Did you click my name by accident as it came up as a reply to my post.  I just hope she has got the proper legal advice by now

There is no post by you between the OPs and mine for me to click on so it does seem unlikely I would have done that by accident.   The text seems pretty clearly to be addressed to the OP but either way I can't see I have said anything to contradict you anyway :-)

I went to the vets.  All the way there I was questioning myself and worrying about what to do for the best.  Worrying that if I pay the bill Im leaving myself open to being billed even further, worrying that by admitting Im responsible means they could sue me in court and the bad publicity and repurcussions that can have for staffies, yet again!  And worrying that if I DONT pay the bill, they could sue me in court anyway and draw attention to stavs and his "type" and then he could be taken anyway!   So in all, I just WORRIED, all the time!  By the time I got there I felt that no matter what I did, it could be the wrong thing?

After a bit of insistance on my part, I actually got to see a Vet there.  He was actually really really nice, and as he was talking me through Princes treatment I burst into tears Im ashamed to say :(  
I think it was just a relief to speak to him and know that he wasnt horrible! ( The receptionist by the way, was a total and utter bitch!! She made me feel like a no-body and in the end I said to her that she had no right to make me feel like she was ).   But the vet, well, what a lovely man!  He wasnt the vet that treated Prince, but was kind enough to talk to me as the other vet wasnt there, so Im greatful for that.
I saw a breakdown of treatment given to Prince.  He had Xrays, anaesthetic (not sure how to spell that), Antibiotics and anti-inflammitories (not sure how to spell that either) both by tablet form and injection, antiseptic swab, recovery pack (food, I assume?) plus consultation fees.  I asked if Prince had any pre-exsisting conditions and he said no.  I asked if the shoulder injury could cause complications and he said possibly.  What else could he say, really?  He told me Prince is 5 and is a Papillon.
I saw a printout of treatment and the name and address was on there, but the vet was holding it as he went through it with me and I couldnt see much of the address, I did see the name though, it was a womans name and seemed to be Italian? (the owner I saw was a man who definately didnt look to be Italian, tall and fair, but I dont suppose that means anything, it could be his girlfriends dog or something?   Anyway, I again asked for their details but it goes to say, they wouldnt give them, but I again asked if they could ask the owner to contact me. 

Anyway, I paid the bill.  I know that might seem stupid, but Im drained by all this and just want it all to go away now.  I cant believe it all got as complicated as it has, I was at fault and wanted to pay the bill and see that the dog was ok, I never expected all this fuss and chasing around to try to pay it!   But by the time I got there I was worried majorly, felt unwell, was tired and uncomfortable and imagining all sorts of stuff that could happen to stavs if police or dog wardens got involved.

I guess Im at the mercy of the owners now.  I,ll just have to see if anything else happens, if any more bills are sent to me etc.  Im hoping that now this big bill has been settled, they might leave it at that?  I,ll just have to hope that Prince recovers well, and that the owners feel Ive been fair and dont chase me up for every vet bill Prince might have in the future.  Its out of my hands now and I,ll have to wait and see if thats as far as it goes.  Im going to draft a letter tonight (so any help with that would be SO great, Im rubbish at stuff like that) unless you think I should just leave it now?   I dont know.  Im tired of worrying about it at the moment, its all Ive thought of for days and the way I feel at the moment I want to hide away and never think about it again, lol.   If it turns out Ive made a huge mistake by paying the bill, then I,ll face that when it comes, but by the time I got to the vets I was in a bit of a state and my head was swimming with it all "should I do this..should I do that...".

As for the receptionist, well.. :(((((   if I felt stronger I wouldve given her a kidney-punch!  (not really, lol, Im not a violent person, but she really was a sour-faced cow, Ive got to say!)

I dont know how to say Thanks to you all, it doesnt cover the help youve all been.  I truely dont know where Id be without you all, you made a horrible situation a little easier to bare, youve all given fantastic advice (even if you feel I didnt listen, I honestly did take it all on board and made notes of links given, advice given etc.  I just felt, deep down, I had to pay this bill?  I hope you understand that and dont think any help youve given has been tossed aside)

Im going to have a long bath now and try to relax a little.  Thankyou all, from the bottom of my heart. x

Not read back before I posted that last post...just had a quick look now but please, dont fall out over me? :(

Ah so Prince is  a Papillion that is a small dog for some reason I had in my mind Westie.....in one way it is a good result a Staff hitting/body smashing into a Papillion at full sped could have caused a lot more damage.

You have paid and I assume got a receipt???for full final payment as a goodwill gesture? I'd ignore the receptionist....obviously no people skills.....;)

Hopefully that will be all now, ad you can put it all behind you know with lesson learnt.

I would get a letter signed from the vet that the payment was for full and final payment..then breath lol.

I think you have done all you could and and more, Receptionist ? when people are like that it's usually that they have their own issues (Transferance)....just ignore it !

(can you tell i'm a phychiatric nurse lol)

Best wishes to you

Annee

I am glad that you got to speak to the vets, go over the treatment of Prince, and see what you were really paying for.  Thats all you wanted, and you got it.  Hopefully you got a receipt and keep that in a secure place, as you dont know when you will need it again (if you ever will). 

(((((hugs)))))) to you.  Enjoy your relax time.  Be proud in yourself knowing that you did the right thing, and that you are a very good, and responsible owner.  Even though this horrible thing happened, you were right there, trying to make it right.  No one forced you to pay the bill, no one forced you to care for the other dog.  (Not saying you wouldnt, but some people would be like "oh, whatever".)  If I could tip my hat to you, I would!!!

ETA ignore the receptionist.  She isnt worth your time!!! 

Thanks a lot, sorry Ive not replied to posts before now, bloody ear infection has knocked me for six a bit.  Also, thanks to everyone whose sent me pm messages (which I keep forgetting to check, wish there was a facility that tells you when you have new messages? )  and Im sorry Im taking a while to reply, but I promise Im reading them and they mean a lot :)

When I paid the bill yesterday the only receipt I got was for the debit card transaction, they said they would send me a fully itemised bill in the post stating exactly what was done, and that arrived this morning, along with a slip saying that the top half of the bill has been torn off to protect client confidentiality, so obviously the address etc.

Im not a vet or even remotely medically-minded, so have no clue what most of the items and treatment on the bill are, but my god, that poor dog had a lot of treatment! :(   I feel very upset that the little thing had to go through all that. 
And really, none of that treatment is to do with a bite.  So it goes to show the damage a heavier dog can do to a more delicate one, just by jumping on it.  It wouldnt have made a jot of difference if stavs had been muzzled that day, Prince would still have been as injured as he was/is, and I,ll never forget that.  So, to anyone who thinks their dog cant do extensive damage to another dog if they are muzzled, learn from my mistake and dont be lulled into a false sense of security. 

Just to drive that point home, heres the treatment list Prince had done, and I only wish I could somehow let the owners know how very sorry I am and that this has been a massive wake-up call.

Urgent Consultation

Morphine

Synulox Injection

Drip Buns Green

Hep Flush

Intravenous Catheterisation

Syrinse Plastipak

Metacam Injection 20mls

ACP Injection

General Anaesthetic (one hour) First Xray taking and reading.

Xray subsequent plates

Lisnocaine 

Administration Fluid Therapy

Aquapharm Saline

Intensive Care Hospitalisation

Synulox Clavaseptim

Metacam 10ml

Brief checkup.

Grim reading, huh?  Im keeping this list so if I ever get complacent I can revert back to it and remind myself what I put that dog through. 

Ah, yes. This is why I never let my Papillons play with my bigger dogs as even in play a dog as small as a Pap can so easily be injured seriously. The good news is that generally speaking, Papillons are very healthy dogs indeed so it's quite likely Prince won't have other health problems and there won't be anything they could try to pin on you.

one hour anaesthetic?? i would query that. i doubt he was asleep for an hour!

I feel so sorry for you Stavs but take my hat off to the way you have dealt with this.  A papillon is a very small and delicate dog - much like my sheltie pup  (who I know is bigger but equally small boned and delicate).

Back in the 80s we rescued a Jack Russell who was 2 and who had been returned to the rescue a few times because of his aggression.  We had  him until he died at 21!!! However in all that time we seldom  let him off the lead as whenever he saw  dog (particularly a big black lab or similar) he would race in and go for the jugular so to speak.  It was awful and we were always apologisng but in the end we just had to keep him (Kit) on his lead at all times.  I always felt it was an awful shame and because of it he missed out on a lot during his nice life with us.  Still he was a fabulous dog,  a real character who no doubt had we had him from a pup we would never have had those issues.

Still we did have so we did the best we could which is what you are doing with your dear Stavs.

Keep your chin up me dear.

Snowflake

> one hour anaesthetic?? i would query that. i doubt he was asleep for an hour!

If he was Xrayed before and after, developement of the plates etc added to the surgery could well have taken that long, particularly if the follow up Xrays indicated more manupulation was required before suturing up.

OMG, suturing up??  :(

I took it to mean that he was given anaesthetic so they could x ray him?   Do you think he had an operation too?

No, sorry, did not read the list fully.  They probably just manipulated it but that, with the Xraying and developement checking and Xraying again would have taken most of the time anyway.  They have obviously done some treatment or it would not have required subsequent Xraying.

Ah, I see, thanks.

Either way, Prince went through a lot :(

I've only just caught up on this thread but just wanted to add that as a fellow dog owner I really admire everything you have done, you are a credit to all dog owners & I hope the owners of Prince appreciate everything you have done to help.  You mentioned writing them a letter & asking for some help with this but if I were you I'd leave it now, I think you've gone beyond normal expectations with this incident.  Hopefully Prince will fully recover & it will be a distant memory for him, his owners & hopefully you.  Such a shame for this to have happened when it sounds like you'd got so far on with Stavs but don't beat yourself up about it, you're not a miracle worker.  Hopefully the bath worked & you're feeling a lot more calmer & relaxed.  I take my hat off to you & only wish for owners were as responsible as you clearly are.

Hi there,
like gembo I have just read this thread.
It's an awful thing to happen, but you have done all you can Stavs. You have been really responsible about what happened, and to my mind there's nothing more you can do. In my personal opinion prince's owners haven't been in touch with you because they probably see you as 'the enemy'. They don't know what person you are, what your dog has been through, or all your hard work with him. They just see that their beloved dog has been attacked, and even though you have paid their bills might well still think you are irresponsible and therefore want nothing to do with you. We all don't agree with that, don't get me wrong, but they obviously can't see things from your perspective right now.

I would still get some legal advice on this to be honest. It could well be that the owners want you to pay for ongoing treatment, especially if they have this picture of you as being 'one of those staffi owners who let their agressive dogs attack innocent dogs'. They might want to squeeze you for every penny. They might not contact you ever again. In any case I would call a solicitor just to see what their opinion is and what you should do in case the vets or the owner ask you for more money.

Stavs
I think you have done the honourable thing - well done - and don't want to see you getting 'milked' for this unnecessarily.  I wish I had seen this thread earlier....I would URGENTLY suggest you phone the solicitor mentioned earlier and explain what has happened and what you have done.  I am not legally trained but from past (painful, previous) experience would suggest that it needs to be made clear that the payment you proffered is without prejudice.   In other words, they can't come back at you for anything else.  I don't know if you can do this retrospectively, but please please please phone a free legal helpline (your house insurance may provide this??) at the very least if you don't contact the recommended solicitor.

I hope that this is an end to everything for you. 

Jan

PS  You are obviously stressed and run down, hence the ear infection, so give yourself a bit of TLC, eh?  :-)

Thanks Gembo Ulrike and Gunner for your kind words and thoughts.

Ive not been on here tonight because Ive felt really rubbish, so I think your probably right about being run down, Ive slept on and off today a LOT.

I think its best if I do get some legal advice, just incase.  I simply cant afford to pay on-going bills, especially if they are large!  I seem to be at the vets a lot as it is, because Lola has a lot of toe problems (although Im now insured) so I dont want to be paying 2 vets on a regular basis.  Ive written to Trevor Cooper, although Im not expecting a reply anytime very soon as I know hes really busy with all the DDA and the fallout from when Mersyside Police seized a lot of pitbull "types" (mostly all of which were staffs or staff crosses, poor things :(  )  but I,ll also talk to a Solicitor here.

I also wrote a letter to Princes owners. I put it in a stamped envelope and put it in a quick note to the vets, asking if they could please just put the owners address on it and post it to them.  If they choose not to read it or read it and throw it in the bin without contacting me, at least I tried.  I basically told them how very sorry I was, told them a little of Stavs history, and that I wanted them to know I am thinking of Prince and that if they could let me know how he is I would appreciate it.  If I dont get a reply then so be it, I do understand that, like you said, they probably see me as the enemy.

Im still using my mates muzzle untill the one Ive ordered for stavs comes, its coming from New Zealand, and stavs is spending all of his time rubbing his face into my legs trying to get it off :(   He is used to a muzzle as he always wore one before, but obviously he doesnt like this one, so I hope the one Ive had made for him comes soon.  He is pretty fed up that he cant play ball when out, but to be honest he seems a lot calmer, so I dont think all the ball chasing was helping really.  My confidence with stavs has taken a knock though, but Im trying hard not to let him know that and try to relax, I know that if Im stressy when out then he will be too. 

I havnt been able to drive out to the field my friend said we could use yet as Ive not really been well enough to tackle the drive out there, but hopefully I can do that very soon.

Im off to sleep now, hopefully, lol, if I can get the dogs to move over a bit so I can have SOME of the bed at least!  At the moment Im on ther laptop perched on the very edge of the bed while stavs and lola are stretched out all over it! :)

Thanks again everyone, for everything.  You are all stars! 

Carmel xx

You are such a nice person, Carmel. You really are. It's so great that you are working with your dog through his difficulties and problems and are not giving up on him. There would have been so many dog owners who would have parted with their dogs if they turn aggressive or have problems that require a lot of work. What you've done is fantastic.

I think the letter you wrote to the owners is a good thing, and I'm sure the vets will pass it on. Even if princes owners might not want to speak with you, they might appreciate your efforts in a few months, when all the shock has worn off. You never know. At least you can live with the thought that you really have done everything in your power to help Prince and his owners.

Let us know what the solicitors say. I would be really interested. I have a Golden retriever, and she is 6 months old. She has no agressive issues, but she can be quite rough in her play sometimes, and she is a big dog. When I read that Princes injuries were mainly due to Staffs weight on him, I was suddenly wondering what would happen if my girl played with a small dog and hurt him by accident? I don't let her run up to other dogs off-lead at all, but you never know. One day she might escape and then it happens. I realised by reading this how quickly one can be in a situation without ever expecting to.
I wish you all the very best and hope you feel better soon.

Carmel,

Given Stavs has a bit of a prey drive thing it is possible that balls will just intensify it. You may have already tried more formal obedience training with him but Staffs are clever dogs and much more biddable than most terrier breeds. He may repsond well to some really dedicated obedience work, including sendaways (on a long line) and so on. You could also try tracking (a much calmer and controlled way of employing his hunting instinct) and this also employs a long line. Hiding objects and getting him to find them will use his brain and will tire him more than running. All of this will use his energy but in a more constructive way for both of you. It can all be done on lead and believe me he will be as, if not more, tired out.

Hi everyone, sorry not to have updated for a while, my ear infection turned out to be Glandular Fever and its knocked me sideways, today is the first day Ive felt well enough to come on here.

I eventually got in contact with the owners, via the vets.  The owners rang me and we had a long talk and I hope they now realise that Ive been really concerned and upset about Prince.  Prince is doing really well apparently, which is great!!  They didnt mention me paying for any other vets fees either, which is great too!   They were a bit "off" with me, but thats understandable.

The day after they phoned me though, the Dog Warden came around, so they must have contacted him .   This was only yesterday so I was surprised to see him, I thought it was maybe not reported as time went on and no visit.  The warden was really nice (even though stavs jumped up to kiss him just as he bent down and he got hit in the mouth...) and Lola kept trying to put her tongue in his ear, but they calmed down after a few minutes.

It was the same warden that came out to me all those years ago with stavs. :(   and he remembered us straight away.  He said the owners of Prince didnt want to take it any further, luckily, but that because its a 2nd visit to the same dog, he (the warden) was quite within his rights to take it further. I was really scared when he said that, but he said they wouldnt take stavs away, they would just issue me with a fine and an order that stavs had to be onlead and muzzled at all times.  Luckily for me though, my daughter had just got back from walking stavs for me and his harness and muzzle was on the living room floor, so the warden could see I was insisting on muzzling him when out.  He decided to give us one more chance, he wont act this time but he said if he had to come here a 3rd time then he,d have no choice.

He said he could see I was trying to be a responsible owner, and could see the dogs were well cared for and that they wernt left to roam the streets etc causing problems, and that even though he knows I spent time rehabilitating stavs after the first time, I simply cant take a chance with him around other dogs, ever.  I agree totally.  It went in my favour that I paid the whole bill, and that I did all I could after, he said a lot of people just "leg it" with their dogs after something like this and wont give their details to the owner, and dispute how it happened.  So, Ive been very lucky this time, and I,ll make sure there isnt a third time.

He also told me of a case he saw that morning where a Yorkie was killed by a Greyhound, the grey had been let off lead with no muzzle  (ex racer) and that the owner had,in that case, been negligent.  He said while he didnt think Id been negligent, he did think I had been a bit optimistic, and a bit careless not to double check that the man had a dog with him (as I thought it was the man without the dog..I took it for granted, and that was careless, so I agree with that too)

So, all in all Ive been lucky, and the warden has been lenient with me.

Im knackered now, even writing this is exhausting, so Im off, but I just wanted to update for all you kind people who helped me so much.

Carmel xx

Don't have much time to right a reply to all you have put but by law the dog warden cannot do anything but warn you about your dog attacking another dog - they can however say what they want to scare you!!

My friend is a dog warden and I even reported a dog to her that bit my Akita on the bum and she said unless I feel threatened or have been bitten there is nothing they can do but scare the other person by making it look more formal.

I hope it can all be put behind you now and you can carry on enjoying your dogs and having fun with them.

Thank goodness that it has turned out ok. 

You have been very responsible, and again, you need to be commended on that.  A mistake to let him off leash, un muzzled, ok yeah, but you made the situation RIGHT by being a responsible owner.  Glad to hear that Prince is doing ok as well.

The dog warden, was lienient on you.  Thank goodness!  It would have been devistating if it turned out the other way.  But I think your actions afterwards also helped you. 

Hope you are feeling better soon!  Rest up!  ((((hugs))))

do you still have to pay a fine as well?

Glad it's working out -but I don't get the dog warden. By law there is nothing at all to say one dog can't hurt another, they can't take a dog off you for that!

> By law there is nothing at all to say one dog can't hurt another, they can't take a dog off you for that!

I agree & what was the fine all about ? I was told that dog on dog is not subject to the DDA & that no action could be taken & this was from someone who knows the DDA & other dog law inside out & upside down !

> I agree & what was the fine all about ?

Was there a bylaw prohibiting dogs off leads or out of control even, perhaps, that permitted the taking of a fine?

The DDA has nothing to do with fines that Dog Wardens from Local Authorities can issue dog owners. Dog wardens can issue fines under various circumstances, for example when an owner refuses to put a dog on a lead in a designated area etc.

Issue you with a fine?

What the hey?
Not sure I understand what that bit is all about.  I think you've done good by our breed and have done the best you possibly can in this situation.  More power to you.  Hope you have recovered from glandular fever.

I wrote

>I agree & what was the fine all about ? I was told that dog on dog is not subject to the DDA & that no action could be taken & this was from someone who knows the DDA & other dog law inside out & upside down !

Where did I write that the fine was under the DDA. The Dog Warden wasn't present when the incident happened so cannot impose a fine for something he only has a hearsay report of.

To the OP

What happened had nothing to do with the DDA, an incident happened & you went above & beyond what could reasonably be expected. I wouldn't be concerned about the Dog Warden taking your dog from you, he has no just cause to do it.

If the fine was because of your dogs misbehaviour there's needs to be a bye law that covers "natural"dog fights(as opposed to arranged dog fighting)I cannot see any council passing a bye law to cover such an incident

You have been very quick to take preventative measures & have learnt from the experience

Hi again, and thanks again :)

Yep, thats definately what the warden said to me.  That Princes owners didnt want to take this any further but that by rights he (the warden) could decide to take it further if he wished too and that I could have faced a fine and an order to keep stavs on a lead and muzzled for the rest of his life.  And that if he had to come out to me a third time he would have no option but to take this further.

Im actually pretty confused after reading your replies.  Why would the warden say this, if it wasnt true?  Trying to scare me maybe?

I did say to him that I was upset at first because I didnt want stavs to be taken off me and he said that couldnt be done, but that stavs "quality of life" could be affected by having to stay on a lead for life.  Playing on my emotions I guess?

I dont know whether to be pleased that none of this could happen, or annoyed that he obviously misled me ..actually he lied through his teeth then!  But I guess its not worth getting annoyed about as I dont intend to ever be put in (or put stavs or another dog in) this position again. 

God though, I must have looked foolish as I was SO greatful to him for saying he wouldnt take this further, I was really thanking him!!!   I feel a bit dumb now.

Maybe he just wanted to be 100% certain that Id learned my lesson and thought it wouldnt do any harm for me to be a bit afraid.  He wasnt to know how much Ive agonised over whats happened, and how upset Ive been about it.   Im sure he had his reasons for issuing such a "threat", but I wonder how many owners have possibly been told that about their dogs and then decided to rehome them because they couldnt put up with the stress!   If he really cant take action and he lied, then its a bit naughty!

O what a naughty Dog Warden, if the owner didn't want to take it further, he couldn't. Definitely scare tactics & very unprofessional. He sounds far more Warden than Dog if you know what I mean ;-)

As to Stav's quality of life-what does he know about his life ? The RSPCA say that if a dog is fed & watered & has a dry place to sleep then it has a quality of life. Your Stav has far more than that obviously & not all dogs need to roam around parks etc where other dogs are.

A longish line & good collar & harness plus the muzzle will give him more freedom if there is nowhere he can be off lead safely & if you have somewhere that Stav can run free where he's not going to meet other dogs then he will have a super life. Whatever exercise he may have away from home is an added extra to his already good quality of life

Thanks Moonmaiden, I appreciate that.

Stavs wouldnt be too bothered about needing to run around, Ive got a large garden and to be honest I think if he never saw another dog in his life he wouldnt care, he just wants to be with people (me :) mainly).  But I do have the field of my friends I can take him to so he can run all he wants and play ball without having to wear a muzzle in that one place (no dogs or people, totally private and secure) but I havnt been well enough to make the journey there as yet, I do hope to go there very soon though and make a regular trip there.

I thought the dog warden was SO nice too!  Seems to me he liked to have a bit of "power"...maybe he couldnt get in the Police Force, lol.

> The Dog Warden wasn't present when the incident happened so cannot impose a fine for something he only has a hearsay report of.
>

I believe as the OP had admitted what happened it would not be regarded as hearsay :-)

> you went above & beyond what could reasonably be expected.

Whoa!  A lot of people would have just cleared off rather than facing their responsibility so, for that, you could say it might not be expected and the OP must be commended but it was their responsibility.  There is no reason why the injured dogs owner should have been out of pocket so I don't think we can say is this above and beyond what can reasonably be expected.  It is in fact what should be expected.

> I believe as the OP had admitted what happened it would not be regarded as hearsay

If there were no witnesses to what the DW heard & I'm sure the OP did not given a written admission & the dogs owner did not want to proceed, then the DW has nothing to go to court with QED

"The complainant has to be the other dog's owner not the DW, he did not see what happened & therefore any complaint he would make would be hearsay ie based on what someone else had said to him"

If the other dog's owner had said that he was frightened by Stav & wanted to complain then the DW could proceed under the DDA on the other dogs owners behalf & the other dog's owner .would have to give either oral or written evidence. Admission of guilt without witness, written or video or oral statement is not admissible in court

As for not being more than what was correct. The correct procedure would have been to swop names & addresses & have the bill sent by the vet. There is no requirement for checking on the other dog, his progress etc Just paying the vet's bill either by the OP or the dog's insurance company or the OP's third party household insurance is what would be expected

> If there were no witnesses to what the DW heard & I'm sure the OP did not given a written admission & the dogs owner did not want to proceed, then the DW has nothing to go to court with QED
>

I don't know what they said to the DW but they certainly owned up to the vet so there is a good chance that they were as honest with the DW.

> The complainant has to be the other dog's owner not the DW

I think you are going back to the DDA again.  As other posters have pointed out, fines can be handed out under bylaws if the dog was in an area ordered to be kept on a lead or otherwise under control.

>Just paying the vet's bill either by the OP or the dog's insurance company or the OP's third party household insurance is what would be expected

Not quite.  If the injured dogs owner wanted to take it further they could claim for damages to cover future vets fee arising from these injuries and probably even damages for distress to the dog and themselves and you could say the OP is responsible to that degree.  As I say they have done more than many but to say above and beyond is over stating it I feel.

Stavs,

As I've mentioned before, I work out of the same office as our Dog Wardens. Just had a chat with one of them and we do not issue fines and do not take away 'aggressive' dogs. As a few people have mentioned theres nothing stopping him using a few scare tactics on you, but our Authority would only act in VERY VERY extreme cases (usually noisy dogs) where a very long drawn-out process had been exhausted: home visits, dog training, witness statements, Officers witness statements, police statements and finally a court case.
A single attack by your dog on another witnessed by one person is not enough for anyone to act on.

I hope this helps you feel a little better about the situation.

It does, thanks a lot bostontea.

I think I,ll just put this behind me and hope that Prince continues to recover well and isnt too affected psychologically.  Hes doing well, and thats all that matters really.
(bit peeved off at the dog warden but, hey, Im sure he thought he was doing the best thing. Or simply iiked having a bit of power, lol. :)

Well the dog warden has obviously had the other side of the story first and thinks he/she is doing the right thing - in some situations a veiled 'threat' works, especially when dealing with people who are not clued-up on laws etc.

You've done absolutely everything you possibly can here and proved yourself to be a decent, caring dog owner. Try to put it behind you and just enjoy being with your dog who I'm sure will feel so much better when he gets his 'relaxed' mummy back.

Take care.

I totally agree dont let the dw upset you , you did all that you could and more , try to forget the incident , learn from it and  move on , im sure your boy  has
x

I did say to him that I was upset at first because I didnt want stavs to be taken off me and he said that couldnt be done, but that stavs "quality of life" could be affected by having to stay on a lead for life.  Playing on my emotions I guess?

About the quality of life issue with being on lead, I think thats ridiculous!  Here, are dogs ARE NOT allowed off leash, and we have to have them on a leash 6feet or under!  (so technically all those flexi leashes for sale are against the law)   My dogs are never off leash if they are outside the property!  I dont think they have a horrible life, actually its rather good.  So dont worry about his quality of life being diminished because when off property he cant be off leash. 

bostontea, the key word here is your dog warden. That does not mean that all dog wardens in all local authorities operate in the same way as your dog wardens, so in fairness you can't really generalise how all dog wardens excercise thier powers based only on how the one in your district operates because they all operate differently from one district to the next & some are more inclined to persue matters others might not persue. Eitherway it's obvious they don't intend to go any further on this occasion but i think we need to be a bit careful not to generalise based only on the policies of one office in one area of the country.