Drake wounded in a Dog fight

[aly]

Poor Drake, I really hope he isn't in too much pain and I hope the vet visit went well. Drake, if you get any bandages don't chew them off or you may look like this:

[Iditarodfan]

Gosh, I'm glad you're both okay. Dog fights are awful! Our GS and my brother's husky used to fight. The only way we could break them apart was with the hose on full force. Sure glad you were not hurt. Good idea to have Drake's wounds checked by a vet. Does an electric fence only work to keep dogs inside? Why didn't it stop the neighbor's dog from coming in? Do you think the other dog was hurt too? Sure hope your neighbors are cooperative. Nothing worse than hard feelings between neighbors. Hoping for the best for you and Drake!!

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Sorry it took me a while to update you on our vet visit.

Drake had to be muzzled and carried in! It took 6 people to hold him down. I was in tears. I hated having to put him through that mess, but I am glad we went. He had to have his wounds cleaned, local anesthesia, and 30 staples in total! He was so uncomfortable up there on the table. He was also given some antibiotics. I am so glad that we went.

After we got home, Andrew and I went over to the neighbor's house with the $200.00 bill. I also had Andrew check the other dog. She had some scratches on her but not bite marks. The neighbor was extremely rude. He felt that he was not responsible for his dogs actions. She's just a dog, he said! Your dog scratched her too, so you need to pay me $200.00. I was getting very impatient with him. I told him that his dog had scratches, not cuts and wounds that required 30 staples. (I had taken my digital camera and taken pictures of the scratches, just incase he tried something). I explained to the ignorant a-hole (excuse my language) that he wasn't paying me the money, he was paying my vet! I told him that if he didn't pay the bill and handle this in a civil manner, I was going to sue him. He lashed out and said that my dog was off a leash as well. At this point, I was ready to have Andrew beat him! Irrisponsible, ignorant, and rude! Ahh! I once again explained that I had an electric fence and that Drake couldn't leave his yard without getting hurt and so he stays in the yard. His dog didn't belong in my yard and his irresponsibility led to the fight. I was inside with my window open to where I could see Drake. When I saw her come into the yard, I ran out knowing that there would be trouble. And sure enough, there was!

After arguing with him for over an hour outside his door, I got fed up. I told him he would be hearing from my lawyer and it was going to get ugly. I offered him a chance to handle this like neighbors in a quick and friendly manner, but he was pigheaded. It is never was about getting money from him, it is about the principle. No amount of money is too much to pay if it will make Drake better and help him heal. But it is his fault that Drake got hurt. I respected the law, and he neglected it. Someone got hurt.

I am going to have a lawyer friend of mine call him. Maybe it will scare him and he will take responsibility. If not, I am willing to go as far as having his dog taken away from him. I know that is very mean of me. But with a big dog that can be potentially harmful, the owners need to be more responsible. What is Drake had been a little boy?

What do you guys think?

[RachelJ]

Have you thought about filing a police report about the incident?

It is a shame that this owner cannot accept the responsibility. With his dog being on your property, there shouldn't be any question about who was at fault here. Sounds like a perfect case for small claims court. I would think that if this guy has home owner's insurance, they might even cover such a claim.

I am so sorry that Drake was stressed out by the ordeal of having his wounds treated, but you did the right thing. Maybe now he understands that it wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be. Poor guy.

[Logan]

I'm glad you took Drake in to the vet, regardless of who is responsible for the bill. I have to admit, I was somewhat nervous about you confronting your neighbor, and you got the reaction that I was worried about. Only you know how far you want to take this, I guess. I would be concerned though about what the future holds if you really tick this guy off. Rachel is probably right, calling the authorities or animal control is probably a very logical first step. I would watch Drake like a hawk every minute he is outdoors.

Good luck, and I hope Drake heals up very soon.

[3-greys-and-a-mutt]

We have this sort of problem in our neighborhood, too - where people let their dogs off leash, and don't take complete responsibility for them. While walking our dogs (on leash) we have had numerous dogs, off leash (sometimes supervised, sometimes not) run across streets, yards, fields, etc. to 'visit' with our dogs. It's usually a friendly visit, but not always. The worst time was when an off-leash GSD ran across a street and got right in Paula's face. She was so startled that she backed up and slipped out of her collar. Luckily, she came back to us, but if she hadn't, if we had lost her or if she had gotten hit by a car and injured or worse, I would have sued that dog's owner for every penny I could get. Not that money could bring back my dog, but simply because owners like that need to take some responsibility.
In your case, you had to pay $200 because another dog attacked your dog ON YOUR PROPERTY. You are completely justified in suing that owner for expenses.
My husband and I have talked about this type of thing, since we do have so many incidents with off-leash dogs, and we have concluded that, if there was ever a fight that broke out because an off-leash dog approached our leashed dogs, we would definately go to the owners to pay the veterinary expenses!

[Dixieland Dancer]

I would do whatever was necessary to protect my dogs from future possible attacks. If the guy is unreasonable then he needs to have someone else let him know he is neglegent. Hopefully having your lawyer friend call is as far as it has to go.

Keep an eye on Drake whenever he is out even though you have a electric fence. I hope he heals quickly and completely.

[purrley]

Souraya
I'm so glad that your Drake is OK and that you're OK too. I was afraid you'd have trouble with that neighbor - you'd do well to do just what you said - contact a lawyer, get a letter written and see what happens. There's no doublt you'd win out in Small Claims Court and it shouldn't cost you a bundle either. You should go ahead and sue for Drake's pain and suffering as well as your own too. You probably won't get that, but it couldn't hurt trying. Be sure to include court costs in the suit. Good Luck and be careful with your unreasonable neighbor - not a very nice person obviously.

[SimbaTWonderDog]

Im glad that ur both ok!

Its very scary seeing our babies in a fight... Simba got in a fight while we up in Tennesee a couple years ago. It was with my cousins dog but to make a long story short I sat their crying Next to Simba when it was all over and broken up and when i noticed Simba's ear bleeding and his chin bleeding I wanted to kill Wally (my cousins dog) It made me cry even more but luckily he was ok but i think that is what started all of Simba's ear problems... and ever since that i haven't like Wally as much as i used to.

[karen israel]

Poor Drake! A fight, the vet, the staples I hope you're Ok too..I'm with you in the tears department, you want to help but hate to see them struggle and be so unhappy Best you took him though, he could have gotten a severe infection or worse.
Your neighbor sounds like a real nice guy Takes responsibility for his pet, a real gentleman, wants to keep peace in the neighborhood, and urgently wants to make sure this doesn't happen again! It's the principle! Sue the pants off him. A scare will not be enough, He just doesn't care. This is not like me to think like this, but if another dog hurt my Cody, who is on lead, roped in our private back yard..WELL!!
Ok, I'll shut up now.. as long as Drake is OK.

[Albea]

Poor Drake He had to go through so much pain and fear because of yet one more irresponsible dog owner The good thing is that he was treated and is on his way to recovery. You are probably right in having your friend call your neighbor but, since he is such a sleezy character, I would not let Drake out of my sight for a second. Who knows what a person like that may decide to do to get even with you.
Many hugs and kisses to our dear Drake from Carina and Alicia

[Daisy's Mom]

I am so glad that you're both okay. Good luck with that stupid neighobor. He needs to take the responsibility.

[tatsxxx11]

So relieved to hear that Drake is on the mend. What an ordeal for the poor guy, and mom!! I agree with Rachel. The animal control office, which is normally a branch of the police dept., should be notified, and a report made. That way they will be on the alert, and you will have a documented history should anything like this ever happen again! But whatever route you take, I hope it is the one that ultimately results in assuring Drake's safety! Give Drake a big hug for me!!

[ October 30, 2001: Message edited by: tatsxxx11 ]

[MHMama]

Poor Drake, so glad he is on the mends. Just this past weekend I had to take Miss Lucy (Ricky's cat) to the Vets because of a cat fight. I didn't see any real signs of a fight at first but one of her eyes looked sore so I thought better safe than sorry. She had a scratch on the inside of her lower lid. Now she is on antibiotics. Not a big deal but all part of ownership with animals. I agree with everyone else about unleashed dogs. I can never let Ricky off the leash or out of my sight because of so many unleashed dogs running around.
The important thing is Drake got the needed care. I hope you are able to convince your neighbor to pay up but be careful. You may be in for a long time with an angry neighbor. It can and often does get ugly.

[wolflady]

I'm so glad Drake's ok, but Jeesh! What an ordeal for both you and him!! I agree with what Purrley said...definitely contact someone about this incident and pursue from there. I don't think you're overreacting at all! I would most definitely be doing the same thing if something like that happened to my pet on MY property by someone else's negligence. It really amazes me the types of people that aquire animals, and aren't even aware that they are not caring for them properly It's really never an animal's fault when it does something is shouldn't. It's ALWAYS the owner's fault. What's scary is people like this aquire large dogs...and then don't take responsibility for them. It's such ashame that we have to deal with people like this. Good luck and be careful! Please let us know what happens!