Ray

This is awful but so glad Ray managed to escape with no serious injuries. Dogs always snap at our dog but luckily nothing serious has happened, it's a bit better because he is a labrador so much bigger than Ray and would take more to hurt him! Our dog is so soft that he literally would never do anything back and always ends up running off crying. My MIL has a huge lab (we think he might be a lab/ rottweiler cross) who is 10 now and he is always being attacked at the park. Last time a jack russell bit his nose and he still has a huge bit out of his nose. MIL didn't do anything at the time because she wanted to get her dog away but she did phone and report it afterwards and then there were posters put around the park warning owners to keep unruly dogs on leads.

Oh Claire poor Ray & poor you!!! I'm glad Ray is ok!

I don't know what I would do here. Who would you report it to? And what could you say to them as you don't have any details. I suppose you could describe the dog and they might get a dog warden to patrol the park?!

That sounds terrifying, I can't imagine how you must have been feeling having to watch that. I'm so glad that ray is ok.

I would defo get it reported, you don't want to see that happening again, either to you or someone else.

This Sam, Ray made no attempt to fight back - is this a good thing or a bad thing? I think it's a good thing, I never ever want him to be aggressive, I just don't want him to have those insticnts on the other hand he needs to stand up for himself a bit more so it's a funny one.

and this is my dilemma. I think I'm going to report it and just see what they say.

Poor little Ray and you!! ?

I'm afraid, if you try to report it, you may find that no one is really interested - "Dog on Dog" attacks are not as 'important' as dog on human as we found out when a bloody huge German Shepard grabbed Jake during his walk around the dam and Jake was on his lead.

This is definitely a good thing for us and you need to see it like that too. These instances are few and far between and hopefully will never happen again but I love knowing that Mansy can/ will run up to any dog and we can trust 100% that he will cause no bother. He is daft as a brush, gets bullied by chihuahas, lets H's daughter sit on him, lets the cat bite his head and yet just stands there wagging his tail. I wouldn't trade this for knowing on the odd occassion a plonker of a dog is too rough with him he would be aggressive or fight back at all.

You're right when you put it like that.

Oh crikey - how awful for you and H and even more so Ray! I am not an animal person at all but I would definitely report it. What if it was a child?

Oh no you poor thing. I would have been equally as hysterical. I'm so glad Ray is ok, and hope he doesn't suffer any ill effects from it. May be best if you take him back to the park tonight to show him that it's not a scary place etc. (getting back on the horse and all that)

Whilst out with my friend's dog we had the same thing happen, the dog had a silly diamantee collar on which we'd been laughing at, she was then attacked by a terrier type dog, who went for her neck. The collar definately saved her. That dog is known in the village to be aggressive, we'd tried to pick her up when we saw it but weren't quick enough.

Again, I'm so glad he's ok and doesn't seem phased by it. Who would you report it to?

Exactly Sal!

Thanks ATB. We are taking him to the same park tonight as like you say we don't want him to feel anxious in the future, tonight we'll keep him on the lead and I may keep him on his lead for his next few walks because I know I'll just be paranoid every time he goes over to a dog. He's had dogs nip at him before but as soon as we've gone over or the owners have shouted the dog they've scarpered, but last night that was just hideous!

With regards of who I report it to, I have no idea. I'm going to do some research this afty.

Ok, obviously I'm coming from a perspective of an aggressive dog owner (the dog, not me )

I wouldn't have Buster off the lead in a park and I don't see any problem with reporting it to the dog warden. They might give them a bit of a warning about muzzles etc.

I will say though, it's a massive leap to say it could have been a child. Dog on dog aggression is a completely different thing and shouldn't be confused with dog on human aggression.

Poor Ray and you. I hope he's ok and isn't shocked or scared or anything like that.

I have no idea who you would report the incident to - not a dog owner - do you have choice of park to go to to avoid bad dog?

Thanks AC. He seems ok in himself but I think the real test will be when we take him back their tonight. Hopefully he'll be ok.

Not really AC, certainly not local anyway. I shall be very vigilant in future though.

I agree K, but it was seeing this dog completely not responding to his owner, even biting his owener hand and you just can't help think what if. I know it's different but with more and more dog attacks on children on a rise it does make you wonder.

It sounds like he's a regular at the park (if another couple have seen him around before). I'd do some sleuthing, maybe a discreet following. Could you try to find out where he lives? Then you have something concrete to give details of.

Poor ray and poor you! I can't imagine how scared you must have been.

Is this the sort of thing you can report to the police? Not sure how ur all works but clearly that dog needs to be stopped?

Maybe I could ask a few questions, I know alot of the regular dog walkers so I'll do some snooping tonight.

Thanks Mini, it was awful just glad he's ok and that he seems ok in himself.

I don't think I'll get much out of the police to be honest especially as I have nothing concrete to give them.

I think the dog warden is the best place to start - every council should have a dog warden dept.

Really pleased Ray is ok. Why you would ever take an aggressive dog to a busy park, un-muzzled and off the lead completely baffles me!

I think that's the first thing I'll look at.

Thanks K.

This is a personal bugbear of mine. Happens all the time around here. I work in Southampton, which has some lovely public parks. But you can't enjoy them because, the minute the sun comes out, the less salubrious local characters amass- shirts off, swigging from gigantic cans of cheap cider- with their horrid dogs; all off leads, all aggressive. It's really intimidating.

And I don't want to be a breed 'racist', but the simple fact is that they are all Staffs / Bull Terriers, etc. I know it's daft to tar breeds with the same brush, but (as someone who is a little bit scared dogs at the best of times) when one is off the lead legging it towards you in a park, you can't help but feel a teeeeny bit anxious....! Especially when you sense that these dogs have probably been trained by their owners specifically to be aggressive (if you saw the owners, you'd know what I mean).

I've seen them attack other dogs (on leads) and the owners just look on and laugh because they know that the authorities won't do a thing about it.

Glad your dog is OK! ?

Oh no I am glad he's ok now how awful for you.

I would want to report it but not sure how you would go about it. When Maggie was attacked by a dog I wanted to report it but had no idea. x

I've been on our local council website and there is a section about warden control but it says for dog attacks call the police. I don't see the point as I have no details other than a description of the dog, so realistically there is nothing that can be done.

Do they specify dog on dog attacks? I'm not sure the police won't get involved with that full stop.

Might be worth keeping an eye out for a bit? Maybe this was enough to scare them into keeping it on a lead etc?

That's what I'm hoping for.

How aweful for you. This must be terrifying. I would report it even if the council/police don't seem interested at least there will be a record of it plus you don't know if anyone else has reported something similar before. Also now an agressive dog doesn't have to bite you you just have to fear they might (which considering they bit their owner would be reasonable fear). Try to relax tonight however hard it might be as Ray will pick up your worries even ifhe has forgotten the incident. I come from the same view as Kharv. Rosco can be dog agressive but is soft as butter around people including our nieces and nephews, although obviously I'd never leave him alone with them. He is a rescue so we have no idea what has happened to him. He does have some mild brain damage but againwe don't know how this happened. However as a responsible dog owner he is only allowed off the lead wearing a muzzle. He has never bitten another dog but he barks and snaps at them so if the dog barked back it may escalate. Although he was bitten by a GSD and he did nothing so who knoes. I also put him back on a lead when we approach another dog. The muzzle is just in case one pops out from behind a bush etc. which I haven't seen. We take him training every week and the difference is amazing but it has taken 2 years of hard work and we are not there yet.

Oh poor little Ray and you guys too, glad he seems okay. Hope the walk tonight goes okay.

I agree with the consensus, I would try and get it reported some how or at least keep a record yourself.

Oh that is a horrible story. I normally just lurk on here but I feel really sad that that happened to you and your dog. I'm glad he is OK and I hope you never see that horrible aggressive dog again, how awful

Your poor dog, and what irresponsible owners. I'd certainly report it, and try to see if they are there again so you can speak to them. We had a dog who could be quite aggressive or unpredictable, but as such he was always kept on a lead and never allowed to go near other dogs ( if they came near we would try and stand in the way or pick him up). Part of beings good dog owner is knowing your dogs.

i never let the one we have off her lead, mostly because of she saw a cat or rabbit or anything she would be off like a shot! Also, she sometimes likes attention from other dogs, but other times it irritates her (shes is 12).

Hope you get a bit of closure. X

Hopefully not but I will be alot more vigilant in future and will certainly go a bit more prepared.