Dog on Dog Incidents - What to do? - Staffordshire Smart Alert

Dog on Dog Incidents - What to do?

Due to the number on incidents being reported with regards to Dog on Dog incidents, here is some information on how to deal and whom to report to:

Immediate Steps at the Scene - Stay Calm and Avoid Physical Intervention

Where possible, grab the ‘dog biting’ collar – lift upwards (essentially choke the dog) – a dog that breath cannot bite!

Stay calm – shouting, screaming will only make things worse and amp all dogs up creating a more dangerous situation.

Never grab your dog/pull them away as this creates more injury

Get the Other Owner’s Details

At minimum, try to get:

Their name

Address

Phone number

Dog’s breed

If the dog is microchipped and registered (they are legally required to be)

If the person tries to leave:

Record their car registration – should this be seen

Take photos or video if safe to do

Gather Evidence

This helps for vet insurance and civil claims:

Photos of injuries

Photos of location

Witness names & contact numbers

Any CCTV around (many shops and homes have it)

‘Get Your Dog to a Vet’

Even if the injury looks mild, puncture wounds often hide deeper damage - keep receipts and vet notes.

Report the Incident if Needed – Dog warden 01782 717717

Important Clarification - A dog attacking another dog, by itself, is generally not a police matter.

Police will usually not get involved unless specific legal conditions are met.

If it is simply dog vs dog, and no person was threatened or harmed, the incident is normally treated as a civil matter between owners.

When It Is Not a Police Matter:

➡️ No person was injured

➡️ No one felt threatened or scared during the incident

➡️ The attacking dog was on a lead or under control to a reasonable level

➡️ It appears to have been a fight or scuffle, not a deliberate act

In these cases:

The situation is handled civilly (between owners)

Or through insurance, small claims, or the council dog warden

When It Becomes a Police Matter.

Police involvement is based on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

A dog is considered “dangerously out of control” if:

It injures a person, or

A person has reasonable fear that it may injure them, even if no bite occurs

Who Deals with a Normal Dog-on-Dog Attack?

Issue	Who to Contact	Why
Dog injured dog	Owner-to-owner resolution or Small Claims Court	Civil liability / Animals Act 1971
Ongoing aggressive dog in area	Council Dog Warden	Monitoring, warnings, control orders
Animal cruelty or neglect	RSPCA	Welfare enforcement

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Message Sent By
Jessica Yearsley
(Staffordshire Police, PCSO, Newcastle under Lyme)