Source
r/reactivedogs•
zelmarcel

More advice please

Advice Needed

An update to my previous post -

https://www.reddit.com/r/reactivedogs/comments/op3wyo/need_support_advice/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

(TLDR; an off small leash dog ran up to my (big) dog, my husband tried to pull our dog away but the small dog persisted and my dog bit it and got it bad. The owner called later to say the dog was put down and they filed a police report)

So we called the police to be proactive and give my husbands side while it was still fresh and to seem like we weren’t hiding anything, cause we weren’t at fault that their dog was off leash. They came and took a picture of our dog and said we have to take him to the vet, and there will be an evaluation. TURNS OUT the other party claims their dog was on leash when they weren’t. So essentially is our word against theirs and My dogs the big pit mix so that looks terrible. The owner is a lady but the dog was being walked by her boyfriend. She was not present until after the whole horrible mess happened and she came to take the dog away. While my husband was crying and saying how sorry he was that this happened, the owners bf said “no, it’s my fault, the dog wasn’t on its leash” so he admitted fault but for some reason they lied on the report. To top it all the owner, the lady, called us later (my husband being the kind person he always is gave his info in case they needed more information) in the night to ask us for money to help with the euthanizing fee, because she couldn’t afford the care the vet suggested cause vets can be exorbitantly expensive they had to choose to put the dog down. I want to help ease her pain and I know I can’t but I know helping pay might help ease financial anxiety she has on top of the loss of her dog but shouldn’t I tell her to tell the cops the truth!!??

So lost on what to do. Is helping pay admitting fault? How do I have reassurance she won’t just turn around and sue me anyway after I give her money for the vet? How do I do any of this while still giving her some compassion and be a good person but not allowing us to be screwed over?

Thanks all, you’re wonderful.

Posted Jul 22, 2021, 11:08 AM UTC

18
Dgryan87•

Would definitely get a legal consultation before I did anything else. I don’t think their story makes any sense, though. If it’s a small dog being walked by an adult man, how exactly was it able to get so close to a leashed dog that was clearly not super friendly?

11
zelmarcelOP•

That’s exactly my thinking! My husband said dude was holding a leash too but the dog was not hooked to it, like whyyyyy

1
Blue_Sky_Aqua•

I've seen this soooo many times - people get so over-confident and don't think.

2
zone6a•

Lawyer. Don't give them anything until you consult a lawyer.

5
oslagleMagnus (frustrated greeter/dog reactive)•

God OP I’m so sorry that is such bullshit. Unfortunately I think of lot of what comes next depends on your local laws. I don’t know if offering to pay admits fault or not so I wouldn’t do anything else until you have a lawyer. I know it’s expensive and frustrating but at this point I don’t know what they are going to try to do or have done either to you financially or to the dog. Like others have said all you can really do now is muzzle condition your dog ASAP to show that you’re being responsible.

This is why it’s so frustrating to me that people cannot get it through their fucking heads to just leash their dogs!!! This poor dog died because its owners were irresponsible!! And like I get that we sound like broken records (leash your dog posts were even temporarily banned in r/dogtraining) but this is why!!! Reactive dogs exist and even non reactive dogs don’t like being charged head on while they’re restrained and the other dog isn’t. Fights often break out and unfortunately in a case like this with a big size difference it often leads to tragedy :( if it hadn’t have been your dog it could have been a car or any other hazard.

I know that as reactive dog owners we are responsible for our dogs behavior, not the behavior of others. You had your dog restrained. You did the right thing. The only thing more you can do is muzzle train for next time. I hope you all can get some legal help and it works out.

Edit: typos

5
DragonflyMother3713•

Echoing the talk to a lawyer comments. Sorry you’re going through this.

3
Blue_Sky_Aqua•

As others have said, talk to a lawyer. The owners bf is probably lying to her and she's chosen to believe his story that the dog was leashed. Good luck!

2
FollowingFlaky•

Dude, this is why I can't stand a liar, errr.

Get a lawyer and then ask them what you should do, but make the other dog owners tell the truth first before you pay for anything.

1