Dangerous dog, advice needed please
Discussion
Bigends said:
Amused2death said:
9mm said:
Why not talk to the Police first and get their view on things? I think you need to be clear about what you are trying to achieve before you do anything substantive. I understand your concerns but I'm less clear about what precisely you want to achieve. You say you don't want a dog destroyed but you are concerned about your dog's and daughter's safety, so what needs to happen to alleviate that concern? Once you get specific then I think you'll get suggestions about the best way of achieving what you want.
What I do know is I want my daughter and dog to be able to go in and enjoy our own garden in relative safety, I do what I can to ensure that happens, I don't know what to do, hence the request for advice, legal or otherwise. What I don't know is how I can achieve this considering what I've already posted.
Up until now it hasn't worried me, but after the dog attack last week, which would suggest that these dogs are aggressive, I now have concerns. I've mulled it over in my head for a day or two, and now I'm posting here.
I'm grateful for all your thoughts.
Edited by Amused2death on Monday 17th November 19:05
I'd still contact Police and the local dog warden and air your concerns regardless as to whether your neighbour speaks with them
robinessex said:
Sterillium said:
Mk3Spitfire said:
pinchmeimdreamin said:
Still on dodgy ground legally I would have thought.
Very much so. 
9mm said:
You need to understand that one of the favourite pastimes on here is to goad you into saying what you might do in a given situation. You can then be condemned for your irresponsibility or ridiculed as a keyboard warrior. In the words of Nike, just do it, but don't tell anyone.
Or, advising people against breaking the law. But that doesn't fit your argument does it. Condoning violent behaviour and offences makes for a rather unpleasant society. Advising against it, and suggesting the possible consequences, I would suggest is a more mature and responsible thing to do. Clearly, "mature" and "responsible" are concepts you struggle with.
Your neighbour certainly has grounds for a civil claim in the tort of negligence against the BM owner for the vet bills incured. Most household insurance policies include legal expenses cover that covers this sort of thing. If succesful, the costs will be recovered from the BM owner.
The BM is clearly 'a dangerous thing' and the owner should take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that it does not endanger other members of the public. If it has escaped into the street then the measures are clearly not sufficient. It's not your responsibility to make your fence dog-proof beyond it's ability to contain your dog. Look into things like Occupiers Liability Act.
CIf it gets out again call 999, report a loose dangerous dog causing a public safety issue and wait for Mk3Spitfire and his colleagues to come and deal with it. And do that every time it gets loose. I live in a market city and there are always armed police present on market day in case any livestock escape and become a public safety issue. They also have a military grade .338" sniper rifle, but that's kept for if there's a public safety issue with something escaping form the local safari park.
As Lord Cullen said after Piper Alpha; "If you think safety is expensive; try having an accident."
The BM is clearly 'a dangerous thing' and the owner should take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that it does not endanger other members of the public. If it has escaped into the street then the measures are clearly not sufficient. It's not your responsibility to make your fence dog-proof beyond it's ability to contain your dog. Look into things like Occupiers Liability Act.
CIf it gets out again call 999, report a loose dangerous dog causing a public safety issue and wait for Mk3Spitfire and his colleagues to come and deal with it. And do that every time it gets loose. I live in a market city and there are always armed police present on market day in case any livestock escape and become a public safety issue. They also have a military grade .338" sniper rifle, but that's kept for if there's a public safety issue with something escaping form the local safari park.
As Lord Cullen said after Piper Alpha; "If you think safety is expensive; try having an accident."
Mk3Spitfire said:
9mm said:
You need to understand that one of the favourite pastimes on here is to goad you into saying what you might do in a given situation. You can then be condemned for your irresponsibility or ridiculed as a keyboard warrior. In the words of Nike, just do it, but don't tell anyone.
Or, advising people against breaking the law. But that doesn't fit your argument does it. Condoning violent behaviour and offences makes for a rather unpleasant society. Advising against it, and suggesting the possible consequences, I would suggest is a more mature and responsible thing to do. Clearly, "mature" and "responsible" are concepts you struggle with.
9mm said:
Think what you like. My advice to the poster is not to expose himself to ridicule or condemnation. What else he does is entirely up to him but posting about it on an internet forum isn't going to be help him.
He spoke of guns, and assaults with noxious substances. Your reply: "Just do it, but don't tell anybody".
You are clearly an outstanding pillar of the community.
The only one who spoke of ridicule is you. Condemnation, yes. I condemn acts of disproportionate violence.
Mr Taxpayer said:
The BM is clearly 'a dangerous thing' and the owner should take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that it does not endanger other members of the public.
This appears to be quite difficult for people to understand, but it was NOT the Mastiff that attacked first. It was the cutie wutie wouldn't hurt a fly Labrador. But just ask vets about them....Jasandjules said:
This appears to be quite difficult for people to understand, but it was NOT the Mastiff that attacked first. It was the cutie wutie wouldn't hurt a fly Labrador. But just ask vets about them....
100% correct, as an owner this is the sort of f
king dumb prejudice you have to love with.OP, regarding the BM, speak to the owner and try to socialise yourself and family with it.
We socialised ours with everyone we could think of, as a result it's a big soft dog with everyone it comes into contact with.
WTF are the police going to do, the BM hasn't done anything wrong.
Speak to your neighbour with the dogs and explain your concerns after the last attack. Suggest they secure their back garden more as should the dogs go for your daughter things will get very serious for all and as their is history your concerns are valid.
Personally I'd fork out for some mesh wire (thicker chicken wire) and screw that along the fence if you can or if the hedge is your side then steel posts and wire it tight to them allowing the hedge to grow into it over time.
Any aggression towards your daughter requires an immediate report to the police though as my Fiancé had a gipsy bulldog when I met her years ago and it was a lively dog but really needed a firm hand to control. It growled at her old neighbours kids through a mesh fence for some reason and the following day it was PTS. Dogs are dogs and humans rule I am afraid as much as we love our 2.
Personally I'd fork out for some mesh wire (thicker chicken wire) and screw that along the fence if you can or if the hedge is your side then steel posts and wire it tight to them allowing the hedge to grow into it over time.
Any aggression towards your daughter requires an immediate report to the police though as my Fiancé had a gipsy bulldog when I met her years ago and it was a lively dog but really needed a firm hand to control. It growled at her old neighbours kids through a mesh fence for some reason and the following day it was PTS. Dogs are dogs and humans rule I am afraid as much as we love our 2.
Jasandjules said:
If you are seriously stating you killed your dog for growling through a fence, can you please re-home any dogs you currently possess.
Not my dog mate. This was 9 yrs ago and the dog was a true American pitbull type so not be messed with. I liked it but it was to powerful for her to control and one unprovoked growl was enough as the dog could not be Rehomed as the new laws were kicking in about then.[quote=Amused2death]
We have a small terrier, who barks at anything, and naturally my immediate concerns are surrounding our dog's safety in our own garden. [quote=Amused2death]
As another Bullmastiff owner i have to ask if your dog is maybe provoking the aggressive behaviour of the other 2 in any way?.
The reason i ask is that my dog has been attacked 5 times now, 3 by Staffs and the other 2 by terriers and i do know
the smaller breeds can be feisty little buggers, especially terriers, although quite what they hope to achieve in attacking a 150lb dog is quite beyond me, it's like Richard Hammond starting a fight with Lennox Lewis!.
In all seriousness, if male dogs are in adjoining gardens, each one will be protecting it's territory and maybe that was the case with the neighbour.
Dogs don't have to see each other through a fence, they just know the other one is there.
We have a small terrier, who barks at anything, and naturally my immediate concerns are surrounding our dog's safety in our own garden. [quote=Amused2death]
As another Bullmastiff owner i have to ask if your dog is maybe provoking the aggressive behaviour of the other 2 in any way?.
The reason i ask is that my dog has been attacked 5 times now, 3 by Staffs and the other 2 by terriers and i do know
the smaller breeds can be feisty little buggers, especially terriers, although quite what they hope to achieve in attacking a 150lb dog is quite beyond me, it's like Richard Hammond starting a fight with Lennox Lewis!.
In all seriousness, if male dogs are in adjoining gardens, each one will be protecting it's territory and maybe that was the case with the neighbour.
Dogs don't have to see each other through a fence, they just know the other one is there.
keslake]mused2death said:
We have a small terrier, who barks at anything, and naturally my immediate concerns are surrounding our dog's safety in our own garden.
As another Bullmastiff owner i have to ask if your dog is maybe provoking the aggressive behaviour of the other 2 in any way?.
The reason i ask is that my dog has been attacked 5 times now, 3 by Staffs and the other 2 by terriers and i do know
the smaller breeds can be feisty little buggers, especially terriers, although quite what they hope to achieve in attacking a 150lb dog is quite beyond me, it's like Richard Hammond starting a fight with Lennox Lewis!.
In all seriousness, if male dogs are in adjoining gardens, each one will be protecting it's territory and maybe that was the case with the neighbour.
Dogs don't have to see each other through a fence, they just know the other one is there.
There is a whole world of difference between standing there barking and throwing yourself at the fence to get at what's on the other side. The tone and intensity is enough to know the attitude of the neighbours dog's is substantially different to ours.As another Bullmastiff owner i have to ask if your dog is maybe provoking the aggressive behaviour of the other 2 in any way?.
The reason i ask is that my dog has been attacked 5 times now, 3 by Staffs and the other 2 by terriers and i do know
the smaller breeds can be feisty little buggers, especially terriers, although quite what they hope to achieve in attacking a 150lb dog is quite beyond me, it's like Richard Hammond starting a fight with Lennox Lewis!.
In all seriousness, if male dogs are in adjoining gardens, each one will be protecting it's territory and maybe that was the case with the neighbour.
Dogs don't have to see each other through a fence, they just know the other one is there.
I take your point that ALL dogs have the potential to be dangerous, and as you say, as far as you are concerned BM's are lovely family pets and a terrier like ours is as you put it, feisty. No one wants to think their dog would attack, but that's what they would do if not suitably trained. The behaviour of the next doors dogs would indicate they haven't been suitably trained. Now if they do get loose then we already know trying to call them off is pointless, they don't listen. They have shown themselves to be aggressive. This, to me, indicates that there is a problem.
If we ignore the fact that I have a dog, I'm still concerned for my daughter...and anybody else nearby.
Mk3Spitfire said:
9mm said:
Think what you like. My advice to the poster is not to expose himself to ridicule or condemnation. What else he does is entirely up to him but posting about it on an internet forum isn't going to be help him.
He spoke of guns, and assaults with noxious substances. Your reply: "Just do it, but don't tell anybody".
You are clearly an outstanding pillar of the community.
The only one who spoke of ridicule is you. Condemnation, yes. I condemn acts of disproportionate violence.
The ridicule heaped on people who claim to have taken any kind of strong action is well documented., together with condemnation. I was merely warning the poster not to be drawn as it was obvious what he could expect. You duly obliged.
Edited by 9mm on Tuesday 18th November 19:24
Have you actually spoken to the owner to calmly voice your concerns yet?
You'll be a long time waiting for the police or others to do this for you. You may even find all is not as it appears.
That said, I don't think you can do anything. You can't kill an animal legally or otherwise because you think it's a threat. It would be a much sadder world if you could.
You'll be a long time waiting for the police or others to do this for you. You may even find all is not as it appears.
That said, I don't think you can do anything. You can't kill an animal legally or otherwise because you think it's a threat. It would be a much sadder world if you could.
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