megan_ Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 It could take two to three months before anything happens. They haven't even tried to contact the owner of the dog yet. What a load ... ask to speak to management NOW. Tell them you will go to the local papers. With the new dangerous dog laws coming into effect on 1 September, they are going to look very bad if they let a known attacking dog continue to go to an unleashed area. I agree with leaving it up to them, but I think you are going to have to push this to get any action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted September 1, 2010 Author Share Posted September 1, 2010 megan is right, in Vic effective control means your dog comes back as soon as you call it. It also means you are PAYING ATTENTION to your dogs behaviour. There is also a distance limit to what is effective controleither way this idiot needs to be held responsible. She did not have effective control over her dog; several people (including myself) asked her to call her dog away. She would just wave and say "he's all noise" and continue her phone converation. When we tried to move away, the dog followed us. My dog was walking at my heel when he was attacked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 You're bothering not only to recover your own costs, but to make this owner face up to the risk her dog poses to others. So that she might be a more careful next time and not just prioritise a chat on the phone over stopping her dog attacking another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted September 2, 2010 Author Share Posted September 2, 2010 It could take two to three months before anything happens. They haven't even tried to contact the owner of the dog yet. What a load ... ask to speak to management NOW. Tell them you will go to the local papers. With the new dangerous dog laws coming into effect on 1 September, they are going to look very bad if they let a known attacking dog continue to go to an unleashed area. I agree with leaving it up to them, but I think you are going to have to push this to get any action. The council ranger said "they cannot condemn the dog on what may be a one-off incident" and that they had not got the "other side of the story yet". I have enough shite in my wheelbarrow right now without this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 They can take action on a single incident, every record starts with a single incident. If they stick to that line I would go to the local paper. With gory photos of your boy's leg and you in tears. Do you have the names now of some other witnesses, so it's more than your story vs hers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 The council ranger said "they cannot condemn the dog on what may be a one-off incident" and that they had not got the "other side of the story yet".I have enough shite in my wheelbarrow right now without this. err is not one incident enough? How many more dogs does it have to damage before they do something about it. Stuff it, I would go straight to the paper with this. Someone has to pay the vet bills and it sure as hell shoudlnt be you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 (edited) Funny they say they cant take action on a single incident. A friend of mine reported a bloke whose dogs rushed hers while she was walking them on leash to the local park. His dogs were off leash and frightened her and her dogs. She knows where he lives so she reported him and the council sent him a fine based purely on her say so! I was very surprised, I know she was telling the truth, I just didn't think they could do that. She lives in the Port Melbourne area. Edited September 2, 2010 by Kirislin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 The council ranger said "they cannot condemn the dog on what may be a one-off incident" and that they had not got the "other side of the story yet".I have enough shite in my wheelbarrow right now without this. err is not one incident enough? How many more dogs does it have to damage before they do something about it. Stuff it, I would go straight to the paper with this. Someone has to pay the vet bills and it sure as hell shoudlnt be you. Under Victorian Law it is enough for a dog to just run at you for it to be declared dangerous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I recently reported a dog that attacked one of mine and although they haven't found the woman yet, they took it very seriously and have phoned me 3 times to assure me they're still looking for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budd Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Im so sorry to hear about your dog Elfin, I hope he recovers well. I just wish some people would socialise their dogs from an early age. I have a little Staffordshire Bull Terrier and he is great with other dogs, cats and even Kangaroos. I just hope this doesnt put you off all Staffy's.. Take care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeckoTree Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 fn oath send the council the vet bill if they cant be arsed to do what is required by them in law. You pay your taxes for it. I hope your dog gets better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxx'sBuddy Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 What are the general laws governing off leash areas where the normal leash control is not required???. I don't mean someone allowing their dog to terrorise others and act aggressively, but dog's being dog's in what is essentially a free for all environment, any dog could snap and bite given the right stimulus completely out of character for the most responsible owner which can happen quickly as we know.Your dog could be terrific with other dogs and playing beautifully as it has done a hundred times before, then could suddenly end up in a fight and hurt another dog which could have been triggered by the other dog, but by the time you can recall or physically collect the dog, it's over and the damage has been done.........where do you stand legally in a designated area that permits dogs to run free, exercice and play together???. Fiona you are required to have efective control over your dog if it is off leash. that means the dog follows any command you give it whilst it is off leash. if you dont have effective control then the dog should be leashed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 The council ranger said "they cannot condemn the dog on what may be a one-off incident" and that they had not got the "other side of the story yet".I have enough shite in my wheelbarrow right now without this. err is not one incident enough? How many more dogs does it have to damage before they do something about it. Stuff it, I would go straight to the paper with this. Someone has to pay the vet bills and it sure as hell shoudlnt be you. + 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adza Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Gee, councils really know how to change their tunes How does this not now confuse people with the new laws? No one is going to know what's going on or one council will differ from the other etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranVT Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Funny they say they cant take action on a single incident. A friend of mine reported a bloke whose dogs rushed hers while she was walking them on leash to the local park. His dogs were off leash and frightened her and her dogs. She knows where he lives so she reported him and the council sent him a fine based purely on her say so! I was very surprised, I know she was telling the truth, I just didn't think they could do that. She lives in the Port Melbourne area. I agree, there is a big thing going in my local paper at the moment because a postie was barked at and chased by an Assistance Dog, a Border Collie, the postman reported it and now the woman (who has a form of muscular dystrophy I think) has to have him muzzled all the time which renders him useless if she has a relapse, part of his job is to move her limbs with his mouth into a certain position. She is appealing it but they did all that based on one complaint from a postal worker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted September 2, 2010 Author Share Posted September 2, 2010 Quick update as I am at work and not s'posed to be on here... I tried aclling the owner of the dog again, and she answered her phone (finally). In a VERY brief conversation, (I think I must have woken her up; she sounded very groggy), I reminded her that her dog attacked mine and that I was calling with details of the vet so that she can pay the bill. She agreed to pay next Thursday and then hung up. So good news, in a way. I then rang the council to let them know she was willing to pay, and they managed to confuse me. What i DID understand was that they would have to interview the owner formally before they could do anything else. He also said it depended on the "seriousness of the attack" as to what would be done and how quickly it would be done. He asked if the wound inflicted was "severe" or not. (Despite having had the vets report for 2 days). Aren't ALL attacks "serious", regardless of the amount of damaged inflicted? FFS, my dog is a 48kg Deerhound and he needed about 40 sutures. What on earth would that sort of a wound done to a small dog?!?! I am just as angry at the council as I am at the dog's owner. Thank you for all your PMs of support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 As far as I'm concerned, ANY wound that bleeds and requires sutures is serious! I'd be speaking to whomever is in charge of the department Animal Control comes under at that council (here it is Environment). The delay is inexcusable. Makes you wonder what kind of judgement call will come from it after they have done their "investigation" if the person dealing with it cannot see the seriousness of the matter immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malsrock Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I have no idea what the situation as to liability is in off leash dog parks. Perhaps it depends if witnesses are sure that one dog actually attacked the other (versus a play session turning into a mutual fight?)Now, if an offleash dog approaches your onleash dog in an onleash area, then I believe they are liable for damages since they're breaking the law - no matter who starts the fight. Yes, I experienced an off leash dog about 8 years ago when a nasty little Terrier ran out of a driveway and bit my old GSD on the leg who was on leash. My dog bit the Terrier with one chomp and crushed his ribs and the Terrier had to be PTS...........it was a totally devistating experience that happened so quick. By the time I had hoisted my dog away, it was too late. I was frantic about believing my dog would be PTS over it especially a GSD injuring a small dog and the ranger visited from the council and said to me that the poor little Terrier's owners had broken the law and sadly their dog paid the ultimate price and nothing would be recorded against me or my dog. None the less, I was paraniod for some time about what happened after seeing how much damage a big dog can inflict on a little one and how fast it can happen, truly dreadful ;) Fiona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malsrock Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 'Nekhbet' date='2nd Sep 2010 - 08:38 AM' post='4782662']megan is right, in Vic effective control means your dog comes back as soon as you call it. It also means you are PAYING ATTENTION to your dogs behaviour. There is also a distance limit to what is effective control SA law is a bit different where effective control is restrained on a leash of no longer than 1.8 or 2 metres???. In an off leash park, none are under effective control from that definition when unleashed, so I don't know how that one sits legally here in SA???. Fiona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charli73 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Elfin I hope your dog recovers soon... A friend had an incident with her dog and another in an off lead area and although the owners gave the number and name and offered to pay vet bills it was 5 months before the matter was dealt with because the council... They will deem the attack serious if a puncture wound is involved generally.... in your case that shouldnt be an issue... Owners will have to go to council and both give formal statements and the process can take weeks to resolve... Best of luck with it all.... Its a pity some owners are more interested in their phone calls than what their dogs are doing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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