:( :( :(

I'm so sad and angry - On the way home from a friends last night as we were crossing a busy road, we noticed a GSD running across the road - heading straight for Roxy. I'm not a dog expert, but this dog looked really unfriendly and like it meant business. We were both alarmed and looked around for an owner to shout to them to call there dog and there wasn't one. :(

This dog just went for Roxy. My husband, who thank god was there as I wouldn't have been able to stop anything - tried everything to get this dog off her....eventually after what seemed like for ever this dog stopped, walked up a bit and then came back and went for her again ... my husband crossed the road thinking to try and get some space between them and the dog ran after and attacked her again. It was utterly dreadful. Eventually JOnny managed to shout and flail at the dog and put his pfoot out and the dog walked off, so we quickly checked her over and didn't see anything, but when we got her home we saw a nasty puncture wound on her shoulder. She's been at the vets today to get some antibiotics and make sure she didn't need stitches.

I'm so relieved that it wasn't anything more serious and that my husband was there to stop anything more, but so sad that my friendly cheerful dog was subjected to this. I know that dog fights sound awful, but the fact that she was actually bitten, that it came back for two more gos, and there was no owner I called the dog warden and insisted they investigate. Had she been a more submissive girl, or smaller dog I dread to think what could happen.

That is dreadful you must have been terrified :(  Thank goodness you were not alone with her!
Hope she is feeling better now and hope it hasn't made her nervous of other dogs.  Maybe it would be a good idea to get her out and meet some friendly dogs pretty quickly?
Maria :)

OMG that is really awful - I hope something gets done and your friendly cheerful dog gets weel soon.

Maxine

You need to report this to the dog warden.  The dog may still be loose or they may know whose it is or trace it.  The owner should be controlling their dog and be paying for Roxy's treatment.

I've now spoken to two dog wardens...first one took my details but told me to call another one as we were on the other side of the road to where the boundary to thier 'area' stopped and when I spoke to the other he at first said he couldn't do anything as it was in the other area.

Then he tried to say they don't investigate dog on dog attacks so I plainly said this dogs owner wasn't anywhere to be seen, I insisted he did something about it because she was bitten, and it could happen again.

It didn't sound hopeful.

What else can I do?

I'm hoping this doesn't make her worried about approaching dogs when she's on her lead. :(

Just thinking about something - her best doggie friend, Max, is a huge GSD - she adores him so do you think she'll be OK round him? Does the fact she's so friendly with a big furry GSD already it'll help her not to be so worried about them?

I wish we could stamp this out as it happens to me all the time.  People chuck their dogs out on the streets to walk themselves and just don't care what their dogs get up to.  I am always trying to get my dog out of fights with others that run up to us and then all hell breaks loose.  It's really hard to hold onto a dog on a lead and get rid of the other dog while teeth and jaws are snapping willy nilly.  Both Copper and I have been bitten.  I have phoned the police and the dog warden about "stray" dogs roaming around but nothing ever gets done, how would they know who the animals belong to blah blah blah.  Why should we have to pay vets bills and have our pets injured because of these irresponsible people and their untrained dogs   I just try and avoid all dogs at all costs but that is very difficult.

Thats terrible, even worse as this dog didn't have any owner with it.  I really feel for you and your dog, luckily you had someone with you to help or things could have been worse.  You have done the right thing about reporting it to the dog warden.  Where I live a dog escaped and attacked and killed another dog along with biting a person at the same time and now has a destruction order on it.

I would say get your dog out to meet your friends GSD asap....when you meet up act as you would normally so your dog doesn't pick up any anxiousness from you and let them have a play as they normally would.  I would let her meet as many friendly dogs as possible now to hopefully stop her having a fear or other dogs approaching.

I think it might be a good idea to arrange for her to see her best friend Max, sooner rather than later!

Have you also reported it to the Police not saying they will do anything but maybe insist that they log it? In the meantime, I agree, let her meet Max and enjoy a play to get her confidence back. Really makes me annoyed when people allow any dog out on its own and don't take responsibility for its actions.

We're all assuming that the dog's owner had simply let it out. That's quite possible, but there are also other possibilities too; a spiteful neighbour or careless dustman left the gate open; the dog had been stolen and escaped, or had got out during a burglary, etc. Let's not jump to conclusions.

I know just how you feel - I had this happen some years ago with my English Setter.  The GSD was kept in the pub that we had to pass.  It was usually up on a roof terrace growling and barking down at us.  This particular day the cleaners had left the front door open and the owner was away.  The attack took place on a busy road - it could have caused a nasty accident.  I managed to move back off the road a little.  I had witnesses who stood by and watched.  My dog was injured but not badly.  Luckily the cleaner realised the dog was out and came and got it. I was badly frightened and my husband phoned the guy up.  He had a mouthful from him and so my husband phoned the police.  Luckily that landlord moved on fairly soon after that.  My dog never trusted GSDs after that.  The police need to be told that there is a dangerous dog loose because it may attack again.  It my be a child with a dog next time.

poor you & roxy,how terrifing. Flynn was attacked once.it was terrifing

What a terrible shock for you and your poor girl. I am so glad that she wasnt badly hurt.
This is my biggest fear while out with my dogs alone I always try to have my OH or son along as I have 3 dogs it doesnt bear thinking about.

In the park today we only had one of the dogs with us playing football 5 different dogs on different occasions came hurtling over to join in and try and pinch the ball my girl luckily ignores  but the owners stand and watch it makes me so angry as I never ever let my dogs run upto dogs/ people they are trained to stay with me.
I down my dog and stare at them until they call them off.