My two female dogs were mated by a neighbour's dog: what are my legal options?

It's a shame this thread is nearly 1,000 days old...

Popped in out of curiosity and I’m absolutely appalled by all the nasty and baseless replies here. This looks like a right witch hunt! Well, I’ve got news for all you lovely people who seem to think you know it all and hold the moral high ground: the owner of the dog is the one in the wrong. Simple as that! It’s actually written in the law! Every owner is responsible for their animal and any damage it might cause. Aloha’s dogs were on her own property and tied up to stop them from roaming. So, she is well within her rights. I had the same thing happen with my neighbour’s dim-witted Labrador. He smashed through my fence to get to my ***** who was in season—and she was tucked away safely in my cellar. So don’t you dare start calling me an irresponsible owner and all that blah blah blah... It’s the dog that leaves its own property to cause trouble that’s responsible, not the dog that stays at home. And anyway, why is it always "spay the females"? Why not neuter the males! I keep horses and it’s the males we castrate! Believe me, if your stallion escaped to cover a neighbour's mare and you told the owner they should have kept her locked in her stable, they’d be rightly fuming at your hypocrisy (or your sheer stupidity). So, to the person looking for answers here: yes, the roaming dog is at fault and the owner is liable for the cost of the mismating jab! Their third-party liability insurance should cover it! A word to the wise!

Just let this thread die!!!

Thanks to Angoramanga and Springerrr for your comments. I’ve taken that on board and hope you have a lovely evening! =)

Hi there, I’m not here to lecture you, even though I don’t think breeding your dogs without being a licensed breeder is a good idea, but anyway, that’s beside the point. Just so you know, even though the neighbour is in the wrong, you are too because you left your girls out in the garden while they were in season (I know you probably didn’t think about it as it’s private property). I know you’re telling yourself that if that dog hadn’t been roaming around outside like that, nothing would have happened, but have you considered that if your dogs hadn't been outside while in season, it wouldn't have happened either? Basically, you can't really ask him to pay for the termination if they are pregnant. (By the way, a 7-year-old dog giving birth is extremely dangerous for both the mum and the puppies!) You’re looking for some help on what to do next, so here’s a suggestion—I’m not sure if anyone else has mentioned it yet as I got a bit lost in the comments, lol: EDIT: Oops, slight problem, I can’t seem to post the link for you.

Legally speaking, it’s 50/50, even if that seems illogical to you—and I completely agree with you. But to take it to court and file a claim, you really need photo evidence; that’s usually much better than just saying "my neighbour saw the whole thing," especially in a case like this. Your girls were tied up while in season and you were aware of it. There was no gate to get through; if there’d been a gate, it would have made all the difference, even if he is in the wrong regarding his dog. I know you’re sick of getting advice, but a 3m x 3m run with wire fencing and good tensioners at the bottom doesn't cost too much if your landlord won't put a gate in. There are some good books on dog law out there by specialist solicitors if you want to look into it further.

Oh, dogs being in season is such a nightmare! I honestly don't know how you could leave them tied up outside... dogs in season... In the countryside, unfortunately, there are loads of owners who just let their dogs roam free... I've been followed by male dogs while out with my girl on coastal paths in Brittany... good luck trying to get rid of them! I'd never dream of leaving my dogs outside like that... I'd actually rather they just did their business indoors and kept them shut in a room... I know someone whose gate was shut, but the neighbour’s dog—a terrier—dug a hole and mated with the *****. She had to have the pregnancy terminated because she was too old!

usibelle, with all the nasty comments there have been, your link must have got lost in the shuffle.

Male dogs can smell a ***** in season from miles away. It was your neighbour's dogs that turned up this time, but if you keep leaving your girls tied up in the garden, you're definitely going to have other dogs catching the scent and flocking over, that’s for sure. You really ought to keep them indoors while they're in season or look into getting them spayed. Don't you have a garden shed or an outbuilding? Otherwise, the poor things aren't out of the woods yet, and it lasts for three weeks.

Oh right, I clearly should’ve just given up my dog then... ten hours all on his own, boo, what a monster I am!