Bite by three dogs...what to do?

[jimtigers65]

Everyday I take my boxer for a walk. On Saturday morning we were on our usual route when three dogs; a pit bull, 2 collies bust out of their fenced in gate towards us. My dog and I backed peddled into the middle of the street. With the pit bull in the lead, the three dogs reached us. My boxer immediately sat. The three dogs by passed her and started to attack me. I yelled, kicked and punched with no effect. In the process the pit bull knocked me down and continued bitting. While on the ground I saw a pickup truck parked nearby. I got up and picked up my dog and ran to the truck. I threw my boxer in the bed and jumped in. The dogs continued to try to jump in the bed until they heard their owner yell "Get back here" Once they heard the owner's voice they ran home.
I waited a couple minutes (to catch my breath), secured my dog in the truck and I went to the owners house. After knocking on the door he came out and was surprised that his dogs did this. He said he was sorry. He wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and I limped home (I didn't have my cell phone with me). My clothes were torn up. I went to Urgent Care and they cleaned out the 17 bites and gave me a tetanus shot. My total bill was $25 ($12 co-pay, $13 medicine/pain killers). I went home took some pain killers and slepted.
Today, Sunday, I went to the local Police Station. They said it was a Animal Control issue. I called the number and they will get hold of me tomorrow.
Where would Net 54 members take it from here? I figure my clothes (jeans, hoodie, shoes are torn, $25 in doctor fees, and $40 for sheets). I woke up with blood stains on my sheets. So I figure a couple hunderd dollars that I am out of. But what about scaring? What to do?

[vintagetoppsguy]

An animal control issue? I've never heard of that. Sounds like the police just didn't want to get involved.

Here in Houston, the pit bull would probably be euthanized. I don't know about the collies.

I would confront the dogs owner and politely ask him to pay for your medical bills and other costs. If he refuses, maybe small claims court?

[bouncer]

If it was one bite, I would try and work it out with the dog owners. However, you were bit 17 times and imo that deserves some compensation. Once the wounds start to heal, what type of scarring will you have? Will it be short term or lifelong scars? You may want to contact a lawyer just to protect to see what your options are.

[Econteachert205]

Take pictures now, call lawyer tomorrow.

[D.P.Johnson]

I love dogs more than I love most people, but I've got no use for any dog that would just randomly attack someone like that...If one of my dogs ever did something like that, I'd get rid of them immediately...What if the next time it was a old lady or small child that couldn't defend themselves??? "F" that...Can't say I'd personally sue the guy because that's really not in my nature, but if someone sued me because my dog did something like that I'd certainly understand it...Good luck...

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by D.P.Johnson

I love dogs more than I love most people, but I've got no use for any dog that would just randomly attack someone like that...If one of my dogs ever did something like that, I'd get rid of them immediately...What if the next time it was a old lady or small child that couldn't defend themselves??? "F" that...Can't say I'd personally sue the guy because that's really not in my nature, but if someone sued me because my dog did something like that I'd certainly understand it...Good luck...

+1 perfectly said.

[EvilKing00]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Take pictures now, call lawyer tomorrow.

^^^^^do this now!

[BicycleSpokes]

Sorry to hear of this. For a couple hundred dollars, I would not get a lawyer involved. Not sure about the scarring, however. Document everything, and ask the owner in writing to cover your expenses. If he won't then consider taking him to small claims court.

My own opinion is that any dog (including my own, if it ever happened) capable of this should be put down. One incident of this magnitude is waaay too many.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[vintagetoppsguy]

I was watching the local news tonight and saw this story that reminded me of this thread...

http://abc13.com/news/girl-4-attacke...ground/520757/

I started to say this last night, but I bit my tongue. I'll say it now though. Pit bulls serve no purpose. IMO, they should all be euthanized.

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

I was watching the local news tonight and saw this story that reminded me of this thread...

http://abc13.com/news/girl-4-attacke...ground/520757/

I started to say this last night, but I bit my tongue. I'll say it now though. Pit bulls serve no purpose. IMO, they should all be euthanized.

That is the most ignorant post that I have seen on this board ever!

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by pgellis

That is the most ignorant post that I have seen on this board ever!

Last year, there were 42 dog-bite related deaths in the US. 27 of those (64%) were by pit bulls. Going back over the last 10 years, that number decreases slightly to 62%. How does one breed account for so many deaths?

So speaking of ignorance, go ahead and tell us what good dogs pit bulls are and how wonderful they are with kids., blah, blah, blah. There is a reason that pit bulls are banned as pets from most apartment complexes. There is a reason most dog rescues/shelters euthanize pit bulls. There is a reason that the majority of law enforcement uses pit bulls over any other breed.

Or just save your ignorant rhetoric before you look more stupid!!!

Edited to add: Pit bulls make up only 6% of the dog population, but account for 68% of dog attacks.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Last year, there were 42 dog-bite related deaths in the US. 27 of those (64%) were by pit bulls. Going back over the last 10 years, that number decreases slightly to 62%. How does one breed account for so many deaths?

So speaking of ignorance, go ahead and tell us what good dogs pit bulls are and how wonderful they are with kids., blah, blah, blah. There is a reason that pit bulls are banned as pets from most apartment complexes. There is a reason most dog rescues/shelters euthanize pit bulls. There is a reason that the majority of law enforcement uses pit bulls over any other breed.

Or just save your ignorant rhetoric before you look more stupid!!!

Edited to add: Pit bulls make up only 6% of the dog population, but account for 68% of dog attacks.

Phil was wrong this post is much stupider than the one he quoted because this one also has some made up statistics.

My personal opinion is that it is 100% the dog owners fault and not the dogs no matter what breed it is. Pit Bulls get the bad name because they can be an aggressive breed when owned by people who should not own them.

We have a 2yo American Staffordshire Terrier(supposed to be the worst breed of pit bull). We adopted him a little over a year ago from the same shelter we got our last 2 dogs a St. Bernard and a Rottweiler.

Here is a picture of my Pit Bull from thanksgiving. The Wife and I love him dearly but if he was to ever bite anybody even once he would be dead before the sun set.

[jimtigers65]

I had my wife take pictures of me in the parking lot of the Urgent Care. Also, I saved the torn, blood stain clothes. Plus the clothes are covered with pit bull hair. This morning Animal Control called me. They said they are going to put the animals in quarantine for 10 days. If they have rabies they will put them down. If they don't they will return to the owner. Either way, they will let me know.

Today, I took my first shower and counted the bites. It totals 26, the med tech must have missed a couple. Yes, I'm afraid of scarring.

The way I was brought up suing was never in the discussion. So, I don't know if I want to go that route but again I don't want scars. Even though my wife says "Chicks dig scars".

I would like to money back for the clothes but I don't want to go to the owners house.

[D.P.Johnson]

I believe that dog bites may be covered by homeowner's insurance. (The dog's owner, not yours.) Thus, if you don't feel comfortable talking with the guy about it, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance agent and let them try and collect from the guy. He's obviously going to know you've filed a complaint when they come and get his dogs, so he may want to talk with you about the situation anyway. Good luck brother...

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by jimtigers65

After knocking on the door he came out and was surprised that his dogs did this.

Yeah, they always are.

"Oh my dog would never do that"

[clydepepper]

I had a bitch attack me once...oh, wait, that wasn't a dog...sorry.

[BicycleSpokes]

Jim, I get what you are saying about suing. I would first at least communicate with the owner, by phone or letter or whatever you prefer (I would personally do it in writing, so that it and any response is documented), to see if he will do the right thing by you and cover your expenses - both the immediate clothes and medical, plus reasonable treatment to minimize scarring. Alternatively, and especially if he will not cooperate, Daniel's insurance idea seems like a sound option. This might also have the benefit of them raising his premiums considerably, or dropping him altogether, if he doesn't get rid of these dogs. (My parents once had to put down a much loved, but timid, St. Bernard for similar reasons in the 1970s, after it "merely" snapped at a child who was teasing it i.e. a far cry from what you endured).

Given that the owner made the conscious decision to go with pit bull, over all the 100s of other dog options out there, I am guessing that you may not be dealing with a full deck of cards here, but one never knows. (Yes, I am a dog lover who happily places myself into the "ignorant" category regarding this particular breed, both due to their well-documented aggressive tendencies, as well as for that God-awful song "Timber" he came out with last year.)

[barrysloate]

Jim- I think you have an obligation to do something, because as pointed out, the next person attacked by the dogs may not be as lucky as you. This is potentially a very serious situation.

[Runscott]

I have never seen so many ignorant statements in one thread. David - you are wasting your time.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I have never seen so many ignorant statements in one thread. David - you are wasting your time.

Scott - My statements are based on facts that I can back up. Others statements are based on....well, nothing.

Here is a great webiste where you can get a lot of non-biased information as it is a non-profit.

http://www.dogsbite.org/

"In the 10-year period from 2005 to 2014, pit bulls killed 203 Americans and accounted for 62% of the total recorded deaths (326)."

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Scott - My statements are based on facts that I can back up. Others statements are based on....well, nothing.

There is a lot I would like to say here, but you have it covered well, and the pit bull argument is one of the least productive available.

[boysblue]

I live in Ontario, Canada. Pit bulls must be muzzled whenever they are outside, even if they are in a fenced backyard. Why? Too many brutal attacks by this breed. I agree with David (and clearly the Province of Ontario does as well).

Of course there are probably some loving, docile pit bulls, but these dogs can be very unpredictable.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Scott - My statements are based on facts that I can back up. Others statements are based on....well, nothing.

Here is a great webiste where you can get a lot of non-biased information as it is a non-profit.

http://www.dogsbite.org/

"In the 10-year period from 2005 to 2014, pit bulls killed 203 Americans and accounted for 62% of the total recorded deaths (326)."

Really? You can read that site, and with a straight face, tell me it is non-biased because it's non-profit?

The NRA is also a non-profit.

I'm sure that's just an ignorant assumption on my part though.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Really? You can read that site, and with a straight face, tell me it is non-biased because it's non-profit?

The NRA is also a non-profit.

I'm sure that's just an ignorant assumption on my part though.

The NRA has an agenda.

What is the agenda of the site I linked?

I'll await your response but, after that, I am done with this thread. I apologize the the OP if the thread got derailed. We're forgetting that through all this, there is still someone with some serious dog bite injuries that was just looking for answers on how to proceed.

To the OP, there is some good information on the dogsbite.org website that may benefit you. Here is a link...

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-victim-realities.php

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

The NRA has an agenda.

What is the agenda of the site I linked?

I'll await your response but, after that, I am done with this thread. I apologize the the OP if the thread got derailed. We're forgetting that through all this, there is still someone with some serious dog bite injuries that was just looking for answers on how to proceed.

To the OP, there is some good information on the dogsbite.org website that may benefit you. Here is a link...

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-victim-realities.php

David, you bit

He has successfully deflected the argument from pit bulls to the NRA. Now you have to defend your views regarding the NRA, and if you can't then that makes you wrong about pit bulls as well.