Hi all,
Id like your input to a situation that happened last night.
I was out walking my dog last night, it was a nice summers evening. As i come around the corner i see a dog run from a house, it was a king charles dog. He ran straight over and went to bite my dog. I seen the teeth been shown so i got in the middle. I pushed him away with my leg, to which i got a few snaps at. His owner came out and i called him over as his dog was getting worse. On his way over he told me to kick him away. So i did quiet lightly as they seem a very frail dog, but the dog persists actually getting worse. So i kick him again, alot harder this time the dog lets out a huge whine and backs away.
When his owner got down to me he went crazy, saying i over did the kick and that if his dog needs the vet ill be paying.
Now im not a violent person and it killed me to hurt the dog but is it not the owners responsibility to controll that dog. I feel terrible but i feel i did the right thing. My dog was being attacked and i was protecting her. I took her to the vet and she is fine no long term damage just to my concience.
I appreciate any comments.
Thank you all.

I don't see a problem.

You did the right thing. I live in a neighborhood riddled with dogs running loose, and I have to deal with this on a daily basis (Not recently, it's been quiet lately).

I have been forced to kick and maced many dogs this year alone (In front of owners, too). At one point, I almost had to use my stun gun because mace wasn't doing anything to a particular pitbull. Also, I'm not a violent person either, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to gain control of a bad situation. Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.

I probably would have told the guy he's lucky I didn't spray his dog with pepper spray and then abruptly walked away. It is his job to maintain control of his dog. How were you supposed to know the level of ferocity this dog would go to? This is ridiculous.

pepper spray stun guns or mace are illegal here in Ireland so that i not an option. I do know of an incidence where a friend out walking her jack russell, when all of a sudden a grey hound runs at her and starts to rip the dog to bits. My friend uses a walking stick due to a bad knee, had to beat the dog quiet badly to make it stop. Police actually charged her, but was thrown out when it went to court. The owner of the greyhound got charged as my friends dog died of her injuries.

Hello Gavin
Just ignore the fool, Perhaps you should report him for owning a dog which is not under an owners control and sue him for injury to yourself and your Dog, Buffoons like him will always run and hide then under the nearest rock. Besides it is probably only the fool and yourself who witnessed the problem
Over here in Belgium we have to take out an insurance against our dogs injuring someone be it by attack or just jumping up at them and causing an injury. or running out in the road and causing a problem. It is a law here in Belgium
Steve

 Quote: Steve Patrick

Hello Gavin
Just ignore the fool, Perhaps you should report him for owning a dog which is not under an owners control and sue him for injury to yourself and your Dog, Buffoons like him will always run and hide then under the nearest rock. Besides it is probably only the fool and yourself who witnessed the problem
Over here in Belgium we have to take out an insurance against our dogs injuring someone be it by attack or just jumping up at them and causing an injury. or running out in the road and causing a problem. It is a law here in Belgium
Steve

Hi Steve,
I agree, insurance should be law here but Ireland is extremily slow on the up take.

Hello Gavin
I have many Friends over in Ireland, Mostly from Northern Ireland Pigeon Men, I know a few from Southern Ireland where you come from
England is the same you do not have Insurance for Dogs
Our insurance is linked with the House insurance but you pay a separate Premium, one thing for sure over here Insurance companies find many ways of taking extra euros from you even if you do not want it
Steve

I agree with Steve. Report the other guy to the police before he does. This seems to be the best way as they see the other person as the offender first. Not to mention HIS dog attacked, HE told you to kick HIS dog. HE did not have control of HIS dog. This way if it happens again, it's not a first offense. Also, if your dog, by chance, does have problems from the incident you have a better chance of making him paying for treatment.

Also make a detailed memorandum of what happened and keep it where you won't forget. It serves the same purpose as a statement from a witness. Over time you may forget what happened exactly and the memo will serve as your recolection of the incident.

I wouldn't worry Gavin..

You did the right thing. The Garda wouldn't be interested in any complaint from the other dog's owner..and are more likely to be listening to you, if YOU had YOUR dog on a leash and the other was without one...(regardless of the other dog's size)...

What breed is your dog incidentally?

Does the other owner know you personally, where you live etc?

Gary