Filing a dangerous dog complaint: what will happen next?

November 7, 2011 7:00 PM

[UK law filter] Today I filed a dangerous dog complaint with my council. What should I expect to happen next?

This is the second time I have been bitten, totally unprovoked, by the dog in question. The first time the bite was minor, and I approached the owner myself and let him know what happened - he apologised and acted shocked enough that I did not take the matter further. This time the bite was more serious, and so I have reported it to the council. Both incidents occurred on public property when the dog was loose and unsupervised. The owner does not know about the second bite as far as I am aware.

I've called the council and they say the dog warden will be in touch (I intend to chase this if necessary), but I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience filling a complaint like this or can give me some advice re: what I should expect. How will the dog warden go about investigating what happened? What action is the council likely to take? Could it turn into a case of the owner's word against mine? Can I maintain anonymity?

Thanks.

posted by anonymous to Law & Government (2 answers total)

Hi Anon. A couple of years ago my elderly aunt's dog jumped up on someone who claimed it bit him (my aunt maintained he'd been scratched by his claw fwiw). Anyway this guy went to the police, who subsequently interviewed my aunt. This culminated in a "trial" of the dog at a magistrates court (the complainant didn't need to attend), which heard evidence of what happened and decided the fate of the dog. Whilst they could have ordered its destruction, it seemed pretty clear to me that they wouldn't do that for a first offence. Now the dog has to be muzzled and on a lead when in public - I think the police can impound it if its not. A second offence could very well lead to a bad end for the dog!
posted by prentiz at 11:53 PM on November 7, 2011

Yeh it might be helpful to know where you live. I'm in Tower Hamlets where a couple of our Local Councilors have taken forward the issue of dangerous dogs. If you live in my 'hood I'm sure they can lean on the warden and find out if there is a pattern. If this has happened before they might be able to take sufficient action to ensure there isn't a repeat. I've seen them raising cases in the local paper, kind of a "name and shame".

Might be worth contacting your council just to see if any Councilor has made this their part of the platform.
posted by Mutant at 4:26 AM on November 8, 2011