Advice on Small Claims, when your dog is attacked by another dog (vet, shaking)

[kln21]

My small dog was viciously attacked today by a large German Shepard with a history of violence. The German Shepard is normally in an invisible fence which runs the length of his yard all the way to the Beach which has a public right of way to walk down the beach (for community members). My father was walking our small dog down the beach (not on a leash but right next to him and nowhere near the homeowner's property) and the German Shepard took the shock and left the area of his invisible fence and attacked our dog shaking it and attempting to kill/seriously injure our dog. Our dog ended up with a large deep laceration on her back and now we have a $500 vet bill along with all the recovery.

This German Shepard has previously tried to attack our dog (but never before injured it). Further, many neighbors and friends have complained of being chased and/or intimated by this same dog and have complained to the owners (even people without dogs/pets). I also know of one other small dog being viciously attacked and injured by this same German Shepard.

I am wondering if anyone has any advice (legal or otherwise) of how to proceed with this case? We filed a police report and the owners of the GS agreed to move the invisible fence line back a few more feet away from the beach but I do not think this is nearly enough considering its history of violence as well as the fact that it obviously does not mind leaving the invisible fencing area when it really wants to.

I have a 2 year old daughter, and we enjoy walking down the beach in our neighborhood but now do not feel that it is at all safe to do so. Many neighbors and friends I have spoken to feel the same way. I also feel that we should not have to pay the $500 vet bill caused by another person's pet who they knew had a history of viciousness.

If anyone has any ideas I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks very much.

[cheese9988]

Have you tried going to the owners about the $500 bill?

[kln21]

We haven't approached the owners at all yet, as this all happened today and I was waiting to see what happened with our dog, the bill, etc. I'm not sure whether or not contacting the owners of the German Shepard first would be a good idea or not?