13/07/2022
I feel for Liza and all nz vets, and all animal professionals.
I see this dog biting and hurting again.
It is important to comment on the recent ruling in Tauranga releasing the dog Chopper, and respond to the judges comments removing all blame on the owner at the same time laying blame on the veterinarian.
This is an emotive case for all involved but there are facts that need to be stated. I work with aggressive dogs every day, both in private and in clinic settings. I empathise with this dog. But little empathy for the owner who contributed to this situation, and no empathy for the social media comments that have been directed towards vets.
No one deserves to be bitten in their line of work. Owners have a clear responsibility to manage and protect their dog and others from violence.
This bite was not a nip in the line of work with a fearful dog. This was a Dunbar level 4 bite with serious injury, which was instigated by the dog outside in public, from a distance with no direct provocation from anyone, let alone the vet. If, as the judge claimed, standing in a mask and talking in a car park is provocation enough to validate this level of bite? Then I am horrified.
This is not a win for Rottweillers, this is a statement that they are dangerous and cannot be controlled, that simply standing in a carpark they can bite you and it is not the owners fault. This will increase people's poor perception of rottweilers, (who can be lovely dogs).
This is a blow to all owners of reactive dogs. This will also reduce the ability and inclination of vets to provide veterinary care for these dogs, for if courts put all liability on the vet there is no health and safety policy that will allow vets to treat reactive dogs.
This dog appears to be an unsocialised, untrained, unneutered male dog, that had not been provided with the essential and appropriate veterinary and behaviour care to provide him with a life safe from fear, distress and violence. He was known to be problematic and yet neither muzzled, harnessed, or managed by a competent handler before entering into a situation that clearly requires such preparation. This blame falls squarely on the owner/guardian.
This situation and the result, is a tragedy for vets, rottweillers, reactive dogs, and most certainly both Chopper and the vet who have been most harmed by this.
Neither of them should ever have been put in this situation
It simply highlights how much more work we need to do to educate the public on how to give their pets a safe life.
