What would you have done???

So yesterday, DH, my mom and I took our shibas for a Christmas walk through the neighborhood. Before we headed home, we stopped in the local park. A woman was there with her large dog (a husky or malamute), which was off-leash.

This park has a big grassy area but is not fenced in, and even though there are signs posted that all dogs must be leashed, people often bring their dogs there and let them run free, much to my annoyance. On more than one occasion, people's off-leash dogs have run up to me and my dogs, and it's just not safe. You never know with strange dogs.

So anyway, this large dog starts slowly walking toward us. We just kept going. The woman who owned it took her sweet time coming after it, and smiled at us while calling her dog back (it didn't listen). We told her it's okay, her dog can come say hi (he didn't look menacing, wasn't growling or barking or barreling at us, so we thought he was just coming to sniff and check out our dogs). Then she says - as her dog is maybe a yard away from us and she's still far behind it, "No, he's not very friendly."

No sooner were the words out of her mouth then her dog is on top of mine, wrenching him from the leash in my hand, trying to maul it. My shiba immediately slipped his collar, so now he's loose and being tackled and bitten. DH dropped our other dog's leash, grabbed the big dog by the back of the neck and kicked it in the ribcage to get it off of our dog, then held it down until the woman got close enough to put its leash on it and drag it away. In the meantime, I chased down our little guy and made sure he was okay (he was; no broken skin), and my mom grabbed our other dog.

The woman just took off, no "I'm sorry," no "Is your dog ok," nothing! I hope she was embarassed and just wated to leave and that's why she didn't apologize, because if you know your dog is that "unfriendly", it never belongs off-leash and that was her own stupidity that created the situation in the first place, but... what on earth?

And then I noticed my hand felt funny, and looked down to see that I was bleeding. It was just one cut and not that bad, but I'm really not sure if it came from her dog's tooth as he jumped on my dog, or from the leash cutting my hand as it pulled, or even from my dog in the confusion. Since I could tell I was okay and we were close to home, I just wanted to go home and clean it off, and the woman was already all the way across the park leaving. We didn't pursue it, but the whole situation made me really mad. Either one of my dogs or one of us could've been seriously hurt.

So now that I've told my ridiculously long story - what would you have done? Should I have the number for animal control in my cell phone so I can call if anything like that happens again? Should I have chased her down and demanded her personal info when I noticed my hand bleeding? Should I have reported her to the HOA for not following the rules of our common-area parks? I want to be prepared in case something like this ever happens again...

Re: What would you have done???

Wow....I'm so sorry you experienced that.
I know I am a rule-breaker as far as the local park is concerned...but I try to be aware of other people also. I only go to the local park early in the morning (6-7 a.m.) and if I see another dog, I call Misty back and she comes. I do allow her off-leash, but she comes when I call her and she loves to play with other dogs. But honestly, I've only encountered other dogs (and it's the same guy every time) maybe five times in the three years we live here.

That being said, I would have probably gotten her number just in case. If her dog bit your hand, she is responsible. I don't think any aggressive dog should be allowed off-leash anywhere. I have seen it a dog parks and it can get really ugly.Animal control or the police probably wouldn't have gotten there fast enough to do anything...but getting her info would probably have been the best idea, just in case something bad was wrong with your hand or one of you dogs was hurt and you didn't know.

Either way, I'm sorry that happened to you.

Re: What would you have done???

that is ridiculous. she shouldnt have her dog off leash if it is agressive. How can she be so stupid and irresponsible.

I think its def a good idea to have the animal control # in your phone but it seems to be more of the owners fault than the dogs. I wouldn't want to see the dog taken away from her, she just needs to learn a lesson or be told that she should not have her dog off leash.

Well, I am glad your dog is ok

Re: What would you have done???

That's ridiculous what that woman did! Knowing her dog was unfriendly, it should have been leashed!

I would have done the same thing - and I would def. put animal control on your cell phone for future purposes if it's needed.

Happy to hear that you're okay and your dogs are okay too!

Re: What would you have done???

That woman is TOTALLY irresponsible - Her poor dog is not properly trained and 'unfriendly' and she puts not only herself, but her dog at risk by letting him off of his leash in the park..........

He's going to seriously injure someone, or their dog one day and risk being put down .....all b/c his OWNER is a moron.

I'm sorry your poor doggies got attacked

Re: What would you have done???

that woman was an idiot....I would have been so ****** but what can you really do? Just glad your dog was not hurt....

she is a irresponsible dog owner, that is for sure

Re: What would you have done???

Re: What would you have done???

Posted by Gertyrae

Wow....I'm so sorry you experienced that.
I know I am a rule-breaker as far as the local park is concerned...but I try to be aware of other people also. I only go to the local park early in the morning (6-7 a.m.) and if I see another dog, I call Misty back and she comes. I do allow her off-leash, but she comes when I call her and she loves to play with other dogs. But honestly, I've only encountered other dogs (and it's the same guy every time) maybe five times in the three years we live here.

That being said, I would have probably gotten her number just in case. If her dog bit your hand, she is responsible. I don't think any aggressive dog should be allowed off-leash anywhere. I have seen it a dog parks and it can get really ugly.Animal control or the police probably wouldn't have gotten there fast enough to do anything...but getting her info would probably have been the best idea, just in case something bad was wrong with your hand or one of you dogs was hurt and you didn't know.

Either way, I'm sorry that happened to you.

Re: What would you have done???

In NYC dogs are allowed off leash in parks from 9pm to 9am. As a member of an animal rescue organization I am against such policies.

If the park that you were in has a rule that dogs are not allowed off leash speak with park staff, many can issue a summons, but they must witness the violation. I do not think you were bitten by the dog as you would have bite marks in in terrible pain.

I understand why your DH kicked the dog, but if he had caused injury he may be held accountable. I know it is not fair but sadly that is the law.

I would definitely speak with the woman the next time you see her and let her know in no uncertain terms she had better keep her dog on leash or you will report her to authorities. Finally, shame on her that she had no concern for you dog. I am glad he was not seriously injured.