Best friend threatening legal action against my neighbour

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I am really shocked they allowed the dog out among the guests. If someone told me their dog was aggressive and prone to stranger anxiety when I attended a party at their house, I’d probably ask if they could put the dog away. I’m not sure I’d even be comfortable at the party. But then, alcohol makes people do things they wouldn’t otherwise do.

Personally I don’t think the women are being responsible dog owners at all. If my dog killed my cat, I would no longer have that dog. That is not acceptable and I’d definitely not get another cat. I have children, if a dog will kill a cat what might they do to a toddler?
 
Since the dog has a history of aggressivess you don’t have a party and especially dont serve alcohol to guests…while the dog is loose.

The op can also be read as–my neigbors may be mad at me because thier mean dog bit my friend -:eek:

The owners of the pet should have called your friend to see how she was, and offered to pay for the doctor to check the wound. It protects both parties and is showing compassion.Not to do this is foolish, and displays a social ineptness too.

Your friend should not be threatening to sue them to you either.
 
The people who own the dog are clearly irresponsible … getting a kitten after a dog kills your cat ? … that’s the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever heard.

I would tell my BFF to do what she feels is necessary and definitely not hold it against her … I would also stay out of that house where the dog is and definitely keep that dog away from your child. These people don’t sound like the kind of people I would want to be friends with.

Now I read somewhere in here that it’s really your friend’s fault because she was told to stay away from the dog … sorry, but that’s not correct … it’s really the dog’s owners fault, because they allowed a dangerous dog to be around guests who they were feeding alcohol to … again … totally irresponsible.
 
This has nothing whatsoever to do with your neighbors’ sexual orientation.

When you see them again, you could (if you consider yourself their friend) ask your neighbors to think really hard about how they’re going to feel if that dog harms someone seriously next time, remembering that the “someone” might be one of them. I’d actually say that is the way to bet, since they are around the animal the most. This dog is not a toy breed, after all. It is capable of killing someone before anyone else could stop it.

washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/01/02/dog-attacked-florida-woman-who-tried-to-dress-it-in-sweater-police-say/?utm_term=.b8aaefcf84b6

In most states, the attacks on their cat and your friend would be ample proof that the owners knew their dog was dangerous. If they insist on keeping it, they need to keep it away from everyone else.

If you know your neighbors will not be swayed by any messenger that asks them to re-consider keeping their dog or allowing it where it can harm anyone, then say nothing. If they haven’t been open to hearing the kind of thing from you that a friend might say, that is their choice. Respect that.

What your friend decides to do is up to her. No one here can say what kind of legal case she has, but it is her business. You have no control over her.
 
mommy_k said:
The owners of the pet should have called your friend to see how she was, and offered to pay for the doctor to check the wound. .
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The OP lives in Canada. It is free to have a doctor check a wound
 
misspriss said:
If someone told me their dog was aggressive and prone to stranger anxiety when I attended a party at their house, I’d probably ask if they could put the dog away.
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I think that would be offensive to the home owner. They gave the warning, if people don’t like dogs they shouldn’t enter their home
 
Anglewannabe said:
I think that would be offensive to the home owner. They gave the warning, if people don’t like dogs they shouldn’t enter their home
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You’re saying a homeowner is going to take offense to be told a guest isn’t comfortable being around their Rottweiler that is " nervous of people she doesn’t know" and that also happens to have crushed the head of a cat it knew and had lived with and killed it?

Yes, I’d be happy to be told to leave their home. The guest the dog later bit probably wishes she had. The owners have extremely poor judgment, to the point of reckless endangerment.

Those dog owners should never allow that dog to be around people it doesn’t know. If they’re willing to court the obvious danger themselves, that is one thing. They know too much to put anyone else in that kind of danger.

More to the point: Do not ever take another guest with you anywhere near that dog. That is irresponsible. (I wonder that you were willing to get near it yourself.)
 
EasterJoy said:
You’re saying a homeowner is going to take offense to be told a guest isn’t comfortable being around their Rottweiler that is " nervous of people she doesn’t know" and that also happens to have crushed the head of a cat it knew and had lived with and killed it?
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No that is NOT what I am saying. I am saying the guest was told ‘there is a visious dog in that house’ and the guest should have said ‘Then I am not going to come’ over and the homeowner should understand. After all, isn’t that the reason the homeowner makes it clear in the first place the dog is visious.

What is wrong is for a home owner to say ‘I have a visious dog’ and the guest to say ‘since I am coming over lock it up’

Do you see the difference?
 
pianistclare said:
The dog clearly is a problem if even one of her owners can’t handle her.

You couldn’t pay me to go over there, and NEVER with a child of any age.
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This dog has a history that you know about, OP. And it is pretty clear that regardless of what happened with your friend, your neighbor’s are irresponsible dog owners. I would not go over there. If they ask why, tell them you are afraid of their dog and leave it at that.
 
Anglewannabe said:
I think that would be offensive to the home owner. They gave the warning, if people don’t like dogs they shouldn’t enter their home
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Wait, their aggresive pet takes higher precident than an invited guest? Where have manners gone. If you host someone as a guest in your home, you should go out of your way to accomodate them.
 
Anglewannabe said:
I think that would be offensive to the home owner. They gave the warning, if people don’t like dogs they shouldn’t enter their home
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I mean, I put up my non vicious small dog up when people come over out of concern for their comfort. He would more likely pee on you out of excitement than bite. I put him up out of curtesy. If I had him out and someone asked me to put him up, I would be embarassed I had not anticipated and taken care of their concerns ahead of time.

But this is the south, we are known for our hospitality. But still, human guests for a special event, vs cat killing aggresive dog, no brainer. And honestly, I didn’t say get rid of the pet, just put them in a bedroom or kennel or crate or garage or out in the yard.

Your reply makes it sound like the couple invited the guest out of obligation and couldn’t care less if they came. They obviously extended an invitaion to the guest and therefore wanted them to come over, they would not just say “Don’t like vicious dogs? Tough cookies see you some other time”. Just doesn’t make sense.
 
I wont say too much about dog behaviour. But its not the dogs fault it is being so badly managed.
Dogs are prey animals, cats are small and fluffy . Enough said. Fun to chase, fun to catch.

It does not follow that a dog who kills a cat will attack people. But with this dog, all the signs are there for fear aggression in people.

This dog sounds like it has fear aggression. People should not be in its space. Its owners should be keeping it, and guests safe. Locking the dog away from strangers is a great start.
Fear aggression needs experts to remediate. Rotties are big tough dogs. I had one I taught to herd deer.

Dog bites are notorious for getting infected. Everytime I get a bite from a kelpie or cattle dog, i get 10 days antibiotics and a tetanus booster. If the skin is broken, and its not a hospital case, it is never stitched.

Dog bites require almost immediate medical care, due to the potential for infection. And your friend needs to ensure tetanus vaccines are up to date.

As for the dog, giving it ‘what for’ when it reacts, reinforces its thinking along fear aggression lines.

If visiting your neighbour, ensure this dog is locked away first. And teach your child dog stranger danger and what not to do around dogs.
 
misspriss said:
I mean, I put up my non vicious small dog up when people come over out of concern for their comfort. He would more likely pee on you out of excitement than bite. I put him up out of curtesy. If I had him out and someone asked me to put him up, I would be embarassed I had not anticipated and taken care of their concerns ahead of time…
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It is obvious that having guests over is important to you and you are willing to accommodate their needs/wishes. I think that is great. However, other people have different mentalities and some people like to feel like they are the boss in their homes. I see nothing wrong with people who say ‘these are my house rules’. Now, if these 2 women insist on letting their dog roam free in the house, I totally understand if people don’t want to come over. It is a price they will have to pay for having a dog. I am simply pointing out that different people have different mentalities and if the BFF knew there was a dog, she took a risk going over
misspriss said:
But this is the south, we are known for our hospitality. But still, human guests for a special event, vs cat killing aggresive dog, no brainer.
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As much as I agree with you and wouldn’t keep a vicious dog around guest, it does not change the fact that these dog’s owners are allowed a different opinion
misspriss said:
Your reply makes it sound like the couple invited the guest out of obligation and couldn’t care less if they came. They obviously extended an invitaion to the guest and therefore wanted them to come over, they would not just say “Don’t like vicious dogs? Tough cookies see you some other time”. Just doesn’t make sense.
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umm… actually, yes, that is what I am saying. Believe it or not, some people don’t have manners and will grudgingly let a guest into their house. But this is all speculation
 
Anglewannabe said:
No that is NOT what I am saying. I am saying the guest was told ‘there is a visious dog in that house’ and the guest should have said ‘Then I am not going to come’ over and the homeowner should understand. After all, isn’t that the reason the homeowner makes it clear in the first place the dog is visious.

What is wrong is for a home owner to say ‘I have a visious dog’ and the guest to say ‘since I am coming over lock it up’

Do you see the difference?
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No. This is not a smelly dog or a slobbery dog or dog that likes to put its muddy paws on people’s new clothes or a dog that sheds like a neurotic sheep. This is a vicious dog. If you have a vicious dog, you have a responsibility to confine it away from other people and other animals it might attack or, in this case, that it might even kill.

If you’re not willing to confine it away from guests when you have someone over, the responsible thing is to not invite anyone over in the first place. You don’t put people on the spot to try to grin and bear it through a dog with this kind of history–that is, anxious around strangers, unpredictable with regards to aggression, and obviously capable of inflicting serious or even mortal harm on an adult.

That goes whether the person you’re exposing to the danger is a friend or an enemy. If you know the dog has a history that a reasonable person would know makes it dangerous, the onus is 100% on you to prevent your dog from doing the same or worse again.

Honestly, I’d be surprised if homeowners insurance would cover an attack from a dog known to have social problems around people and known to have killed another pet that had been living in the same house with it.

If you doubt my take on this, please talk to an attorney, a veterinarian or an insurance agent about it. I assure you they will not agree with your take on it.
 
What if they need to hire a plumber though? Would they warn the agency that there is a large, dangerous dog in the house or just say nothing and hope for the best?
 
Katherine438;14388355**:
The people who own the dog are clearly irresponsible … getting a kitten after a dog kills your cat ? … that’s the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever heard.
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I would tell my BFF to do what she feels is necessary and definitely not hold it against her … I would also stay out of that house where the dog is and definitely keep that dog away from your child. These people don’t sound like the kind of people I would want to be friends with.

Now I read somewhere in here that it’s really your friend’s fault because she was told to stay away from the dog … sorry, but that’s not correct … it’s really the dog’s owners fault, because they allowed a dangerous dog to be around guests who they were feeding alcohol to … again … totally irresponsible.

Agree totally; that shocked me

I have a small noisy dog, ie when strangers are near. That is her job in an isolated place. When I know someone is coming, she is put in a separate room.

She thankfully has no aggression. And is well trained and I have a secure fence and a locked gate

That is my responsibility and my job

The UK and here tend to take action in episodes like this and both have a banned list and a restricted breed law.
 
ConfusedLucy said:
What if they need to hire a plumber though? Would they warn the agency that there is a large, dangerous dog in the house or just say nothing and hope for the best?
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I had a plumber here who refused to come in until he saw me out in the field with the dogs… " I don’t want to get et" !

He was right and yes, always advise anyone coming in and I would put the dog in a separate room anyways from simple courtesy
 
The trouble is that things can get out of hand.

In the house before I came here an old neighbour had a grudge against the owner of the rental and wanted me OUT,

He would invade the grounds as well as damaging property.

One day when I was in the garden with the dogs ( I had two then) he climbed the fence and started yelling at the dogs ( he used to throw stones at them too)

He carried a big stick and suddenly walloped my old gentle collie, trying to provoke her, I Will never forget her howl of terror and pain.

I took the dogs in and called the Gardai.

He apparently later told evryone that MY DOG had bitten his ankle ( though thick wellies and socks and she had borken teeth) and he had had to get a tetanus jab

People here tend to be trigger happy…

A bangarda came out by which time the old man had gone home.

I spent half an hour making sure she KNEW my dogs are gentle and obedient.

I was terrified.

Clearly laws there are different,
 
As your friend sounds like a close frient, I think it totally acceptable to remind her that she was the one who got drunk and acted stupidly. Likewise, It should be acceptable to tell the neighbors that they have a serious issue with a vicious dog, one that must be kept under tight control, though putting such a beast down is between them and animal control. Surely with so much blame and stupidity on both sides, some compromise could be reached, like letting them just pay the medical bills and the friend sucking up the pain, or maybe even paying half.
 
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