally/civilly liable if you maintain dangerous dogs on your property in a way that a child can be forseeably injured especially if that dog has bitten before.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 09:05     Subject: Small dog attacked toddler while in walk
Anonymous wrote:I think you’re a troll but I’ll play too. Your kid was on the neighbor’s property. You weren’t paying attention because you were on your phone. Your kid did something to antagonize the dog. Your kid was never in danger but you still kicked the dog. You should be charged with assaulting the dog. But don’t worry, Michael Vick redeemed himself so maybe you can too.

A dog who won’t release his bite from your toddler’s leg is EXTREMELY dangerous.