My grandparents are both 80 but very active and still go on walking holidays etc. They lost their elderly dog this year and decided to get a slightly older rescue. 3 weeks ago they bought home a 4 year old Bichon Frise X. Earlier this week my grandad was out walking the dog when a lady approached them from behind startling them both and the dog bit the lady on the leg. It didn't break the skin but left a mark. The lady called the police who then visited my grandparents at home. They explained they had only had him 3 weeks and he was a rescue, in those 3 weeks he had been ok with everyone he met. The police contacted the rescue who said they had to return the dog which they did yesterday and he was PTS. The police have been back today and at the moment the lady wants to prosecute my grandad. The police did say they would go back to talk to her agin as the dog has been pts so it cant happen again. Obviously my grandparents are devastated as they have now lost 2 dogs and they have the police involvement to deal with.

Does anyone have any advise for them?

I hope that the police do talk her out of it as the dog did not break the skin and has been pts.

Did your grandparents take out pet insurance on the dog? If so depending on cover most will pay out on things like this, also some home insurances will cover so read through any insurances. Although myself I can't see what is being claimed for if the skin was not broken, the worst payment possible has been done which is the dog being pts.

If your grandparents do not have insurance, the person could take them to court to sue them, if they own their own home and have savings they could be in danger, if not and they have little savings there is little for her to try and claim for and it would be dropped? Cases without a financial gain will not go ahead.

If the dog had caused some serious damage it may well get to court if this person insisted on it, quite rightly some people are badly injured and should go for some recompense,  but there doesn't appear from what you have said much reason to go to court or claim for anything other than a mark which will go away......... I don't know why the person would wish to sue for this?

We are unfortunately in a 'sue mad for anything' type of world, and if your grandparents do own a property or have savings the lady may be the type of person to try.............. in which case they need a solicitor to help them with this who will hopefully get it thrown out or try to make an out of court settlement, or advise that they should fight their corner and win the case as there will be no damage and the dog is gone.

IMO it is a nonsense, yes she was scared by it no doubt, but the dog has payed the ultimate price and she has no scars or stitches from what you have said.

If the worst does happen (although I am confident the police will put an end to it ;-) ) and your grandparents are taken to court, they in turn can then sue the rescue for selling them a reactive dog so in the end could theoretically get any loses back, but what a mess it will be, I hope the woman will drop it and if not, with a good solicitor it won't get off the ground.

What a terrible worry for them......... I hope everything will turn out ok.

Thank you for the info Carrington.

They wouldn't have taken out pet insurance for the dog, they would be able to afford vet bills for anything the dog needed so i know they wouldn't have bothered. Will mention the house insurance though.

I understand the lady was obviously shocked at what had happened and I understand she wouldn't want it to happen to anyone else or even a child so I cant blame her but I really hope once she realises the dog is gone she will drop the whole thing. I'm led to believe she had a red mark and a bruise but no bleeding or broken skin.

Hopefully they will have some better news later in the week once the police have spoken to the lady involved again.

They wouldn't have taken out pet insurance for the dog

Might the rescue have given out the free 4 week insurance like breeders do? I know some rescues do.

Im not sure on that one, will have to get my mum to ask them. They have no phone at the moment as the dog chewed through the phone line :)

I know the rescue have had the dog PTS but have they offered any support for your grandparents? They must have a legal team or advisors that may be able to offer some help. Could be worth an ask. Also, check out the 4 week free insurance and what it covers.
Seems like a really silly situation. Hopefully the woman is threatening legal action as a heat-of-the-moment type thing and when she calms down and realises the dog can do no more damage and that your granddad was not to blame, hopefully rational thinking will prevail
:-)

No advice but a fair bit of sympathy - seems terribly harsh that the rescue had the dog pts when the dog was startled, unsettled in the new home, and probably acting out of character. :-(

So sorry to hear what a horrible experience your grandparents are going through.

Maybe they could contact Trevor Cooper at Doglaw http://www.doglaw.co.uk/ for legal advice.

Best wishes.

Hi, so sorry to here what your grandparents are going through.  We had a similar situation in the summer.  Someone approached our gate looking for us when we were out and got too close so that our GSD could bite her.  Very silly on the persons part as Sasha makes it very obvious that she is guarding, no surprise attacks. The first I was aware of it was when the police called round telling me what had happened and that she wanted to sue.  He was a lovely man and understood both sides of the story, at no time was Sasha off our property and the woman had no business being there.  After going back and forth between us and the complainant it was agreed we would pay her travel to hospital and prescription charges amounting to £15. Nothing at all was done to Sasha, although would have fought that with everything we have if PTS was even mentioned.
So, really can't imagine what they could sue you for when the dog was PTS and didn't even break the skin, unlike Sasha. Unfortunately a lot of people see any type of accident as a money maker.  Our person only got £15, really can't see how your lady is entitled to more. I'm sure she doesn't have a leg to stand on as the worst she will have is a bruise. I wish your grandparents the best of luck x

Thank you to everyone for their advice. I am pleased to say that after a chat with the police the lady has decided not to take it any further which is a relief. Sadly it didn't change the outcome for the dog.

Brilliant news for your grandparents........... Phew!

Not an experience they will ever want again.......  if they really want another dog, I would just point them in the direction of CD breeders and the breed clubs, who may well have some older dogs needing re-homing for various reasons.............. well, that is if they haven't already been put off for life.

It is a great relief that it is at an end.

I read through this story with increasing horror.   Clearly the woman was shocked about what happened, and what then happened was her knee-jerk reaction, but how sad that the dog had to be put down.    I hope the woman remembers that!!      There's no doubt we've gone mad with all the litigation.... where did good old common sense go!!

Still, apart from the poor dog involved here, I suppose your grandparents can take some consolation re their home and I hope this hasn't put them off trying again...... ?

ps   Can't resist, but is there a message here, perhaps, re all this mix-breeding!!!

> but is there a message here, perhaps, re all this mix-breeding

I don't know how you could suggest that as we know absolutely nothing about the dog's history other than it was a rescue - surely the fact that it was a rescue and had only been with these people for such a little time is far more important  ??