Help,my Yorkie got bit by another dog!

[mire]

I live in a 5 story building where many people have dogs. There is one dog in particular who lives on the first floor ( a Jack Russell type) who tends to bark and lunge whenever he sees any dog, including ours. He also barks at humans if he feels they get too 'close'. My Yorkie, on the other hand, is loving and trusting and loves to play with other dogs when given the chance. So we always keep them away from each other.

We have lived in this building nearly 3 years (we live on the third floor) and we know to avoid this dog and have often gone out of our way to avoid this dog whenever we see him. Unfortunately this morning, apparently our dog got a bit too close to the Jack Russell. The Jack Russell bit my Yorkie right above the nose. The owner of the Jack Russell apologized and left. My husband who had been walking my Yorkie, claimed not to notice any damage and came home.

When I checked my dog's nose minutes later, that's when I saw the bloody gash (keep in mind his nose is very furry). I insisted that my husband go down and tell the Jack Russell owners that our dog was injured but he refused. We got into an argument about it which I am still quite upset about it.

What is my recourse here? Legally, I don't understand how the Jack Russell owners could be walking a biter around in public.. worse, they have a newborn! I am very concerned besides being upset, that I should be reporting this to someone. Or at least we should go to the neighbors, explain about the injury and ask that they be more careful -- maybe even ask them to purchase a muzzle for their dog? Is that too much to ask? Is that out of line? I need to know if anyone has experienced something similar and what is within my rights to do here. I really don't want to get the City involved because they have a newborn and they are my neighbors after all-- I don't want stress & tension when I walk around my neighborhood.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated,
M

[yorkiemalt]

Definitely go knock on their door and tell them your dog was bitten. Make sure you take down their information, name, phone # and ask for proof of a rabie's vaccine.

Then check with your Vet and see what they say to do. Also contact your local health department and/or your local animal control officer and report the incident.

Do not let it go....the next time it could be way worse.

Hope your baby is OK.

[a2luckygirl]

Originally Posted by mire

I live in a 5 story building where many people have dogs. There is one dog in particular who lives on the first floor ( a Jack Russell type) who tends to bark and lunge whenever he sees any dog, including ours. He also barks at humans if he feels they get too 'close'. My Yorkie, on the other hand, is loving and trusting and loves to play with other dogs when given the chance. So we always keep them away from each other.

We have lived in this building nearly 3 years (we live on the third floor) and we know to avoid this dog and have often gone out of our way to avoid this dog whenever we see him. Unfortunately this morning, apparently our dog got a bit too close to the Jack Russell. The Jack Russell bit my Yorkie right above the nose. The owner of the Jack Russell apologized and left. My husband who had been walking my Yorkie, claimed not to notice any damage and came home.

When I checked my dog's nose minutes later, that's when I saw the bloody gash (keep in mind his nose is very furry). I insisted that my husband go down and tell the Jack Russell owners that our dog was injured but he refused. We got into an argument about it which I am still quite upset about it.

What is my recourse here? Legally, I don't understand how the Jack Russell owners could be walking a biter around in public.. worse, they have a newborn! I am very concerned besides being upset, that I should be reporting this to someone. Or at least we should go to the neighbors, explain about the injury and ask that they be more careful -- maybe even ask them to purchase a muzzle for their dog? Is that too much to ask? Is that out of line? I need to know if anyone has experienced something similar and what is within my rights to do here. I really don't want to get the City involved because they have a newborn and they are my neighbors after all-- I don't want stress & tension when I walk around my neighborhood.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated,
M

first I would ask for proof the dog is UTD on all shots!!!
Nice way to make sure they know that you dog did have the skin broken!! You really need to let them know this did break the skin on you dog!IMO!!
It sounds to me, like this is something they need to get a trainer involved with to correct the dogs aggression!!
Or they need to muzzel it when out around other dogs- which I do not like to see- think training is a much better option!
Hope your baby is just fine- and it sounds like it is- I know if Banjo was hurt, really- the whole apartment building would know! He'd scream and cry! I think most would!!!!

[Patti]

I would definatley let them know your dog was injured and ask for proof he is utd on shots.

[jrsygal37]

Like you I'm a Jersey Gal too. I cannot walk my Yorkies through our neighborhood because people while they are in the front cleaning their car, doing their yard or whatever else, they allow their dog/s to be unleashed in the fron yard with them. It's human nature for a dog to run towards another dog they see. I have no idea how my dog or theirs will react, so I have to keep my dogs in the fenced yard and play with them. We also have the probelm of dogs running around unlicensed without collars so walking our dogs cannot be done safely.

I'm sorry your dog got bit. My son was bitten two weeks ago by a German Shepard. Luckily it was just punctures. I can only imagine what that same dog would have done to my Yorkies.

It's sad because this seems to be the case in almost every state.

Elaine

[Mizzrosa]

Originally Posted by Patti

I would definatley let them know your dog was injured and ask for proof he is utd on shots.

i agree with patti...u can never be too careful

[alaskayorkie]

I agree with the others who suggest you talk to the other dog's owner and make sure the dog is current on their rabies shots. I would also photograph the injury in case they raise a stink or there are complications.

Be beyond that, I would consider a different tact.

How about suggesting a play date with their dog? Go to a neutral park and keep them leashed. Walk them side by side out of reach of each other and get them used to each other. If they do OK at that, let them sniff each other.

We've been doing that with a group of dog owners from our city who met online. There have been some fights (among bigger dogs), but the owners addressed the problem immediately. We've really had some fantastic results. Aggressive dogs are no longer aggressive. Eddie and Jack actually play with pit bulls, boxers and 150 pound labs.

[mire]

After "hyperventilating" upon seeing my baby boy with a bloody gash in his nose, I read all your responses and collected myself. I called my vet who agreed with everything the first poster mentioned. However she was mostly concerned with infection and wanted to start my Yorkie on antibiotics as soon we saw anything amiss (any behavior change, fever, oozing from the wound...)

Turns out my Yorkie is fine and he's healing nicely. But that did not stop me from speaking to the neighbor who owns the Jack Russell. My hubby wasn't happy about it but it made me feel a lot better. My neighbor was completely sympathetic, apologized profusely and offered to pay any costs involved and that was wonderful for me to hear.

As for getting the dogs to play together, it sounds wonderful in theory but it's not a theory I am willing to test. The Jack Russell has been like this for years and is older and will probably not change. My vet seems to think this dog has already had a taste of my Yorkie and learned two things: he can get blood and he knows my Yorkie will not fight back. Next time could be worse and I just can't take that chance.

But thanks to everyone who gave me their opinions. It meant a lot and I weighed it all. I am very glad I can turn to YorkieTalk to get good advice. YorkieTalk rocks

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by mire

After "hyperventilating" upon seeing my baby boy with a bloody gash in his nose, I read all your responses and collected myself. I called my vet who agreed with everything the first poster mentioned. However she was mostly concerned with infection and wanted to start my Yorkie on antibiotics as soon we saw anything amiss (any behavior change, fever, oozing from the wound...)

Turns out my Yorkie is fine and he's healing nicely. But that did not stop me from speaking to the neighbor who owns the Jack Russell. My hubby wasn't happy about it but it made me feel a lot better. My neighbor was completely sympathetic, apologized profusely and offered to pay any costs involved and that was wonderful for me to hear.

As for getting the dogs to play together, it sounds wonderful in theory but it's not a theory I am willing to test. The Jack Russell has been like this for years and is older and will probably not change. My vet seems to think this dog has already had a taste of my Yorkie and learned two things: he can get blood and he knows my Yorkie will not fight back. Next time could be worse and I just can't take that chance.

But thanks to everyone who gave me their opinions. It meant a lot and I weighed it all. I am very glad I can turn to YorkieTalk to get good advice. YorkieTalk rocks

Sounds like you did a great job resolving your problem. Good for you for following up!