Dog Park Bite (Fort Hunt: neighborhood, costs, lawsuits)

[tdiana]

So my husband had taken our dog to the South Run dog park last night. Another dog bit him in the face, after which my husband got the name and number the the dog's owner. The guy did not leave after this incident. I ended up taking my dog to the vet and paid almost $200. I am wondering if it would be worth it to take him to civil court over this, because after I mentioned I think he is responsible for the vet bill, he stopped talking to me.

Has anyone else been in a situation like this and what did you do?

[ChristineVA]

No, I would never go after another dog owner for a dog bite. Dogs bite, and they often bite each other. That's what they do.

I think the only way you stand a chance of getting anything out of this is if you can prove the other owner was negligent with his dog. For instance, if you were in a neighborhood walking your dog on a leash and the other owner let his dog run without a leash and had no control and the unleashed dog attacked your dog. Then you have a case.

You were in a dog park where, I assume, going off leash is expected?? Dogs are animals--they are not 10 year old children--where you can predict their social behavior 100%.

[jmking]

Call the dog police. Captain Rover will do do diligence.
Can you imagine if lawsuits prevailed at dog parks because of dog bites? Many would never visit a dog park.

[snoie]

While you can try to take him to court, it happened in a dog park. Do you have witnesses besides your husband the other dog owner? You will need them to prove your dog did not provoke the other dog or start the fight.

Dog parks can be dangerous and too many owners fail to maintain their dogs. We rarely visit them now due to this, and if we do, it is never on a weekend or a beautiful evening.

The correct answer is to call animal control after the bite while at the park, especially if you were worried about costs and the other dogs shots/etc. While I've never had to do it, when I used to go we did threaten several people with what we deemed 'aggressive' dogs to leave or we would call. I think it's a personal preference to call, as I almost always won't, unless something is extremely bad.

[OrangeFish]

I would have your husband contact the other as a follow-up. The dog park rules state that handlers are responsible for the behavior of their dogs. Have your husband share the rules with the dog owner and see where that goes. I am guessing the dog owner would be good about it - especially when the alternative is small claims court.

[wnewberry22]

Jesus.........

Get over it....it's a dog bite. Dogs bite...if youre worried about it keep your dog at home.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by wnewberry22

Jesus.........

Get over it....it's a dog bite. Dogs bite...if youre worried about it keep your dog at home.

Wrong. Most dogs do not bite. We've taken our dog to the dog park many times. Do the dogs sometimes growl or wrestle some? Sure. But actually bite? I have yet to see that. To say "dogs bite" is so simplistic as to be wrong; they bite when threatened or provoked, or when someone they love is threatened.

If another dog bit our dog in the face, I'm afraid of what my reaction would be. It would not be good for the aggressor dog or its owner.

[lasershen111]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Wrong. Most dogs do not bite. We've taken our dog to the dog park many times. Do the dogs sometimes growl or wrestle some? Sure. But actually bite? I have yet to see that. To say "dogs bite" is so simplistic as to be wrong; they bite when threatened or provoked, or when someone they love is threatened.

If another dog bit our dog in the face, I'm afraid of what my reaction would be. It would not be good for the aggressor dog or its owner.

Not necessarily true either. Dogs play bite all the time... Not all dogs.. But dogs in general. My two play bite all the time and wrestle around...

Is there a chance that this circumstance was they were playing and there was an accident? Yeah sure? Did one dog walk by and surprise the other one and it's instinct was a bite? Possibly... Or is the one dog just aggressive and just went after the other... Also a possibility. But as far as going to court... As others mentioned.. It really wouldn't be worth It... And doubtfully unless you can prove negligence and extreme aggressive behavior, that you would be able to get anything.
Best bet, also which others have said, is to try and follow up with the owner, see if they are willing to pay for all, or if not all, some of the vet bills. You can see the response...and go from there.

Good luck! Glad your dog is okay after all is said and done.

[CAVA1990]

Female dogs will often be very agressive with borhersome males. A male U.S. Park Police German Shephard who was off his leash made the mistake of trying to play with my two females Springers at Fort Hunt Park one day and barely escaped back to his handler in one piece.

[mcleanexec]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Wrong. Most dogs do not bite. We've taken our dog to the dog park many times. Do the dogs sometimes growl or wrestle some? Sure. But actually bite? I have yet to see that. To say "dogs bite" is so simplistic as to be wrong; they bite when threatened or provoked, or when someone they love is threatened.

If another dog bit our dog in the face, I'm afraid of what my reaction would be. It would not be good for the aggressor dog or its owner.

If you let your dog "wrestle" with another strange do then there is a good chance someone will get bitten. Let me guess you would go Dirty Harry on the dog owner. So dont let you dog interact with other dogs in the dog park is that is your mentality.