You've been given a lot of good advice already. I agree, I think that his homeowners insurance would kick in.

I am so sorry tht this happened to your baby. As others have said, give him time and lots of love, he's a little champion. :) Hugs.

Awww I am soo sorry for your lil guy, I cannot even imagine how your doing...{{hugs}}

I would certainly check into the neighbor paying, of coarse he will say, yours wasnt on a leash either, BUT he came into YOUR yard...he has to be liable....I dont get ppl...I really dont...

you took the words out of my mouth, if you dog was in your yard and this dog came into your yard then I would think yes! they should have to pay. Write to Judge Judy she loves animals you get 5ooo.oo at least. good luck!

Heartbroken
 

I am very squeamish with things getting hurt in anyway. I usually run the other way! I watched this attack, on my property, I was alone. I somehow picked up cricket and put him in his cage in the house, shut the door and walked away. I called my daughter to come help me, her husband while she was on her way called animal control. Animal control took cricket from his cage wrapped him in a towel, and put him in my daughters lap and sent us on our way to find help. While we were gone he went to the neighbors house, and they found bloody hair on the property next door. The girl that finaly showed up and broke up the fight said she saw the whole thing and it was on the next door property where the hair was found. I dont know how the hair got there, I am sure it was on my property and no one was around, I screamed at least 10 times before she showed up. So the report says it all happened next door. (next door is the vacent house between my house and the attack dogs house) The owner of the other dog has not made a payment on his home in 9 months so I doubt they have insurance on it.

Thank you so much for looking this up for me, that was so sweet of you! I do think I will call an attorney and explain to him what has happened and get his recommendation on what can be done if anything.

What a nightmare you had to witness. I can't imagine.

If you read the Florida statute I posted on the first page, you will see it really doesn't matter where the attack took place. Under Florida law, the dog's owner is responsible. I am sure you would win in small claims court since Animal Control was called and there is a record of the attack. You are also entitled to be reimbursed for court costs.

Of course, if the people haven't made their house payments and have let their homeowner's insurance lapse, it could be very difficult to collect on a judgment against them if they have no money.

What a terrible situation to be in.

I think I came to the right place also :) I was sure surprised when i got back to my computer today, after putting cricket to bed, and found all the support. I thank everyone for that!
In all of this we ended up with a new vet, that I think is a blessing. I couldn't have got better care for Cricket and myself and all my questions from him and his staff. He does the kind of surgery that cricket needs in the future. I have decided to change Vets because I love this place much more.
The bills so far are paid, thank goodness I had a credit card, so I don't think that care credit will help me. Not sure how I am going to pay the credit card yet but thats kind of on my back burner right now.
Diapers I have thought about, but then i'm not sure if they will come with rashes or something else, or if I should be thinking of taking up carpet and putting down tile.
My biggest worry right now is me being squeamish and his new problem clashing.
He is already trying to be like himself, picking up his toys and expecting us to throw it....but we don't want to help him over do it either. He tries to jump and its so sad to see him collapse instead. seeing him walk is so sad also, his leg is sidways.......but no bones are broken, they think it is muscles or ligaments that are torn and not pulling his leg back to where it belongs. Its just so sad.

I am so sorry you and your little one are going through this.
You have gotten a lot of good advise here so far.
I will keep you and Cricket in my prayers.

You say that you are 'squeamish,' but, my dear, we are never given more than we can handle. Somewhere deep inside of you. you will find the strength to deal with your little furbaby's issues. Blessings. ~Joanne~

I am so sorry for you and your little baby, this is just aweful. The hair could have been in the mouth of the attacking dog and it probably fell off of the mongrel while walking back to his property that he should have been leashed on... so I don't think hair would hold you back in this case.

i can only hope that you will get the justice you deserve
by the way this is a little evil but it will help. buy some cheap kibble(it smells better) and leave a big pile of it in your yard and sit and watch when he lets his dog out and the dog comes in to your yard to eat the food take as many pics as you can from as many different angles and take these to court with you it may be a little dishounest but it will prove he lets his dog wander off leash