When a dog attacks someone, it’s the owner’s responsibility, though one dog owner in Virginia seemed to think otherwise. In a video shared on r/DogAdvice, Reddit user CD_B_ explained that they had been bitten by their neighbor’s dog, which has allegedly chased them every time they pass by. CD_B_ says their attempts to befriend it haven’t worked, and after being nipped a few times over the months, the dog has finally attacked with a bite. Its owner, though, apparently didn’t seem to care.
Right after the dog bit them, CD_B_ said they went straight to the neighbor’s front door to tell them what happened. “He seemed unfazed, and I’m very afraid that nothing is going to be done about this dog, and I’m going to get bit again walking by,” they wrote. They left animal control a voicemail about the ordeal but have also turned to Reddit for suggestions.
After their alleged attempts to calm the dog and be friendly toward it, OP feels as though they were perhaps in the wrong for not better assessing its behavior. “Is it my own fault for not taking action sooner?” they asked. Based on the video, thousands of Reddit users were more than certain it was the owner at fault for the dog’s bite, not CD_B_.
Reddit Blames the Virginia Neighbor for the Dog’s Poor, Untrained Behavior
“That is a dog that has never been trained properly on boundaries,” remarked a commenter. Another user pointed out that the dog is a livestock guardian breed. “There is NO reason it should be loose like that in a residential neighborhood setting; they need fencing or else EVERYTHING is their territory to guard,” they explained.
Plenty of commenters also agreed with how this dog’s particular breed is the reason why it’s so seemingly ‘playfully aggressive.’ “This is instinct,” wrote a Redditor. “And an absolutely bad owner who has set his dog up to fail in a SPECTACULARLY bad way.” Others chimed in, adding how the dog is unfortunately bound to suffer because of the owner’s irresponsibility.
While CD_B_ hasn’t updated their post about what eventually happened to the dog, they have stated that they plan to call the Virginia police on the owner. They were physically attacked by his pet, after all. Pepper spray is also on the table for self-defense, OP mentioned, if nothing is done about the neighbor’s dangerous roaming pet. CD_B_ concluded with something many are sadly thinking: “I wish the owner were more responsible with their dog.”
