I might be getting sued

[Rebel Yell]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!  Yesterday morning I ask the wife to take my dog out to use the bathroom.  Long story short, her wiener dog ran out in to the street and started barking at a man walking by.  Instead of just walking on by, he decides to swat at the dog with a newspaper.  This sets off my dog, who is protective over the litlle dogs we have.  She snatched away from my wife and ran out into the road to protect the little dog.  The man tells my wife that she bit him.  He has a mark about the size of a freckle on his hand. 

I walk down to his house to apologize, and he started telling me how we have a leash law (even though I repeatedly told him she was on a leash, but got off) and how he had a neighbors dog bite him in Florida and they tried not to pay his medical bills.  I told him she's up to date on her shots so he didn't have to worry about that. 

I feel for the guy, I really do, but if he goes to the doctor over that knick (I've gotten worse playing with our Chihuahua) I'll stomp a mudhole in his ass.


This is the vicsious dog, with the little instigator....

[jtyangel]

Just don't get him riled up, RY. Sounds like he's had a bad experience before and maybe is a little leary and defensive. Who knows what his medical condition was then, but perhaps he had a bad experience and it was not a good recovery for him. I'm just trying to think of a way to not instigate someone who is obviously on eggshells about dogbites anymore then they already are. Keep us posted and keep your wits about you, hon. 

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!  Yesterday morning I ask the wife to take my dog out to use the bathroom.  Long story short, her wiener dog ran out in to the street and started barking at a man walking by.  Instead of just walking on by, he decides to swat at the dog with a newspaper.  This sets off my dog, who is protective over the litlle dogs we have.  She snatched away from my wife and ran out into the road to protect the little dog.  The man tells my wife that she bit him.  He has a mark about the size of a freckle on his hand. 

I walk down to his house to apologize, and he started telling me how we have a leash law (even though I repeatedly told him she was on a leash, but got off) and how he had a neighbors dog bite him in Florida and they tried not to pay his medical bills.  I told him she's up to date on her shots so he didn't have to worry about that. 

I feel for the guy, I really do, but if he goes to the doctor over that knick (I've gotten worse playing with our Chihuahua) I'll stomp a mudhole in his ass.


This is the vicsious dog, with the little instigator....

Just pay the idiots doctor bill...will be much cheaper in the long run!

[DixieBelle]

you may want to talk to an attorney just to CYA.

[Texacon]

Do whatever you can to keep out of a law suit.  I mean whatever  you can do to stay out of one.  I just finished a law suit about a year ago and even though I won it absolutely SUCKED. 

KC

[Rebel Yell]

I really don't think he will sue.  I don't think he's quite right (he is from Florida).  I saw him walking back down the road later, so I don't think he went to the doctor.  I just don't trust people, that's all.

[Texacon]

I really don't think he will sue.  I don't think he's quite right (he is from Florida).  I saw him walking back down the road later, so I don't think he went to the doctor.  I just don't trust people, that's all.

You just never know.  I was riding in a pack of 6 bikes when the bike directly in front of me and an oncoming car hit head on at 50 mph.  The dude in the car sued ALL 6 OF US.  Pissed me off so I sued him back.  I didn't touch either of the 2 bikes he put down or the car but I still got sued.  I put my bike in a ditch and seriously injured myself and I got sued....... something is wrong in this country.  We need to go to 'Loser Pays' or better yet 'Lawyer Pays' and that will shut a bunch of that shit down.

KC

[Rebel Yell]

I really don't think he will sue.  I don't think he's quite right (he is from Florida).  I saw him walking back down the road later, so I don't think he went to the doctor.  I just don't trust people, that's all.

You just never know.  I was riding in a pack of 6 bikes when the bike directly in front of me and an oncoming car hit head on at 50 mph.  The dude in the car sued ALL 6 OF US.  Pissed me off so I sued him back.  I didn't touch either of the 2 bikes he put down or the car but I still got sued.  I put my bike in a ditch and seriously injured myself and I got sued....... something is wrong in this country.  We need to go to 'Loser Pays' or better yet 'Lawyer Pays' and that will shut a bunch of that shit down.

KC

Exactly, in this case the dog didn't attack him.  She just made him back off from hitting the other.  I know it still shoudn't have happened, but if she was trying to hurt him he would have been hurt.  She is an 10 month old AmStaff Boxer mix.  She weighs 46 lbs.  She is not a mean dog at all, Just don't mess with her babies.

[Lord Undies]

Shock the sh*t out of him.  Sue him.  Aggravated dog duress.

[Rebel Yell]

Shock the sh*t out of him.  Sue him.  Aggravated dog duress.

I might need him to pay my vet bills.  She may need vaccinated after biting him.  He's one of those nasty ass neighbors everybody hates to see move in.  Seriously, my dogs blood is a lot cleaner than his.

[Rebel Yell]

I'd be shocked to hear of any lawsuit arising over something like this.  Still bites though, no pun intended!

Cool pups btw too.  I know it's hard, but good luck in the future keeping them on a leash, chained, or in a fenced in area.  We deal with this on an irregular basis where I work, and unfortunately, tend to kill quite a few dogs that rush at us.  It's just not worth the risk. 

Looking up prices on fences now.

[Chris_]

I'd be shocked to hear of any lawsuit arising over something like this.  Still bites though, no pun intended!

Cool pups btw too.  I know it's hard, but good luck in the future keeping them on a leash, chained, or in a fenced in area.  We deal with this on an irregular basis where I work, and unfortunately, tend to kill quite a few dogs that rush at us.  It's just not worth the risk. 

Looking up prices on fences now.

Fences are not enough to keep the moonbats out.   

[Rebel Yell]

I'd be shocked to hear of any lawsuit arising over something like this.  Still bites though, no pun intended!

Cool pups btw too.  I know it's hard, but good luck in the future keeping them on a leash, chained, or in a fenced in area.  We deal with this on an irregular basis where I work, and unfortunately, tend to kill quite a few dogs that rush at us.  It's just not worth the risk. 

Looking up prices on fences now.

Fences are not enough to keep the moonbats out.   

That's what the dog's for.   

[PatriotGame]

Show him your gun collection.
(Snicker)

[jendf]

Just speaking from my own perspective...

I had a very bad experience with a dog when I was a young girl that has left me with a general fear of all dogs, no matter how big or small, leash or not.

When I'm at a park or outside and an owner doesn't have their dog on a leash, I literally panic. I start to sweat, my heart starts beating super fast, and my instinct is to get as far away from it as possible. Even recently, a dog charged me while I was out running one night and the situation left me in tears.

If your neighbor is anything like me, the encounter probably scared the shit out of him, as it would have scared me. It wouldn't matter if the dog was a weiner dog or a pit bull. For me, a dog is a dog and I don't want to see any of them. You would be amazed at how many dog owners there are who think everyone will or should love their dog.

Even now, you are berating him on a message board for his reaction. I think his reaction was perfectly normal and justified.

He will calm down (maybe he already has) but I think you should go over there and acknowledge that you were in the wrong here and you are profusely sorry. I'm guessing he'll accept your apology and that will be the end of it.

Sorry for the long post. Dog stories touch a nerve with me.

[Miss Mia]

Just speaking from my own perspective...

I had a very bad experience with a dog when I was a young girl that has left me with a general fear of all dogs, no matter how big or small, leash or not.

When I'm at a park or outside and an owner doesn't have their dog on a leash, I literally panic. I start to sweat, my heart starts beating super fast, and my instinct is to get as far away from it as possible. Even recently, a dog charged me while I was out running one night and the situation left me in tears.

If your neighbor is anything like me, the encounter probably scared the shit out of him, as it would have scared me. It wouldn't matter if the dog was a weiner dog or a pit bull. For me, a dog is a dog and I don't want to see any of them. You would be amazed at how many dog owners there are who think everyone will or should love their dog.

Even now, you are berating him on a message board for his reaction. I think his reaction was perfectly normal and justified.

He will calm down (maybe he already has) but I think you should go over there and acknowledge that you were in the wrong here and you are profusely sorry. I'm guessing he'll accept your apology and that will be the end of it.

Sorry for the long post. Dog stories touch a nerve with me.

Ahh, Jen, I think that's good advice.  Just go over there an apologize. 

Sorry to hear about your dog experience. 

[Crazy Horse]

Just speaking from my own perspective...

I had a very bad experience with a dog when I was a young girl that has left me with a general fear of all dogs, no matter how big or small, leash or not.

When I'm at a park or outside and an owner doesn't have their dog on a leash, I literally panic. I start to sweat, my heart starts beating super fast, and my instinct is to get as far away from it as possible. Even recently, a dog charged me while I was out running one night and the situation left me in tears.

If your neighbor is anything like me, the encounter probably scared the shit out of him, as it would have scared me. It wouldn't matter if the dog was a weiner dog or a pit bull. For me, a dog is a dog and I don't want to see any of them. You would be amazed at how many dog owners there are who think everyone will or should love their dog.

Even now, you are berating him on a message board for his reaction. I think his reaction was perfectly normal and justified.

He will calm down (maybe he already has) but I think you should go over there and acknowledge that you were in the wrong here and you are profusely sorry. I'm guessing he'll accept your apology and that will be the end of it.

Sorry for the long post. Dog stories touch a nerve with me.

Ahh, Jen, I think that's good advice.  Just go over there an apologize. 

Sorry to hear about your dog experience. 

Pretty sure that already happened as stated in the opening post.

[jendf]

Just speaking from my own perspective...

I had a very bad experience with a dog when I was a young girl that has left me with a general fear of all dogs, no matter how big or small, leash or not.

When I'm at a park or outside and an owner doesn't have their dog on a leash, I literally panic. I start to sweat, my heart starts beating super fast, and my instinct is to get as far away from it as possible. Even recently, a dog charged me while I was out running one night and the situation left me in tears.

If your neighbor is anything like me, the encounter probably scared the shit out of him, as it would have scared me. It wouldn't matter if the dog was a weiner dog or a pit bull. For me, a dog is a dog and I don't want to see any of them. You would be amazed at how many dog owners there are who think everyone will or should love their dog.

Even now, you are berating him on a message board for his reaction. I think his reaction was perfectly normal and justified.

He will calm down (maybe he already has) but I think you should go over there and acknowledge that you were in the wrong here and you are profusely sorry. I'm guessing he'll accept your apology and that will be the end of it.

Sorry for the long post. Dog stories touch a nerve with me.

Ahh, Jen, I think that's good advice.  Just go over there an apologize. 

Sorry to hear about your dog experience. 

Thanks, Mia. That incident occurred 25 years ago and it still gets to me if I really dwell on it.

[jendf]

Pretty sure that already happened as stated in the opening post.

Well, maybe after the neighbor has calmed down a bit. That's what I meant. If it was right after the incident, the neighbor might have still been pumped with adrenaline.

It sounded the OP left feeling like a lawsuit was going to take place. I thought if the neighbor calms down a bit and can think rationaly, a lawsuit wouldn't be necessary, especially if the OP expresses regret over the incident.

Again, this is all just what I imagine my reaction would be. This neighbor might take it completely different, even after he's calmed down.

YMMV

[Texacon]

Jen, I understand about being afraid of things .... what I don't understand is a complete overreaction due to the fear.  The person involved should realize, in my very humble opinion, that it is their problem and not everyone else's.  How could anyone know you have a completely irrational fear of dogs?

I for one am terrified of spiders.  Yeah, I catch a lot of grief over it.  I'm 6' 1" and weigh 250#'s but I'm terrified of spiders.  Even little ones!     I can't and don't expect everyone else to know that.

I have watched dogs go up to someone who are terrified of them and I have seen those people have a horrible reaction to it.  Including lying about the incident.  When a dog is walking up to someone wagging their tail they are not a threat.  But I have seen this happen and I have seen the person involved come into my office and say "Where is the law ..... that dog tried to BITE me" .... Now I watched the whole incident and that dog only wanted its head scratched.

All I'm saying is the person involved needs to evaluate the situation before making the judgment and causing a stir.  It isn't only the dog owners responsibility.  Sometimes things just happen.

KC

[Chris_]

If you have a leash law and your dog wasn't leashed, you are toast. You are subject to criminal penalties as well as civil sanctions, which you will certainly lose.

It doesn't matter if your dog slipped the leash -- there is absolute liability and you are presumed negligent.

I recommend you pay for medical bills and maybe throw in some additional money.  And pray this guy doesn't press it.

To tell you the truth, if a dog bit me, even if it was a small bite, I would sue the owner for everything possible and get the dog muzzled if the first time and destroyed if the second time.  And Pit Bulls these days don't get the first strike, with good reason.

Sorry, your negligence doesn't rate much sympathy.  Nor will it in court.

 

[Texacon]

If you have a leash law and your dog wasn't leashed, you are toast. You are subject to criminal penalties as well as civil sanctions, which you will certainly lose.

It doesn't matter if your dog slipped the leash -- there is absolute liability and you are presumed negligent.

I recommend you pay for medical bills and maybe throw in some additional money.  And pray this guy doesn't press it.

To tell you the truth, if a dog bit me, even if it was a small bite, I would sue the owner for everything possible and get the dog muzzled if the first time and destroyed if the second time.  And Pit Bulls these days don't get the first strike, with good reason.

Sorry, your negligence doesn't rate much sympathy.  Nor will it in court.

Why?  Seriously ..... Why?  things happen, it is as simple as that.  I have been hit from the rear by a lady who simply wasn't paying attention.  Her car was damaged, my pickup wasn't.  I wasn't hurt and neither was my wife (girlfriend at the time).  What would the purpose of suing accomplish?  No harm, no foul.

It is simple stuff like that that clogs our judicial system.  Why not just say, "Hey it didn't hurt me" and move on?  There is no reason to make something big out of this or anything else that truly didn't hurt you.

KC

[Texacon]

Let's think about this for a second.  Freedumb, let's say your car slips out of park and rolls down the driveway (not common but it happens) and someone strolling down the street is 'tapped' by the car.  Now, would you like that to happen to someone who says "I don't care if it WAS a tap .... I am going to sue that bastard for everything I can get" OR would you prefer "Hey, I'm not hurt, I'm glad your car didn't get out on an interstate".

This is the same thing.  It was an accident.  Something that couldn't have been anticipated.  How do you know someone's leash didn't break.  The clip didn't fail.  The rod didn't pull out of the ground.  The collar didn't break.  There are myriad examples. 

I would hate for my dog to break free and run into someone with the attitude you are showing here. 

KC

[jendf]

Jen, I understand about being afraid of things .... what I don't understand is a complete overreaction due to the fear.  The person involved should realize, in my very humble opinion, that it is their problem and not everyone else's.  How could anyone know you have a completely irrational fear of dogs?

I for one am terrified of spiders.  Yeah, I catch a lot of grief over it.  I'm 6' 1" and weigh 250#'s but I'm terrified of spiders.  Even little ones!     I can't and don't expect everyone else to know that.

I have watched dogs go up to someone who are terrified of them and I have seen those people have a horrible reaction to it.  Including lying about the incident.  When a dog is walking up to someone wagging their tail they are not a threat.  But I have seen this happen and I have seen the person involved come into my office and say "Where is the law ..... that dog tried to BITE me" .... Now I watched the whole incident and that dog only wanted its head scratched.

All I'm saying is the person involved needs to evaluate the situation before making the judgment and causing a stir.  It isn't only the dog owners responsibility.  Sometimes things just happen.

KC

Yeah, that's the attitude I was talking about. "You don't like my dog running up to you? What the hell is wrong with you?"

The dog owner should apologize. The neighbor should accept it and move on. No lawsuit is necessary but the neighbor shouldn't have to be blamed for minding his own damn business and reacting appropriately when an animal he knows nothing about rushes up to him.

[Texacon]

Jen, I understand about being afraid of things .... what I don't understand is a complete overreaction due to the fear.  The person involved should realize, in my very humble opinion, that it is their problem and not everyone else's.  How could anyone know you have a completely irrational fear of dogs?

I for one am terrified of spiders.  Yeah, I catch a lot of grief over it.  I'm 6' 1" and weigh 250#'s but I'm terrified of spiders.  Even little ones!     I can't and don't expect everyone else to know that.

I have watched dogs go up to someone who are terrified of them and I have seen those people have a horrible reaction to it.  Including lying about the incident.  When a dog is walking up to someone wagging their tail they are not a threat.  But I have seen this happen and I have seen the person involved come into my office and say "Where is the law ..... that dog tried to BITE me" .... Now I watched the whole incident and that dog only wanted its head scratched.

All I'm saying is the person involved needs to evaluate the situation before making the judgment and causing a stir.  It isn't only the dog owners responsibility.  Sometimes things just happen.

KC

Yeah, that's the attitude I was talking about. "You don't like my dog running up to you? What the hell is wrong with you?"

The dog owner should apologize. The neighbor should accept it and move on. No lawsuit is necessary but the neighbor shouldn't have to be blamed for minding his own damn business and reacting appropriately when an animal he knows nothing about rushes up to him.

Yeah, ok.  Whatever.  That's what I meant and if that is all you got out of that post ....   

KC