Post by Aussienot on Apr 19, 2011 19:45:22 GMT -5
My daycare business is located in a small industrial complex. Last night I was loading up the 'transport dogs' (the ones I pick up and/or deliver to their homes). Labs Tippi and Tango were already in the car. Leashed up Samoyeds Ben and Willa and as an afterthought I also leashed up Cody. The car is parked about ten feet from the front door. I've walked all three to the car many times. They head for the car and just jump in.
This time, just before we reached the car, a loose toy poodle from a nearby business came running up, and at the last minute turned and ran away.
All three of the dogs gave chase. Colletively, they weigh double what I do. Couldn't stay on my feet, and I got dragged across pebble concrete parking lot about 60 feet. Poodle ran under a car to to an owner and was unhurt.
Me, not so lucky. Lost all the skin off my right forearm, big hole in my wrist, and deep scrapes on right hip and knee. Watchband broke, and my shirt was shreaded. And my back is killing me, but I think/hope it is just muscle strain.
Owners of the poodle insisted on giving me first aid for the arm.
I wanted to just wrap a towel around it, get Piper and Tarot and leave.
They kept apologising and blaming their daughter for letting the poodle out. Because my dogs were on lead, they believe they are entirely to blame. They gave me their insurance details.
I think it's my fault, because I had more dogs that I could control. If I'd just had Ben and Willa, or if I just had Cody I could have handled it. But I wanted to save trips to the car. I also made the choice to hang on to the dogs and not drop the leashes.
The other owner stopped by this morning just to see if I was ok, and I think also to get a sense of my mood ( had I gotten angry over night?) Also brought me flowers.
I'm the walking wounded today, doing things slowly and one handed if possible. I'll heal, just a flesh wound as they say, or a lack of flesh wound. No intention of taking it any further with insurance or council. I don't see it as a blame issue, and feel it was as much my fault as theirs. The five business that Scooby Dogs is in the middle of are all friendly and we all look out for each other. Goodwill means more than being right.
What does everyone else think? Who was more at fault? The handler of the leashed dogs who gave chase, or the owner of the loose dog who caused the accident?
This time, just before we reached the car, a loose toy poodle from a nearby business came running up, and at the last minute turned and ran away.
All three of the dogs gave chase. Colletively, they weigh double what I do. Couldn't stay on my feet, and I got dragged across pebble concrete parking lot about 60 feet. Poodle ran under a car to to an owner and was unhurt.
Me, not so lucky. Lost all the skin off my right forearm, big hole in my wrist, and deep scrapes on right hip and knee. Watchband broke, and my shirt was shreaded. And my back is killing me, but I think/hope it is just muscle strain.
Owners of the poodle insisted on giving me first aid for the arm.
I wanted to just wrap a towel around it, get Piper and Tarot and leave.
They kept apologising and blaming their daughter for letting the poodle out. Because my dogs were on lead, they believe they are entirely to blame. They gave me their insurance details.
I think it's my fault, because I had more dogs that I could control. If I'd just had Ben and Willa, or if I just had Cody I could have handled it. But I wanted to save trips to the car. I also made the choice to hang on to the dogs and not drop the leashes.
The other owner stopped by this morning just to see if I was ok, and I think also to get a sense of my mood ( had I gotten angry over night?) Also brought me flowers.
I'm the walking wounded today, doing things slowly and one handed if possible. I'll heal, just a flesh wound as they say, or a lack of flesh wound. No intention of taking it any further with insurance or council. I don't see it as a blame issue, and feel it was as much my fault as theirs. The five business that Scooby Dogs is in the middle of are all friendly and we all look out for each other. Goodwill means more than being right.
What does everyone else think? Who was more at fault? The handler of the leashed dogs who gave chase, or the owner of the loose dog who caused the accident?