Bonnie attacked on beach

[Katie]

Bonnie is at the vet right now having a bite to her face stitched :(

We were walking on the beach and a man with a collie and a square-ish black dog of interminable breed were just ahead. We caught them up and Bonnie and the collie were playing and racing ahead and black dog trotted behind. Collie and Bonnie came racing back past us, suddenly there is a scream from Bonnie and black dog is latched onto her face. Man shouts, black dog lets go...thankfully.... And he catches it.

I then have to walk over 2 miles home with Bonnies face bleeding before I can call the vet.

Man said his name was Mark and gave me a cell number but although I have texted him to say Bonnie is at the vet, there has been no reply. Why am I not surprised?

Poor Bonnie. She is the worlds friendliest dog, never met a stranger yet. I hope this doesn't make her dog reactive.

Am now replanning my day to stay by the phone for when the vet rings. :(

Katie and Bonnie

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

He should have paid the vet bill. I've been in that situation and I always paid the vet bill. I feel lucky that I was never sued for more than that.

My last dog was super dog aggressive. She played regularly with this other dog for a long time. And we took them to the park to play. They got into an issue. (The other dog was bullying my dog that day, I saw that look in my dog's eyes, but I didn't judge the situation correctly since they had been friends for quite a while). My dog snapped and caused serious damage to the face of the other dog. Stitches, drainage tubes, the works. Yet they were side by side in the back seat of my car to the vet for the emergency and follow up visits and they behaved like nothing was wrong.

So keep in mind that dogs don't hang on the things the way people do. And if you don't hang on to it they won't either. 

[Katie]

Thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes. It's also good to hear that other dogs have not been bothered long term by their adventures.

My husband has just got home. Daddy is NOT pleased with what has happened to his girl! I think it is probably a good thing he was not there at the time......

Still nothing from 'Mark'. Hubby has just tried to ring the number, but it rings out. I don't think we will be hearing from him. Thankfully, whilst we are far from wealthy, I do keep a small emergency fund, and we can pay for this.

Bonnie is curled up in from of the log fire ( Southern Hemisphere winter) and enjoying all the attention she is getting!
Katie

[Stella]

Have you reported this to the police / animal control? It may be that he is known to them, and certainly his one dog should not be off leash in public. They might be able to follow up on it, or if someone else is unlucky enough for it to happen to them, there will already be a report in the system.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh I'm so sorry for Bonnie....and for you.  I'm sure you were scared to death.  Hope she heals quickly.

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm sorry you had this unfortunate incident, but happy to hear Bonnie will be ok.   I hope Mark is a stand up guy and does the right thing.  If not,  I might be inclined to stalk that beach for his return and get his photo and of the offending dog and report them to the county officials.   Dangerous dogs don't belong on the beach.

[Kris and Sawyer]

Poor Bonnie!! I'm glad she's ok!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

So sorry this has happened. It really is always in the forefront of my mind when ours are around other dogs as it can happen at any moment. I certainly would report it. This is also a very good reminder of how much information we should get from the offenders owner when confronted in this situation. Drivers Lic? Address? Where works? Last name at least? All could be lied about of course, except DL., but I hope I have the thought process to ask for information should this happen.  Im sure you were very shaken, so I know I would probably have just done the same. Name and number. Hope recovery is smooth.

[Diane Horner]

Hi Katie.  I hope Bonnie heals quickly and she forgets this episode in her life.  Unfortunately, my dog was atacked at the age of 18 months by a Husky.  Owen has fear issues with other dogs since this happened.  We have been to several different behavioralist to try and stem the fear that he now has with big dogs.  I want to take him to the beach to play but I have this incident in the back of my mind at all times.  I am so afraid of him being attacked again.  I wish Bonnie a speedy recovery and hope all goes well with her being in the presence of other dogs.  Good luck and please keep us posted on her progress.

[Katie]

Bonnie had a good night, and the wound looks drier this morning, so we are very happy about that. She is allowed to run off the lead, but to be careful of her face...and around other dogs. This I think could be the problem, being kept away from other dogs. So I am planning on visiting Bailey later today. They are very good friends and Bailey has know Bonnie since she was 8 weeks old.

About reporting the incident. I would, willingly, but what would I report? A man who may or may not be called Mark and a phone number that rings out. The best thing where dog control is concerned would be the dogs name. They could then match Mark and dogs name to get a match, but I didn't get that either. I think there is no hope of the person is not honest. They would be unlikely to carry a driving licence on the beach, and everything else can be lied about. Also it is tricky when your dog is bleeding, hubby and daughter are at work, you have no money on you and are trying to consider the best thing to do next.....

The beach is my local. I was between my house and my daughters, we live about 3 miles apart. Her house (not deemed repairable after the earthquakes, the owner has left, and now lived in by 5 girls sharing) has direct beach access through the garden. I am 3 miles north, and 2 minutes from the beach, so I often walk down the beach to and from Emily's house. I have not seen 'Mark' before, and of course he could have come from anywhere in the city to walk his dogs on the beach :(

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

And if he is smart, he won't come back to that beach because he might be recognized.   I am glad that Bonnie seems to be recovering well.  I do worry about dogs off leash and try to minimize my guys contact to the doodles we romp with.

[Stella]

I would still report it, you can give a description of him and his two dogs at least.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Poor Bonnie (and so sorry for you).  Finn was attacked by a cocker spaniel when he was about Bonnie's age. The dog came running from a house, Finn was on a leash, and hung on to his neck.  Lucky FInn had so much hair that all the dog got was a mouthful of that. I was so upset and but it didn't seem to have any lasting effect on him.  Hopefully, this will have no lasting impact on Bonnie either and she heals quickly.