A few days ago, while I was out walking my dog (a 12-year-old Parson Jack Russell) on her lead, she was attacked by a Staffy (Staffordshire Bull Terrier).
Before I even had time to realise what was going on, the Staffy—which was off its lead—attacked us from behind. The violence of it was just horrific. The Staffy clamped onto my dog's neck for what felt like an absolute eternity. It was clearly trying to kill her.
The owner finally arrived and tried to get it to let go by shouting at it and kicking it.
By some miracle, the Staffy let go, which allowed my dog to get free. She’s alive, but she is absolutely terrified.
The owner didn't even apologise. When he saw me starting to call the police, he took his dog back home and then came back to talk to me.
In the meantime, I’d taken refuge with a neighbour who had heard the shouting and let me in.
What followed was a completely surreal conversation with the owner. He’s an 18-year-old lad who doesn't even seem to know the breed of his own dog. At first, he told me it was a 'Staff' (implying a banned or restricted breed), that he hadn't had the dog for long, and that the animal had been bred for dog fighting...
Translated from French
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To be fair, a Staffy that bites leaves puncture wounds... so the Staffy must have been controlling its bite pressure. You were terrified, and that’s understandable. A dog scrap, even if it’s not serious, is a violent thing. If you were in an area where dogs must be kept on a lead, you can certainly bring that up, but as for the "attack", you don't really have any evidence. A Staffy isn't a restricted breed, so there’s no legal requirement for a muzzle or a lead on the dog itself; it's only the rules of the specific location that might back you up, or not. If I were you, I wouldn't bother trying to get the vet bills back. You need to move on from this bad encounter so your dog can do the same.
Well, it wasn't a "dog scrap" given that the Staffy attacked my girl for no reason. So I’ll do without your useless comment.
It’s by doing nothing that this kind of lawlessness thrives in this country. Sorry, but I don't agree with you. I’ll do everything I can to avoid a tragedy (imagine if the dog went for a child).
Your reaction is unbelievable, it’s actually quite scary.
You know, I couldn't care less about the money, I know perfectly well that lowlife will never pay me back. What I want is to prevent a tragedy.
Imagine if that dog bites a kid, when we knew it was dangerous and we did nothing to stop it? Do you ever actually stop to think?
To be honest, if a Staffy really meant it, they'd leave a lot more damage... so he’s clearly controlled his bite force there.
You must have been terrified, which is completely understandable. A dog scuffle, even if no real harm is done, is always a violent thing to witness.
If you were in an area where dogs must be kept on a lead, you could certainly raise that point, but as for the 'attack' itself, you don't really have much of a case.
Staffies aren't a restricted breed, so there’s no legal requirement for them to wear a muzzle or be on a lead specifically because of what they are; it all depends on whether the location itself required it.
If I were you, I wouldn't get hung up on trying to get the vet bills back. You need to put this nasty encounter behind you so your dog can do the same.
"My dog was attacked by a Staffy (Staffordshire Bull Terrier). Before I even had a chance to realise what was happening, the Staffy—which was off the lead—attacked us from behind. The whole thing was incredibly violent. The Staffy latched onto the back of my dog's neck for what felt like an eternity. He was clearly trying to kill her." "My dog has no visible injuries on her body, just a few scratches but no bite marks." It sounds like two different stories to me. It was probably just a bit of a correction that’s traumatised you.
Well, NO, it isn't two different stories. It’s what I went through. My dog nearly didn't make it. I think you’re forgetting the psychological impact of an "incident" like this, and the fact that the owner isn't being punished (it’s typical of the lax attitude towards offenders in this country). You’re still defending an irresponsible owner who has absolutely no control over their animal... but that’s just the way it is here, people have more sympathy for the criminals.
Send a letter via recorded delivery to this young man, demanding he covers the vet bills within a week of receiving it. Tell him that if he doesn't, you'll go back to the police and start legal proceedings; threats usually work a treat in these cases. It might be even better for you financially to make a claim against his insurance (it takes time, but you can get compensation for emotional distress as well as the vet costs—check with your own insurance). In the future, if I were you, I'd take a walking stick with me to scare the dog off (I've actually got a zapper, lol! But don't use it on a dog or a person, they're so powerful; just the sound of it in the air is enough to stop a dog charging at you in its tracks).
Thanks for the reply, I think I’ll go ahead with the recorded delivery letter. I’ve also bought some deterrent spray because he’s still walking the dog off-lead. But how do I get the council or the police to actually take notice of this situation? Surely the dog needs to be assessed?
So, if I've got this right, nothing actually happened? I can tell you that if the dog had tried to kill yours, your dog would have wounds. Since your dog has no injuries, surely you just took them to the vet for no reason? Just for your own peace of mind? Are you sure it's up to the Staffy owner to pay for an unnecessary check-up?
Unbelievable, hearing that kind of comment! I feel like I’m the one in the wrong here!!!
The STAFFY was OFF-LEAD, which is already an offence!!!! I didn't go to the vet just for "peace of mind", I went to make sure my dog (who's 12) didn't have any bruising or any muscle or bone damage.
But to say nothing happened??? What right do you have to say that? It was an attack by an off-lead dog. The Staffy’s goal (bred for fighting according to the so-called owner) was to kill my dog. SO DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR A TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE REACT???? Is that what you're saying? That his Staffy has to kill a dog or a kid before I can report it?
If that’s all you’ve got to contribute, you’re better off saying nothing at all.
Send a letter by recorded delivery to this young man, demanding that he pays the vet bills within a week of receiving it. Tell him that otherwise, you will go back to the police and take legal action; quite often, the threat of legal proceedings does the trick in these situations.
It might be more worth your while to make a claim against his insurance (it takes some time, but on top of covering the costs, you can also get compensation for emotional distress. You’d need to check with your own insurance provider).
In future, if I were you, I’d carry a walking stick to ward off the dog (I’ve actually got a taser, lol! But don't use it on the dog or a person – those things are so powerful. Just firing it in the air is enough to stop a dog that's charging right at you and put them off coming any closer).
I was absolutely fuming and asked him what he was doing with his dog off-lead and without a muzzle, and told him it could have attacked children. He just replied that his dog only attacks other dogs...
Then things really started to escalate. I told him I intended to report him because dogs must be kept on a lead.
Even though he was in the wrong, the young lad reacted with pure aggression, threats, and insults. Luckily there were witnesses, and in the meantime, some friends of mine turned up. We got his details and I rushed straight to the vet.
My girl has no visible injuries on her body, just a few scratches but no actual bite marks. She’s absolutely petrified, but we’re doing our best to comfort her.
I then went to the police station with the vet’s report. I was treated very poorly (apparently my "country-bumpkin" problems didn't interest them).
They refused to let me file a formal complaint. The reason given was that my dog didn't bleed and the Staffy didn't bite me (no human bite)! According to the officer, the dog "inhibited" its bite, so there were no grounds for a report.
I went to see my local council’s enforcement officers anyway, as at that point I didn’t yet know the exact breed of the dog that attacked mine. They contacted the young man and asked him to come in with the dog’s papers.
That’s how I found out it wasn't a "Staff" but a Staffy (Staffordshire Bull Terrier), so it doesn't legally require a muzzle. The lad promised the police he’d reimburse me for the vet fees.
As of right now, I still haven't been paid back. I've tried chasing him up, but he just tells me to ****** off every time.
The guy's behaviour is so contradictory; he says he wants to get rid of the dog but he’s still got it, and he says he’ll pay the vet bills but then refuses to answer me.
He’s a very immature, irresponsible lad—really impulsive and aggressive.
Regardless, I’m still shaken by the attack and by the fact that no one seemed to want to help me (not the vet, not the police).
What I want is for the council to demand the owner takes the Staffy to a vet behaviourist for a proper assessment to see how dangerous it actually is.
That’s why I’m asking for your advice. What should I do now? Just let it go? Knowing that I’m still seeing this (dangerous) dog out and about off-lead.
