What to do if a dog attacks you in a park?

If you see a dog loose, please report this online. If the dog seems to be out of control, let us know by calling 101. A dog is considered to be out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried that it might injure them. It’s an offence to let a dog be dangerously out of control whether that’s in public or private. Always keep your dog under control around other animals and if you see a dog on the loose worrying animals, report it online. If you think someone has or is breeding dogs, please report it online. If you see a banned dog loose or it seems to be out of control, please report it online or call 101. A farmer is allowed to kill the dog if it’s worrying their livestock.

When a dog is attacking, yelling and trying to startle the dog can be an effective way to interrupt the behavior, as seen in the situation where yelling at the bigger dog and tossing a 5lb bag at them startled them into getting off the smaller dog. The goal is to get the attacking dog to release its grip and back off, allowing the owner to safely retrieve their pet. In this case, the owner was able to grab their dog after the bigger dog was startled. The proper response to a dog attack can vary depending on the situation, but in general, it's essential to prioritize the safety of the person and the dog being attacked. A dog attack can be a traumatic experience, especially when the attacking dog is much larger, like 60 lbs, and the victim is smaller, around 18 lbs. The owner's reaction should aim to de-escalate the situation without putting themselves or others at risk.

If a dog bites someone, the owner has a responsibility to keep it under control. Some of the punishments that can be given to you if you fail to do this can include: Fines of up to £1,000, control orders, short custodial sentences, lifetime ban on dog ownership, the confiscation or destroying of the dog. If you have been attacked or bitten by a dog, there is a chance that you could claim for compensation. The key here is whether the dog’s owner has been negligent. The Animals Act 1971 imposes civil liability, which allows people to bring a civil claim following a dog attack. If you are being prosecuted for your dog being out of control or injuring someone, we can also help in providing you with the best defence to any potential criminal allegations. If you have a dog that you are concerned about, you should contact a professional vet, dog behaviourist, or dog trainer for advice.

If a dog attacks you in a park, you can report a dangerous or out of control dog to the dog warden service run by your local council. You can also report to your local police force. Additionally, if the incident involves dog fouling, you can report dog fouling to your local council.

Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it: injures someone makes someone worried that it might injure them. A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply: it attacks someone’s animal the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal. You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed. If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to 5 years or fined (or both). If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with ‘malicious wounding’.