my big dog bit her little dog?

You are going along with what your son told you.

Ques. "how do you know when a teenager is lying? Ans. "when his mouth is moving!"

If what he says is NOT misrepresenting the actual facts then I think the other person is at fault. But you do have to listen to what the other person is saying too. At the worse 50-50 on the cost because your son should have said to the other person to hold your dog back, hold your dog back, hold your dog back and made an effort to move away.

Do you own a pitbull? Little guys walking pitbulls often feel empowered and think the rules do not apply to them!

This is why I hate retractable leashes. Owners have very little control over their dogs with them, especially when they're so far away, and when a dog is pulling on the retractable leash they can sometimes look threatening to other dogs because of how low the head is and how they're walking. I think the fact that the other dog was on a retractable leash and thus probably had very little control over their dog, you're less at risk for having to pay for the bills. The other thing you have to take into account is whether or not your dog is usually aggressive towards other dogs, and also whether your son's account of the event is accurate. A consultation with a dog trainer to determine whether they think your dog is aggressive may help your case further.

If what your son says is true and your dog was close by his side and the other dog came up to yours, I don't think you should have to pay. People like to make the assumption that because their dog is friendly that it's okay for them to come up to every dog without asking the owner's permission. This happens to me several times when I'm walking my parents dog who gets very nervous around other dogs, and I have to flat out tell them that she is not friendly. Often times I get a strange look from them like they're offended or something, but it's better than risking an accident or putting my dog in danger.

Your legal responsibilites will depend on where you live.

The only thing I would say is that if your dog is dog aggressive he should probably have been muzzled when your son was out walking him. The odds of running into an unleashed or poorly controlled dog are pretty good when you are out in public, and if you know your dog will bite, then you should plan accordingly.

If it were my dog, I would have put myself between the two dogs and fended off the oncoming dog myself, but I would not expect a 17 year old to think of that.

If it were me, I would offer to split the cost.

(I hate those stupid retractable leashes....I have seen peoples dogs twenty feet away from them, completely out of control, and the people are oblivious.)

no i do not be leave you are at fault. the same thing happened to my friend and she dint have to pay the vet bills. her dog was completely under control it was the other owners fault she did not control her dog and there for she has to live with the consequence it is not your fault at all

You should consult with a lawyer.. but I would think that the owner of the small dog would be at fault, since they failed to properly control their dog.

Your canines did the biting, so particular you're to blame for this. The regulation addresses viscous canines, not who had the longer leash. Your canines attacked the different, you're to blame. In some places they could call to your canines be placed down for this. Your administration of your canines potential which you are going to not be able to be charged with a criminal value, even yet it would not exchange the strikes of your canines.

your dog was under control, her dog was not. i don't see why you would have to pay anything. but it would be in your best interest to contact a lawyer anyway, they'll have better advice than anyone on here.

and B. Byrd...nobody said anything about a pitbull. someone asks a question about a dog biting something and you automatically think pitbull. ignorant people like you make me sick