What Is Classed As Dog Attack

[GypsyGSD]

I am aware of most things defined as a attack but a friends child was in a playground area a group of lads had a dog off lead it jumped at the child scratched bruised her skin and ripped through her jumper what category would this be placed in obviously the dog was not under control but should it be reported

[B00]

Was it attacking or just jumping up at her?

Don't get me wrong, im sure the child was terrified but the former is quite different to the latter, even though the outcome might be similar.

[woofgang]

were teeth used?

[naomi24]

If the child was injured I'd report it. In that area the dog should have been on a lead and under control.

[sinderella]

Dog should be under control.report it.

[KARL]

While I entirely sympathise with your implied concern, you (and I) will incur opposition "dog lovers" who regard these animals and their behaviour as sacrosanct, often above reproach and of higher merit than mere human best interests. That is how this tribe sees things and they are quite numerous to the point where they intimidate the other tribes by suggesting failure to support their preferences amounts to at least insanity if not criminal tendencies. The authorities are also very hesitant and apologetic when prodded into facing the lobby - you have a distinctly uphill struggle in securing freedom from the unwanted encroachment on your life by privately kept individual animals.

[Tilly2]

As one of the 'dog lover tribe' whatever that is, may I suggest you look at section 3 in the following document.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/8277/law.pdf

[naomi24]

I'm a dog lover - I have three - but I'm also a responsible owner. In public places dogs should be kept under control.

[Baldric]

Wosup Karl, get a knockback last night did we, or maybe a bit of a hangover this morning?

[Peaspeculiars]

Tilly - Great link.
Karl - Relax.
GypsyGSD - Do you have a GSD? :-)

I am a dog lover, however the dog should have been kept on a lead and at a fair distance away from the children, it is just common sense when you are near a playground let alone in one.

Unfortunately even the best behaved dogs will jump up from time to time as a play action and not in aggression, and if their claws scratch, then it is not intentional, and no - this should not be reported as an attack.

However - If the dog had bitten her, then obviously the situation would have been different, it would have been an attack and it should be reported.

So, to answer your question, No. Not in this instance.

[RATTER15]

Karl that was a silly comment, I think all responsible dog owners keep their dogs under control as I do!

[KARL]

"Not me or my dog", forgot to make mention of that - so there you are Gypsy, nothing to get upset about, just smile and bear it.

[Tilly2]

It is quite obvious that morons who let their dogs roam around in public places do not use Answer Bank.

[pastafreak]

KARL is of the opinion that animals and humans should never mix,in spite of us mixing for hundreds of thousands of years.
Follow the guidance of the sensible responses on here...it does not sound like a situation that needs action.

[viv38]

My goodness KARL, feel better now you've got that off your chest?! While I agree with you that dogs should not be running around a children's playground off lead, you seem to be of the opinion that we ALL do this when in fact the vast majority of dog owners are responsible, caring and decent people. Because of a minority, people like you have a downer on all dogs and dog owners which is grossly unfair to say the least. There are thousands and thousands of happy, well adjusted loving dogs out there with good homes and yet people like you blame all dogs for the few who attack because of useless, uncaring owners who are often cruel to their poor dogs. Please do get a grip !

[KARL]

In the USA there are lots of people who insist it is not guns but bad gun owners that kill people. The same people point out that they themselves have a gun yet have never killed or injured anyone and that there are millions of gun owners in the USA with similar records. In Europe (including on AB) people despair over this logic and feel sorry for the thousands who are killed annually through gun use in the USA.

While dog nuisance and attacks are not usually as lethal as firing a gun (intentionally or not), it is a fact that privately owned dogs frighten, injure and kill people the world over. Dogs have a right to exist but why is it such an offensive if not a deranged notion to question the logic presented by the dog owning lobby here or anywhere else ? Apart from guide and other working dogs (police, etc.), neither dogs or humans need dogs to live in densely populated areas - it is a choice. That choice leads to people like Gypsy to timidly wonder if finding her experience unacceptable is allowed in society.

On reflection, Gypsy, my advice is to report the incident because if these go unreported then the record will show these things never happen (and there are those who would welcome a blank record). But as I said previously, don't expect much sympathy (anywhere) or results. The UK is one of very few countries in Europe where it is not compulsory to keep dogs restrained at all times outside the owner's private property. In fact, I don't know of another European country where that is not a legal requirement, whatever the enforcement may be up to.

[Frank97]

Report it if you want, but that, in my opinion, does not constitute a dog attack.

[Peaspeculiars]

Karl, Thank you for pointing out that we are all ganging up on the OP by calmly telling them our opinion as requested in their question rather than creating a tabloid head-liner for the incident.

Clearly from the outrageous answers posted on this thread by all of the dog loving fraternity;
Not one of us has stated that we feel responsible dog owners should keep the dog on the lead and under control around children and play areas.
Not one of us has accepted that dogs can be dangerous.
And I clearly have gone all silly in my response and have wildly stated that dogs and humans never ever fall come to blows, and that if a dog bites in an attack it should not be reported so I can understand 100% your response.
Have you actually read this thread at all petal?
Please could I borrow your soapbox after you are done to make my public apology for being a responsible dog owner?

[KARL]

I have not once suggested that responsible owners do not exist. I am merely presenting the view that the OP's experience is a direct consequence of the public's choice to keep dogs in densely populated areas. It is abundantly clear that some people find a questioning view deeply offensive and they take it personally. I find that very telling. How many of those whose dogs have frightened, injured or killed people said that they were expecting this before the incident(s) ?

[Peaspeculiars]

' ...How many of those whose dogs have frightened, injured or killed people said that they were expecting this before the incident(s) ?..'

So what is the answer Karl? And no, I am by no means attacking you either, I am interested to know how you feel the future or present should be.
If there are no 'safe' dogs in the world as above shows that no-one can ever predict a dog attack, should all dog/ human relationships be kept to guide/ police/ army and other working dogs and nothing else to protect the public? (and no privately owned dogs as pets be in existence?)

[KARL]

Generally, I believe in democracy. It is not for me to dictate, let society decide. But I suggest we should all take off the blinkers and cut the romanticism - make it an informed choice, please.