Dog attacks

[multiweb]

Friday morning bitten in my own backyard :eyepop: One of my pet duck got mauled pretty bad. Surprised he's still alive. Ducks are pretty resiliant according to the vet. Just making little lies at the moment as my 11yr old daughter is balling her eyes out and I don't have the heart to tell her yet or her to see him. Time will tell.

Went to lodge a police report obviously as I had to get to the emergency pronto and get a shot + IV + antibiotics. Now they took a deposition and told me to contact the council. I know where the dogs live. Found out the house number this morning 5 houses down the block. Not errant dogs, looked after but obviously not that well fed and roaming around.:rolleyes: They tried to come for seconds this morning but I had fenced it all. They're two Chinese pomeranians. Nasty little things so they fitted between the gate's gaps.

Where to go from here? Would love to hear if anyone has had bad experiences of the sort and what they did. I love pets, cats, dogs but this just not on. Thanks heaps. :thumbsup:

[Lee]

Start by handing the owners the vet bill. Then buy a rottweiler....

[gmbfilter]

No, sorry I haven't seen your dogs.
Would they have run away?

[Hagar]

Sorry to hear this Marc. Unfortunately it is a dificult situation for your family and the dogs. Depending on your local council and it's bylaws you may well have some comeback on having the irresponsible owners fined or some restrictions placed on them and their dogs. You may also find the council do absolutely nothing whichndoes seem to be the normal approach for a first offence.
To take it any further and attempt to recoupe any expences falls back to taking civil action which is usually prohibitively expensive.

The fact that you have been bitten usually renders some action by your local council a fore gone conclusion. There is a lot of rules regarding dog attacks on humans and you should be able to use these to your benifit. I got bitten several years ago while walking my dog and the only avenue was civil action but now there is quite a few upgrades in the dogs at large regulations and bylaws which require some actions by council.

I hope all goes well.

[AdrianF]

Police or council are not interested in things like that in this area. One of my students was attacked by a dog on the the way to college, police called no action call the council no action.

Adrian

[hotspur]

A very unfortunate thing to happen.

As usual with councils,they take a while to get going on matters like this.Always go to the chambers with pieces of paper-doctors bill,vet bill etc-they will photocopy them-this is a good sign.

Ask the council about who does vermin control,dog catching issues and similar.The fact that this has happened on your property-not just one incident but two of a serious nature,will get some sort of action.

Ask council if they supply box traps,they usually do not work well.But go through every protocol related to such an event,Make sure you write everything down as it happens,every meeting with council official.

Remuneration and justice is can sometimes take a while,sometimes its a case of the 'squeeky wheel gets the oil'-make a appointment with local councillor,remember to take all that paper work,and photos too-your wound-the duck etc.

If all else fails-go to 'today tonight' on channel 7 or similar,you will have all the paper work,and a list of sequence of events and what happened at every event.Sounds a little odd,but it usually makes things happen-quickly!

[Barrykgerdes]

Don't call the police or council. Most of them know the rules and assume you don't and can be easily fobbed off. They won't do anything without the correct "threats". Call your Lawyer. That worries them.

Barry

[multiweb]

Bit of mixed feedback here. Sounds like it's a grey area depending on which councils. Went to the LCC website and thankfully they're pretty tough on this kind of stuff. Fines are heavy and accumulate. By the books those guys are out for a cool G in fines. The ranger called me back within 2min of my phone call to the council after hours line service. I have all photos and documentations. Will take it from there and report later on how it went. He's coming Monday, we had a long chat, he wasn't impressed to say the least. Here's hoping.

No news from the surgery yet so I assume the duck made it overnight. If he hangs in there another 48h all will be good. My hand's better, no sign of infection so I'd say he'll be good to go too. Risk of infection is the major problem. They are probably pumping more anti-biotics in him than they did in me. :P

Man, I am sooo over pets. I tried cats (3), ducks(2). What's next? Pick up a bullet proof freakin' wombat on the next trip to Ilford?

[CraigS]

Hi Marc;
Not pleasant.
I feel for your 11 year old !! (Oh yeah .. and you, too ..)
:)
If you do get a wombat .. better make sure it ain't one like this (http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wombat-mauls-bushfire-survivor-20100406-rpeu.html) …


.. but there again, it might solve the dog problem !
… it seems that wombats may be above the law .!!.



Sick 'em Rex-the-wombat !!

Cheers

[bert]

Hey Marc,

Are you not digging a hole for a pier?:question:

Brett

[marki]

Best thing to do is trap them then call the dog pound. Make sure they know the dogs have bitten you and they will get put down. Sounds heartless I know but it may be your kids next time and it's just not worth the risk.

Mark

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I will hold good thoughts for your duck.
We had a similar experience, except with wedge-tails. Our cat saw them off! :D Insane cat!
While I like MOST dogs, Pomeranians, Shi-tzus, Maltese Terriers etc. are natively quite vicious dogs - its a good thing they aren't the size of Rotweillers - and I find them objectionable. More people are seriouslly bitten and pets mauled by these aggresive little fur-balls than all the pit-bulls, dobermans and rottweilers combined (RSPCA figures 2007).
I hope you get satisfaction from the owners / council, but apart from that good solid fencing and perhaps a dog of your own are really the only defence. A sound Staffy ***** makes an excellent guard dog; good with kids, easy to train to keep away from other pets, and pretty uncompromising of invading canines. I mean you could shoot the offenders, but you don't strike me as a dog-killer.
Good luck and you can always borrow my Jack Russel if push comes to shove. He IS nuts!

[taminga16]

Have you spoken with the dogs owners?

[Octane]

Poor duck. : (

o< quack.

H

[casstony]

Talk to the owners - if they apologise profusely and bend over backwards to make everything right, including covering costs and making their yard more secure, maybe give them a second chance. If not I imagine you should legally be able to get the dogs put down.

We let some neighbors off the hook after their blue heeler bit my wife on the footpath 12 days after a spinal fusion - they apologised, brought flowers to the house and their dog never got out of the yard again. I think it was worth giving them a second chance because of their responsible attitude.

[TrevorW]

Sorry I agree with Marki, IMO if they attack another animal they are probably underfed agressive and maltreated and will do it again given the opportunity

[Dennis]

So sorry to hear of your experience Marc – I hope that you are well and make a full recovery and that ducky survives the attack.

Cheers

Dennis

[OneOfOne]

If they are not properly fed...just chuck 'em a sausage one day, it may be the last you see of them.

[Jeffkop]

Most times people have to come to confrontation with animals, they want to sort it out but they DONT want to hurt the animals ... This process is defensive and so the aggressor doesnt really get intimidated at all. Two things happen .. you get bitten, they come back.

I would be approaching the owners calmly and tell them about your experience. If they are reasonable people they will do everything possible to make ammends. If they are not ... then you just tell them where to come and find their dogs if they dont return home after a period of time.
Its your duck or their dog .. simple. Or .. you just dispose of the dog quietly and plead total ignorance.

I have ducks too so I am really replying from a very bias stand point.

PS ... I will have new ducklings in 15 days. If you need one or two .. yell out, then we have to work the logistics

[multiweb]

Well the ranger dropped by this morning, took the deposition and it's moving forward. Problem is that both potential addresses have about 4 dogs each in their backyard and I couldn't recognise any of them. Ironicaly I keep seeing those two dogs walking around the neighbourhood and my wife saw them disappear in one of those houses backyard last Saturday. So I guess I have to find them first. Just a matter of time now. The duck (half of it) is surprisingly getting better, still soldering on so that's good news. Not out of danger yet but everyday's better than the previous so it's looking up. Hopefully they can clean it up and make it look presentable so I can take my daughter to see him as she's been bugging me ever since to go visit.

[BerrieK]

Marc glad to hear that the ranger is involved - that's the best and safest way to sort these things out (speaking from experience - we have had dogs come in and kill one of our pet goats before, it's awful to deal with).

I hope your bites heal up okay and there is no frothing at the mouth involved!

Speaking from experience, ducks can be surprising resilient creatures. A fox once chewed the chest out of one of our ducks (a beautiful Peking called Muffin). We found her alive, cleaned out her wounds, dressed the gaping hole in her chest (actually she had no chest it was just a hole) and kept her wrapped in bandages in a dog crate in the house for a few weeks whilst tending to her. She actually survived. And so did our kids, after many tears and proclomations of death to all foxes.

I hope your drake makes it.

[DeanoNZL]

Sorry to hear about you troubles Marc.
Hopefully they suffer the same fate as "Marie Antoinette"

[Ric]

Hi Marc, hope both you and your duck are getting better.

Out my way, farmers don't take to kindly to roaming dogs. If your dog goes for a walk without you then the chances are good that you won't see it again.

[Alchemy]

I don't know the regulations that apply in your area... But here in Victoria , dog attacks are taken very seriously, there is legislation covering these things, you should report it to the council firstly and ask for a copy of their report. Secondly there is a little known bit of legislation covering farm animals, any dog attacking livestock ( we have chooks and they are covered) can be put down automatically as a result.
Many departments etc, will try to put you off as they probably have enough to do, but stick to your guns, you will get a result, if the council aren't so responsive you can talk to your local member.... Just hype up he attack part somewhat;).
Next time the dogs come around contain them, and just call hhe dog catcher, and when he arrives get out the video camera and have on tape your complaint, and say you will be following it up.
Not being able to identify the actual culprit is a problem....

[multiweb]

First I got to thank all of you for the support/info online an PMs too. :thumbsup:

Yes the LCC takes dogs bite very seriously apparently. If a person is involved it's a whole new ball game.

Good news is that my duck is A OK now. We get him back on Friday. The vet did a terrific job. Took my daughter to see him this arvo and although she was a bit surprised when she first saw him she's ok now and she can't wait to have him back.

We're also closing down on those two mongrels. Luckily they're stupid enough to keep coming back and all my neighbourgs have seen them now so the more eyes the better. Tonight a neighbourgh two houses down shouted "hey bro! Is that your dogs?" Sure enough the two bolted down the road as soon as they saw me. I run my a$$ off down the reserve, lost my thongs in the process and probably collected 2kg of bindies in 200m sprint before I got there but I clearly saw the dogs enter the house that doesn't know anything about them. :D Epic fail coming your way. :P

So already a happy ending and it's looking up from here onwards. :thumbsup:

[Alchemy]

Again have the video camera handy, you can show the dogs are on the loose and not contained.
My neighbor complained our blue heeler bit their dog through the fence.... I had video of it on my property.... They didn't have a leg to stand on.

[ballaratdragons]

Marc, don't get me wrong here as I love dogs. I have 2 of my own.

But get the Mongrels!

I am a victim of Dog Attack. I was attacked when I was 12 y.o.
A neighborhood dog turned on me in my own front yard, bit me in the face and tore off my top lip and much of up inside my nose.
Many stitches and reconstruction later: nothing was done!
Back then N.S.W. law said that the dog didn't mame me, so nothing could be done.

About 3 months later when it wouldn't heal properly the owners of the dog were told that they will be billed for plastic reconstructive surgery if it didn't heal.
They then had the dog destroyed themself.

I STILL live with nightmares of that attack and I am now 53.
I wear the scars and hate them, so I hide most of them behind a Moustache.

Dog attack is a serious matter that should never be pushed aside! They may only nip the first few people, but one day . . .

And bugger me, my 14 yo son was bitten last Saturday (quite badly) by a dog belonging to a couple visiting our Snake Valley Festival.
We can't track down who they were or where they come from :mad2:

Far too many people (and dogs) get away with this crime! Get them Marc.

[multiweb]

Yes I do now. Will use that as evidence. the rangers are coming back tomorrow morning. It's complicated. Not sure if the dogs are escaping through that backyard to reach another house in the back or if they in fact reside there. :shrug:



Will do Ken. :thumbsup: My daughter wants them more than I do now. I've always had dogs as a kid. Grew up with many but we always had small size ones. My mother always said if any of them go crazy you still need to stay on top and be able to kick its a$$.

Hope your young bloke makes a quick recovery. That sucks! Owners are the problem and should be made accountable for any harm caused without the red tape and all the privacy law BS getting in the mix. On Monday the rangers were more worried about 'trespassing' than anything else. Even they have to walk on eggs and not offend anyone? I guess time have changed and you get sued for anything these days. :rolleyes:

[multiweb]

Got my buddy back today. He's looking alive and real good considering. He has to pop pills twice a day for a little while and a visit to the vet every wednesday until all healed but my daughter's over the moon now. :thumbsup:

... so am I as I had to endure the other one (girl) quacking all week. But today first thing he did was to keep her happy and I haven't heard her since. Everything's quiet again. Pfweehh.... Maybe I'll sign her on facebook too. :P