Well...That was Dumb

In case y'all are curious, I do NOT recommend breaking up a fight between two very angry 50 pound dogs. I succeeded, but my poor arm paid the price!

I hope the dogs are ok. Are they both yours?

I know people who've had luck using a hose or some kind of long stick (cane, fireplace poker, etc). Of course, I have a scar on one of my fingers that still bothers me because when it happens you don't always have time to think

My sister used to have 2 male dogs that couldn't be out together at all.

Hope you're OK!

::notes another reason to stick to cats::

I'm ok. Will just end up with a few extra scars to add to the masses.

My dog escaped from his pen by way of an unclosed gate (my son had fed him and forgot to close it!). He then decided it would be a great idea to cause trouble for my neighbor's dog. The fighting was pretty intense and I didn't want to see either dog get seriously hurt, so I grabbed my dog and the other took a hold of my arm. All told, I think it was the only option I really had (no hose handy, and a clear yard), besides letting the fight reach a conclusion.

But yes - both dogs are fine. My dog has a small gash just below his ear, but doesn't seem to be favoring it any.

I do that on occasion...it's not a real comfortable feeling

Our basenji (may she rest in peace) got through a fence one time and attacked a small dog. I grabbed her up without thinking about it - and luckily I didn't get bit.

Would you rather break up a dog fight or a cat fight?

in the same vein ... what do you do when it's not another dog, but say, a raccoon?

the coon and dog are too entwined to shoot the coon or club it. you really don't want to get in the middle.

Cat fights are no fun, either.

When my son was about 16, we had a demon dog that we'd gotten from some friends. One night, that booger got agitated by our family playing a dice game on the table above him. My son went to pet the dog and it bit through his hand. I ended up having to take him in to the ER to have it cleaned but since it was a puncture wound, they didn't want to stitch it so they covered it with bandages. We didn't keep the dog after that and he went to live with a lady that had no other pets or kids, so he was perfectly happy and so were we!

I waded into the middle of a dogfight between my 70lb heeler mix and the neighbor's similarly sized pit mix once. I got them apart and (miraculously) only got nailed one time on my knee. Those two girls were not allowed to play together any more after that.

A few of these replies at least make me feel better - that I'm not the only 1 to jump into a dog fight.

Earlier this summer, my son, his wife and our grandson were walking with their dogs when a child opened the door of a house they were passing to greet them. That family's pit bull got thru the door and attacked one of the dogs. Instinctively, my son separated them and while doing so he was bit on the first knuckle of his thumb.

Results: vet bills for the injuries to the dog, doctor bills, hospital stay and surgery for the deep infection regular antibiotics couldn't stop, physical therapy to try to get the range of motion back for that knuckle and the related loss of work time for all of the above.

The dog owners were given a citation for failure to control their dog. One bright spot - it did have its' shots and they were eventually able to provide the records.

A simple evening walk turned into a 3 month medical ordeal for them. They are just now receiving the last of the bills (over $12,000 at this point) and are looking into their options for recovering those expenses. As a young family, they don't have the reserves to absorb all of the out of pocket costs. The other dogs owners haven't provided insurance info to them yet.

That sounds like something the dog owner's home owner insurance could cover. Yikes!

Wow - sure hope everything is okay now! My ordeal was a simple trip to the doc for some stitches and a round of antibiotics - nothing like that.

He does not have full range of motion on the knuckle and physical therapists don't expect any further improvement. His job entails using some power and manual equipment so it does pose an ability and safety risk on that front.

When my dog was attacted by two dogs whose owner dropped their leads rather than fall when they lunged, I made the vet's office call the owner for her credit card number before treatment. When she balked, I threatened to call the cops. later I learned that my Cavalier was not the first the dogs had attacked. Neighbors begged me to report the incident which I then did.

Sounds like your son should be contacting a lawyer.If the owners haven't stepped up with insurnace info and offers to cover costs, they're not about to now. Cases like this are usually handled on a contingentcy fee basis so they shouldn't have to pay thousands up front. But they shouldn't wait too long to get this started either.

TR - that's in the works, they were waiting on the last of the bills as the lawyer advised.

c c c cat fight? - Kramer

I'll just say that the rabies shot regime is not the best of times but if you need me to help with any rabid animals I should be able to help you out.

In my case, at least, the neighbor's dog is up to date with his shots.