We've had a dog since he was 6 weeks old. He's 9 years old now. About 4 years ago my mom moved into town and took him with her (we live in the country). He was good down there until a few weeks ago. Back in mid-April my mom's landlord accidentally let the dog out and it went outback and attacked the neighbors poodle and killed it (no one saw it happen). My mom is paying the $900 vet bill for this one.

Last weekend she was walking back from the store with her dog on a leash. Her other neighbor let their poodle out (yes they all like poodles apparently) with no leash and it went after my mom's dog. Needless to say my mom's dog killed this poodle too.

The lady is threatening to sue my mom for this. Is this possible? There's a leash law in town... my mom's dog was on a leash, hers was not. Plus her dog attacked my mom's dog first. She left my mom a note wanting $220 a month until November for this poodle and I told my mom not to pay a dime and let her take it to court.

This is a really good dog... he grew up with kids, rabbits, cats, other dogs, etc.. you name it we probably had it around at some point.. he's far from a violent dog unless he's provoked. I don't know how this would work.. we've never dealt with this before. I brought the dog back up to my house until we find out what's going to happen and he's been excellent since we got him here.



Any ideas?

I would sue perhaps the owner of the dog for any injuries to your dog, have yours taken to the vet.
Since her dog attacked yours.

But in the long term, the behavior of killing two dogs is going to be an issue. You are lucky that animal control has not gotten invovled up to this point

Yes it is possible to sue.
If a dog attacks another dog then that dog become a 'liability'

I do not agree with that law, but I do think that you should have better control over your dog...
How did it get to the first poodle??
Don't you neighours have fences?
Are their dogs running free?
I didn't understand that part...

The second incident is a bit iffy... I'm not sure about American laws and there are 2 sides to the situation.

On one hand they didn't have their dog on a leash and it attacked...
On the other hand, your dog killed their dog.

It was a poodle... what size was it?
Could one of you (yourself or the owner) picked the poodle up and got it away from your dog?

We had a very similar situation only yesterday...
Poodle vs great dane.

The poodle is doing fine as the great dane only bit his back legs (he needed surgery though) but the great dane was knocked to the ground by my father and then he let go of the poodle.

You need to understand that your dog killed their beloved pet whether it was off leash or not. They are going to be very upset and angry.

Perhaps you should consider buying a muzzle for your dog when you take it walking. Better to be safe than sorry... again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shazamataz

Yes it is possible to sue.
If a dog attacks another dog then that dog become a 'liability'

I do not agree with that law, but I do think that you should have better control over your dog...
How did it get to the first poodle???
Don't you neighours have fences?
Are their dogs running free?
I didn't understand that part...

The second incident is a bit iffy... I'm not sure about American laws and there are 2 sides to the situation.

On one hand they didn't have their dog on a leash and it attacked...
On the other hand, your dog killed their dog.

It was a poodle... what size was it?
Could one of you (yourself or the owner) picked the poodle up and got it away from your dog?

We had a very similar situation only yesterday...
poodle vs great dane.

The poodle is doing fine as the great dane only bit his back legs (he needed surgery though) but the great dane was knocked to the ground by my father and then he let go of the poodle.

You need to understand that your dog killed their beloved pet whether it was off leash or not. They are going to be very upset and angry.

Perhaps you should consider buying a muzzle for your dog when you take it walking. Better to be safe than sorry... again.

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The first one I'm not completely sure about... I'm assuming the poodle was tied out outside... like I said no one actually witnessed what happened. And, no they don't have fences. And they were both good size poodles... smaller than my mom's dog but they weren't those tiny little things.

I guess my mom just has too big of a dog for her size... she actually got dragged to the ground during the second one trying to get her dog off the poodle. (This dog is a Shepard, collie, husky mix) I guess I just don't understand why dogs get the sh*t end of the deal for defending themselves but it's OK for people to do it.

I'm not worried about him doing it again.. he's back up at my house and the closest neighbor we have is about 1/4 mile down the road and he has his own fenced in area outback.

The first one is both of your faults then, yours for letting the dog get out (even if it wasn't actually you) and theirs for not having their dog secure.

It is a horrible thing to have to see, sometimes there is nothing you can do but you always think of ways you could have stopped it after the event.

My rabbit was recently killed by our neighbours german shepherd, it was the nighbours fault as their dog jumped into our backyard.
Our rabbit escaped from it's hutch but it still should have been safe in our own yard.

I understand what you are saying about the double standards for people and dogs but people cannot be taught and restrained by other people and you cannot choose a person who is right for you, with a dog you can.

My parents great dane weighs nearly 80kg and they managed to get the dog off the poodle.

Sorry I am sounding harsh, I really don't mean to be it's just with my own recent events with two dog attacks it's a little too close to home :)