Incident with a dog

[Jonni_croyden]

Hi, new to the site (was recommended by a colleague).

On Wednesday i was doing my round and encountered a dog in the street. The dog (German shepherd) came for me and bit my arm, had a tight grip and i struggled to get it off. In the end i had to forcefully push the dogs face, like a very forceful slap to get it off. When i did the dog yelped, fell to the floor and struggled to breathe.

There was an old lady that witnessed the incident and helped me find the dogs owner (who wasn't impressed and quite threatening to me).

Today was given a letter addressed to my DOM complaining I caused the death of said dog and that the owner wants reimbursing costs of the dog + vet bills totaling just over £700.

My DOM was useless... couldn't give me a straight answer on where i stood.

Surely this is a case of self defense? I still have the bruises and teeth marks on my arm!

[Bazman]

The guy let his dog be dangerously out of control in a public place and you have a witness to this effect. It's a shame the dog passed away but you were trying to defend yourself from a dog that had decided you looked pretty tasty. If anything the dog owner should be the one in the s**t, what if it had gone after a kid or something?

[krussel]

Firstly welcome

Bit of a sad first post

Are you a CWU member if so see your rep asap as the union has solictors who will fight this. If not then i would suggest going to see the CAB to find out where you stand.

Did you report it to the police, go sick etc. Have you any bite marks or bruising, if so take some pictures.

I would say its a clear case of self defence and as the dog was off the lead in a public places you are ok. But just cover all ave's.

Concering the owner, is he on your delivery ? If so your dom may have to suspend his delivery as you have been threatened.

Did you happen to get the old ladies address, would she make a statement. Your dom needs to follow this up.

[NewPostieUK]

This is ridiculous. Its like being knocked over by someone driving on the path then being asked to pay for the damage to the car.

[krussel]

This is ridiculous. Its like being knocked over by someone driving on the path then being asked to pay for the damage to the car.

One of our guys got hit on a crossing on a royal mail bike, the car actually drove over it (had it in the bike sheds for years) and carried on. Next day he came to the office and presented a bill for damage to his car, the dom took his address telling him he would send a cheque, he sent the old bill instead . He got a day in court and an 18 month driving ban.

Sorry back on thread

[Stormproof]

Not sticking up for the dog here. The dog could've possibly be in pain before it attacked you, hence the attack. This is the owners fault and not yours, it should of been on a lead if it was in the street. £700 vets bill for a dog that was pushed in the face is taking the piss, more to this than the owner is saying. I suggest to try and get a copy of the vets letter and post mortem. As others have said get advice off the union, ideally your H & S rep.

[TeeferTiger]

So the fact that the owner has sent you the bill for dog's treatment is their admission that their dog was loose in a public place, yes?

I'd be speaking to the Police and filing charges against the owner for the dog's attack on you. Whilst it's sad that the dog died, you shouldn't have had to fend the animal off in the first place.

[Stella102]

go straight to the police, fill in the accident book and take sick leave.

[banner18]

No case to answer. Do nothing and don't worry. No court in the land will ever back a case like that so let him waste his money on costs.

In fact, you should have reported the attack. It is ABH. The fella would then be charged and fined, lost his vet bills plus his dog. Lesson, control your dog in the street!!

[olilew]

tell the owner you are going to counter sue him for undue stress caused by him and his dog and he'll shite himself and back off. Oh and well done! another dangerous dog off the streets!

[doob]

Not to defend owner in any way as dog shouldn't be loose at all if a danger but how hard must u have hit it to kill it, I should imagine there will be further investigation and hope the old lady saw it the same way u did. Royal mail don't protect us much so don't expect too much help from dom.

[banner18]

Not to defend owner in any way as dog shouldn't be loose at all if a danger but how hard must u have hit it to kill it, I should imagine there will be further investigation and hope the old lady saw it the same way u did. Royal mail don't protect us much so don't expect too much help from dom.

As long as the hit was in self defence when the dog was attacking there is no case to answer. Dogs do not have the same rights as humans in a case like this.

[doob]

Still German shepherds are strong dogs I don't think a slap would of done it, u may as well be truthful and say I punched it very hard defending myself etc. I can't see him having to pay for it at all as like u say there isn't much the owner can do

[Himaggen]

Of course there's a case to answer, there is nothing to prevent the dog owner from claiming reimbursement of the costs with regards to this incident.

You should have reported the incident, to your Manager who should have completed an ERICA report and to the Police and/or Dog Warden, you should have also made a DSS declaration for an accident at work.

With all of those in place you have a defence in place to make your case, preferably through the Union, (Simpson Millar), experts.

That said, the owner will be unlikely to get anything. The only thing you would need to show, and the witness would presumably back that up, is that your actions were unavoidable in the circumstances.
The dog owner will be found to have been be responsible for keeping their dog under control in a public place, (the Dangerous Dogs Act, and possibly the Control of Dogs Order will have been breached). If the dog had been under control the bite and act of self-defence would not have occurred.

[meercat]

Jonni go to the Police tommorrow after work and report it. They will take a statement and give you a crime number which you will need to sue the owners - which you should definately do and the cwu union law team will most likely do this for you. The dog owners may indeed sue you for this so you need evidence that you have reported this incident plus witness statements which the Police should do as part of their investigation. The police themselves may want to procecute the owners under the dangerous dogs legislation. Be 100% truthful with your account as if anything you say is contradicted by the witness you will be on shaky ground. If you booted it in the head after it let you go say so, you were in a state of shock and acting in self defence. You also need to see your doctor tomorrow to get a report about the damage to your arm as evidence. Don't rely on this going away just because you are in the right, a good lawyer could make you look guilty so prepare your case.