Ozzy could use some vibes.

[CharlieDog]

He got himself injured today. Sort of.

I had JUST gotten to work practically, and we had corporate coming in today, so there was no way I could leave early, when my mom called me and was in a panic because Ozzy had gotten his foot pulled through the fence by the neighbors dogs, and they f*cked it up pretty badly.

I'm really pissed off, because these dogs are ALWAYS trying to start fence fights with ours, and ours are really good about leaving it, and coming back to us, and ignoring the four (sometimes five) screaming dogs at the fence. Well, this time, my family was in the back clearing out a bunch of over growth and stuff, and all the dogs were "helping" them (mostly not, they kept stealing sticks from the pile ) but anyway, the ringleader dog came and started barking at the fence, and Oz went (because he is a terrier and the hardest headed) and started barking back at them.

Somehow his right front foot went through the fence, and the other dog latched on to it, and wouldn't let go. None of my family has any idea about break sticks or anything like that, and so my brother was beating the other dog over the head trying to make her let go of Ozzy, and the neighbors daughter came running out trying to get Ginny to let go of Ozzy. Finally, Ginny's owner came running out and he somehow got her to let go.

Anyway, Ozzy's foot has two slices to the outer two digits and his dewclaw was ripped off. The nail is completely gone just about, though the bone and pad part are okay. His foot is really really swollen, and his arm at the joint is skinned up pretty badly. I don't think it's broken, he'll let me manipulate it without crying, but he's not putting any weight on it, though that could be from being vetwrapped up.

His back legs are pretty scraped up from trying to get away I guess, and he's just all around pitiful.

We've decided to just keep an eye on it, if the swelling doesn't go down, we're going to take him in to the vet.

Also, what would the legalities of that be? Should the neighbors be liable for damages, since their dog pulled his foot through, or since it was on the fence when the dog grabbed it, is it just one of those things? We're not asking them to pay for anything or anything, but in the future, I'd like to know what our course of action could be.

Also, my mom told them if (because they do keep getting out and coming into the yard) it happened again she was going to shoot the dog. She also told them (because it was a LONG time before they could get the other dog off) that if she'd had her gun, she would have shot the dog then. What are the legal repercussions of that?

 

[AgilityPup]

Aweeee poor Ozzy. Sending vibes his way!

 

[Renee750il]

Ethically, I think they should pay Ozzy's vet bills -- and put a solid fence on their side of the fencing, or at least pay half for the fence to be made opaque. That's ridiculous.

 

[CharlieDog]

We've put up some old privacy fencing we had left over up on our side of the fence. I'm not sure what they're planning on doing on their side, but they did say that they were going to do something about the fencing issue.

They seemed a little shocked that Mom said she was going to shoot the dog if it happened again, but, I mean, we're protecting our dogs, and this dog could have caused Ozzy some really serious problems. I won't know how bad it's going to be until the swelling goes down and if there's any internal damage to his foot.

 

[dachshunds4me]

Well I'd think both dogs are at fault, the fence is obviously a problem as well.
I mean, their dog did not come thru to your side, your dog slipped through although by accident.

As for the injury, your dog probably needs an antibiotic, if you can get to the vet to get one.

 

[MPP]

Oh, poor Ozzie! I hope there's no permanent damage. It sounds awful but not major, if you see what I mean. Hugs and ear skritches and here's a cookie, poor puppy.

BTW, your mother is awesome! :hail:

 

[CharlieDog]

I think it may be broken. He's not putting any weight on it any longer. He's just tripodding around. It's swollen pretty badly now, and he winces when I touch the tips of the uninjured toes.

I think it'll be time for the vet in the morning. He's a pretty stoic dog, so it has to be hurting pretty badly for him to be showing it.

Also, the fence held our dogs in, it was just a freak thing that his foot went through the chain link. I'm going to probably be putting in a privacy fence when I get my tax returns back, but until then, we're keeping all the dogs away from the fence.

 

[Lizmo]

I don't think it would stand up in court, if that's what your asking. You don't have physical proof the dog pulled Ozzy's foot in the fence.

I hope Ozzy feels better soon.

 

[JessLough]

I would talk to them about it. Not your mother, but you (since she brought up shooting their dogs, they will probably not work with her right now). Go over, and explain to them what happened with his foot now, and how serious it is. Let them know that you are not asking for medical bills (if you still are not), but would like to figure out a solution to the fencing issue. I would also not let your dogs out if you see their dog is out, and ask them to do the same, until a better fencing solution is thought of. Be calm, level headed, and do not raise your voice. Speaking rationally about it is the only way you will get anywhere.

Not saying your mom was wrong per say, it was in the heat of the moment. However, if they report her, she can get in a lot of trouble (at least here) for threatening their pet, when their pet was on their property, and it was your dogs leg that was through the fence (NOT at all saying it is your fault or anything, that is just how it would be seen)

 

[sillysally]

Sending vibes your way--hope everything works out with the neighbors. Honeslty, I one of my dogs did something like that I'd probably pay the vet bills, but I have no idea if I'd be legally obligated to or not.

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

Oh man I hope Ozzy's foot is alright Broken feet are hard to deal with on active dogs because they just want to keep on truckin' once they've got pain killers. Good luck at the vet!

As for the neighbor, I'd take pictures of Ozzy's injuries incase they're necessary in the future. You do have multiple eye-witnesses on BOTH sides of the neighbor's dog attacking Ozzy's foot so unless they perjure themselves in court they would have to admit they had a violent dog which I know in the US means a fine and different sanctions depending on the county.

 

[CharlieDog]

Ive got a few pictures of it, and I wish I'd read that before I re-wrapped it, but I'll take some in the morning. I've left everything undone from the dew claw down, and he's cleaning it up. It looked really really bad when I unwrapped it to clean it up again tonight, so I decided to try to let it dry out tonight.

He yelped when I tried to take the sock covering the vetwrap off, so I ended up cutting it off. I'll have to put another one on before he can go outside though.

And looking at it again this evening, all of his toes have scrapes or tears in them :/ I thought the middle two weight bearing toes were okay, but they both are kind of scraped up as well, and he's got a tear in the area between his largest pad and his toes too.

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

When you get to the vet, ask about healing options for the pads. I know for some dogs they just never grow the foot pad's rough parts back when they've been injured. Izzy has smooth spots on her foot where the pad never grew back after a burn. Hopefully Ozzy heals up just fine but he may have to sport a wrap and a boot for a while before he can go running at top speed again.

 

[CharlieDog]

Also, this is the same dog that will turn at the fence and grab anything she can because she's got barrier frustration/aggression. She hasn't grabbed any of their own dogs, but she's torn a couple small trees down.

I don't know about the who's liable thing. He was on our property, but the fence is the neighbors crappy fence, and the neighbors dog was on the neighbors side of the fence. But they didn't say anything about what my mom said about shooting the dog. It's pretty commonly done down here that if a dog injures someone (i.e. a person) seriously, that the dog gets put down. Most dogs here don't get a second chance to injure a person. Someone takes care of it. I'm not sure about how it is about dogs injuring another persons dog, but this was a vicious attack. I know that the dogs emotions were charged, and it could have just been frustration, but I have never known dogs to do that. I've know a lot of fence fighting dogs, and I've never seen a dog really injure another dog through the fence.

So, I don't know. And if I put up a fence, it will be on our side of the property, and I'm just not going to ask them to help pay for that. It would be our fence, so meh.

I don't know. Mostly now I'm just worried about his foot, and infection setting in.

 

[CharlieDog]

It doesn't appear that the dew claws pad was ripped off. It's got some cuts in it, and he's got some cuts in his toe pads, but they appear to be whole still.

And he's being very fastidious about keeping the scrape up at his inside elbow clean as well. It's a really big scrape, in a really awkward position, but I left it open since there's pretty much no way I can bandage that up at all.

 

[JessLough]

Do you guys own that house? If you own the house, and the fence is HIS fence, on HIS property, then it would be under your liability, unfortunately. There not being a fence on your side, and just his crappy fence, you technically cannot complain if the dog gets injured, as, from their view, you did nothing to stop it (ie putting up a better fence on your own side). Just a crappy situation to be put in, really Liability issues really do suck.

 

[Saeleofu]

Awwwww, poor Ozzy


When you wrap it, just make sure it's wrapped from the toes up. If you leave the toes/foot open and wrap above it, it may cause the foot to swell. Limping does not necessarily mean it's broken, either. I'd monitor and see if it ends up getting worse. If so it's probably either broken or infected. IF it gets better instead of worse, it's probabyl bruised/strained/etc

 

[Grab]

I would keep it wrapped entirely. Licking will keep it moist and irritated. I would definitely have him seen and put on antibiotics

 

[CharlieDog]

Yes, the fence is their fence. I guess it's just one of those things.

I do want to make clear that I was just wondering about the legalities of it. We've been friends with these neighbors since I was a toddler running around in diapers with their oldest. I am not planning on taking them to court or anything of that sort, though I WOULD be extremely happy if they'd pay for vet bills, I don't know if I feel right asking them to do that.

I am going to let it air tonight, and then I'll wrap the whole thing up again in the morning. I've been keeping a sock over it as well, so that he can go outside without getting it nasty. I'm thinking I'm going to invest in a boot for him.

I do have skidboots though, if anyone knows what those are. Could I just keep that over the dew while it heals up? Or should I go get a pair of booties from Petsmart to keep over it?

He feels hot to me, but that could just be my imagination. I don't have a way to take his temperature either. :/

 

[Hillside]

Ah man, poor Merley dog. *hugs*