I need a place to vent this evening, and also curious if anyone here has faced a similar issue and their outcome. Sorry it's a long one...
Background: My dog is not reactive in the way I see many of the fine dogs on this sub are. He is actually very obedient, wont immediately react if approached by another dog on leash, loves people, not a barker. But if he senses any bit of aggression from another dog, or they run up on him, the fight is on with no warning growls and he is going to win (red nose pit, from the pound at 3 yrs old, now 7). Unfortunately this behaviour has gotten worse over time and we have been working with a trainer to address.
Now let's go to 3 weeks ago, I was working on his loose leash walking skills (thanks to the trainer) in a park we do not usually go to, after dark. I was talking loudly and giving him treats. This caught the attention of a reactive dog off leash 50ish ft away. She starts barking and the owner hugs her around THE MIDDLE and not by the collar. We keep walking but the other dog breaks free, I immediately shout "hes not friendly", the other owner responds "she's not either"... eye roll So when the dog reaches us I grab her by the collar and had my dog by the collar and was able to keep them apart, while owners ran up a hill to get her. cue calamity My effing dogs collar breaks/unclips idk but boom, it's off, and he is on top of her and I am just freaking out bc I dont know how to regain control safely, I'm helplessly screaming at him and that his collar broke. It was awful and I wish my brain had worked enough to kick him or get his leash around him. But instead after a minute of panic the other owner reached in to get her dog and my dog reflexively bit and latched onto her arm. I am horrified... she is able to get her dog, I get mine we seperate and she is bleeding... a lot. I am fully freaking out and she just says "dogs are dogs". I just start offering my name and phone number bc though I did not feel the incident was my fault I was horrified by the outcome and would have absolutely helped pay vet bills and even for her care if needed. I did not make that clear though, just offered the info. They did not even request it, I am just a dumbass bleeding heart on the brink of a panic attack. Got a call the next day from animal control, dog has to quarantine but I will face no repercussions bc he was on leash and other dog was not. Cool...
Now we get to last week when I get a call from some bullshit injury attorney that she is suing me and wants my homeowners insurance information, followed by a letter after my refusal (done giving anyone information at this point). Fucking livid. And just generally upset. We are good people who recognize our dogs issues and work so hard to address them. We also take responsibility for any damage he may cause. But I dont want to pay mfing lawyers to handle something that WASNT MY FAULT and that I would have taken care of as a HUMAN BEING. And then pay insurance premiums out the ass for years to come.
Now we come to why I am triggered tonight. I had mostly convinced myself she was probably more significantly injured than it seemed and maybe it had a real impact on her life. But no. Just got the official report from the county that she had to get 10 stitches, and says it was a laceration down her "entire arm"... Does that suck? Absolutely! Will it impact her life long term? No. Did it happen because she was being an irresponsible dog owner? YES. And she fucking says her dog was awoken by us walking by, like that is an excuse the dog was not on leash or under any sort of control at all even once it started barking? Agh. I die. There are no indications of injuries to her dog and she refused to meet with an animal control officer after filing the complaint, or answer their follow up calls, which seems odd?
Ultimately after talking with a lawyer and an insurance agent friend we are going to file the damn claim. But everyone is hopeful and thinks there is a good possibility that her claim will be denied. One further frustrating thing, insurance agent friend said that if she had just called me and the amount was more than we could cover out of pocket we could have filed that as a medical claim and she would have gotten a pay out and our premiums would not go up as much as they will have to when they have to hire a lawyer for us. So. Fucking. Frustrating.
Note that typically my dog would have been in a harness and collar but ironically that night did not have his harness on because of the training. He will now always have both on outside of the house and be in his muzzle in new situations.
Has anyone really made it this far? If so, any sympathy, similar stories, suggestions, or even criticisms are appreciated.
Background: My dog is not reactive in the way I see many of the fine dogs on this sub are. He is actually very obedient, wont immediately react if approached by another dog on leash, loves people, not a barker. But if he senses any bit of aggression from another dog, or they run up on him, the fight is on with no warning growls and he is going to win (red nose pit, from the pound at 3 yrs old, now 7). Unfortunately this behaviour has gotten worse over time and we have been working with a trainer to address.
Now let's go to 3 weeks ago, I was working on his loose leash walking skills (thanks to the trainer) in a park we do not usually go to, after dark. I was talking loudly and giving him treats. This caught the attention of a reactive dog off leash 50ish ft away. She starts barking and the owner hugs her around THE MIDDLE and not by the collar. We keep walking but the other dog breaks free, I immediately shout "hes not friendly", the other owner responds "she's not either"... eye roll So when the dog reaches us I grab her by the collar and had my dog by the collar and was able to keep them apart, while owners ran up a hill to get her. cue calamity My effing dogs collar breaks/unclips idk but boom, it's off, and he is on top of her and I am just freaking out bc I dont know how to regain control safely, I'm helplessly screaming at him and that his collar broke. It was awful and I wish my brain had worked enough to kick him or get his leash around him. But instead after a minute of panic the other owner reached in to get her dog and my dog reflexively bit and latched onto her arm. I am horrified... she is able to get her dog, I get mine we seperate and she is bleeding... a lot. I am fully freaking out and she just says "dogs are dogs". I just start offering my name and phone number bc though I did not feel the incident was my fault I was horrified by the outcome and would have absolutely helped pay vet bills and even for her care if needed. I did not make that clear though, just offered the info. They did not even request it, I am just a dumbass bleeding heart on the brink of a panic attack. Got a call the next day from animal control, dog has to quarantine but I will face no repercussions bc he was on leash and other dog was not. Cool...
Now we get to last week when I get a call from some bullshit injury attorney that she is suing me and wants my homeowners insurance information, followed by a letter after my refusal (done giving anyone information at this point). Fucking livid. And just generally upset. We are good people who recognize our dogs issues and work so hard to address them. We also take responsibility for any damage he may cause. But I dont want to pay mfing lawyers to handle something that WASNT MY FAULT and that I would have taken care of as a HUMAN BEING. And then pay insurance premiums out the ass for years to come.
Now we come to why I am triggered tonight. I had mostly convinced myself she was probably more significantly injured than it seemed and maybe it had a real impact on her life. But no. Just got the official report from the county that she had to get 10 stitches, and says it was a laceration down her "entire arm"... Does that suck? Absolutely! Will it impact her life long term? No. Did it happen because she was being an irresponsible dog owner? YES. And she fucking says her dog was awoken by us walking by, like that is an excuse the dog was not on leash or under any sort of control at all even once it started barking? Agh. I die. There are no indications of injuries to her dog and she refused to meet with an animal control officer after filing the complaint, or answer their follow up calls, which seems odd?
Ultimately after talking with a lawyer and an insurance agent friend we are going to file the damn claim. But everyone is hopeful and thinks there is a good possibility that her claim will be denied. One further frustrating thing, insurance agent friend said that if she had just called me and the amount was more than we could cover out of pocket we could have filed that as a medical claim and she would have gotten a pay out and our premiums would not go up as much as they will have to when they have to hire a lawyer for us. So. Fucking. Frustrating.
Note that typically my dog would have been in a harness and collar but ironically that night did not have his harness on because of the training. He will now always have both on outside of the house and be in his muzzle in new situations.
Has anyone really made it this far? If so, any sympathy, similar stories, suggestions, or even criticisms are appreciated.
I feel ya!
)