Who is at fault here?

[RottsNScotts]

And, irregardless of right/wrong, fault/no fault, what if, when the "visiting" dog snapped, it turned into an all out dog fight and one of the dogs was grossly injured or killed? I know, right or wrong, I would just be devastated, no matter who did what.

[derektjeep]

From my experience people in the country is more friendly. I would bet that if someone was to bring their dog over to your property to play with your dog, I would hope that they've the full trust in their dog's behavior around other dogs.

[mrs1885]

I think there is a difference between what's right and wrong and what the law is. I think you were in the right. It's your property and no one should be on it and if you have your dog on your property unleashed and he is adequately trained to not leave the property, how can you be in the wrong. The law however seems to see things differently, depending on where you are. I believe it would fall under a local law, so who knows what the statute in your area is. Animals here are still considered "property", regardless of the fact that they are living, breathing beings.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by mrs1885

I think there is a difference between what's right and wrong and what the law is.

Exactly...there's a huge difference. If people knew and exercised (emphasis on exercised) the difference between right and wrong, we wouldn't need laws to sort it all out after the fact! An ounce of prevention IS worth a pound of cure, and a lot less expensive, in currency and in emotional distress.

[Skip]

[quote=laurlitt]IMO, it still doesn't change the fact that this is HER property and the dog can be wherever it wants... It's like the burgulars who sue when they break in and get bit by the dog inside the house... WTF?.....
QUOTE]

Even though it might be true that the dog can BE where it wants, a responsible owner does not let a dog DO whatever it wants even on it's own property. Bad judgment was used here.

[chivas]

I had a somewhat similar situation one time but with a cat. I was in the front yard planting flowers, my cat was laying close to me sunning. A man was walking his dog on a retractable leash ( i hate those things most times). his dog was walking IN my yard and came across my sleeping cat and grabbed him. The cat was able to get away with a broken leg. I called the police ( i was an ACO at the time and knew the laws). In MY city - your pet can be in its property (front,back,side yard etc) under your control; voice, restraint, etc. The man tried to argue that my cat was at large and his dog was leashed and wasnt at fault - I won the case (we actually went to court over this for the vet bills ) - judge ruled my cat was lawfully in his yard and the dog was trespassing.

[AngelBunny]

I agree with the posters who think the OP displayed poor judgment in letting his dog go up to people with dogs on the OP's property. We have 80 acres and I wouldn't let my dogs to up to anyone trespassing on our property, whether they have dogs or not. There are lots of people I consider nutty in this world and I wouldn't take the risk of my dogs encountering one of these people who might do who knows what to them--even if the person was in the middle of one our fields.

Furthermore, I don't want my dogs to get the reputation in the neighborhood that they're problems, vicious, or problematic. And with two personal dogs and a foster almost always here, the thought of my three brawling with however many trespassers there many be is a most unappealing thought. This Rottie owner prefers erring on the side of caution.