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Shephard mix went through his invisible fence.

2K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  Georgiapeach 
#1 ·
We have a neighbor who's dog constantly growls when we walk past. It's been contained by an Invisible Fence, but that didn't stop it today! My husband had both Boxers, and the beast went past it's fence and bit my male in the eye! The puncture is very deep, but below the Iris. The pupil is small because of the bleeding in the socket. We're on lots of medicines, and hope we don't have to drive to the ER hospital if it swells more later

My question is, how do I present them with the bill. I don't even know their name, just the house. Should I have an attorney contact them, or ask law enforcement to stop there to address their problem. Here you don't report if your dog bites another dog. For now the bill is $300.00, but it may get much higher after the recheck and an eye specialist.
 
#2 ·
I'm not sure about the laws where you are, but where I live there is no legal obligation for the owner of the instigator's dog to pay the victim dog's vet bill. Good, reasonable, responsible people will choose to pay the bill, but it is not legally required. If I were you I would keep the law out of it for the time being, and go knock on their door and let them know what happened. Hopefully they are good, reasonable, responsible people and reimburse you for the bill. If they are not, then you could contact law enforcement or bylaw and report them for having a dog at large. You might not get any money out of them, but at least they will get a fine.
 
#4 ·
Thanks for posting that - sounds exactly what the OP needed and was a good read, even though I do not live in Wisconsin. Indiana though has similar.

So from the reading of that, it does sound like the owner is liable for up to $500.

In my experience, radio collars, and underground electric fences are not 100% reliable at all. I see my parents neighbors dog, and my brother's dog, willing to take the shock if the reward is great enough to leave the boundaries (such as a tasty chipmunk or squirrel). Or in the OPs case, another dog to go after.

To the OP, hope it works out for you and your neighbors are reasonable.

As Mark Twain said, "Fences make good neighbors"
 
#5 ·
Thanks. This is an elderly owner who can't physically hold on to the dog. It's an area with lots of dog traffic, and young children because it is a vacation spot. I think it was her son that apologized, and said it was supposed to be contained by the electric fence, but admitted the dog had gone through it. We thought the female has been bitten in the neck because it was trying to bite her there despite my husband pulling both dogs back. The vet said he is in horrible pain, and on six different medications.

I think this has happened before. It's not so much the money. It will be an eight hour drive for me to see the Eye Specialist, and there is a possibility he might lose his sight if there is infection. I think I'll go over to their house tomorrow to explain that there was an injury. I'll see if they're willing to pay the bill so far. Even if they do, I'm still very uneasy about this being a danger in the neighborhood.
 
#6 ·
Yes I would have immediately knocked on their door. Although you probably had more of an issue in getting your dog help. I would nicely tell them their dog broke through their invisible fence and attacked your dog and that there are injuries. Present them with a copy of the bill so far and ask them to pay for it. Tell them there may be more and as your dog was bit in the eye. I would get all their personal information including their insurance company. Some homeowners insurance covers dog bites, some don't. Then present them also with a letter that states exactly what happened, when, injuries along with the bill so far.
I really do not like invisible fences, a few of our neighbors have them in their front yards and I actually avoid walking in that area (one in particular) that has also come thru the fence after my chihuahuas. that owner thought it was funny and just stood there laughing and sent his child in to grab their dog away from mine, can you imagine? this man was really ignorant and luckily no damage was done except to my nerves. So I called the sheriff. I don't like to do that but his attitude flipped me off. He did wake up after that, took a few weeks but the next time he ran into me on the street he apologized. I accepted and told him if he would have stepped up and apologized and grabbed his own dog I would' have even called. He said he thought he was teaching a lesson to his kid who apparently forgot to put the dogs collar on. Anyway hope your dog is ok
 
#15 ·
We're back up at the vacation home now! I'm calling her today, with a follow-up letter that will include the vet bills. I had called the Village, and they indicated the dog was not licensed, but covered for Rabies for another six months. The Village administrator didn't sound like he cared if this dog got loose or not. It's that kind of place, nobody seems to follow any rules. The attorney I'd called to write the letter to her didn't even bother to return my call. I'll keep you posted. I have a spray canister I walk with now.
 
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