My dogs allegedly bit neighbours dog. Where do I stand?

[Enfys]

Just had my elderly neighbour around to say that his dog has had to be treated at the vets for a wound on her leg today (possibly not even a bite he told me the Vet thought) and said neighbour wants us to pay the bill. He is a sweet old chap and I'd hate to fall out with him over this.

On Sunday the neighbour walked onto our yard via our woods and fields which upset my dogs as they aren't used to people coming in that way. They barked (which is their job) but came away when told to.

Anyway, 5 minutes later OH and neighbour were chatting and neighbour's GSD bitch then comes trotting up, again through the woods, she'd jumped out of his truck and followed him. I didn't see it, but apparently my dogs and his had a bit of a scuffle, particularly my bitch (who had had puppies a week before).

So, the way I see it, my dogs were just being normal dogs protecting their turf and a bit of hackle raising was not exactly surprising. Most dogs would take exception to strange dogs suddenly appearing in their back yard, especially from the woods rather than down the drive.

Are my dogs in the wrong? Should I be expected to pay the Vet's bill?


I could really do without this sort of hassle right now.

 

[CorvusCorax]

If it happened on your land then I wouldn't expect you to pay.
Doesn't sound like anything too serious, especially if your bitch is just off a litter.

However if you think it may cause problems later, maybe go halfers to keep the peace?

 

[showjumpinglover]

can you not ask to see the 'bite' wound and then make a decision?

 

[emma69]

I think, having quickly searched through the Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act, that yes, you are liable, even if it was private property if the dog bites a human or domestic animal. Moreover, it seems that your dog could now be deemed under the act to be a 'fierce and dangerous animal' - however, there is a stipulation that a dog cannot be deemed such if they are protecting their young, which is what I would argue if needed. However.... I am guessing that you have coyotes over there, and who would be able to say if the bite was your dog or a coyote without witnesses...just saying...

If I were you, and you are able, I would pay the vets fees to prevent it going any further and on the understanding that he will not enter your property again unless invited. I would try to do it nicely tho - as you certainly don't want to make sworn enemies here.

Your local municipality will have its own by-laws on dogs, not sure which one you are in, but they are normally on line so you can find the ones for your area.

 

[Enfys]

Thank you all, and especially for that info Emma.

I'll see where we go from here. Why don't I just keep guinea pigs instead?

 

[lovecharles]

i'd suggest going halves to keep the peace.

 

[Enfys]

Just to keep the peace I probably will, but it pisses me off royally that he says it is MY fault. I just feel that by offering to pay a share I am admitting that it WAS my fault and that my dogs are dangerous. Crap, they just don't like strange dogs coming on their back yard unannounced.

He wasn't expected and he upset the dogs in the first place by coming out of the woods at them. I don't hold him accountable for his dog escaping and following him because by all accounts he DID believe that she was safely contained, and things happen.

Gah.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I don't blame you for being annoyed, mine go bonkers when people bring dogs onto the yard, I hate having to explain that yeah, they live here, it's their territory, they are going to bark!

I'm surprised by that law, I really am. It would be different if the dogs were off your property, but hey.

 

[AmyMay]

I'd tell him to feck off.

But that's just me.......

 

[Ravenwood]

Oh dear, what a difficult situation. Since you are in Canada, I have no idea what regulations, bye laws etc you are governed by, but like you I would hate to fall out with the guy even though he has a bloody cheek asking you to pay the vet's bill!!

It rather reminds me of the time (when I was a little girl!) when our dogs escaped to a nearby smallholding and upset some geese. The owner came to our house with a dead goose and asked for compensation. Obviously my Dad immediately paid him the cost of the goose but he kept coming back for several days with more dead geese saying they had died of fright and the after effects!! Of course we got wise to this and stopped paying!!

Just thought that little snippet might be of interest!!