Another question for the "on or off lead" debate....

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I was at my parents this weekend doing work on our car, and all the dogs (5) were milling around the yard and having fun. My mums yard is kind of based around a dead end drive, if that makes sense, and a foot path run strait through it, into the woods at the other end. it's not a very busy footpath but we do get people passing through.

a man came through with two snappy, aggressive Border Terriers on leads while we were there and all our lot went running off to see who it was, my mum also has a snappy aggressive Border Terrier (especially if other naughty BT's try and come on her spot!) so they were looking like they might have a bit of a scrap! We called our lot back and the man passed through no problems - but if they had fought, who would be liable then??
 
A Public Footpath? He was on the PF with his dogs on leads? If yours were to attack his then you would probably be liable because they were on a public right of way. You know though, I have the strangest feeling that even if they were on your own property which doesn't have a ROW, I think under English Law you may still be liable?? Someone may be able to confirm this, or say whether it is not so.

Over here, we still have the right to defend our property and that includes dogs defending their property, so if anything were to happen on our farm, for example, the owner of the other dogs (or indeed themselves) would be responsible for any damage done. We also have trespassing Laws in our country and there aren't any ROWs here going over owned land.
 
I'm pretty sure you would be liable. After all, with the stupid laws we have now if one of my GSDs were to bite a burglar I would be in trouble, and the dog would possibly end up being pts.
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