This morning when I was leaving work, I was bitten by a dog.
I live in a block of apartments and we have a gated car park/communal space, to get out you have to go through a side gate.
This morning an Alsatian dog was wandering around on its own with no owner in site, it was hovering around the gate to leave, as I approached, the dog went for me and bit my leg resulting in me leaping over the fence to safety.
It’s punctured my leg and there is cuts and bruises with a slightly deep tooth hole. The owner eventually arrived after a couple of minutes and apologised, and clearly had no control over his dog as he had to scream at it for it to listen.
Now the concierge of the building has asked me to file a police report, and I’m torn beaten whether I do or not.
On one hand – the gated car park/communal space regularly has elderly walking around and children playing, now luckily I was able to leap over the fence but if it had been a child or an elderly person, it could have ended really bad? A dog that is prone to attacks should not be left alone or off the leash in a place like this?
On the other hand – I’m a dog sitter myself, and 90% of dogs behaviour is down to its owners care and I would hate to report the dog and it be put down, when it’s probably a friendly dog, but just not trained well.
What do you recommend I do?
UPDATE: Police report filed / injury lawyer contacted and I’m on my way to the hospital now to get a tetanus jab, thanks guys ! 🙏
UPDATE 2: So I have spoken to the concierge and he knows the owner and the dog and they are nightmares – the dog is a security dog that is know to bite and the management have been trying for 6 months to get rid of him and the owner.
The owner denied that it bit me (there is CCTV and a wound lol?) and has told me to claim as he has insurance – I wasn’t going to but because of how rude he is and how he doesn’t take any accountability, F him.
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You need to seek medical attention and then talk to a personal injury attorney. The longer you go without medical attention, the worse your chances of winning a lawsuit or getting a settlement become because you didn’t mitigate damages.
You need to file the police report. What if the dog had attacked a child? Would you rather wait until a kid is dead?
Youre gonna be a werewolf now. Sorry
You need to file a police report. You need to have the police or animal control speak to the owner to get verification of up to date rabies vaccination. If the dog is not up to date you need to get the rabies series as a precaution.
In a lot of places dog will only be put down for major injuries or if it has multiple reported incidents. And if it’s had multiple instances, it’s not just poorly trained but a threat. If it’s first instinct was to bite you then it’s not friendly, especially with a deep puncture wound
I’m a low-key person, don’t like to make a big deal about things. But I have reported a dog bite, even when the owner has begged me not to. It’s hard, but when there are children playing and a biting dog that often gets loose, well, it has to be done.
I’m a dog lover too, but you’re not doing the dog or anyone else any favors by not reporting it. And you should get medical attention yourself and keep track of all your expenses
Had a similar thing happen back in Sept 2021. Although it was different setup (open park, not gated), the vibe was pretty much the same: loose dog, zero control, owner showed up 5 minutes too late. Filed a report mostly because there were kids around daily, not out of spite. Might not get the dog put down, but it forces accountability on the owner, which matters.
You really need to file the police report. It’s not up to you to decide if the dog should be PTS (it might not, it might just get a muzzle order or be removed from current owner).
If the dog kills a child and you have not reported it… you are partially to blame for the death of the child.
You can’t leave a dangerous dog wandering about biting people just because you love dogs. I know it’s not the animal’s fault – but your social responsibility comes first.
I feel you about the concern a good dog gets put down when it just needs training, but dog bites are no joke. Like you said, that untrained dog can hurt someone far more frail than you. Im glad you decided to report it.
File a police report and get the rabies vaccine. 99% of all rabies are transmitted by dogs and if they have no control over the dog it probably isn’t up to date on its shots.
Hospital- Got bitten myself last fall- spent a day/night in er on IV Anti Biotics.
You usually make a report with animal control too
Sue that idiot for all you can get. If it was a child thata got attacked they would likely be dead now. These people need to be taught the harshest lesson possible.
Did you ask the AH neighbor if his dog’s shots are up to date. You need to know if he’s had a rabies shot.
The dog’s owner needs to provide the police / you absolute proof the dog has a current rabies vaccination. If they do not, ask the police and your doctor what to do next. And immediately.
You have said the dog is a security dog, security dogs should be trained not to attack unless instructed to do so and they should be very obedient to the handler.
If you live in an area with rabies you need to get rabies vaccine as well.