Who is responsible for a dog fight at a dog park?

Question

okay, we all know that dog scuffles are just a fact of life at the dog park, but what if it is a serious fight? if someone elses dog "starts" a fight with my dog, who is responsible for the vet bills? what if my dog is attacked but then seriously injures the attacking dog? who is responsible for bills in that situation?

nothing has happened yet, but i was just wondering becuase i've heard conflicting reports on who has to pay/criminal charges.

my dog would never start a fight, but he would definitely finish it if he was attacked. there are so many idiot owners at the park that i want to know what my rights are.

okay, while i appreciate the responses i would like to point out that i am not a complete idiot like some of you seem to think. i actually know how to break up serious dog fights and i know much more about dog behavior than most casual dog owners at the park.

i'm just asking because i'm curious. i would never let my dog "finish it" if it was possible to break up the fight, but it only takes a fraction of a second to deliver a serious bite.

he is never a problem at the park, but there are many clueless people who bring dogs that shouldn't be at the park. i've talked to several people who's dogs have been attacked at other parks and they all told me different things. one split the costs with the other owner, another sued for medical costs, still another got nothing at all.

Answer 1

Keep your dog on a leash, even if you are at a park which allows dogs offleash. If an unleashed dog attacks your dog, the other dog's owner would be liable because the dog was offleash and it was the one who attacked. Keeping your dog on the leash helps prtect you if a fight occurs. Make sure your dog is under control at all times.

Answer 2

You bring up a good question, the fact of the matter is one persons word against the other and what a witness says he or she say, I worry about the same thing with my lab, it doesn't help his case when he is big and Muscular and his name is Rip, not because he will rip a dog apart, he is named after a dear family friend who passed just before we got him, he has never started a fight but when an aggressive dog, not small ones though start something he will pin it to the ground by the neck till dad pulls him off. This has happened in our yard with him tied and stray dogs attack him or our beagle (his baby)

Here is our solution, we stay out of dog parks, beaches and the like when there are other large dogs are there, we go to the woods or another beach, it is not so hard to do where we live though.

Document with your vet that he is non aggressive that may be your only hope if someone thinks they saw something but did not really did not see the whole thing. And try to keep him away from the other dogs as much as you can Good luck!

Answer 3

This is a tough call but in my opinion, at a dog park, you are responsible for your own dog regardless of who's at fault.

I feel the same way about my dog. She would never start anything but if another dog were to come after her, she would do some damage.

I feel it would be different if you were walking down the street with your dog on a leash and another dog came up and attacked your dog. But at a dog park, things are going to happen.

With that said, I had a friend's dog over a few months ago and my dog was eating her bone in the corner and the other dog went after her. My dog drew blood and even though I didn't think it was my dog's fault, I paid the vet bill because it was a friend and I felt horrible.

Answer 4

It all depends, if your dog has no history of attacking another dog, but the owners of the other have had problems, in the past and know their dog aggressive than more than likely a judge would rule in favor. I have saw a few court cases when the owners of a dog attack have proved that the other dog is aggressive have won, but i have also saw that they have ruled both parties are both at fault for not having the dog under control. You need to see what the rules are for you dog park also.

Answer 5

Each owner is responsible for keeping their dog under control at all times. Keep the dog on a leash so if it comes under attack by other dogs you can help your dog in case of conflict. Even if your dog did win a fight that it did not start, it could suffer terrible wounds that are painful and costly. Your dog could lose an ear, or worse. Be careful out there. Worry about any legal ramifications after the dog is injured because each situation is going to be different. Just keep you and your dog safe and know what is going on around you at the dog park. Educate yourself on dog body language so you can see trouble coming before it finds you first.

It is up to you to keep your dog under control and to protect your dog as well.

Answer 6

I wouldn't let my dog "finish" a fight if another dog started one.

I'd fear that one or both of the dogs could be seriously injured, and I'd take no pride in the fact that my dog defended himself. If a dog attacked one of my dogs and my dog fought back, I'd be there immediately pouring water on them to, hopefully, shock them enough that they could be safely separated. If that didn't work I'd throw my jacket over them so that they could be separated.

If, in the unlikely event, I was unable to separate the dogs, I'd assume the worst. That I was responsible for my own dog's vet bills and the vet bills of the other dog also. If you assume the worst, anything else that happens is a pleasant surprise.

Answer 7

IMO, if you take your dog to a place that is usually filled with rude, ill-mannered dogs and clueless owners, you are taking your chances.

Most people don't know the first thing about reading their dogs behavior, much less have the control to stop a fight before it happens even if they could, nor how to break up a fight.

Not to mention, you have no idea if the dogs are vaccinated or worm free.

UGH!!! No way I would take my dogs to one!

Answer 8

It would seem logical to me that if your dog is in a fight with another dog, then you are responsible for the vet's bill for your dog no matter which one started it. It's one of the things you have to take responsibility for when you volunteer to bring a dog into your life.

Answer 9

I am a dog expert and as I say the owner(s) of the dog who started the fight Say a Pit Bull a Doberman or a Bull dog are very very protective over there owners because they love them and dogs will risk there life's to keep you and your parent(s) safe and alive. Say you have a small dog and the owner(s) of the big dog attacks the your little dog you can easily sue the owner(s) of that dog(s).

Answer 10

I would think that the dog who "finishes" the act would be penalized because it is your responsibility to restrain your dog, even if it was pushed to do it.

I know it doesn't sound fair, but I believe this is how a judge would view it. If you are not sure about your dog going to a dog park, I suggest taking him on a strong harness on a short leash. You can see how he reacts with other dogs while being right there if he tries anything. When you think he feels comfortable, then let him go and watch him.