Very upset - my dog accused of biting an elderly man

[Kerry1976]

When my 76-year-old grandmother visited at Christmas, my parents' pug jumped on her (in happy excitement - Cooper loves all people) and his little nails did the same thing - scratched the thin skin on her arms and caused her to bleed.

Difference? She felt bad asking for a bandaid and felt bad that some of her blood got on Cooper's face. She also felt bad because Cooper got scolded for scratching her. She said it wasn't his fault her skin was so thin and she was glad that he was so glad to see her. (mta: in fact, she was so happy to see him so happy that she was giggling and didn't even realize he had scratched her until I noticed she was bleeding)

Class act verses classless....

[Savra]

I can only give advice from the perspective of an owner who had a dog who bit someone. Go through the ten day quarantine - it's simply a normal thing animal control does. There isn't much more you can do. Usually, these things blow over. Not being able to see what happens - the gentleman may not have been able to see if the dog bit him or not. All he knew was that he started bleeding. My hope here is - if he intended to make a really big case about it he would have done it the instant the dog jumped on him and not a while later after he started bleeding.

[Catrin]

I....My hope here is - if he intended to make a really big case about it he would have done it the instant the dog jumped on him and not a while later after he started bleeding.

This - this remains me of my mother, one simply never has a scratch or a cold, instead one is dying of something. She is really putting herself through far more stress over MY bit leg than I am... He probably doesn't really know either way how it happened and felt he had to do this to protect himself just in case.

Just let me know, I can take pretty pictures of my leg that you can use as an example of what a dog bite looks like! I hope this blows over for you, and it has got to mean something that the animal control officer doesn't think it to be a real bite.

[emily_in_nc]

Thank you all so, so much for the kind and sweet support! I do feel better just reading your comments. Of course we'll abide by the quarantine period (although poor Paisley doesn't understand at all b/c she LIVES for walks), and hopefully that will be the end of it.

If not, you've given me some more good ideas to pursue. Fortunately, the apartment staff love Paisley, and we have many friends in the complex (including a vet) who know what a great dog she is and how very friendly.

Love you gals! This is the most supportive forum anywhere...it really is.

Thank you again.

Emily

[emily_in_nc]

P.S. Catrin, it's so ironic the way a situation like mine can get blown out of proportion, and your recent situation, where an actual vicious dog attacked and bit you multiple times, can't even be dealt with properly b/c the dog can't be found. [And I've kinda been on both sides of dog issues now since my fractured pelvis resulted from two dogs running right at me on the road. In this case, the home owner's insurance of the dog owners did end up paying all my non-covered expenses -- I filed an insurance claim but did not sue].

I sure hope you heal up fast -- being attacked by a dog or dogs while riding is one of my biggest fears, and was even before my accident. I love dogs, obviously, but they shouldn't be running loose on the road, ever.

[jessmarimba]

A similar situation happened with my sister's dog. We were having her wedding "reception" (party?) at her house, the food was inside so her dog was outside. My 3 year old cousin was playing with the dog, dog and child bump heads, child has small scratch, aunt & uncle throw a stink and report it, whole nine yards. The kid didn't even need a band-aid, and we're talking about a 90-pound Akita - if the dog had attacked the child, it would definitely have done some damage! Anyway, we proved shots, etc, and essentially haven't spoken to my aunt and uncle in the last few years. She didn't have to do anything special with the dog, but I believe there is a report with animal control somewhere.

Anyway, not much advice, but I sympathize - it's a terribly unecessarily stressful situation. I wish you guys the best.

[ny biker]

I guess I'm the only one who feels bad for the old man. He was just walking in his home, not bothering anyone, and suddenly he's bleeding. He probably feels pretty vulnerable anytime he goes out, because of the way he walks. And if that scratch becomes infected, it could be a serious problem for an elderly person.

Since there was a delay in his calling animal control, it's quite possible that it was someone else's idea, like maybe an adult child or other caretaker. Maybe they were trying to document what happened through official channels, in case it becomes more serious.

You tried to control your dog. But a person was injured. That doesn't mean he deserves to be called names by people who don't know him or his situation.

[Crankin]

It doesn't sound like he was "bleeding," you know, profusely or anything, if all he had was a scratch, not a bite. It's unfortunate this happened, but in the end, this situation is causing Emily more trouble than the man.
I know nothing about dogs or animal behavior and generally don't care that much for any animals. But, I know that Emily is a responsible owner and must be really upset.

[Brandi]

I would lay low as well and not ruffle feather's. Just have all documentation in case but I am sure it will be fine. Just steer clear of this guy from now on. Some people are just looking for things to complain about too. I know when a dog is being mean and it sounds to me like your dog was just happy to see him and wanted to give him a little love. Not your fault he didn't get it. I would get that one statement in writing if you could about how it did not look like a dog bite. Good luck. This too will pass.

[Irulan]

Brandi, some people don't want a little love from any dog, no matter how cute it's owner thinks it is.

[OakLeaf]

I'd find out what constitutes the "one free bite" in your jurisdiction. If a report like this triggers your having to get special insurance, muzzle your dog at all times, put a roof on your yard, etc. - not to mention the spectre of him being taken from you and put to death if the man or someone else should decide to make a second accusation - then you need to fight it now.

If there has to be a judicially proved bite before your dog is tagged a vicious dog, then just collect documentation and sit tight, as others have said.