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Location: Cumbria, UK
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,111
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Marius Got Attacked Yesterday
I'd just took him on the loveliest walk and really enjoyed ourselves. As we headed back out of the field (he was on-lead) this Staffie bitch appeared on her own. Took one look at us and just came at us like a bat out of hell, charging towards us snarling and growling. (as many of you already know I have nothing against Staffies at all, in fact love the breed.) Marius is completely dog-friendly for those who don't know him and was not growling or acting dominant to this dog.
I knew she was just going to attack, she was just making a bee-line for him with her hackles right up. I yanked him by the collar behind me just as she made a leap, she turned and tried again and caught him but didn't latch on and she fell off him him as I whizzed him around poor lad. I screamed at her and stomped my feet aggressively and she backed away and then kept looking into the distance. Sure enough her owner sauntered into the field (this was at least 2-3mins later he wasn't in sight when she charged us)
I absolutely screamed at him (and swore) - told him to get his "******* dog on a lead as it had just attacked mine" and told him he shouldn't have it off-lead anyway as it is dangerously aggressive. He just shook his head at me and said it wasn't!
So I said "how the hell would you know you weren't even in the field and what do you call an unprovoked attack then?" He couldn't have cared less, just sauntered off. I shouted after him that he'd be lucky if I don't report it to the police (I didn't)
I was left absolutely shaken, my hands and legs were like jelly and poor Marius was upset by it too. Bless his heart, he is the friendliest soul on earth. In fact as we headed further home we met up with a lady with a cocker spaniel and he went on his belly to greet it as he knows he has to be more gentle with the little dogs. I was so relieved he hadn't been overly upset by what had happened as many dogs get fearful after things like this happen.
I've checked him over and he is unhurt apart from a couple of puncture wounds. Could have been much worse I guess
It also upset me as it is owners like these give breeds a bad name. It was clear from the way she launched into a blistering run right at us, totally unprovoked that she has issues with dogs. She needs to be muzzled and kept on a lead. I said to Sid, what would have happened if it had been a much smaller dog? Or a child with a dog? Scarey.